contracted to my ruthless CEO

“Are you blind?” Her voice cut through the rain as tired burned, creating a deafening screech that ended in an abrupt stop. The passenger window was already halfway down when she noticed the silhouette of a woman, still and composed in the seat beside him. Watching. Stacy glanced once and looked away. The man in the expensive suit was already more than enough to deal with. The man sat inside with a cold expression as the glasses slid down. “Is there a problem, Miss?” “Are you seriously asking me that? You just drove straight through a puddle and ruined my clothes, and you’re asking if there’s a problem?. How am I supposed to go to work in this state?” “You were standing too close to the road.” His eyes briefly drop into the documents she's protecting inside her bag. “I can see you are a spoiled brat who doesn't know how to own up to his mistake?” she shot back. “So now it’s my fault you don’t know how to slow down?” “Well you clearly saw the car, didn’t you?” “And you saw the puddle too, didn’t you?” she snapped. “You are going to have my clothes dry-cleaned or you are going nowhere.” He shook his head slowly. “Miss, kindly step away from the car.” “Or what?” she challenged, moving closer instead. “You’ll do it again? Go on then. This time at least you won’t be pretending it was an accident.” A car honked behind him as he reached for the gear. “I don’t have time for this. When you're done, you will leave by yourself!” “Oh. So you won't even apologize.” “I owe you no apology.” “How can a human being be this heartless?” She stepped even closer. “Even money won't be able to buy your manners.” He raised an eyebrow looking very unbothered. He studied her eyes for quite long. His gaze lingers. Slightly annoyed but still pretends not to care. There was a pause before he continued. “And do I look like I care?” The glasses slid back up as he started the car engine and drove away. Stacy froze for a second after the eye contact. She stood still, breathing slightly lower than before. “Heartless i***t” Stacy's voice rose after the car. “That's just what you are.” She stood at the spot, looking at herself from head to toes as water dripped from her clothes. Pedestrians whispered as they passed, her body trembling in the cold. She quickly checks the documents in her bag and luckily they are all safe. Then she continues to her destination home. “This is the reason why I hate rich people” She whispered to herself, as she quickly hailed a cab to work. “You're late!” “I'm sorry ma'am. I got caught up in traffic.” “And? How’s that my problem? Do I look like I care?” Her boss shot back. “My customer’s clothes are still unfinished and they are all complaining about it.” “I'll work on it right away ma'am” “You better do. Otherwise you're fired” Her trembling hands quickly reached the sewing machine but she didn't back down. “You better finish my clothes perfectly. If not… I'm not getting you paid” A customer snapped beside her. “You always keep me waiting and my clothes unfinished. I'm tired of all this.” “I'm sorry madam. I'll finish your clothes perfectly and fast this time.” “Whatever. Stop rambling and start working.” Her fingers were trembling on the machine. She couldn't even feel them anymore. At this point, all she needed was a break. “And what do you think you're doing?” She immediately stood still. “Ma'am. I figured since I was done with the most important clothes, I could have lunch before I continued.” “I don't care!” Her boss barked. “You should finish all those clothes before you even think of eating anything.” Stacy's head looked down to her feet. “I'm sorry ma'am. I would do just that.” “Better do. And don't keep my customers waiting.” Her boss shot back looking at her from head to toe. “And next time don't come to work looking this unkept.” The door shot behind Stacy. She could barely even hold a needle still. Her blood went cold before her mind could process the words. Customers were sitting outside. Waiting for their clothes. Outside, customers whispered. “I've been sitting here for over five minutes.” “She doesn't even know how to do her job properly.” Stacy held back tears and whispered to herself. “All this because I refused to be a daddy's girl.” She had finished her shift and packed her bags ready to leave. She stood under the rain looking for a cab. She could barely stand still. Her hands were trembling. Her hair was damp. Her clothes dripped. She held her bag close to her chest to protect the documents inside. She quickly reached for a cab back home. She got home shivering and that was when she noticed a black expensive car parked outside. The same kind of sleek black car that splashed water on her earlier. Her father's car was there too. Her stomach tightened, her heart raced and her body froze. She immediately felt something wasn't right. She enters quickly to see her father seated in the living room. His face wore a serious expression. He quickly notices she is soaked but doesn't comment. “Go and change into something dry then come back. We need to talk. Now!” His voice carried an emergency. Stacy, without saying a word, immediately goes to her room and shuts the door behind her. She sat on the edge of her bed processing how stressful her day has been. “What could he possibly want to discuss with me?” She thought to herself. She later returns in dry clothes. Her hair is still damp. She immediately sits beside her father. Silence stretched between them for a moment. “Stacy… it’s time you learn about the agreement I made when you were nine.” His voice cracked. She froze and turned to him. Her heart thumping really fast. “What agreement are you talking about dad?” He swallowed. Then spoke as his voice came out barely above a whisper. “I’m talking about your marriage.” “My marriage? To who?”