BOUGHT TO BE LOVED

CHAPTER ONE

The woman's voice sliced through the office like a sharp blade, cutting through the morning calm. "Are you deaf or just pretending?" I looked up from the reception desk, startled, as a tall woman in a navy-blue suit towered over me. Her manicured nails drummed against the glass countertop, and her eyes narrowed at my name tag. "Amara, is it?" I nodded, my fingers flying to grab the visitor's badge. "Yes, ma'am. Apologies. I—"Save it. Lex Lawson doesn't like delays." With a click of her heels, she vanished into the elevator, leaving me breathless. "Welcome to Lawson & Grey," Kosi, the other assistant, whispered beside me, chewing her gum like it was therapy. "That was Ms. Cynthia Grey. One wrong move, and she'll have you scrubbing floors." I didn't respond, my palms already sweating. I glanced down at my worn CV and the gold-edged offer letter. Had I really been hired? Out of over 400 applicants, they chose me. Maybe it was a mistake. Just then, a voice like the Atlantic Ocean in a storm spoke my name. "Amara Johnson." I froze, my eyes meeting Lex Lawson's piercing gaze. Tall, dressed in black, no tie, and a sharp jawline that seemed chiseled from granite. He didn't need to raise his voice; his presence commanded attention. "Come with me," he said, turning to walk away. My legs followed before my brain caught up. We stepped into a private elevator, and the silence was oppressive. I could hear my own heartbeat. "I read your file," he said without looking at me. "You studied law at Unilag. Graduated top five. No connections. No money. No background." I swallowed hard, unsure how to respond. "And yet, here you are," he added, his tone unreadable. I wasn't sure if it was an insult or a compliment. When he finally looked at me, my heart skipped a beat. "Why do you want to work here?" I blinked, my mind racing. "Because I want to learn from the best, sir." His brow lifted, and he turned back to the elevator buttons. "Safe answer." The air between us stretched, heavy with unspoken meaning. "You're not safe, though. Are you?" I looked up, meeting his gaze. "Sir?" Lex stepped out as the elevator doors opened. "Come." We entered his office, a vast space filled with glass, dark wood, and a strange calm that made me feel very small. He walked to his desk, picked up a file, and tossed it on the table in front of me. "That's your first assignment. The client is a mess. Fix it." I stared at the thick file, my mind racing. "Is there a deadline?" He checked his watch. "Ten thirty." It was 8:07. My heart sank, but I nodded, determination rising within me. I would prove myself, no matter what. "Understood," I said quietly, trying to keep my voice steady. Lex turned to the window, his broad shoulders silhouetted against the morning light. "Don't fail," he said, his voice low and even. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I carried the file to my desk like it was made of dynamite. Kosi peeked over my shoulder, her eyes wide with concern. "Wait, they gave you the Anderson file?" My stomach dropped. "Is that bad?" Kosi's voice dropped to a whisper. "That's not just bad. That's suicide. They fired someone last week for touching it wrong. Be careful." I nodded, my mind racing. I opened the file and dived in, the pages swimming in chaos. Anderson Corp had breached three trade laws and was still pretending nothing had happened. The original associate had missed a crucial clause in a cross-border agreement. If Lex hadn’t caught it, the firm could have lost billions in reputation and damages. I flipped through more pages, noticing someone had flagged the wrong subsection entirely. My fingers itched to fix it. I took a breath, re-marked the file with the correct citation, and drafted a memo with suggested legal corrections, tight, direct, no extra fluff. I checked the clock. 9:52. I printed it, clipped the pages, and walked back to the elevator. The ride to the top floor felt longer than ever. Lex’s secretary waved me in without a word. He was on a call when I entered, but he pointed at a spot in front of his desk. I waited, my heart pounding in my chest. Five minutes passed. He ended the call and turned to me. “You’re early,” he said, his eyes narrowing slightly. “I finished early,” I replied, trying to sound confident. He raised an eyebrow and reached for the memo. As he read, the clock on the wall ticked away. Then, a pause. “You rewrote the entire legal approach,” he said, his voice filled with surprise. “Yes, sir,” I replied, trying to sound calm. He glanced at me. “And you corrected Grey’s flagged clause.” I blinked. “Ms. Cynthia Grey, sir?” “Yes,” he said, his tone unreadable. Lex leaned back, eyes still on the document. “You’re either very smart... or very foolish,” he said, his voice low and husky. I forced myself to speak. “I’d like to think I’m smart, sir.” His lips twitched, just slightly. Not a smile. Something else. “I have another offer for you,” he said, his eyes locking onto mine. “Marry me.” I blinked. Once. Twice. “What?” I stuttered. “It’s simple,” he explained. “A one-year contract. Fake marriage. You get paid. You keep your job. You help me. I will help you.” I stared at him, my mind reeling. This had to be a joke. “I, ” “You’ll live in my house. No relationship. Just business.” “Why me?” I asked, trying to process the proposal. Lex’s gaze didn’t move. “You’re smart, clean, quiet, and you don’t ask stupid questions. I need someone no one would expect.” My hands shook. “This is crazy.” “Possibly,” he said, his voice calm. Just as I was about to respond, the office door burst open. Cynthia Grey walked in, her eyes narrowing like daggers when she saw me. “I knew it,” she said, her voice low and venomous. “You’ve already picked your little toy.” I felt a surge of anger, but Lex’s expression remained calm. What was I getting myself into?