The Billionaires Contract Bride

Chapter three

The following days passed without much changing. I continued working at the café, returning to the motel each evening to check on Mia and wonder how much longer we could afford to stay there.

My father still had no solution to his debt, and the deadline was getting closer.

On the third day, while I was taking a break at work, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out and found a message from an unknown number.

Hello, Camille. My name is Victoria. Nadia gave me your number.

I stared at the message for a moment before remembering our conversation a few days earlier. Nadia had told me about meeting Victoria at her cousin’s wedding and offered to contact her about a possible opportunity through her employer.

I’d agreed, although I hadn’t expected anything to come of it

I typed a reply.

“Hello, Victoria. Nadia mentioned you would contact me.”

Her response arrived a few minutes later.

I’ve spoken to my employer, and he’s agreed to meet with you. Would you be available this week?

“Yes.” I replied.

Although, I’m still skeptical about the whole arrangement, Still, I couldn’t afford to dismiss an opportunity without hearing what it involved.

Yes, I’m available. When would he like to meet?

Victoria replied with a date, time, and address. The meeting was scheduled for the following morning at ten.

I checked the address. It was in a very fancy area in the west side of the city.

Thank you for arranging this, I wrote.

You’re welcome. Just make sure you arrive on time. My employer has a very busy schedule.

I set my phone down and stared at the table.

What exactly was I walking into? At the moment I didn’t know what to feel- or do.

I had no qualifications that would impress a wealthy businessman, no influential connections, and no particular reason to believe this meeting would change anything. I was a café worker with a family crisis I couldn’t solve, and I was about to meet a man who’s a total stranger.

But I had agreed to go, and I intended to find out what he wanted.

⸻

The rest of my shift passed slowly.

I made coffee, took orders, cleared tables, and smiled at customers even when my thoughts wandered back to the message on my phone. By the time I finished work, I had already memorised the address.

Nadia was wiping down the counter when I approached her.

“Victoria contacted me,” I told her.

She looked up immediately. “She did?”

I nodded. “Her employer wants to meet me tomorrow morning.”

A smile spread across Nadia’s face. “That’s good news, Camille.”

“Maybe.” I picked up my bag from beneath the counter. “I still don’t know what the meeting is about.”

“At least he’s willing to see you. That’s a start.”

“I suppose.”

Nadia studied me for a moment. “You’re going, aren’t you?”

“Of course I’m going.”

“Good.” She returned to wiping the counter. “And please, don’t spend the entire night worrying about it.”

I gave her a tired look. “I’ll try.”

“That’s all I’m asking.”

I thanked her again for speaking to Victoria before heading out.

⸻

By the time I returned to the motel, Mia was sitting on the bed with her schoolbooks spread across her lap.

“You’re late,” she said, looking up.

“My shift ran longer than expected.”

She moved her books aside to make room for me. “Did you eat?”

“Not yet.”

“There are some fries left.”

I looked at the small packet beside her books. “You should have eaten them.”

“I saved some for you.”

Something tightened in my chest. Even now, when everything around us felt uncertain, Mia was still thinking about me.

I sat beside her and pulled her into a brief hug.

“Thank you, sweetheart.”

She rested her head against my shoulder before sitting up again.

“Camille, when are we going home?”

I didn’t answer immediately.

The question had followed me everywhere since the break-in. I wanted to tell her that we’d be home soon, that everything would return to normal, and that she wouldn’t have to worry anymore.

But I had made too many promises to myself already.

“I don’t know yet, Mia,” I said gently. “But I’m working on it.”

She nodded, though the disappointment on her face was difficult to miss.

After she returned to her books, I stepped outside the room and called our father.

He answered after the fourth ring.

“Camille?”

“Dad, have you found a solution?”

Silence followed.

I closed my eyes briefly. I hadn’t expected a miracle, but I’d hoped he might have something useful to tell me.

“No,” he admitted. “I’m still trying to figure things out.”

“The deadline is almost here.”

“I know.”

“Then what are we supposed to do?”

“I’ll find a way, Camille. I promise.”

I pressed my lips together.

I wanted to believe him. He was my father, after all. But his promises had become so familiar that they no longer gave me comfort.

“Please don’t make another promise you can’t keep,” I said quietly.

I ended the call before he could respond.

For a while, I remained outside, staring at the dimly lit corridor. Tomorrow, I would meet a man whose name I didn’t know, hoping he might offer me something that could help me find a way forward.

I had no idea what to expect.

All I knew was that I couldn’t keep living like this..