Contract Marriage To My Billionaire Boss

Chapter 2

Skylar

I blinked repeatedly. My mouth hung open as I stared at my boss. Did I hear it right? Maybe I just misheard him.

My boss reached out, held my chin, and gently closed my mouth.“Close your mouth before a fly gets in.”

I immediately pressed the back of my hand against his forehead.“You don’t have a fever. Maybe you’re possessed by an evil spirit? You’re acting so weird, Boss.”

He lightly swatted my hand away.“Shut up. You talk too much.”Without permission, he lifted me right off my feet.

“What are you doing? Put me down!”I protested firmly.

“Didn’t you hear what I said earlier? You’re going to be my wife now.”His expression was dead serious, so I knew he wasn’t joking.

My mother quickly stepped toward him and grabbed his arm, trying to stop him.“You’re making a mistake, Mr. Zulueta. She isn’t Skylar. The real Skylar is her.”She pointed at her stepdaughter, who nodded eagerly along with my stepfather.

Now I understand why they kept insisting I was Carrie and that Carrie was me and why they were so desperate to make me leave. They wanted Carrie to be the one to become Mr. Zulueta’s wife. Because as long as I was standing in front of them, their lie would be exposed.

“Do you think I’m blind and stupid enough to believe your nonsense?” my boss snapped angrily at my mother. Then, without another word, he walked toward his car while carrying me in his arms.

I glanced back at the three people and almost burst into laughter when his assistant slapped each of them across their faces.

“That’s what you get for trying to deceive my boss,” the assistant said with a smirk. “Consider yourselves lucky that’s all the punishment Mr. Zulueta will give you this time. But if you ever deceive him again, this will be the least of what you’ll face.”

I didn’t hear what my mother and the others said next because my boss had already carried me into the car.

“Why me, Mr. Zulueta? There are so many beautiful, wealthy women chasing after you. I’m just an ordinary person and only a cleaner in your company. Why choose me to be your wife?" I asked him frankly.“Don’t tell me you’ve secretly had a crush on me this whole time?" I added teasingly.

“Don’t flatter yourself, Ms. Winston. Flat-chested women are not my type. And it wasn’t my choice, nor do I want you as my wife. It was my grandfather’s wish,” he replied, raising an eyebrow.

Me? Flat-chested? He said earlier that he was not blind. But why can't he see that I am not flat-chested? I may not be a 36D, but I was definitely not flat-chested!

“Well, I don’t find you attractive either. I don’t like men who are always so serious and have no romance in their bones," I shot back, getting even with his comment.

His face twisted in obvious distaste, though he didn’t say anything in response.

“My grandfather is very ill. Before he dies, he wants to see me married to the woman he has chosen for me,”he explained.

So that was the reason behind it. Someone like him couldn't fall for an ordinary girl like me anyway.

“But what do I have to do with your grandfather?" I asked.

“You don’t know who Grandpa Rodney is?" He frowned in confusion.

“Grandpa Rodney…" I murmured, thinking hard. The name sounded so familiar. Then it hit me. Rodney was also the first name of the father of my father’s old employer. It was also Grandpa Rodney who had given me a full college scholarship right after my father passed away. Because of him, I was able to finish my studies.“Is your grandfather’s full name Rodney Zulueta?”

“There’s no other,”he answered shortly.

I never imagined that Grandpa Rodney was part of the Zulueta family, the wealthiest family in the entire country. I used to think my father’s old boss was just a regular rich man.

“All right. I agree to be your wife, Mr. Zulueta.”I owed Grandpa Rodney a huge debt of gratitude. Even if it meant only pretending to be his grandson’s wife just to make him happy in his final days, I would do it as a way of repaying his kindness to my father and me when my father was still alive.

“Good. But don’t worry. This will only be a contract marriage. My grandfather only has about five months left to live. We will get a divorce after six months. And once we separate, I will give you five million pesos as your settlement fee,” he said, as if discussing just another business deal.

Once we had agreed and signed the marriage contract, we went straight to the civil registrar to apply for a marriage license. We spent only about thirty minutes there, and when we walked out, we were holding our official marriage certificate.

I stared at the document in disbelief. Just half an hour ago, my status was still single, and now, I am married.

“Pack your things. Renze will come to pick you up later,” he said, referring to his assistant. “Remember this, you are my loving wife only when we are in front of my grandfather. Around my family, you will be my ordinary wife. But everywhere else, we act like total strangers.”

“I understand. And don’t worry. I won’t go around claiming to be your wife in public,” I replied with a slight frown. As if I wanted everyone to know! He may be a great catch, I knew that much, but so many women would hate me, especially all those who were interested in him if they found out that someone as poor and lowly a cleaner like me had married Zake Zulueta.

“It’s good that you know your place. By the way, here is my supplementary bank card. It has no spending limit.”He handed it to me.“I want you to buy new clothes. I need you to look presentable when I introduce you to my grandfather.”

I felt a sudden flare of annoyance. Wasn’t I presentable enough as I was?

At first, I used to be intimidated by him because of his ruthless reputation. But now that we're already married, that fear has completely vanished. He needed me to make his grandfather happy, so I knew he wouldn’t do anything terrible to me just because he didn’t like what I said.

“What is wrong with what I’m wearing or how I look? I look decent enough even if my clothes aren’t expensive brands.” I was naturally thrifty. I had to be, so I could save up enough money to buy my own place and finally move out of my stepfather’s house. I wanted a home of my own, far away from my mother and my stepfamily.

But even with being careful with money, I always made sure the clothes I wore were clean, neat, and respectable.

“Just do as I say,” he said sharply, then left me standing there and got into his car.

I couldn’t help but let out a long heavy sigh. I had no idea what kind of life was waiting for me with Zake and his family. Would they ever accept me aside from his grandpa?

We were just too different like oil and water that could never mix. We were already clashing even before we started living under one roof. How much harder would it be once we were sharing the same roof?