CONTRACTED BY THE COLD HEARTED BILLIONAIRE

As her fingers brushed the delicate fabric of the bridal gown, Aria McKenzie gazed at herself in the mirror. Her beauty had always been praised. Her almond-shaped amber eyes, long lashes, and tall, delicate nose were among her striking features that frequently drew praise from her friends. Her best friend Tahlia had always loved her natural pink lips, but today it didn't matter. Normally warm and inviting, Aria's eyes were filled with an unmistakable sadness. She let out a long sigh as she gazed down at the white dress that held her slender figure. She had not envisioned the present as her own future. Logan Pritchard, the son of a wealthy gambling tycoon, was to be her husband. She didn't love Logan. She didn't even like him. However, her father's inability to repay his debts to Logan's family compelled her to marry him. The voice of the bridal shop assistant interrupted her thoughts. "Ma'am, you look stunning. It fits your body perfectly. Aria didn't return the smile. She couldn't bring herself to smile. When the assistant saw the sadness in Aria's eyes, her smile wavered. The woman then slipped Aria a small piece of paper after taking a brief look around the store to make sure no one was looking. Aria read the note quickly, confused. *Run to the parking lot on Level 3. Black vehicle Her heart thumping, she gazed at the assistant. With a serious expression, the woman nodded, gesturing for her to follow. Aria didn't enquire because she couldn't deny that something was going on, even though she didn't understand it. The assistant escorted her to a concealed exit after she had changed out of the gown. Aria said in a tremulous voice, "Thank you." Although she had no idea what was happening, she had faith that this woman was assisting her. Aria dashed to the lift and hurried to the third floor. She looked around wildly as she pushed through the Level 3 car park door. The note mentioned a black car. Which of the numerous parked cars was it? She was unaware. Her heart jumped into her throat as a voice pierced the atmosphere. "She is present!" Aria whirled. Logan's men. They had located her already. Her legs hurt as she forced herself to run, panic rushing through her chest. As she scanned the lines of cars, she muttered to herself, "Black car, black car." She noticed a black Holden Commodore close to the rear, and her eyes widened. She ran in its direction, but someone yelled loudly before she could get to the car. "Look everywhere! She hasn't travelled very far. The leader emitted a sharp bark. Aria tried to catch her breath as she ducked behind a black SUV as the sound of footsteps got louder. She peered from behind the car, her hands shaking and her heart thumping against her chest. Logan's men were getting closer. A powerful hand clamped over her mouth as the black car's door suddenly flew open. She froze in disbelief. Before she could reply, someone dragged her into the car. When she saw the man who had just saved her, her eyes grew wide. --- Aria left the office at nine o'clock one month ago, just like she always does. After a long day of work, she felt exhausted, and her body hurt. This was how it had been every day. To earn enough money to sustain her family, she spent her time running errands, answering phones, and filing paperwork. Her salary as a secretary was low, and no matter how much overtime she put in, it wasn't enough. She felt exhausted. She was exhausted from the never-ending struggle. She felt trapped in an endless cycle. She refused to go home that evening. The reminders of her father's debt and her dismal future made home feel oppressive. Instead, she wandered aimlessly until she reached the corner pub. She entered in the hopes that the moody lighting would make her forget her problems. Aria ordered a bottle of vodka and found a seat in the corner. Grimacing at the bitter taste, she took a long drink. It made no difference. She was unable to forget the internal anguish. She continued to drink, her surroundings becoming hazy. Her thoughts fumbled with each other as her mind wandered. What might be the reasons she hasn't yet received any financial compensation? Why did she never seem to reap the rewards for her labour? Most of the people in the bar didn't notice her tears as they fell slowly. She was crying over everything, not just one thing in particular: the burden of her father's debt, the prospect of getting married to Logan Pritchard, and the need to continue even though she was completely worn out. She looked around, focusing on a couple sitting at a different table with their arms encircling one another. Aria felt a twinge of jealousy that she was powerless to ignore. She had never had a romantic partner. Men always expressed interest in her, but she had never made time for love and had never made room in her life for it. And now? She had lost all faith in love. A man at the bar caught her attention as her gaze darted around the room. Wearing a white sweatshirt, he appeared relaxed while sipping his beverage. Aria couldn't help but laugh. Did she have it worse than anyone else? She was staring at him for no apparent reason. The coldness in his eyes sent a chill down her spine as he met her gaze. She shook her head as though to clear her mind and quickly averted her gaze. She muttered to the waiter, "O-one more b-bottle, please." The fact that she was already intoxicated didn't bother her. She wished to forget. Minutes went by. Disappointed that her drink had not yet arrived, she looked around. "W-waiter!" Aria impatiently tapped her hand on the table and called for help. She saw two troublesome-looking men in silver jackets. "Hey, lovely. Shall we accompany you? One of them grinned and said, "It's sad to drink alone." Aria glared at them and yelled, "No, I want to be alone." "Why? All we want to do is talk. We witnessed your tears. The other man reached for her hand and said, "Perhaps we can help." Aria slapped him across the face after yanking it away. "Go away from me!" She yelled. Just as the two men were about to strike back, four men in black suits showed up and pulled the two miscreants away. Stunned, Aria gazed at them. She looked up, still intoxicated, as one of the men turned to face her. Her heart pounded as she recognised the man. It was the man who had been observing her from the other table. "Are you the waiter?" Confused, she slurred. The man took a while to answer. He just sat with his eyes hard across from her. "You've had enough," he muttered. Aria blinked, having trouble concentrating. She grabbed the bottle from the table and muttered, "I... I'm fine." "I'd like more." He appeared unconcerned. He whispered, "You're bearing the burden of the world on your shoulders." "Huh? Do you have some kind of special insight? Aria gave a sour laugh. "I'm simply the world's unluckiest person." I'll have to wed that jerk in a month. She chuckled once more, but it was insincere. The man looked at her and said nothing as tears ran down her cheeks. Will I marry him in the end? Do I deserve that? She muttered more to herself than to him. The man's face was unreadable as he simply gazed at her. Aria cried for several minutes before she stopped. Her voice was slow and halting as she called the waiter once more. She muttered, "One more drink." Once more, the man spoke in a firm, deep voice. "I'll take you home if you drink again." Aria grinned. "Better than returning to my home." Pushing the money across the table, she stood up. "Thanks for nothing." Her legs were wobbly as she stumbled out of the bar. In a daze, she somehow found her way to the roof of an old building. "I've reached my lowest point." With tears blending with the rain that had started to fall, she muttered, "I want to die." She didn't care that the rain was cold. She remained there, feeling as though everything was spinning as she gazed down at the world. Aria lost her balance and her heart stopped when the railing she was leaning on suddenly gave way. She felt herself falling and let out a scream. She closed her eyes as everything turned black and asked, "Is this my answer?"