The Ashfield’s Contract Marriage

Chapter Three

Present day…..

His email came in the next morning. All his personal details and milestones where on it. Every information was mundane, some where incredibly impressive but nothing was as entertaining as finding out he was an editor at the Behemoth Paper. Of course she would have known this earlier before approaching him if she had just just ran a background check on him, and she still planned on doing that, in case he had something to hide, but she decided to bite the bullet and just ask, fully intending to pull out of the whole thing if she found him shady.

Could him being an employee of Behemoth Papers be detrimental to her? Yes, especially because as an employee of her father, he might have some sort of loyalty towards him, or even be greedy enough to try to use her as a means to curry favours from her father, but she decided to look at it in another light. She was now the interim CEO, all she had to do was remind him that it will do him more good to be on her good side if he wanted to have an easy work life.

Instead of sending him the contract via email like the had agreed, she decided it would be more fun to show up at the cafe he frequented during his lunch break the following Monday.

By 12 pm on Monday, she had her driver take her to the cafe where she saw him working on his laptop as usual. He had no idea she was there until she pulled out a chair and sat down. He looked up and gave her a surprised smile

“Hello, wife.” He joked “it is a pleasure to see you. I didn’t hear from you for a few days so I thought you changed your mind.”

“I didn’t” she said “I decided that it was better to talk in person because what I have to say might make you change yours.”

“I will have you know that I never go back on my words, but let’s hear it”

She could tell that this was amusing to him and she knew it was about to change. She pulled out her card from her bag and slid it towards him. He picked it up stared at it for a few seconds and she saw his face go pale. He looked up at her in confusion, then desperation. But that did not reflect on his voice when he sat up straight and said:

“Forgive me, Miss Ashfeild, I didn’t know who you were”

She leaned back in her chair and folded her arms across her chest

“There’s no need to be formal with me, we’re about to be married”

Still very uncomfortable, he asked “So this wasn’t a joke?”

“A joke?” She gave slight laugh, but not because she found this conversation funny, she was becoming impatient. “I am playing an inheritance game Mr Warner, and I need a husband. From this conversation, I take it you thought I was just a crazy woman hitting on you, but this is serious and I am tired of this back and forth. Last time we spoke, you agreed to do this. Yes, you didn’t know who I was at that time but I know you’re a smart man so you know that going back in your word will be detrimental to you in one way or the other. You can decline, of course. No pressure, really. But I would strongly advice against that, having me on your side might prove to be very beneficial.” She pulled out a document from her bag and placed it in front of him. “It’s your decision, Daniel. Are you in or out?”

Daniel looked at the papers before him. It was the contract. Just a few moments ago, he had thought this was fun, but not anymore. Now it felt like his job was in the line. The last thing he had ever thought he would be involved in in his life was a power struggle among rich people, yet here he was. He read the document. The first part was basically everything they had already discussed; the duration and exclusive nature of the marriage. Then it went in about how he had to move in with her, make lifestyle changes to fit hers, have dinner with her family once a week. He didn’t have to quit his job, but the couldn’t work during the weekends so as to avoid rumors. It also went into detail about the financial aspect of the contract. He was going to get a hundred million dollars. Half of it immediately he signed and the other half when the marriage ended. Under the contract was an NDA for privacy reasons.

Daniel did not have much of a choice. He didn’t want to do this for numerous reasons, firstly, she was his boss. Secondly, he didn’t want to be part of a power struggle. Thirdly, he didn’t trust himself; why did he still find her attractive even after realizing she could ruin his life? He signed the documents though, because that was the only to protect the career he worked to hard to build. At least he would come out of it a millionaire.

She gave him a dazzling smile. “Very good darling. I’ll make an appointment at the courthouse tomorrow, we’re getting married”

One week earlier…….

Daniel dropped by the small cute cafe every morning to get his coffee before heading to work and during his lunch break at noon. It was cozy and comfortable, he could sit there for hours working. It helped that it was just about ten minutes away from his job. He was the type of person to become engrossed with whatever he was up to, especially if he found it enjoyable. He definitely found his job as an editor enjoyable. Yes, it was a drag sometimes but it’s what he had always wanted to do with his life and he was happy doing it. That, coupled with the quiet comfort of the cafe meant that he needed his alarm to bring him back to reality when his lunch break was over.

The first time Sydney dropped by the cafe, it was at her new driver’s recommendation. He claimed they made the best coffee in town. Personally, she didn’t know if she would go that far but it was definitely delicious.

When she stepped in, a few people gave her curious glances, she guessed they were employees of the paper who found her familiar. She knew it would be hard for them to tell for sure since she had been abroad for so long and had no recent pictures in the media.

She noticed him while she waited for her drink. Engrossed in whatever he was doing on his computer. He never even looked up once. She had to admit, he was quite handsome, with his dark skin and hair and the small, round glasses sitting in the bridge of his nose. She could tell he was at least six foot tall even as he was sitted. The idea that physically he would make the perfect husband in her parents eye’s crossed her mind for a fleeting second. Her coffee arrived at that moment and she discarded the thought.

He was there when she returned the next day, and the day after that, so she decided to just ask. The earlier she found someone for the job, the better. What was the worst that could happen?

She walked up to him. “You seem quite busy” she said, pulling out the chair opposite him and sitting. He looked up for a split second, then looked right back at his computer.

“I am, and I would really appreciate not being disturbed”

“This is only going to take a moment. Would you like to be my husband?”