Love By Contract

Maya's POV At the corner of my bed sits my best friend with a card in her hand. Rain, my childhoof friend, the only person in this whole world who understands me. She has been with me for more than 11 years now. I, Maya, daughter of Erik Thornton, a billionaire, my dad who never bothered to spend some time with me because of his bueiness. My mum, Mildred Thornton died when I was very young and I have very few memories of her through our pictures together. Since my mum died, my dad is rarely at home; our home is more like a guest house for him, which he rarely visits. And now, in my best friend's hand rests a card, my engagement card. She runs her hands through her black straight hair which reaches up to her shoulders, focusing her amber-coloured eyes on the card as she reads it aloud. I am getting engaged to this guy called Nathaniel Ford. He is dad's bestfriend and soon-to-be business partner, Neil Ford's son. The Ford family is also one of the richest families in the country, just like ours. My marriage is part of a deal between our companies. I have just met him once at our company;s anniversary party. I don't really prefer to go to parties as it is a way to expand your business circle, and I really got bored there, where I have to stand in a corner faking a smile, but only these parties give me the opportunity to meet my father once in a while. Yeah, or else, he is such a busy person who doesn't even have time to look at his daughter, because my dad has always been cold to me. I always try to be a good girl following his commands, whatever he wanted, however he wanted, completing my education in the field he decided, working in his company. Other than these things, we never really had a conversation and here I am getting engaged to a person who probably won't have time to look at his wife. Why? Because my father wants me to get married to him and my best friend here is just teasing me about the same. I stand in front of the mirror and a pair of hazel eyes stare back at me, I try on the dresses from my wardrobe as I am going to meet my would-be-husband for the first time after being declared that we are getting married, and tomorrow is our engagement. So, I wanted to meet him once, before we get engaged, just so that I can know him a little. It is not like I will get to know him better in just a day, but still, something is better than nothing. "The First Official Meeting" I reach the restaurant where we decided to meet and there sits my fiancé right across the table with a grumpy face, as expected. He is very punctual and of course, he's mad at me for reaching here 2 minutes late? "I'm sorry!" I mutter and take my seat. Nathaniel Ford, the tall, dark, and handsome guy whose face is on the cover of the Magazine which lies on the table between us. He is famous for his looks and the youngest businessman who has achieved the status and power in the society on his own at such a young age. That is one of the reasons why my dad is pretty impressed with him and after this contract, the two companies would rule the business market in the whole of Asia. He has pulled his chocolate brown hair back showing his forehead, wearing that expensive branded black suit with a white shirt that contrasts with his black tie, focusing his brown eyes on his iPad, reading the news on stock market, emitting the aura of a typical businessman, but still managing to be breathtakingly handsome. Well, according to him, time is money and he does not want to waste his precious time doing nothing (my bad, I just ended up wasting his 2 minutes by being late). He hasn't even spared me a glance since I reached here. After a long silence, he finally looks up, catching me looking at him. I shyly look away and put the lock of my black hair behind my ears hoping that I was looking good and my hair and makeup are okay. Well, I am a girl and sitting right in front of my fiancé. He puts a file on the table, sliding it towards me. "Hmmm?" I look at him with a puzzled expression. He nods at me without speaking a word and again goes back to use his time, focusing back on his iPad. I open the file and it read a contract. Contract? I think he just handed me a wrong file. I look at him, but the guy was not even looking at me. I continued reading the so-called contract. THE CONTRACT This contract is between Mr Nathaniel Ford and Miss Maya Thornton. The terms of the contract are as follows: - No unwanted physical contact - Do not interfere in each other's private life. -.............. ....Blah blah and blah - Only pretend husband and wife, appear when needed - The marriage between Maya Thornton and Nathaniel Ford is only for a year - Falling in love is prohibited I, Nathaniel Ford have read the above content of this contract and I am willingly entering this contract, and I will abide by the terms of this contract. Signature: Nathaniel Ford. I, Maya Thornton have read the above content of this contract and I am willingly entering this contract, and I will abide by the terms of this contract. Signature: Maya Thornton. "What?" I blink in confusion and read it again, but no I didn't get it wrong. What the hell is this? "MARRIAGE FOR A YEAR?!" I literally screamed. Seems like this time my voice reached his ears and he finally looks at me, "Yes, a contract marriage." He nods.