My Husband Sold Me To The CEO

The CEO

The clock changed to 11:48. I stared at the doorway, long after Adrian disappeared through it. Suddenly remembered the word “Home.” He had called his house home as if I already belonged there. I hated that the word had affected me.

Cole walked past me and kicked the clothes away from his shoes. “You need to stop making this difficult.” I turned slowly. Making this difficult?

My husband had just traded my freedom for his debt, and somehow I was the problem. “How much do you owe him?” Cole rubbed his face. “It doesn’t matter.”

“It matters to me.”

“You wouldn’t understand.” “Try me.” He looked at me then, and for the first time, I saw fear underneath his anger. He wasn't afraid of me. His fear was for what Adrain might do. Then— “It’s a lot.” “How much?”

“Two million.”

My mouth went dry. Two million dollars! I almost laughed. “Two million?” “It wasn’t supposed to get this bad.” “What did you do?” “I made some investments.”

“With our money?” He said nothing. That was answer enough.

I looked toward the front door. Adrian had left without raising his voice, threatening anyone, or forcing me to sign anything. Cole had done all three things in different ways throughout our marriage.

Yet somehow Adrian was supposed to be the dangerous one. “What exactly did you promise him?” Cole’s face hardened. “I already told you.” “No. You told me he wants me for thirty days. You didn’t tell me what that means.”

“It means you stay with him.” “Why?” “Because that’s what he wants.” I stared at my husband. “You agreed.”

“I had no choice.” I stepped closer. “You always have a choice.” His eyes flashed. “Easy for you to say.”

Something inside me snapped. “Easy for me?” I pointed toward the contract still clutched in my hand. “You didn’t even ask me.” Cole looked away, i wanted to scream.

Instead, I opened the folder. The agreement was only a few pages. Thirty days, private residence,transportation provided, financial settlement upon completion. No disclosure. No obligation beyond the terms stated.

And one sentence that made me stop. The arrangement could be terminated by me at any time. I read it twice.

Then a third time. “If I leave, what happens?” Cole’s silence returned. “What happens?” “You lose everything.” “Everything?”

“The house. My job. Everything. I looked at the clock. 11:52. I had eight minutes, to make whatever decision I had too. I hated the pressure. I hated that Adrian had given me a choice and still somehow left me with one terrible decision.

Then my phone buzzed. A message, from an unknown number. You don’t owe me an answer tonight. I stared at the screen. Another message arrived. But if you come, come because you chose to. I knew who it was. Adrian.

I looked at Cole. “Did you give him my number?” “No.”

The answer came too quickly. I looked back at the phone. For some reason, that message unsettled me more than the contract.

He wasn’t begging. He wasn’t threatening. He wasn’t even trying to seduce me. He was simply waiting.

I walked into our bedroom. (Our bedroom). The words felt strange now. I opened the closet. Most of my clothes were things Cole had chosen because he liked them. I pulled out a small suitcase, then I stopped.

What was I doing? I sat on the edge of the bed. Three years! I had spent three years believing that if I tried hard enough, Cole would eventually become the man I married. Maybe he hadn’t changed. Maybe I had simply spent too long pretending not to see him.

I opened my drawer. At the bottom was a sketchbook. I hadn’t touched it in months. Cole said drawing was childish. He said I needed to grow up. I picked it up. My fingers traced the worn cover.

For some reason, Adrian’s voice returned to me. Your husband made a decision about your life without asking you. I closed my eyes. Then I packed the sketchbook.

My phone buzzed again. Ten minutes. I looked at the time. 11:56.

I grabbed my suitcase. Cole appeared in the doorway.“You’re actually going?” “I haven’t decided.” “You can’t go.” I looked at him. “Why not?” “Because you’re my wife.”

The words should have meant something. Instead, they sounded like another chain. “You stopped treating me like your wife a long time ago.” His face twisted. “Don’t do this.” “I’m doing what you already did.”

I walked past him— He caught my wrist. I went still. His fingers tightened. Then another voice came from behind us. “Let her go.” Cole released me instantly. I turned.

Adrian stood at the open front door. I hadn’t heard him return.

He wasn’t alone. A man in a dark suit stood outside beside a black car. Adrian looked at my wrist, then at Cole. His expression changed. It wasn’t dramatic. That was what made it frightening. “She said no.” Cole swallowed. “I wasn’t—” I was about saying something, when Adrian's voice cut me. “I don’t care what you were doing.”

Adrian stepped inside. He looked at me. “Are you coming?” I glanced at my suitcase. Then at my husband.

Then at the man who had walked into my life less than an hour ago and somehow made leaving feel possible.

I picked up my suitcase. “I’m coming.” Cole moved toward me. “Sienna.” I didn’t stop. Adrian stepped aside and let me pass first.

Outside, the night air hit my face. I expected to feel terrified. Instead, I felt something I hadn’t felt in years. I felt a wave of relief. The car door opened. I placed my suitcase inside and turned toward Adrian. “Where are you taking me?” He looked at me for a long moment.

“Somewhere your husband can’t reach you.” The answer sent a strange shiver through me. I climbed into the car. Adrian followed, the door shut. The house disappeared behind tinted glass as we pulled away.

I watched it grow smaller through the window. Then Adrian spoke beside me. “There’s something you need to know before we arrive.” I turned toward him. “What?”His gaze met mine. “I didn’t make this deal because I needed anything from your husband.”

My heart skipped. “Then why did you?” He leaned back, his expression unreadable. “Because I knew what he was planning to do with you if I didn’t.” I stared at him.

“What was he planning?” Adrian didn’t answer.

Instead, he looked toward the driver. “Take us to the house.” Then his gaze returned to me. “You’ll see soon enough.” My stomach tightened. The car accelerated into the darkness. And suddenly, thirty days didn’t feel like the dangerous part anymore.

Whatever Adrian knew about my husband was worse than the thirty days I’d just agreed to.