The Billionaire’s Wife By Contract

Rose’s POV I should have walked away the moment I saw the contract. Instead I picked up the pen. One Month Earlier. If someone had told me that one conversation could change my entire life, I would have laughed. I didn’t know the man I had once challenged would one day become my husband. I had always wanted one thing more than anything else. Freedom. Not the kind of freedom where I could go wherever I wanted. I wanted financial freedom. I wanted to wake up without worrying about bills, rent, food, or whether there would be enough money to take care of the people I loved. Growing up, I watched my mother depend heavily on my father. My father, Ricky Evelyn, owned a small shop where he sold clothing materials. It was not a big business, but he worked hard everyday to provide for us. My Mother, Laura Evelyn, worked as a maid for a woman who lived nearby. The pay was not much, but she was grateful to have a job. Then everything changed. The woman she worked for died, and my mother lost her job. Suddenly, my father was the only person taking care of our family. I watched him struggle without complaining. He always made sure I had what I needed, even when I knew there was barely enough money left for himself. “Rose,” he would always say, “one day, you will have everything you want.” I believed him. Until the day he died. I was twenty when the accident happened. My father was riding his small scooter to work one morning when a trailer lost control and crashed into him. He died before he could reach the hospital. I still remember the day my mother received the news. She screamed. She cried until she could barely breathe. I stood beside her, completely lost, because I didn’t know how to comfort someone who had just lost the person they depended on the most. That night after I put my mother to bed, I cried alone. I had just graduated and suddenly everything felt different. My mother had no job. My father was gone. It was now up to me to help take care of us. And I had no idea what I was going to do. I started looking for work. I applied everywhere I could think of, but most places rejected me for one reason or another. I didn’t give up. I took cleaning jobs whenever I could find them. I did everything that would bring money home and help my mother. I hated seeing her struggle. She would sometimes look at me with tears in her eyes, but she never complained. Then one day, everything changed again. I was working with a cleaning job when my employer noticed the way I spoke and handled things. “You’re different from the other girls,” she told me. I laughed, “Different how?” “You’re educated. You shouldn’t be doing this forever.” A few days later, she introduced me to Sasha. Sasha owned a small but growing business. She was looking for someone, hardworking, organized and trustworthy. She gave me a chance. And I took it. Sasha became more than my boss. She became someone who believed in me when I barely believed in myself. I worked hard. I arrived early, stayed late, and made sure every task was done properly. Charlotte, my best friend, was always there for me too. “You work too much,” she complained one afternoon. I smiled. “I don’t have a choice.” “You always have a choice, Rose.” “Not when I want a better life” She looked at me for a moment before sighing. “I just don’t want you to forget to live while you’re trying to build your future.” I didn’t answer. Because deep down, I knew she was right. But I could not stop. I had already lost too much. One morning, Sasha called me into her office. “Rose, I have something important for you.” I looked up from the papers in my hands. “What is it?” “We received a business opportunity from Edward Corporation.” My eyes widened. Edward Corporation was huge. Everyone knew the Edward name. “I want you to represent us at the Meeting.” “Me?” “Yes.” I stared at her. “Sasha, are you sure?” “I wouldn’t have asked if I wasn't.” For the first time in a long time, I felt excited. This could be my chance to prove myself. The next morning, I woke up earlier than usual. I took a shower, brushed my hair, and searched through my clothes for the best outfit I owned. I finally settled on a simple black dress. It wasn’t expensive. It wasn’t designer. But it was neat. And that was enough. When I arrived at Edward Corporation, I immediately felt out of place. The building was enormous. People in expensive suits walked through the lobby. Women wore elegant coats and carried expensive handbags. I looked down at my simple black dress. For a moment I felt nervous. Then I reminded myself why I was there. I wasn’t there to compete with them. I was there to do my job. I walked into the boardroom. The meeting hadn’t started yet. Then the doors opened. Everyone suddenly became quiet. I turned around. And that’s when I saw him. Mike Edward. I had heard his name before. Everyone had. He was the heir to the Edward empire. A billionaire. Powerful. Ruthless. But hearing about someone was different from standing in the same room with them. He walked in wearing a perfectly fitted black suit. His expression was cold. His eyes moved around the room before finally landing on me. For some reason, I didn't look away. He took his seat. The meeting began. For the first few minutes, everything went smoothly. Then Mike made a suggestion about the contract. I looked through the documents. Something didn’t make sense. I raised my hand. Mike looked at me. “Yes?” “I don’t agree with that.” The room went completely silent. Everyone stared at me. Mike leaned back in his chair. “Excuse me?” I swallowed but didn’t back down. “I said I don’t agree with the proposal.” His eyes narrowed. “And why is that?” I explained my concerns. He listened without interrupting. When I finished, there was silence again. Mike looked at the documents, then back at me. Most people in the room looked terrified. I wasn’t. At least, I didn't want him to know I was. He leaned forward slightly. “What’s your name?” “Rose Evelyn.” He stared at me for a moment before looking back at the document in front of him. “Interesting.” I frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?” He didn’t answer. The meeting continued, but I could feel his eyes on me. I had no idea why. And I certainly didn’t know the man I had just challenged would soon become the biggest problem in my life. At that moment, I thought the meeting was simply another step toward the future I wanted. I was wrong. Very wrong. Because I had just met the man I would one day have to marry.