THE TERMS
1089 Words
Maya didn't sleep.
By morning, she'd read the same message from Adrian at least twenty times.
Twenty-four hours.
That was how long she had to decide whether to become the fake wife of the most powerful man she'd ever met.
It was absurd.
Completely absurd.
And yet, sitting at her kitchen table with her mother's bills beside her and her own business plan open on her laptop, Maya couldn't dismiss the offer as easily as she'd wanted to.
The money could change things.
But marrying Adrian Vale—even temporarily—could change much more.
Her phone buzzed.
Adrian: My lawyer will send the preliminary agreement this morning.
Maya stared at the message.
Then typed:
Maya: I haven't agreed yet.
His reply came almost immediately.
Adrian: I know.
That annoyed her.
She put the phone down and got ready for work.
---
At nine fifteen, Maya entered Adrian's office carrying a folder.
He looked up.
“You're early.”
“I wanted to see the contract before your lawyer sends it.”
Adrian gestured toward the chair.
“Sit.”
Maya did.
He slid a document toward her.
“These are the preliminary terms.”
She opened it.
Her eyes moved down the page.
One year.
Public appearances.
Shared residence.
Confidentiality.
Financial compensation.
Divorce upon completion.
Maya looked up.
“Shared residence?”
“The board will expect us to live together.”
“That wasn't mentioned yesterday.”
“It wasn't finalized.”
She frowned.
“So I'm supposed to move into your apartment?”
“Yes.”
“For a year?”
“Yes.”
Maya closed the folder.
“No.”
Adrian's eyebrows lifted.
“No?”
“I can pretend to be your wife without moving into your house.”
“That won't convince anyone.”
“Then find another wife.”
He leaned back.
“You're free to walk away.”
Maya stared at him.
She hated that he sounded so calm.
“You really don't care whether I say yes.”
“I care.”
“You don't look like it.”
“Because I won't pressure you.”
That silenced her.
Adrian pushed the contract back toward her.
“Read everything. Take it to a lawyer if you want.”
Maya looked at him suspiciously.
“You'd let me?”
“Of course.”
“You're not worried I'll change the terms?”
“I expect you to.”
A reluctant smile touched her lips.
“At least you're honest.”
“I try to be.”
Maya picked up the document again.
“There are rules.”
“Tell me.”
“I want complete financial independence.”
“Agreed.”
“I keep working.”
“Agreed.”
“My family stays out of this.”
“Agreed.”
“No cameras inside the house.”
“Obviously.”
“No forcing me to attend events I don't agree to.”
Adrian paused.
“Some events will be unavoidable.”
“Then we discuss them first.”
“Fine.”
She nodded.
“And if either of us wants to end the arrangement early?”
Adrian looked at her.
“Then we end it.”
“No penalties?”
“No penalties.”
Maya studied him.
“Why are you making this so easy?”
“I'm not.”
“You are.”
He was quiet for a moment.
Then he said, “Because I need you to choose this.”
Something about the way he said it made her chest tighten.
She quickly looked back at the contract.
“One more thing.”
“What?”
“You don't get to fall in love with me.”
Adrian's expression didn't change.
“That's not a problem.”
Maya nodded.
“Good.”
She stood.
“I'll give you my answer tonight.”
Adrian nodded.
“Take your time.”
She reached the door.
“Maya.”
She turned.
“If you say yes, there will be no pretending between us when we're alone.”
She frowned.
“That's what I asked for.”
“I know.”
His eyes held hers.
“I mean something else.”
“What?”
“No lies.”
Maya studied him.
“Even about the investigation?”
“Especially about the investigation.”
She nodded slowly.
“Deal.”
She left.
Neither of them noticed the man standing at the end of the hallway.
Richard Vale watched Maya disappear into the elevator.
His expression hardened.
Then he pulled out his phone.
“I think Adrian has found his solution,” he said quietly.
A voice answered on the other end.
“Are you sure?”
Richard smiled.
“I'm about to find out.”
---
That evening, Maya sat across from her mother at the dinner table.
Her mother looked at her carefully.
“You've been quiet.”
“Just thinking.”
“About work?”
Maya hesitated.
“Yes.”
She couldn't tell her the truth.
Not yet.
She had signed a confidentiality agreement before the marriage contract had even begun.
And somehow, that made everything feel more real.
Her mother reached across the table.
“Whatever it is, don't let money make your decisions for you.”
Maya looked down.
“I know.”
“Your peace is worth more.”
Maya swallowed.
“I know, Mum.”
Later that night, Maya stood by her bedroom window.
She looked at the city lights.
Then at the contract sitting on her desk.
One year.
Twelve months.
A fake marriage.
No feelings.
No complications.
She picked up the pen.
Her hand hovered over the signature line.
Then she signed.
---
At 11:42 p.m., Adrian's phone rang.
He was still awake.
“Maya?”
“I've signed.”
Adrian sat up.
“You're sure?”
“No.”
He almost smiled.
“At least you're honest.”
“I have conditions.”
“I know.”
“And if you break them, I'm gone.”
“Understood.”
Silence.
Then Maya said, “When do we start?”
Adrian looked at the contract on his desk.
“Tomorrow.”
She exhaled.
“Okay.”
The call ended.
Adrian stared at the signed agreement.
For the first time in years, his future was no longer entirely in his hands.
Across the city, Maya placed her copy of the contract in a drawer and locked it.
Neither of them knew that one day, that same contract would become the evidence used to tear their marriage apart.
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