One Night with my Devil-Husband

Chapter 2

Living with the Devil

"And you are broke, desperate. and you already slept with me. so you are perfect.

no one will suspect it's fake because we already have.... chemistry."

he said chemistry like it was poison.

"I will never marry you." Cynthia shouted.

Frederick picked up his phone. one call. I call st. Mercy hospital and tell them to blacklist lida Moore. no hospital in Lagos will take her. she Will die in 3 days without dialysis. your choice."

Cynthia's knees gave away. "you... you wouldn't..."

"try me, Cynthia. I am Frederick Anthony.

I am the devil you sold your one night to. now you will sell me six months."

he pushed the contract towards her.

"sign it. you have 60 second's."

Cynthia looked at the contract. 20 pages.

contract wife terms. Claus 8: no falling in love.

she thought of her mother, pale on the hospital bed. she thought of the $500,000 that could give her mother a new life.

with shaking hands, she picked up the pen.

"I hate you." she whispered as she sighed Cynthia Moore.

Frederick took the paper, his fingers brushing hers. his touch sent electricity.

"I know," he said. his voice suddenly softer. "you will hate me Moore when you live with me. but you are mine now, wife."

he pressed a button. his assistant walked in with a big shopping bag.

"take her to the penthouse. buy her a new wardrobe. burn that cheap dress. and bring her back tonight for dinner with my mother. my mother must meet my contract wife."

Cynthia was dragged out. contract wife papers in hand, tears in her eyes.

she had sold one night for $50,000.

Now she had sold six months for $500, 000.

and her Devil husband was smiling for the first time -a devil smile that said "you can never escape me."

the Anthony penthouse was not a home. it was a museum.

Black marble floor, white walls, glass everywhere, cold as it's owner. 5 bedrooms, but no photos, no warmth, just money.

Cynthia stood in the living room holding her small Ghana-must-Go bag. she wore a new silk dress Fredericks assistant bought her -worth $2,000, but she felt naked.

Frederick came out of his bedroom in a black towel around his waist, water dripping from his hair. he didn't even look embarrassed.

"you are still here," he said, walking past her to the kitchen.

Cynthia quickly turned away, face red.

"can you please wear clothes!"

"this is my home, contract wife. I wear what I want. and you will get used to it."

he poured black coffee.

"Rules." he said.

Cynthia sat down. "More rules?"

"Rule 1: my house, my rule, rule 2: we sleep in separate rooms. you have the guest room. don't come to my room unless I call you. rule 3: in public you act like you are madly in love with me. kiss me, hug me, call me baby. in private, don't touch me. rule 4: don't fall in love with me."

he looked at her over his coffee.

"because I will never fall in love with you.

Cynthia felt her chest hurt, though she didn't know why. "Don't worry. Mr. Anthony. I wouldn't fell for a devil like you."

"Good. then we understand each other."

just then , the door bell rang. A woman voice, sharp: Frederick my son! where is she?"

Eleanor Anthony walked in like a queen. 60 years old, diamonds on her neck, cold eyes exactly like Frederick's. behind her, a younger woman -beautiful, blonde, fake smile -Victoria . Frederick's ex.

"so this is the girl you married in secret?" Eleanor looked Cynthia up and down with disgust. "Frederick, you can do better. who is she?"

Frederick stood up, put his arm around Cynthia's waist, pulling her closer, his touch was warm but his voice was acting.

"mother, this is Cynthia. my wife. we married at the registry 2 days ago. I told you, I fell in love."

Eleanor laughed coldly." love? you? don't make me laugh. is she pregnant? is that why?"

Victoria stepped forward, smiling sweetly. "Cynthia, right? I'm Victoria, Frederick's fiancee. I mean, ex-fiancee now, I guess so sudden. where did you two meet?"

"we met-" Cynthia started.

"in a library." Frederick cut in smoothly. "she was reading. I fell for her innocence."

Victoria's voice tightened. "A library girl? how cute. Frederick hates reading."

the tension was thick.

Eleanor sat down. "Frederick, I need to talk to you alone. about the will."

they went to the study . Cynthia was left alone with Victoria.

Victoria's Sweet mask dropped instantly.

"listen, village girl," Victoria whispered, getting too close. "I don't know how you trapped him, but he is mine. he has been mine since University. he will get bored of you in one week. he always does . so enjoy the penthouse while it lasts. Because I am coming back."

Cynthia's hands shook, but she didn't back down. "if he is yours, why didn't he marry you? why did he marry me, a village girl?"

Victoria slapped her. hard.

the sound echoed.

Cynthia held her cheek, tears in her eyes but not falling.

At that moment, Frederick walked out of the study. he saw Victoria's hand raised and Cynthia's red cheek.

his face turned to pure devil.

"what did you do?" he asked Victoria, voice low, dangerous.

she insulted me!" Victoria lied.

Frederick didn't even look at her. he walked to Cynthia, touched her cheek gently with his big hand.

"Does it hurt? he asked softly. so soft, Cynthia almost cried.

she shook her head.

Frederick turned to Victoria. get out of my house. now. and if you ever touch my wife again, I will ruin your family. so you understand?"

Victoria gasped. "Frederick! you are defending this nobody over me?"

"she is my wife," he said coldly. "and you are nobody."

Victoria ran out crying. Eleanor watched everything, eyes narrowed, but said nothing.

after they left, Cynthia was still holding her cheek.

Frederick went to the kitchen, got ice, wrapped it in a towel, and pressed it to her face himself.

"why did you do that?" Cynthia whispered. "you said we are only contract."

he looked into her eyes, his grey eyes no longer cold for a second.

"because no one touches what is mine. even if it's contract. remember that, Cynthia."

he was so close. she could see his eyelashes. she could feel his breath.

for a second, she forgot it was a contract.

And he forgot too, because he leaned down, as if he wanted to kiss her sore cheek.

but his phone rang, breaking the moment.

he stood up quietly, cold again.

"Don't think too much, contract wife. I was just protecting my investment."

he walked back to his room, leaving Cynthia alone with the ice on her cheek and her heart beating too fast.

that night, she slept in the guest room, hearing him in the next room, wondering why her Devil husband's gentle touch hurt more than Victoria's slap.