OWNED BY SIGNATURES

CHAPTER EIGHT — PRACTICALITIES

Hiring Emma as my personal assistant was a practical decision.

I needed someone competent, discreet, and adaptable. She fit the requirements. The transition was smooth—better than expected. She learned quickly, followed instructions without unnecessary questions, and handled pressure with composure.

That alone made her valuable.

The contract marriage had been on my mind long before Emma entered the picture.

My parents had been relentless—subtle in public, direct in private. Board dinners disguised as family gatherings. Comments about legacy. About stability. About appearances. They didn’t care who I married, only that it happened.

I wasn’t interested in romance.

I was interested in resolution.

What I needed was someone presentable, intelligent, and capable of maintaining boundaries. Someone who wouldn’t complicate the arrangement by expecting sentiment or permanence.

Emma met those conditions.

She was private. Grounded. Careful with herself. And importantly, she needed the job.

That made the proposal possible.

Travel creates opportunity.

The Chicago meeting provided distance from the office, from routine, and from interference. It would give us uninterrupted time to discuss the arrangement without gossip or speculation.

She accepted the trip without hesitation.

“I’ll handle the arrangements,” she said.

Efficient. Neutral.

Exactly what I required.

I observed her over the following days—not closely, not intrusively. Simply noting consistency. Professionalism. Restraint. She didn’t flirt. Didn’t overstep. Didn’t try to ingratiate herself.

She would listen.

That mattered.

The proposal required clarity, not chemistry.

Terms would be straightforward:

Duration

Expectations

Discretion

Compensation

Nothing emotional.

Chicago would be appropriate. Controlled. Private.

I didn’t intend to pressure her.

But I did intend to ask.

By the time we boarded the flight, I had already drafted the structure in my head. Not because I doubted her answer—but because preparation prevents failure.

Emma was not a risk.

She was a solution.