Contracted Bride

Chapter 3

Ella stood in front of the enormous, intimidating glass building with a large DON sign written on each side, palms sweaty as she began to doubt her choice of coming here.

DON is the biggest group of companies in the whole country, it has dominated the technology sectors of the economy for several decades and there are several rumours about their new CEO, Charles Don, for being even more ruthless in business than his predecessors.

Ella took a deep breath to calm her racing heart and tense muscles, as she walked into the extravagant building.

Staff dressed in high-end dresses and suits gave her a side glance as she walked up to the secretary in her borrowed dress and heels. Benita had insisted she got dressed up and looked decent, she had refused to borrow the dress initially but now she is grateful that they had forced her into the dress.

Even with Benita's Hundred Dollar dress, she still looked and felt out of place. She stepped up to the receptionist's desk with a smile "Hello, I am Ella Vasilious and I have a meeting with Mr Leonardo " she introduced to the beautiful lady, with the body and smile of a model,

"Oh, Miss Vasilious, he has been expecting you. Walk down this part and take the elevator to the fifteenth floor" the receptionist explained with a smile

Ella thanked her and followed the directions to the elevator, once in the elevator, she took in more deep breaths as her nerves set in.

'I hope I don't get rejected, this is my last hope'

'What could they ask of me? '

'Can I go any length to make sure my mum gets better?'

'Will they ask me to sell my body to repay' She slapped her cheeks as the last thought came to kind

"Get yourself together Ella, everything depends on this, you absolutely can't blow it" she lectured herself as the elevator came to a stop and the door opened up revealing a blond-haired man dressed in a grey suit and white dress shirt, he had on a squared glasses and an expressionless face.

"Welcome, Miss Vasilious, the boss has been waiting for you" the blond man greeted

"Ah yes, I'm here to see Mr. Leonardo" Ella replied nervously, clutching the small handbag tightly

"I am Leonardo, the boss, Mr. Don himself will see you. I'm sure he is the one you are here to see right?" Leonardo asked as he led her to the office with a president's sign on it

Shocked that she gets to meet the man himself, her nervousness increased multiple folds as she stumbled on the heels on her leg,

"Relax, he isn't as bad as the rumour makes him out to be"

'As long as you don't make him angry' he added under his breath

He held her hands as he helped her steady herself "Are you okay, Miss Vasilious? "

"Ah yes, I was just surprised I get to meet the president, himself" She let out a nervous chuckle, Leonardo gave a nod as he knocked on the door twice before pushing it open.

Ella followed after him hesitantly, her eyes scanning the expensively decorated office, her eyes wandered from the bookshelves on each side of the office to the small resting areas at the corner before eventually landing on the dark-haired man sitting behind the large mahogany table, his eyes focused on whatever was on the laptop screen as Leonardo reported their arrival.

"Excuse us, will call for you when I need you" Charles ordered, as he closed the laptop he was working on, his onyx eyes fixated on Ella hazel ones, giving her a cold stare.

He stood up from the chair and walked toward the couch, gesturing for her to come with him.

"I heard you need my help for something" he went straight to the point, his aura and voice as cold as his face, he picked up the brown envelope on the table containing all the information about her.

He had specifically asked for it and it was after looking through it, he decided to meet her.

Someone like her was easier to control than his ex.

"Yes, Yes sir" Ella replied nervously her hands squeezed on her laps

"What made you think I would help you? This is not a charity organization neither is it a loan company" Charles asked coldly.

"I can do anything in exchange for your help" Ella replied pleadingly, dreading getting rejected "I can work, I'm hardworking and versatile, and I also learn, I can do any kind of work" she added

A cocky smile appeared on his face as he placed the documents beside him, he straightened his back giving her a pointed look that made her soul shiver in fright

"I have enough staff in my company and even if you work as domestic staff in my company it's not enough to repay your debts, Miss Vasilious. So, if I offer to help you pay your debt and your mother's hospital bills what do you have to offer me in exchange for my favour to you?"

'I don't have anything to offer, nothing worth the amount of favour I'm asking but I can't give up now, my mom's life depends on this' she thought to herself

"I don't have anything worth giving… "

"Then you can start preparing for your mother's funeral and your trip down to the brothel," he cut her off coldly, preparing to stand and get back to his work

"But I can do any, anything, please, I will do anything" she begged as tears threatened to fall

He raised his eyebrow in amusement at her sorry state, sitting back down he asked

"Anything? You will do you anything?" he questioned

"I Will do anything as long as you will help me" Ella begged with her head bowed,

"Really? Anything?" he asked with a sinister smile on his face, mirroring his black heart.

Ella tightened her grip on her dress, knowing fully well there was no going back now that she was here, with a strong determination she lifted her head and looked straight at him

"Yes, anything as long as you can help me pay off my debt and my mother's medical bills" she reaffirmed

"Be my bride then"

" Will you be my wife”