The cold proposal
341 Words
Aisha was led into an office that felt less like a workplace and more like the fortress of a corporate king. Glass walls overlooked a cityscape that seemed to bow to the structure.
Elias Thorne stood by the window, his back to her. He was taller than she expected, lean, powerful, and impeccably dressed in a suit that looked tailored by the gods. He did not turn around.
"You may sit, Ms. Alabi. I prefer to dispense with pleasantries." His voice was low, cutting, and devoid of any warmth.
He gestured to a large holographic screen displaying a contract. The Thorne Marriage Arrangement.
"Here is the deal," he stated, finally turning. His eyes—a startling, icy gray—met hers with the intensity of a predator. "I require a temporary wife for one year. You will occupy the role of Mrs. Elias Thorne in public and at all necessary social functions."
Aisha blinked, stunned. "A wife? I'm not sure I follow—"
"I require a respectable, unattached partner to finalize my inheritance of Thorne Industries. My grandmother is... traditional. I hate being seen, and I detest being touched. Your compensation for this simple theatrical performance will be $2,000,000 transferred to your account immediately upon signing."
A shiver went down her spine. He didn't just know about her problem; he had calculated its exact value.
"The terms are non-negotiable, Ms. Alabi," he continued, holding out a sleek stylus. "The funds you require are already secured. You get the money; I get the company. It's strictly business."
She hesitated, her finger hovering over the screen. It was morally grey, but her mother's life was on the line.
"And the terms?" she whispered, trying to sound professional instead of terrified. "What exactly does a temporary wife entail?"
Elias Thorne finally allowed the slightest, coldest hint of a smirk to touch his lips.
"Public appearances only. No emotional attachment. And, for the sake of my reputation and my grandmother's scrutiny... you will sleep in the same bed as me. We will not touch."
- Writer
