The Accidental Billionaire Bride

Chapter Nine

The awkward silence between Eleanor and Jack was very uncomfortable. Eleanor fixed her eyes on the piece of paper that Jack kept on the table.

The paper contained the marriage proposal Jack offered to her. The low sound coming from the air conditioner seemed to become loud in the quiet room, and Eleanor could even hear her heartbeat from her ears.

Eleanor was still finding it hard to make a decision on whether to accept Jack's proposal or not

Jack went to the window side with his hands tucked inside his pockets. His face had no expression but he continued to stare at Eleanor, watching the every change of emotions occurring within her.

"The decision is yours to make Eleanor. But we both know you don't have much time to think about it." Jack's calm voice broke the subtle silence

"I do not need your charity, Jack. I was fine the way I was before all this mess happened." Eleanor countered back, grinding her teeth in frustration.

"I'm not offering you any charity," Jack defended. "This is a business proposition, a deal that will benefit the both of us." Jack calmly expressed. Eleanor clenched her fist, making her nails to pierce into her palms.

Marriage was supposed to be sacred and blissful, not some casual business deal. Yet, here they are, making a business marriage proposal. This was really frustrating.

"I am not going to be used by you or your father, Jack." Eleanor retorted, putting her arms across her chest.

"Then use me instead, use me to your best advantage. You will get six-month of financial security and stability, and once it's all over, we go our separate ways, no strings attached," Jack shouted.

"You're free to live your life however you want during the contract. This is about survival, Eleanor." Jack pressed on, trying to sound convincing.

Eleanor turned her back to Jack with her arms still crossed over her chest while she looked down at the marble floor, lost in her thoughts.

How did she even end up into this situation in the first place? Eleanor's pride kept telling her to just walk away and reject Jack's cold proposal.

But what other options did she really have? It's either she accepts it for her survival or she walk herself into misery.

Her only job was already hanging by a thread. The possibility that she would continue working after what happened was zero to none.

Soon, even paying her rent and sorting out her bills might become an uncertainty if she doesn't find a new job quickly.

And after the scandal, with her face plastered across every news media, she doubt any company would dare to take the risk of hiring her. Her reputation was truly tarnished.

Eleanor closed her eyes shut, trying to to calm he thoughts.

This was not the kind of life she envisioned for herself. Her dream was to become one of the top designers in the city.

Eleanor had built that dream brick by brick, now everything was crumbling down and no one was reaching out to her.

Now, she was set on having a contract marriage with Jack Sinclair.

A man of great power and influence, whose ruthless story spreads everywhere across the city. Just the thought of having to tie herself with him, even temporarily, was suffocating.

And yet… what other choice does she have? Homelessness? Unemployment? A slow descent into nothing but a miserable life.

Just the thought of it sent a cold chill running down Eleanor's vein.

Eleanor could already envision herself in the future from now if she decide to walk down that path -broke and humiliated, with every single door of opportunity slammed shut in her face.

How would she even start from there ? Eleanor's throat tightened as she weighed down all her possible options.

If she accepts Jack's proposal, she will use the six-month period to search for a good job opportunity as stay away from the eyes of the public.

And once the contract ends, she could come out a different person with her life finally back on track. The six-month period was definitely short but if felt like an eternity to Eleanor.

"I can't believe you actually pushed me into such a corner ." Eleanor muttered with resentment evident in her voice.

"No one is pushing you into any corner, Eleanor. This is a decision you definitely have to make whether you like it or not." Jack stated to Eleanor, trying to reason with her.

Eleanor turned to face Jack with a scowl on her face. "Don't flatter yourself Jack. You're not my saviour." Eleanor spat out with grievance.

"Good! At least we both understood each other to some point." Jack replied, a flicker of amusement flashing through his eyes.

Eleanor sneered. As her eyes dropped to the contract, all her determination seemed to waver.

Eleanor balled her hands into a fist. She loathed every bit of whatever was going to happen next,, starting from now.

With a deep breath, Eleanor decided it was time to make a decision.

"Fine. I definitely figure out my own life, even if I have to become your wife while doing it. But when this contract ends Jack," Eleanor paused and spoke the remaining sentence word by word. "I walk away, and we will never get to see each other again. Ever." Eleanor warned Jack.

"Deal." Jack's lips curled into a faint smirk

To anyone else, Eleanor could be the luckiest woman in the world for encountering such a luxury lifestyle without having to break a sweat.

But to Eleanor, this was no victory or luck. She had just put herself in a game controlled by the upper echelons of the city.

Right now, surviving this coming six-month was Eleanor's top priority. Immediately the contract was signed by the both of them, Jack folded the paper and slid it into his pocket.

We'll, Eleanor has finally made her choice and she definitely has to live with it. This was just the beginning to a more greater game of power and influence.