The Marriage Contract
1506 Words
Naomi stood frozen beneath the pouring rain.
A marriage contract.
The words echoed inside her mind, refusing to make sense.
She looked from Arthur Bennett to the sleek black SUV before looking back again.
“This has to be some kind of joke.”
“It isn’t.”
“I’ve never even met Jaxon Hayes before tonight.”
“You have now.”
“For less than two minutes.”
Arthur nodded.
“That was enough.”
Naomi let out a nervous laugh.
“No. It wasn’t.”
“It was for him.”
She hugged herself against the cold rain.
“I’m going home.”
“You can.”
She turned.
“But if you leave now,” Arthur continued calmly, “you also leave behind five million dollars.”
Her feet stopped moving.
Five million dollars.
The number alone made her heart race.
It was enough to pay every debt.
Enough to save Ethan’s future.
Enough to buy a home.
Enough to finally breathe again.
Nobody handed a stranger five million dollars.
There had to be a catch.
“There is one question you haven’t asked.”
Naomi slowly faced him.
“What?”
“What Mr. Hayes wants in return.”
She swallowed.
“What does he want?”
Arthur opened the SUV door.
“He wants to explain it himself.”
Naomi stared at the waiting vehicle.
Every instinct told her to run.
But every unpaid bill, every sleepless night, every sacrifice she had made for Ethan pushed her toward the open door.
Slowly, she climbed inside.
The leather seats were softer than her mattress.
The door closed quietly.
Within seconds, the SUV pulled away from the curb.
Neither of them spoke for several minutes.
The silence became unbearable.
“Where are we going?”
“The Hayes estate.”
Naomi turned toward the window.
Rain slid down the glass while city lights blurred into streaks of gold.
Her phone suddenly vibrated.
Ethan.
She answered immediately.
“Hey.”
“You okay?” he asked.
“I’m fine.”
“You sound strange.”
She forced a smile he couldn’t see.
“Just a long day.”
“Did your manager finally approve your overtime pay?”
Her heart tightened.
“Not yet.”
“You’ll still be home tonight, right?”
She glanced toward Arthur.
“I might be a little late.”
There was a brief silence.
“Don’t work too hard, Naomi.”
“I won’t.”
“And don’t forget dinner.”
She laughed softly.
“I already did.”
“I made noodles.”
“You cooked?”
“They’re instant noodles.”
She smiled.
“I’ll bring dessert.”
“You always say that.”
“This time I mean it.”
After ending the call, guilt settled heavily inside her chest.
She hated lying to him.
Twenty-five minutes later, the SUV slowed before massive iron gates.
Security cameras followed the vehicle.
The gates opened automatically.
Naomi stared through the window.
The driveway seemed endless.
Perfect gardens stretched across acres of land.
Water fountains sparkled beneath elegant lights.
Luxury sports cars sat neatly parked outside a mansion so enormous it looked like a five-star hotel.
“This can’t be one person’s house.”
Arthur smiled.
“It is.”
The SUV stopped beneath a grand entrance.
A butler opened the door before Naomi could touch the handle.
“Welcome, Miss Brooks.”
She stepped onto polished stone flooring.
Her inexpensive shoes suddenly felt embarrassingly out of place.
Everything around her screamed wealth.
Inside, crystal chandeliers hung from impossibly high ceilings.
Marble floors reflected warm golden light.
Beautiful paintings covered every wall.
Fresh flowers filled the air with a delicate fragrance.
She had never seen anything like it.
Arthur led her down a long hallway before stopping outside a large wooden door.
“Mr. Hayes is waiting.”
He opened it.
Naomi stepped inside.
The room was elegant yet surprisingly comfortable.
Bookshelves lined the walls.
A fireplace burned quietly.
Rain tapped gently against floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city.
She barely had time to take everything in before the door opened again.
Jaxon Hayes walked inside.
This time he wasn’t wearing the expensive suit from the restaurant.
Instead, he wore dark jeans and a black sweater with the sleeves rolled to his elbows.
He somehow looked even more handsome.
And far less intimidating.
“I’m glad you came,” he said.
“I almost didn’t.”
“I expected that.”
Silence settled between them.
Finally Naomi crossed her arms.
“Why me?”
Jaxon slipped both hands into his pockets.
“You want the truth?”
“I didn’t come here for lies.”
He nodded once.
“My grandfather is dying.”
Her expression softened immediately.
“I’m sorry.”
“He doesn’t have much time left.”
Naomi waited for him to continue.
“His final wish is to see me married.”
She blinked.
“So… marry someone.”
“It isn’t that simple.”
“You don’t have a girlfriend?”
“No.”
“What about the women I see with you in magazines?”
“They’re publicity.”
“The actress?”
“Publicity.”
“The supermodel?”
“Publicity.”
“The singer?”
He smiled faintly.
“Also publicity.”
Naomi stared at him.
“So the country’s most eligible bachelor has been pretending all along?”
“My public image has always been carefully managed.”
“And now you suddenly need a wife.”
“I need someone believable.”
She laughed.
“And somehow that person is me?”
“You didn’t know who I was until tonight.”
“I knew who you were.”
“But you treated me like an ordinary customer.”
“I treated you like someone whose shirt I ruined.”
“You never asked for a picture.”
“I was trying not to lose my job.”
His expression changed.
“You were fired?”
“Suspended.”
“Because of me.”
“It wasn’t your fault.”
“It happened because I was there.”
Naomi shrugged.
“It doesn’t matter anymore.”
“It matters to me.”
He walked to his desk and picked up a thick folder.
He handed it to her.
She opened it.
The first page read:
Marriage Agreement
Compensation: $5,000,000
Her breathing slowed.
This was real.
She flipped through the pages.
Duration.
Six months.
Public appearances.
Shared residence.
Confidentiality agreement.
Media obligations.
Then she stopped.
Her eyes widened.
“We have to live together?”
“It would be suspicious if we didn’t.”
She closed the folder.
“I can’t do this.”
“Why not?”
“Because this is insane.”
“Probably.”
“You don’t even know me.”
“I know enough.”
“No, you don’t.”
“I know you worked three double shifts this week.”
Naomi froze.
“I know you’re six months behind on rent.”
Her face went pale.
“I know your younger brother received a university admission letter.”
She tightened her grip on the folder.
“I know you’re doing everything you can to keep him from giving up his dream.”
She looked at him in disbelief.
“You investigated me.”
“I verified your background.”
“Why?”
“Because I needed someone honest.”
She laughed bitterly.
“So you picked the broke waitress.”
“I picked the woman who refused to blame me for an accident.”
“I blamed myself.”
“Exactly.”
He stepped closer.
“I’ve met hundreds of women who wanted my money, my fame, or my last name.”
His blue eyes locked onto hers.
“You were the first woman who looked at me like I was just another man.”
Naomi’s heartbeat became unsteady.
“I don’t belong in your world.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I won’t know what to do.”
“I’ll help you.”
She shook her head.
“You make this sound easy.”
“It won’t be.”
“So why risk it?”
His expression darkened.
“Because if I don’t convince my grandfather before it’s too late…”
He paused.
“…I’ll lose far more than five million dollars.”
Naomi looked down at the contract again.
Five million dollars.
Enough to save her family.
Enough to change their lives forever.
But could she really marry a complete stranger?
Even if it was only for six months?
She slowly lifted her eyes to meet his.
“What happens if I say no?”
Jaxon held her gaze for several long seconds.
Then he answered quietly.
“I’ll walk you to the door… and you’ll never hear from me again.”
The room fell silent.
Naomi looked at the contract in her trembling hands.
For the first time in her life…
Five million dollars suddenly didn’t feel like enough.
- Writer
