The Billionaire’s Contract Bride

“Marry me.” I blinked, convinced I had heard him wrong. “What?” Across the table, the man didn’t even flinch. Adrian Wolfe, the billionaire CEO of Wolfe Industries, sat there as he had just asked for a cup of coffee, instead of proposing marriage to a stranger. His expression remained calm. Cold and calculated. “I said.” he repeated smoothly, “marry me.” The Upscale restaurant around us suddenly felt too quiet. The soft music, the clinking glasses, the quiet conversations from other dinners— everything faded into the background as I stared at him. This had to be some joke. Unfortunately, Andrian Wolfe is not the kind of man who jokes. At twenty-nine, he was one of the youngest and most powerful billionaires in the country. Every business magazine talked about him like he was some genius. Every gossip blog talked about him like he was the most dangerous bachelor alive. Cold Ruthless Untouchable. And now he was asking me to marry him. “I think you are confused,” I said slowly, trying to keep my voice steady. “We’ve only met once.” “Twice,” he corrected calmly. Right. The first time had been a week ago when I spilled a drink all over his expensive suit in the lobby of Wolfe Tower. I had expected to be thrown out by a security guard. Instead, his assistant had called me yesterday asking me to come to dinner. Which had somehow led to…this. I shook my head. “This isn’t funny.” Adrian leaned back slightly in his chair, studying me with those sharp grey eyes that seemed to analyze everything. “I’m not joking, Miss Carter.” A waiter walked past our table, refilling his wine glass, Adrian didn’t touch it. His attention never left me. “You need money,” he continued. My stomach tightened instantly. “And you.” He added calmly, “are very desperate.” I clenched my hands under the table. “I don’t know what you are talking about.” Adrian reached into his suit jacket and placed a thin folder on the table between us. “Your Father’s Company,” he said quietly. My heart stopped. He pushed the folder towards me. “Carter construction. Currently drowning in Debt. There are three major loans paid. Bankruptcy expected within two months.” “How do you know about that?” “ I make it my business to know things.” Of course he did. Billionaires always knew everything. My father had spent thirty years building that company. It was all he had. And now it was collapsing. “What does that have to do with your insane…proposal?” I asked. Adrian's voice remained completely steady. “I’ll pay all of it.” My head snapped up. “All…of it?” “Yes.” The word landed like a bomb. Every loan Every debt Everything is destroying my family’s life. Gone. “But in return,” Adrian continued calmly, “you will marry me.” I stared at him in disbelief. “You can’t be serious.” “It’s a contract marriage, he explained, as if this was perfectly normal. “One year.” “One year?” “Yes.” “And after that?” “We divorce.” Just like that. A one-year marriage. Like it was a business deal. “Why?” I asked quietly. Adrian was silent for a moment. Then he said,” My grandfather is dying.” The bluntness of the statement caught me off guard. “He built Wolfe industries,” Adrian continued. “His only wish is to see me marry before he passes.” “So you decided to marry a stranger?” “You’re not just any stranger.” I frowned. “What does that mean?” Adrian’s eyes flicked briefly over my face. “You are not involved in scandals, you have a clean background and more importantly…” He paused. “You’re desperate enough to say yes.” The truth stung. I hated that he was right. “You’d get money.” He continued. “Your father’s company survives. Your family keeps their home.” His voice remained coldly logical. “And all you have to do is pretend to be my wife.” Pretend. My mind raced. This was insane. Completely insane But my father's tired face flashed in my mind. The overdue bills on the kitchen table. The way my mother had been trying to hide her worry. They were losing everything. And this man… This cold terrifying billionaire… Was offering a solution. “What's the catch?” I asked quietly. Adrian slid another document onto the table Rule #1: No emotional attachment Rule #2: Maintain the appearance of a happy marriage in public. Rule#3: You will move into my residence immediately. My chest tightened. “You already wrote this contract?” “Of course.” “Meaning you already expected me to agree?” His lips curved slightly. “You came to dinner, didn't you?” “How much control do you plan to have over my life?” I asked. “Only what's necessary.” “That sounds terrifying.” “Its practical.” I stared at him. “You're asking me to marry a man I don't even know.” Adrian leaned forward slightly. His voice dropped just enough to send a shiver down my spine. “I'm offering the chance to save your family.” The restaurant suddenly felt smaller. The air heavier. This was a deal with the devil. And the worst part? I was seriously considering it. I slowly looked up at him. “And if I say no?” Adrian didn't hesitate. “Then Carter Construction collapses in eight weeks.” His words were calm. As a matter of fact. But they hit like a hammer. My throat tightened. “You're blackmailing me.” “No,” he corrected coolly. “I'm making you an offer.” He pushed a pen toward me. “One year, Lena.” My name sounded strange coming from his lips. “Sign the contract,” Adrian said quietly, “and become Mrs. Wolfe.” I stared at the paper. One signature. That was all it would take. One signature… And my life would never be the same again.