CONTRACT MARRIAGE

Chapter 5 • About The Contract

She took out a small cloth from her purse and wiped her eyes and nose. Levi watched in disgust. When she was done, he cleared his throat again.

"Like I said, before you began your waterworks, this isn't a regular marriage. It's a contractual marriage." He paused. "Do you know what that means?"

Mia nodded slowly. "I do." She muttered shakily.

"Good. Baldwin, my lawyer, will be here soon. He has prepared the conditions for the contract. But, I shall enlighten you on some of them."

"One. The marriage will last for three months."

"Two. There are absolutely no strings attached. You know what that means, right?"

"I do." She answered softly. Her eyes were still damp, and her voice was shaky.

"Good. As a matter of fact, there are penalties for breaking the rules that guide the marriage. If you catch feelings for me, that's your problem. But if you make it an issue during the course of the three months, then you owe me half a million dollars. Got it?"

Mia nodded. Half a million? Half a million? The more she thought about it, the more afraid she became.

"Good. Now, whatever I do is none of your business. Meaning you have to stay away from my personal life. When we're out in public, you can perform wifely duties. But, so long we are at home, ensure to stay in your space."

"Four. I have a girlfriend. Once she returns, you must respect her."

"Five. You must hate Mr. James Simon. He's an enemy to me."

Mia frowned slightly. Why did it matter who she hated? "Sir, I have a question-"

"Levi." He corrected. "Don't call me sir if we're going to be married."

"Levi…" She whispered softly.

"What?"

"I… uh, I'm sorry but, why do you want to marry me? It's obvious…" she sniffed. "...that you… you don't like me."

Levi stared at her. "Yes, I don't like you. I couldn't possibly like the likes of you." He scoffed. "You're ugly and unkempt."

Mia broke down in tears again. "Then why do you want to marry me?"

"Well, for one you need money. And I need a wife to access more money."

She stared at him through her teary eyes. "I… I don't understand."

"I have a contract I need to sign. If I sign this contract, I get benefits worth over a hundred billion. The contract will last for six months before my payment will be completed. During the course of those six months, I'll get a monthly cheque that will sum up to fifty percent of the total benefit. Then when it's complete, I get the remaining fifty percent with a little compensation." He explained.

Mia wiped her face. She was going to help him become rich? A hundred billion? Her eyes were wide as saucers.

"But, what does it have to do with me?" Mia asked softly.

"I have all it takes, but they say I need to be married before I can get the contract. And, I'm certain James Simon has a hand -or two- in it." He narrowed his eyes.

Mia nodded. "But you have a girlfriend, why didn't you marry her?"

Levi's expression turned grim at the mention of Jessica. "Do you want the money or not?"

"H…how much is my payment for being married to you?" She asked, frightened.

"Every month, you will get a salary of half a million dollars. Then at the end of the three months, you will be paid $4,500,000."

Mia's mouth went wide open. With her fingers, she did the math. She would have six million dollars at the end of three months!? She could try and get her father's company back! She could sue her uncle! She could send Asher to school! She could do anything she wanted! Her eyes, once again, filled with tears. Happy tears. She was happy. Levi was her lifesaver.

"Are you in or not?" Levi asked when he saw she was about to cry again.

"I'm in!" Mia screamed excitedly.

"Hey, don't shout like - ugh. Listen, before we go to the civil affairs bureau, we have to do you a huge makeover. You look very terrible, I don't think people would believe you're my wife when you look like this."

Mia quietened immediately. "Since we're helping each other, can't you be a little more regarding?"

Levi stared at her, then he let out a dark chuckle. "Regarding you say? Regarding of what exactly? Have you looked in the mirror lately?" Mia looked down at her own dress, and up back at him. She frowned slightly. Was he always going to put her down? Did he know what she was going through?

"Come on, come with me." He stood up, and led her into the room inside his office. There was a huge floor to ceiling length mirror there. He urged her to stand, and then stood beside her.

"Now, look. Look at yourself, and look at me. Compare." He said firmly. "What would be the first thing that came into your mind if you saw two people dressed as such, in the street? Go on, tell."

Mia stared at her image. She tried hard to not see what Levi was putting in her head, but that was all she saw. Herself as the poorest person on earth, and himself as the richest person on earth.

"It would be as if I was your servant." She whispered.

"Beautiful. Now, once the contract is signed, I shall have someone accompanying you to a boutique where you will be given the best clothes to wear. Then, you shall go to the spa, your skin looks like that of an old woman."

Mia looked at her body. It wasn't her fault, she had worked in the oddest of places.

"....And your hair looks like the sharp erectile spines mingled with the hairs of a porcupine. God, in general you look so awful. I wouldn't want to be caught dead with you like this, gross." He gagged.