Unexpected Contract with the Billionaire

Chapter 2

Chapter 02

Serena Martin

When she opened the door, she pushed me inside and immediately closed it. I tried opening it, but it was locked, so I started banging on the door.

"Miss, don't be like this! You said you wouldn't leave my side!" I yelled with fear in my voice.

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but I'm not allowed there. Sir Liam will be angry if she sees me with you. I'm really sorry! I'm just following my boss's order."

"But—"

My whole body froze when I heard the sound of water splashing and saw a pool behind me. I was surprised to see a man coming out of the water like your typical Adonis, but with the dim lights, I wasn't able to see his face.

"There you are," the familiar deep voice from the phone earlier said, and I swallowed.

I saw his shadow moving, and I was a hundred percent sure he was topless even without a light, and even in my state, I could tell the man has a good physique. Not to mention his towering height.

My eyes never left him, afraid that he'd just suddenly appear in front of me and hurt me. He took his towel from a nearby chair and began to dry his hair. He then took a bathrobe and wore it, hiding his body from my prying eyes.

My eyes looked for an escape. "Uhm, I think I'm lost. I am not supposed to be here."

The man chuckled, the sound sending a wave of fear and an unknown feeling through me. "I know you, so you don't have to make any excuses anymore. Come here," he demanded, using his commanding voice.

Instead of coming closer to me like I thought he would, he opened a connecting door, and I just stood there like a mannequin without following him.

So, is it Liam that Winnie's about to meet? Nath's boss? Based on her description, it seems like he is.

I firmly shook my head. "No."

Who knows what he'll do to me once I follow him? Especially when he's wearing nothing underneath that bathrobe. Based on his looks and wealth, I am certain that he's a womanizer!

'Ugh, Winnie, I am not even a w***e, and you just made me one! '

"What? Will you just stand there, or do you want me to carry you inside?" The man asked in sarcasm when I didn't make any move to follow him.

He was standing by the door that was almost the same height as him, and I flinched when I saw his sharp eyes glaring at me. Why is he so angry? And Nath's words suddenly dawned on me. Right, this man hates people who refuse to obey him.

I bit my lip and gathered the courage I had in me. "Uhm, the truth is, you're mistaken. I really shouldn't be here. You were supposed to meet my friend, Winnie, but I agreed to meet you because I needed the money. So what I'm trying to say is, I'm only here on behalf of her because she used my picture, but it was her you're talking to. She, uh, thought you're ugly because you refused to show your face. Here, I'll call her to prove it."

I stopped talking and pursed my lips, not because I ran out of things to say but because I felt intimidated by his gaze. I sneaked a peek and saw him grinning, seemingly amused by my rambling like crazy, but God! All my life, I haven't seen someone so gorgeous, and the word isn't even enough to describe him.

'Stop it, Serena! Focus on your goal! '

"Maybe my secretary forgot to inform you that I hate people who refuse to obey me. Now go inside or I will take you straight to my bed."

My eyes widened, and I gasped. "Please don't! Mister, sir, I'm only twenty-one, and even if I'm at the right age, I don't want it!"

The man clicked his tongue in clear annoyance. "You are talking too much. Move your ass!"

I almost jumped at his tone and followed him like a lost puppy, but a part of me was afraid that he'd do what he said. Despite the fear I was feeling, I couldn't help but admire the interior of the place, especially the beautiful chandelier that served as our light.

"Follow me!" He demanded, and I looked at him to see that he was now wearing jeans and was currently putting on a white shirt as he walked.

I followed closely behind him, feeling a bit relieved and less afraid now that he was fully clothed. I mean, if he's planning something, he should have done it earlier, right?

I saw a beautifully set dining table with candle lights in the middle, and for a second, I thought we'd eat, but he went past it and opened another door. He looked over his shoulder at me, as if to make sure I was following him, and went in with me reluctantly following him.

It was an office, and I watched as he took a white folder and handed it to me.

"What is this?"

"Open it."

I blinked as I opened the folder, my eyes automatically skimming through the letters. It was a contract. A contract that says...

"Wait. Why is my name here?" I asked in confusion when I saw my name, and it was even written in my full name!

"What do you think?" The man asked in all seriousness, now sitting in a swivel chair and looking at me with a pair of gray eyes.

I frowned before setting it in front of him; the fear I felt earlier was replaced by anger. "Whatever this is you're playing, it's not funny anymore. Why is my name there? Did you do it without my consent?!"

What shocked me the most is that my signature is also there! signature with a photocopy of my ID. I don't remember ever signing a contract like this!

The man was unfazed and even grinned. "I had that mailbox because you said you didn't want to sign a contract sent via email. You signed that and agreed to meet me tonight, so stop playing this stupid game of yours, Miss Martin. You read the contract, so I'm sure you know what's next, right? The wedding will be held tomorrow and—"

"Wedding? What wedding?! Who's getting married?" I cut him off in a panic.

Delaford let out a booming laugh. "I thought you were smart, but I'm disappointed to see that you're not. Do you usually sign a contract without reading the content? That's just stupidity."

I want to scoop out his eyeballs. Who does he think he is calling stupid? He has no idea that my grades are all A's and that I'm even a candidate for an honor! Should I just slap it in his face so he'll know what he's saying?

"How many times do I need to tell you that I am not the one you're supposed to meet?! It was Winnie Roberts, and she just used my name and picture! She paid me to meet you instead in fear that you are ugly, so I have no idea what you're saying or what your plan is. Now if you don't believe me, then it's not my problem. I don't know anything about that contract, and maybe Winnie was the one who signed it, so goodbye."

I was about to leave when I saw how he was looking at me with murderous eyes, and it looked like he could hurt me.

I'm just saying the truth, so it's not my problem if he cannot accept that. I even repeated it twice, but why does it look like he still doesn't get it?

"Ten thousand. That is the initial amount I sent to your account name with the name Serena Jenner Martin with the account number 00—"

I held up my hand in frustration and panic. "Wait, what?! What are you saying? Why—"

"I'm not going to repeat myself anymore, Miss Martin. We had an agreement, and you wanted me to pay you a hundred thousand dollars for that contract. I agreed, and my secretary sent you the initial payment. You will have the remaining amount when the wedding is done, which is... tomorrow."

My head spun, and I felt like fainting. Did I hear him right? Did he send money to my bank account? How did he even know my bank account number, much less my full name?

"Mr. Delaford, how many times do I have to explain that?" I stopped and snatched the folder.

I carefully read the content, and my shoulders slumped in defeat. He wasn't lying, and it is written there that I will marry him in exchange for that large amount.

I found myself laughing. Laughing like someone who just lost their sanity. "God, what's it with you rich people? Do you have nothing better to do with your money and you even have to write a stupid contract and pay someone to marry you? Hah! You will marry me without even knowing me? Hello? I am just a simple citizen of this country, and that amount is more than what I will earn even in a few years, sure, but that is still not enough to buy me and be your wife! I would rather be married to someone simple but someone I love. Let me guess, no woman wants to marry you because of your terrible attitude?"

I didn't easily like someone the first time I met them, but he's an exception. Just because he has a handsome face doesn't mean he's a good guy, because now that I've gotten to know him, he's as ugly as a rotten apple!

The guys just smirked at me, and my mouth hung open. Is he not affected by what I said?! Is he that arrogant, or is he just numb?

"Under the terms and conditions written there, if the bride refuses to marry the groom, she will have to pay twice the promised amount. Since you already signed, and I did as well, that contract is now valid. Now if you have that amount, then I am willing to end the contract. I can just find someone else."

"You're insane!" I exclaimed with my fists clenched. "What do you think of me? Stupid enough to give you that kind of amount?!"

I don't even have a thousand dollars in my account, so how does he expect me to have that kind of amount? Where would I get that kind of money?!

"Exactly. So you have no other choice."

"You're a madman!" I cut him off once again, but he doesn't look affected in the least.

"Because I'm feeling generous tonight, Miss Martin, I will let you decide. It is written there that the wedding will be tomorrow, but I will let you change it. I will let you choose when you want us to get married."

I almost tripped on my own two feet at what he said, but I regained my composure. Is he serious? He'll marry me. He'll give me that money, and I have to double it to cancel the contract?! He really has some loose screws!

"Mr. Delaford, there are many women out there, so why me? I'm sure that with your looks and money, you can easily pick anyone and even someone famous, so why?" I asked in frustration and attempted to sway him.

"Just tell me the exact date, Ms. Sta. Maria; after noon, you'll never hear anything from me. Until that day, of course."

But he didn't even look at me. That jerk.

"Just tell me the exact date you want, Miss Martin, and you won't hear anything from me. Until the day of our wedding, of course."

"But—"

"I don't like repeating myself. Choose or I will decide on your behalf, and once I do, you can never change it. I suggest you don't waste this chance I'm giving you. You wouldn't like it when I change my mind."

I swallowed the lump in my throat. Dear God, I hope I'm just dreaming, because I refuse to believe that this is happening to me. Please wake me up so I can escape the demon in front of me.

"Alright, I'll decide. Let's get—"

"Four months!" I immediately cut him off. "Give me four months," I told him with my eyes closed.

Confirmed. This is no longer a dream. Because when I pinched myself, I felt the sting, and I felt like crying. I just blurted out a random date because I was afraid of what he'd say. But at least, the date I mentioned is still a long way to go. I will graduate at that time, and I can still think of ways to escape him. If I'm able to, that is.

"Alright," the man agreed in my relief, and he fixed the mess I made with the folder. "After four months, the wedding will happen. See you on that day, Miss Martin. You may go."

Like a puppet being controlled by its master, I obeyed and left his office. I didn't even respond because my mind blanked out. The man didn't even take a second to decide.

Besides, what's the use of explaining when he won't even listen to me? Not a single word of mine entered his brain. Four months is long, so who knows? Maybe he'll find someone new to play with. A lot of things could happen.

"Oh, and I forgot to tell you something, Miss Martin."

I stopped when I was about to close the door of his office and turned back to him.

"Don't even think about escaping because I will find you even in hell. Not to mention that will be a breach of contract so I can sue you, and I'm sure you wouldn't like to spend the rest of your life in jail." The man reminded me with an annoying grin on his face.

"But—"

"You want the cops to help you? Fine with me, but if I were you, do not waste your time and energy. You have seen my influence, and with my power, it won't even take me a second to buy them all. Mind you that this agreement is legal and valid as of now, so there's no use in trying to escape. Now, should you have other questions? Wait until four months, okay? Now, go. You've already wasted my time with your nonsense."

When I was outside, beads of sweat formed on my forehead, and I'm sure I was pale. My world collapsed before me. What kind of sick game is this, God? For a hundred dollars, my world turned upside down.

"Hi, Miss Martin! Is the meeting with the boss done? Do you want me to accompany you outside?"

I didn't answer her and leaned against the wall because my chest suddenly tightened and my vision was blurring.

"Ma'am! Are you alright?!"