Chapter 3: The Contract
1421 Words
Isabella barely slept that night.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Alexander sitting calmly in the diner booth as if he owned the place. As if he owned her choices.
“Three months… and you stay alive.”
The words echoed in her mind like a warning she couldn’t escape.
By morning, exhaustion clung to her like a heavy blanket. She stared at the contract sitting on her kitchen table for what felt like the hundredth time.
Half a million dollars.
Three months.
A fake relationship.
And apparently… it was protection from something she didn’t understand.
Her fingers tapped nervously against the table.
“This is insane,” she whispered to herself.
Normal people didn’t sign contracts to pretend to date billionaires.
Normal people didn’t wake up to messages written inside their sketchbooks by strangers who somehow got into their locked apartments.
But normal had disappeared the moment Alexander Knight walked into her life.
Her phone buzzed suddenly on the table.
Unknown number.
She hesitated before answering.
“Hello?”
“Good morning, Isabella.”
Her stomach dropped instantly.
Alexander.
“How did you get my number?” she asked.
“Connections,” he replied smoothly.
She rubbed her forehead.
“I told you yesterday I’m not signing that contract.”
“I know,” he said calmly.
A pause.
“Which is why my driver is outside your building.”
Her head snapped toward the window.
Down on the street below sat a sleek black car.
Waiting.
“You’re unbelievable,” she muttered.
“Perhaps,” Alexander replied. “But you’re curious.”
Silence stretched between them.
And he was right.
She was curious.
I'm curious about the message in her sketchbook.
I was curious about who had entered her apartment.
I was curious about why a billionaire seemed so interested in protecting her.
“Thirty minutes,” he added.
“For what?”
“To decide whether you want answers.”
Then he hung up.
The ride to Alexander’s penthouse felt unreal.
The driver said almost nothing as the car glided through the city. Isabella watched buildings blur past the window, her thoughts racing.
What was she doing?
This felt like stepping into another world entirely.
Soon, the car pulled up in front of a towering glass skyscraper.
She looked up, her mouth slightly open.
The building seemed to stretch endlessly into the sky.
“This is where he lives?” she whispered.
The driver nodded.
“Yes, Miss Clarke.”
Miss Clarke.
The title sounded strange.
Inside, the lobby was even more intimidating than the hotel.
Polished marble floors.
Crystal chandeliers.
People dressed in expensive suits moving with quiet confidence.
Isabella suddenly felt very aware of her simple jeans and sweater.
The receptionist smiled politely.
“Mr. Knight is expecting you.”
Of course he was.
The elevator ride to the top floor felt like it lasted forever.
When the doors finally opened, Isabella stepped into a massive penthouse that looked more like a luxury mansion than an apartment.
Floor-to-ceiling windows revealed the entire city below.
Soft music played somewhere in the background.
And standing near the windows was Alexander Knight.
He turned as she entered.
“You came.”
She crossed her arms.
“I came for answers.”
A faint smile touched his lips.
“That’s a good start.”
He gestured toward the table where the contract sat waiting again.
Untouched.
Perfectly prepared.
“You really planned this,” she said.
“I plan everything,” he replied.
She walked slowly through the penthouse, taking in the sleek furniture and elegant artwork.
“You live here alone?”
“Mostly.”
“Mostly?”
Before he could answer, a cheerful voice suddenly called out from behind her.
“Not always!”
Isabella turned quickly.
A young woman about her age walked into the room, holding a camera in her hands. Her long dark hair fell over her shoulders, and her bright smile made the room feel warmer instantly.
“Oh good,” the woman said. “You’re finally here.”
Isabella blinked.
“Um… hello?”
The woman walked forward and offered her hand.
“I’m Sophia. Alexander’s sister.”
Alexander sighed quietly.
“You were supposed to be at your photography studio.”
Sophia shrugged.
“I was bored.”
She turned back to Isabella with excitement in her eyes.
“So you’re the girl.”
“The girl?” Isabella repeated nervously.
Sophia grinned.
“The one my brother has been obsessively searching for.”
Isabella froze.
Alexander’s jaw tightened.
“That’s enough, Sophia.”
But the damage was already done.
Isabella slowly turned toward him.
“You’ve been searching for me?”
The room suddenly felt colder.
Alexander hesitated.
For the first time since she met him… he looked slightly uncomfortable.
Sophia noticed the tension and raised her hands dramatically.
“Okay wow. Awkward. I’m leaving now.”
She quickly backed toward the hallway.
“But Isabella—” she added with a wink.
“Welcome to the Knight family circus.”
Then she disappeared.
Silence filled the room.
Isabella stared at Alexander.
“You want to explain that?”
He walked toward the bar and poured a glass of water before handing it to her.
“You should sit.”
“I’d rather stand.”
“Suit yourself.”
He leaned against the counter, studying her carefully.
“Yes,” he admitted finally.
“I’ve been looking for you.”
Her heart began racing again.
“Why?”
Alexander didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he nodded toward the contract.
“Sign it, and I’ll tell you everything.”
She let out a frustrated laugh.
“You’re unbelievable.”
“Strategic,” he corrected calmly.
She walked closer to him.
“You expect me to pretend to be your girlfriend without even knowing why?”
“Yes.”
“That’s insane.”
“Possibly.”
She shook her head.
“I’m leaving.”
She turned toward the door.
But before she reached it, Alexander spoke again.
“Your parents didn’t die in a simple accident.”
Her entire body froze.
Slowly… she turned back around.
“What did you say?”
Alexander’s voice was quiet now.
Careful.
“Sixteen years ago,” he said slowly, “your parents were involved in a car crash.”
Her chest tightened painfully.
“That’s not a secret.”
“No,” he agreed.
“But the truth behind that crash is.”
Her pulse pounded in her ears.
“How do you know about that?”
Alexander’s gaze locked onto hers.
“Because my family was involved.”
The room seemed to tilt.
“You’re lying.”
“I wish I were.”
Her hands trembled.
“What does that have to do with me now?”
Alexander walked toward the table and tapped the contract once.
“Everything.”
Silence filled the penthouse again.
Outside, the city buzzed with life far below.
Inside, Isabella felt like her entire world was shifting.
“You said you’d tell me the truth,” she whispered.
“I will.”
“Then start talking.”
Alexander exhaled slowly.
“There are people who don’t want you to know what really happened to your parents.”
Her heart pounded harder.
“And those people…”
He hesitated.
“…are very powerful.”
She swallowed.
“More powerful than you?”
For the first time, Alexander didn’t answer immediately.
Which terrified her more than anything.
Finally, he said quietly:
“Yes.”
The air seemed to leave the room.
Isabella looked down at the contract again.
Three months.
Pretend relationship.
Protection.
Answers.
Her hand slowly reached for the pen beside the paper.
Alexander watched carefully.
“Before you sign,” he said softly, “you should understand something.”
She paused.
“What?”
His expression darkened.
“Once you enter my world…”
“There’s no going back.”
Her fingers tightened around the pen.
But before she could sign—
Sophia suddenly rushed back into the room, panic written all over her face.
“Alex!”
Alexander turned sharply.
“What happened?”
Sophia held up her phone.
“You need to see this.”
She handed it to him.
His expression instantly hardened.
Isabella stepped closer.
“What is it?”
Alexander slowly turned the screen toward her.
It was a photograph.
A photo was taken just minutes ago.
Of Isabella entering the building.
And underneath it was a single message.
“We found her.”
- Writer
