Contract Ring for Revenge

Chapter 2: The Proposal That Couldn’t Be Refused

The Bentley glided smoothly along Madrid’s rain-slicked streets. The downpour still hammered the city, but inside the cabin there was only a tense silence that pressed in on both of them. Valentina Morales sat upright, her hands clasped tightly in her lap to keep them from trembling. Adrián Castillo sat beside her, one leg crossed over the other, looking as relaxed as if he were in an ordinary meeting.

Val turned slightly. Adrián’s profile was sharp beneath the occasional wash of streetlight that slipped through the windows. His jaw was firm, his lips thin, and his eyes, those eyes that seemed capable of reading every thought she tried to hide.

“You haven’t answered,” Val said, breaking the silence. Her voice remained steady despite the damp chill and exhaustion. “Eighteen months. I play your public wife. Red carpets, interviews, reality shows, whatever you need for that tender. My condition, full access to all internal agency files. Javier’s contracts, emails, chats, sponsors, everything. I decide how to destroy him.”

Adrián didn’t answer right away. He tapped his fingers lightly against his knee, a slow rhythm that only made Val more uneasy.

“Eighteen months is a long time to pretend,” he said at last, his voice low, almost idle. “Are you sure you can handle it? I’m not a man who compromises easily.”

“I’m not asking you to be a good man,” Val shot back. “I’m asking you to be a tool. Just like I’ll be your tool for the ‘stable man’ image you need. Win-win.”

Adrián turned his head. Their eyes met. Something shifted in his gaze, no longer simple curiosity, but challenge.

“Win-win,” he repeated, almost mockingly. “You talk like you already have everything planned. But you’re forgetting one thing, Valentina.”

He leaned slightly closer. The scent of his expensive cologne mixed with the damp trace of rain clinging to his suit.

“We have to live under the same roof, one house, one bedroom, and one bed. No guest room, no couch, no excuses. The paparazzi and the investors have to believe we’re a real couple. If you sleep on the couch tonight, tomorrow morning the headlines will say we fought before the honeymoon even started.”

Val felt her chest tighten. She pictured a king-size bed, the narrow space between them reduced to inches. But she couldn’t back down now.

She lifted her chin.

“I agree,” she said flatly. “One room and one bed, but remember this is just an act. Touching in front of cameras is fine. Behind closed doors, don’t expect me to let you touch me any more than necessary.”

Adrián smiled faintly. It didn’t reach his eyes, but it was enough to send Val’s heartbeat off rhythm.

“Don’t worry,” he said quietly. “I’m not interested in women who walk in with revenge in their eyes. But remember one more thing.”

He paused, his voice lowering, more intimate.

“Don’t fall in love with me, señorita. I’m not a man who can be loved. I don’t have the heart for it. If you start feeling anything, this contract will turn into hell for you.”

Val let out a short laugh, rough and edged with sarcasm.

“Don’t worry,” she replied, echoing his tone. “I came here to kill, not to fall in love. Javier Ruiz is my target. You’re just… a useful obstacle.”

The car stopped in front of a luxury apartment building in Salamanca district. The driver opened the door. Adrián stepped out first, then extended a hand to Val. She ignored it and got out on her own, even though her legs still felt cold from the rain.

Adrián didn’t get angry. He simply watched her with an expression that was hard to read.

“Tomorrow morning at nine sharp,” he said. “Main conference room at headquarters. Our lawyers will be ready. Bring your identification, and Valentina…”

He stopped as Val was already halfway toward the entrance. His voice called her name again, deeper this time, almost like a warning.

“Valentina.”

She paused and turned.

Adrián stood beneath the car’s overhead light, rainwater dripping from his hair.

“Starting tomorrow, you are my wife. Smile. Practice in front of a mirror if you have to. Because tomorrow morning, the world will start seeing us as a couple.”

Val didn’t respond. She simply turned and walked into the building. But when the elevator doors closed, she leaned back against the cold wall and drew in a long breath.

Her heart was still racing. Not from fear. But because the way Adrián had looked at her felt like a spark catching somewhere deep in her chest.

The next morning, at exactly 08:55, Val was already standing in front of the Castillo Entertainment building. She wore a simple black blazer, tailored pants, and mid-height heels. Her hair was tied neatly. There was no ring on her finger yet, but she had felt the weight of that contract since the night before.

She stepped into the private elevator arranged by Adrián. When the doors opened on the twenty-eighth floor, a secretary greeted her immediately.

“Señorita Morales, Señor Castillo is waiting.”

Val nodded and followed. The main conference room was spacious, with a long mahogany table and a breathtaking view of Madrid. Adrián was already seated at the head of the table, his dark gray suit flawless. Beside him were two lawyers, one older man in a black suit and a younger woman with thin glasses.

“Morning,” Adrián said without standing. His eyes swept over Val from head to toe. “You’re on time. Good.”

Val took the seat prepared for her, directly across from him. She set her bag on the table.

“Let’s get to the point,” she said. “I don’t like wasting time.”

The male lawyer opened a thick folder and began reading the clauses in a monotone voice.

“Contract marriage for a period of eighteen months. During this time, both parties are required to reside together in Señor Castillo’s residence. One master bedroom. Public appearances as a legally married couple. Limited access granted to Señorita Morales to Castillo Entertainment’s internal systems for agreed purposes…”

Val listened carefully. Every time a clause disadvantaged her, she cut in immediately.

“Clause 7. The access must be full, not limited. I need Javier Ruiz’s files without exception.”

Adrián looked at her, one eyebrow raised.

“Full access means you can see confidential company documents,” he said. “That’s a significant risk.”

“That’s my condition,” Val replied firmly. “If you’re afraid, we can end this now.”

Adrián gave a thin smile. He gestured to the lawyer.

“Change it to full access, with a note that any leak voids the contract and makes you fully liable.”

Val nodded.

They continued negotiating for nearly an hour. Val demanded the right to publish couple content on her account, which would be rebranded as their “official couple account.” Adrián added a clause that Val was not allowed to meet Javier privately without his permission.

“Why?” Val asked sharply. “Afraid I’ll kill him too soon?”

“No,” Adrián replied coolly. “I’m afraid you’ll get hurt before I’m done using you as a shield for my image.”

Val almost laughed.

“Funny,” she said. “You talk like I’m a puppet.”

“You are a puppet, for now,” Adrián said. “But an intelligent one. That’s what makes you different.”

At last, the document was ready to be signed. Val picked up the pen. Their hands nearly touched as Adrián reached for the same folder. Her fingers brushed the back of his hand for a brief second, warm, firm, sending a small current up her arm.

Val signed quickly. Adrián followed. The black ink dried on the paper.

The lawyers nodded and left the room, leaving the two of them alone.

Adrián stood, walked around the table, and stopped right beside Val’s chair. He pulled a small box from his suit pocket. Inside was a simple white gold ring, elegant in design and clearly expensive.

“This isn’t a ring of love,” he said, extending the box toward her. “It’s a ring of war. Put it on. Starting now.”