The Mafia's Hired Wife.

A Life-Changing Contract.

Florette's POV.

I have never really found myself in a situation where I am absolutely astounded and do not know how to respond to a statement, but I guess you can say that I am in that exact position right now.

I cannot begin to understand what Mr Dorian just said, all I know is that it cannot be anything good. I may be ignorant but I am not entirely stupid. Just by mere looking at this man, I know he is a powerful person. Someone who has an indisputable word, who gets what he wants just by the snap of his fingers.

His words catch me off guard, at the same time whispers, gasps and murmurrings fill the room. The escorts are whispering between themselves now and they are not even being discreet about it.

'Why the hell would he take that?' One of them says.

'He obviously has terrible taste' The other adds with a scoff.

The visitor does not seem to hear what they are saying, and if he does, he does not show it because his eyes are still on me. There is something in the way he is looking at me that makes me want to run away and hide in a corner.

Matt immediately steps back in between me and the visitor, earning a glare from him. I can tell he hates it when Matt does that, but Matt has always been too carefree to care about other people's feelings and I'm afraid it would get him killed one day.

"Uhh... I'm sorry Mr Dorian but that isn't right... Uhh.. Florette is the waitress of the bar just downstairs, she is not an escort and I'm afraid you cannot take her with you."

I can tell that Matt is trying to protect me, even though I don't really know what is going on here. He knows I don't know what is going on and is trying prevent having to explain it to me.

Matt acts like he has no patience for me sometimes but I know he sees me as a little sister. That is why he hired me to work here even when I had no qualifications or work experience. He and Bexley are the two I consider my family.

The escorts are still waiting in the corner of the room and from my side eye, I see Bex leaning off the wall and watching everything with wide eyes.

I can see the confusion mixed with worry swirling in her eyes as she stares at me, her eyes moving to the visitor occasionally.

Mr Dorian also notices the presence of the escorts and looks at them, the moment he does, they fall silent. He does not seem to like their presence in the office because he is suddenly ordering out loud.

"Make them leave"

Matt waves the escorts away and they stride out of the room in sighs and grumbles. I see the look that Madeline b***h gives me and it makes me want to throw my shoe at her face.

I honestly have no idea why she hates me so much when there is nothing connecting the both of us. Bexley told me that she is probably just jealous because I'm a lot prettier than her but I feel like the hatred is way deeper. Bexley sends me a worried look before exiting the office, shutting the door behind her.

It turns out, that our conversation back in the bar was more meaningful than it seemed, only that I am the one who has to leave. It is obvious that this man does not want me as an escort, but as something else.

It makes me wonder if he was ever looking for an escort in the first place. He does not look like the kind of person to do things with no reason, I am sure he is here for something else and Matt probably knows it.

The office is fairly empty now, leaving only myself, the visitor, his men and Matt. The visitor sighs and sits down again, crossing one leg over the other and looking at Matt. I study his charisma in awe, it is safe to say that I have never seen a man this polished in real life, only on TV, on the news.

"I told you exactly what I was looking for when I came here, didn't I?" He says to Matt and he nods, still standing in front of me. "And unfortunately, I didn't find it among the options you gave me. None of those girls are up to my standards but her..." He points to me "Only a little work would prepare her. So she's my pick and I have to take her."

I furrow my brows at his words. Me? What do I know? I have always seen myself as below the level of the escorts because they are the pretty ones, they get paid more money and are well fed.

They were the pretty dresses and get the most expensive shoes and yet they are not up to his standards, but I am? Could this get anymore ridiculous?

"But... But Mr Dorian..." Matt begins but he is interrupted by the obviously annoyed Mr Dorian.

"Why don't we let the girl speak for herself, hm?" He posits. Matt looks over his shoulder at me with a sympathetic look in his eyes and a small pout on his lips.

I'm guessing he knows how dangerous this man before is and although I have never heard of him, I know it too. He does not look like the type to hide the fact that he is trouble, he makes sure you know how dangerous he is so you do not mess with him.

Matt steps aside and uses his fingers to pinch the bridge of his nose in disappointment. His behaviour only makes my earlier thought confirmed. He knows why this man is here and he does not want me to be his victim. He knows his reason for being here is not any good.

"What do you say, Florette?" Mr Dorian starts, looking at me like he's the predator and I'm the first prey he has found in weeks. "Are you willing to listen to my proposal?"

I part my lips to speak but no words fall out. What proposal is he talking about? and why would he want me to hear it? I do not like where this is going.

My fingers are clasped before me politely, which is part of my work ethics when talking to visitors but at this point, I am using it to ground myself, I am afraid I might fall over if I don't.

His stare is so intimidating, almost too intimidating for me to handle. I decide to speak up not to keep him waiting, although I can't find the words.

"I don't... I don't know what you are proposing sir"

"Exactly" He says boredly "That is why I asked if you are willing to listen. Are you?"

I share a meaningful glance with Matt and he sighs again, obviously as torn as I am right now. I look back at Mr Dorian and give a little nod. He motions for me to take the seat directly beside him and I do.

The moment I sit down, I realize how close the both of us have inadvertently gotten. The chairs were placed close to each other and Zavian didn't bother to shift his chair back.

I also cannot shift mine either because it will definitely seem rude. I will not be on the bad side of someone with so much power who could potentially ruin my entire life, so I just stay in place, hating the proximity but doing nothing about it.

"I want to make a contract with you Florette" He begins, I cannot shake off the feeling I get when he calls my name. He makes it sound dangerous and it catches my attention every time. I have never seen anyone who could make my name sound dangerous, it is truly fascinating.

"It is only for a period of time, not more than two years at most. It could be reduced if you want." He continues.

I furrow my brows as I await his next words.

"I want to make you my wife''

The moment the words leave his mouth, I widen my eyes in shock. His wife? Not even an escort, but his wife?

"I will only explain the details if you accept" He concludes with that.

Stunned does not even cut it if I want to explain how I feel right now. This has to be some sort of prank. He cannot be serious.

A contract to be his wife? For two years at most? That is just ludicrous, and yet it looks like something rich people would do. They feel like they can buy even human beings to do what they want. I look back at Matt to find him already staring at me cautiously, waiting for me to explode. I don't. Looking back at the visitor, I simply ask,

"And if I say no?"

He smiles, but even his smile is dangerous. It doesn't reach his eyes and it is the type that looks cute on the outside but is indeed menacing, and is meant to make mockery of the person he is smiling at. I may not be too smart but I know that much.

"I'm afraid that is hardly an option" He says.

I am beyond stunned by his words that my breath hooks in my throat. I was never given the liberty of choice in the first place. I narrow my eyes at him and at the same time, he waves one of his men over and he comes with an envelope. A matte black envelope with golden calligraphy at the front. The man drops it in front of me and returns to where he was standing.

"That is what you would be receiving as payment" He says, then when he sees that I'm not moving, he raises his brow and motions to the envelope "Open it." He says.

Taking a deep breath, I pull my lips into my mouth and grab the envelope, reaching inside it with my fingers to bring out the paper inside. I unfold it and scan it with my eyes, almost falling off my chair when I see the numbers written boldly in the middle.

I hear a gasp from beside me and I know it came from Matt. He uses his finger to count how many zeroes are in the number, stuttering with each count.

"One... T-Two... Three... Four... Five... Oh my goodness, S-Six... Seven'' He is catching his breath by the time he is done and we both turn to look at the impassive Mr Dorian at the same time. This is just ridiculous.

"You are giving me ten million dollars just to be your wife for two years?"

"Yes." He says "You would know why the amount is large when you accept. It is not as simple as you make it sound. It could be increased if you want of course... You don't know what it means to be my wife"

When you accept.

When you accept.

I have no choice.

"From the way you say it, it seems like a life threatening decision" I say and he hums pensively, studying me with squinted eyes.

"You seem to be smart to an extent." He says. "You only need to sign at the base of that paper and it is done"

"Don't I get to have my own terms?" I find myself asking.

"Does this mean you have agreed to it?"

"Not exactly"

Dorian sighs, tilting his head to the side a bit before nodding slightly.

"Okay, let's hear it"

I think long and hard about my next words, making sure to lay down things I will not regret in future. Nothing could have ever prepared me for this day and honestly it still seems like some funny joke to me.

Who would have thought that a ten million dollars contract would be tossed unto my lap to be a hired wife.

To not just any man, but one that holds this much power in the society. If what Daisy said is true, then there is no doubt that my life is about to take a really weird turn from now. The least I can do is make it more bearable for me. I pin my eyes back on his as I speak.

"I would not be forced to do things I don't want to."

"Unfortunately you would do all I say, whether you like it or not. That is not up for debate."

"No child bearing"

Silence follows my words and I might be imagining things but there is something like the glint of genuine amusement in Mr Dorian's eyes. He seems to be holding back a laugh.

"Wh... What is it?" I ask when I see the look he is giving me. He is looking at me like I'm an uneducated toddler he is striking a trivial deal with.

"Fortunately, that is not part of our contract, Florette."

"Ohh." I nod in understanding. "I have others, I just cannot remember for now."

He nods and checks his watch before looking back at me. He stands up with a sigh and stares down at me with a raised brow.

"How about we finalise the whole thing over dinner?" He asks. He is so tall that my neck is beginning to hurt from being tilted.

"Sure" I agree.

"We'll meet at Notivas tomorrow at nine pm. Wear something nice."

With that, he turns around and leaves, his men in his tow.

The moment he walks out of the door, the office physically becomes brighter, the dark shadow following him out. I stare after him for a long moment, Matt's voice only a distant hum in the background.

He is ranting now, I know, but I cannot have it in me to care because only one thought is in my mind right now.

What the f**k have I gotten into?