The Contract Marriage

Chapter Eight:The announcement.

By seven that evening, my phone had become my worst enemy.

It wouldn't stop buzzing.

Messages.

Calls.

Notifications.

I stared at the screen in disbelief.

I hadn't even checked social media yet.

I was afraid to.

My mother had gone to bed early after making me promise that I would call her when I got home.

Laura, on the other hand, had sent me approximately seventeen messages.

LAURA: Did they post it?

LAURA: Aria???

LAURA: Please don't tell me you're sleeping.

LAURA: ANSWER ME.

Then finally:

LAURA: GIRL THEY POSTED IT.

I sat up.

"What?"

I opened i********:.

The first thing I saw was a photograph of Damien.

He was standing outside Blackwood Enterprises in a dark suit, looking exactly like the intimidating billionaire everyone seemed to think he was.

Underneath it was a simple announcement.

Damien Blackwood, heir to Blackwood Enterprises, is engaged to Aria Bennett. The couple is expected to marry this week in a private ceremony.

I stared at it.

Then I stared at the photograph again.

"That's it?"

I refreshed the page.

Thousands of comments had already appeared.

WHO IS SHE?

Since when was Damien Blackwood dating?

I thought he hated relationships.

She's gorgeous.

Six days???

This has to be fake.

My stomach twisted.

Someone had already posted a photo of me.

It was from the day I'd spilled champagne on Damien.

Of course it was.

The caption read:

Mystery woman identified as Damien Blackwood's fiancée.

I covered my face.

"This is a disaster."

My phone rang.

Laura.

I answered.

"Don't."

She laughed.

"You haven't even said hello."

"I don't need to."

"Have you seen the comments?"

"Unfortunately."

"Girl, they're eating you alive."

"I know."

"Someone called you a gold digger."

"I saw."

"Someone else said you're only marrying him for money."

I sighed.

"They're not exactly wrong."

"Aria!"

"What?"

"You can't say that!"

"Why? It's true."

"Not publicly."

"I won't."

There was a pause.

Then Laura said, "Wait."

"What?"

"Someone is defending you."

I frowned.

"Who?"

She read the comment aloud.

She doesn't look like she's after his money. Maybe there's more to the story.

I smiled slightly.

"See? Someone has sense."

"Don't get excited. The next person called you a social climber."

"Never mind."

Laura laughed.

"You need to get used to this."

"I don't think I can."

"You have six days."

I groaned.

"Don't remind me."

A knock sounded at my door.

I looked up.

My mother stood there.

"Aria?"

"Yes?"

She held up her phone.

"Is this you?"

My heart stopped.

I slowly stood.

"Yes."

She looked at the screen.

Then at me.

"So the whole country knows before I've even met him."

I winced.

"I'm sorry."

She sighed.

"I suppose I should get used to this."

I walked toward her.

"Mum..."

She smiled.

"I'm still angry."

"I know."

"But I'm also curious."

"About?"

"Why does that man look so serious in every photograph?"

I laughed.

"I've been wondering the same thing."

She shook her head.

"Tomorrow."

"Tomorrow."

"I want to meet him."

"You will."

She walked away.

I looked at my phone again.

A new message appeared.

Damien: Be ready at eight tomorrow morning.

I frowned.

Me: For what?

His reply came.

Damien: Your mother wants to meet me.

I smiled.

Me: She does.

Damien: I know.

Me: How?

Damien: You told me.

I stared at the screen.

Right.

Of course.

I typed again.

Me: You don't have to be nervous.

Three dots appeared.

Damien: I'm not.

I smiled.

Me: Liar.

There was no reply.

I put my phone down.

For some reason, I was smiling.

---

The next morning, Damien arrived exactly at eight.

I knew because my mother had been watching the clock since seven thirty.

I heard the car pull into the driveway.

My stomach tightened.

My mother looked at me.

"Are you nervous?"

"No."

She raised an eyebrow.

"Your hands are shaking."

I looked down.

They were.

"Okay. Maybe a little."

She patted my arm.

"Relax."

The doorbell rang.

I froze.

My mother gave me a look.

"Go and open the door."

"Why me?"

"Because he's here for you."

I sighed.

I walked to the door.

When I opened it, Damien stood there in a dark suit.

He looked composed.

Perfectly calm.

Of course.

"Good morning."

"Hi."

His eyes moved past me.

"Your mother?"

"Inside."

He nodded.

I stepped aside.

"Come in."

He entered.

My mother was sitting in the living room.

She stood when she saw him.

Damien walked toward her.

"Mrs. Bennett."

She looked at him carefully.

"Damien."

He offered his hand.

She looked at it for a second before taking it.

"Sit."

I almost laughed.

Damien looked at me.

I shrugged.

"She doesn't waste time."

"I can see that."

We sat.

My mother folded her hands in her lap.

"Why my daughter?"

Damien didn't hesitate.

"Because I trust her."

My mother's eyes narrowed.

"You've known her for how long?"

"Not long enough."

That answer surprised me.

"But I know enough."

"Enough to marry her?"

"Enough to know she wouldn't betray me."

My mother studied him.

"And what exactly are you giving her?"

"Financial security."

Her expression hardened.

"That's not what I asked."

Damien remained calm.

"She'll keep her independence. Her job. Her home. Her relationships. She won't be controlled."

My mother glanced at me.

"Is that true?"

I nodded.

"Yes."

She looked back at Damien.

"And when the year is over?"

"The marriage ends."

"And my daughter walks away?"

"Yes."

"With the money?"

"Yes."

My mother was silent.

Then she asked the question I knew was coming.

"Do you love her?"

The room went quiet.

I looked at Damien.

He looked at me.

"No," he said.

My mother's expression changed.

"But I respect her."

Something about that answer caught me off guard.

He continued.

"And I won't ask her to give me anything she doesn't want to give."

My mother leaned back.

For the first time, some of the tension left her face.

"That's important."

"I know."

She looked at me.

"You trust him?"

I hesitated.

Then nodded.

"I think I do."

My mother looked at Damien again.

"Then I'll support you."

I stared at her.

"Really?"

She nodded.

"I don't like it."

"I know."

"I don't understand it."

"I know."

"But I know my daughter."

Her eyes softened.

"And if you've decided this is what you need to do, I'll stand beside you."

My throat tightened.

"Thank you."

She reached for my hand.

Damien stood.

"I should let you both talk."

My mother looked up.

"One last thing."

He stopped.

"If you hurt her, I don't care how much money your family has."

I looked at my mother.

She was completely serious.

Damien nodded.

"Understood."

He turned toward me.

"I'll wait outside."

He walked out.

I stared after him.

My mother squeezed my hand.

"You like him."

I nearly choked.

"What?"

"You heard me."

"No."

She smiled.

"You smiled when he answered."

"Mum."

"I'm just saying."

"I don't like him."

"Not yet."

I stood.

"You're impossible."

She laughed.

I walked outside.

Damien was standing beside the car.

He looked at me.

"Everything okay?"

I nodded.

"She likes you."

His eyebrow lifted.

"That's surprising."

"She threatened you."

"That sounds more believable."

I laughed.

He opened the car door for me.

I stopped before getting in.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For being honest with her."

He looked at me.

"I told you what you were agreeing to."

"I know."

"Then you should know I don't lie to you."

Something about those words settled between us.

I nodded.

"Good."

I got into the car.

He closed the door.

As he walked around to the other side, I glanced at my phone.

The engagement announcement was still everywhere.

People were talking about us.

Speculating about us.

Trying to figure out when we'd fallen in love.

The funny part was that there was nothing to figure out.

We hadn't.

Not yet.

And that was exactly what made this arrangement so dangerous.

Because pretending to be in love with Damien Blackwood was supposed to be easy.

I was beginning to suspect that actually getting to know him wouldn't be.