The Contract Marriage

Chapter Six:The fine Print.

I spent the entire night staring at the ceiling.

Not sleeping.

Not even pretending to.

Just staring.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the same thing.

The contract.

One year.

Twelve months.

Enough money to change everything.

Enough money to ruin everything.

I rolled onto my side and checked the time on my phone.

3:17 a.m.

"Perfect," I whispered.

I was going to be exhausted when I made one of the biggest decisions of my life.

What could possibly go wrong?

I reached for the contract on my bedside table and pulled it toward me.

I'd brought it home from Blackwood Enterprises because apparently I enjoyed torturing myself.

I opened it again.

The words stared back at me.

Confidentiality.

Public appearances.

Separate bedrooms.

No interference.

Termination.

Compensation.

It all looked so simple when Damien explained it.

On paper, however, it felt different.

He wasn't asking me to sign a job agreement.

He was asking me to legally become his wife.

Even if the marriage was temporary.

Even if it wasn't real.

Even if neither of us intended to fall in love.

Especially that last part.

I sat up.

"You're not falling in love with him," I told myself.

My room remained silent.

"Obviously."

Still silent.

"He's arrogant."

Nothing.

"Annoying."

Silence.

"Insufferable."

I looked at the contract.

My stomach twisted.

"Rich."

That one hurt.

I sighed and dropped the papers onto my lap.

The truth was, Damien Blackwood wasn't the problem.

The money was.

I knew exactly what that money could do.

My mother's hospital bills would disappear.

The landlord would stop calling.

The debts that had been hanging over us for months would finally be paid.

For once, my mother could breathe without calculating what she could afford and what she couldn't.

I could go back to school without wondering whether I'd have enough money for the next semester.

I could give us something I hadn't had in a long time.

A little room to breathe.

My phone buzzed.

I glanced at the screen.

Laura.

I answered.

"You better have a very good reason for calling me at three in the morning."

"You're awake."

"So are you."

"I've been thinking."

"That's dangerous at this hour."

I smiled despite myself.

"About the contract."

Her voice immediately became serious.

"Of course."

"I don't know what to do."

"Did you read it again?"

"Four times."

"And?"

"I still don't understand half of it."

"Same."

I frowned.

"You're supposed to be helping me."

"I'm your best friend, not a lawyer."

"I can't afford a lawyer."

There was a pause.

"I know."

That simple answer somehow made everything feel heavier.

"I could just sign it," I said.

"You could."

"But?"

"But you need to understand what you're agreeing to."

"I know."

"Aria."

"What?"

"You're desperate."

I stiffened.

"I know."

"No, listen to me. I'm not insulting you. I'm saying you're desperate enough to accept something you wouldn't normally accept."

I looked down at the contract.

She was right.

"And that's exactly why you need to be careful."

I rubbed my forehead.

"So what do you suggest?"

"Read every single word. If there's something you don't understand, ask Damien."

"He's going to think I'm stupid."

"You're about to become his wife. If he can't survive a few questions, that's his problem."

I laughed quietly.

"You're really encouraging this."

"I'm encouraging you to make an informed decision."

"Sounds suspiciously responsible."

"Don't get used to it."

I smiled.

Then she asked quietly, "How's your mum?"

My smile disappeared.

"Still asleep."

"Did she take her medication?"

"Yes."

"And the bills?"

I didn't answer.

She understood anyway.

"Aria..."

"I know."

"You don't have to do this."

I looked at the contract again.

"Maybe I do."

"Why?"

"Because I'm tired, Laura."

My voice cracked.

"I'm tired of watching her worry about money. I'm tired of pretending everything is fine when it's not. I'm tired of choosing which problem to solve first."

Laura didn't say anything.

"I could fix everything with one signature."

"Or create a completely different problem."

"I know."

"You have one day."

I nodded even though she couldn't see me.

"One day."

"Use it."

The call ended.

I sat there for another few minutes.

Then I picked up the contract.

This time, I started reading from the beginning.

Slowly.

Every word.

Every clause.

Every sentence that sounded harmless until I read it twice.

I stopped at one section.

Public appearances.

I frowned.

"Public appearances when necessary."

Necessary according to whom?

I kept reading.

Then I found another.

Conduct.

My eyebrows pulled together.

I read it again.

There were expectations about how I was supposed to behave publicly as his wife.

No embarrassing conduct.

No public disputes.

No disclosure of private information.

Nothing unreasonable.

Except one thing.

I couldn't have romantic relationships during the contract period.

I stared at the page.

"So much for no interference in each other's personal lives."

I grabbed my phone and took a picture.

I sent it to Laura.

Her reply came almost immediately.

That sounds like interference to me.

I smiled.

Exactly.

Then another message appeared.

Ask him about it.

I stared at the screen.

I hated that she was right.

If I was going to do this, I needed to stop thinking like a desperate woman who had been handed a lifeline and start thinking like someone negotiating a deal.

I opened my notes app.

At the top, I typed:

QUESTIONS FOR DAMIEN BLACKWOOD

Underneath, I wrote:

1. Who decides when a public appearance is necessary?

2. What exactly counts as inappropriate behavior?

3. What happens if either of us violates the contract?

4. Why am I restricted from relationships if we're supposed to have separate lives?

5. What happens if his family refuses to accept me?

6. Can I leave if I change my mind?

7. When exactly do I receive the money?

I stared at the list.

Then added one more.

8. Why did you choose me?

I didn't know why I'd written it.

Maybe because his answer yesterday had bothered me.

Everyone around me wants something.

You didn't.

I didn't know whether to believe him.

But I wanted to.

That was the dangerous part.

---

By eleven the next morning, I was standing outside Blackwood Enterprises again.

I had spent the entire journey telling myself I wasn't nervous.

I was lying.

The receptionist recognized me immediately.

"Good morning, Miss Aria."

"Morning."

She smiled politely.

"Mr. Blackwood is expecting you."

Of course he was.

I followed Daniel upstairs.

When the elevator doors opened, he stepped aside.

"Good luck."

I looked at him.

"Why does everyone keep saying that?"

He smiled.

"I'll let you figure that out."

Then he walked away.

I stared after him.

"Helpful."

I knocked on Damien's door.

"Come in."

He was sitting behind his desk this time.

A cup of coffee rested beside him.

His sleeves were rolled up, exposing his forearms, and his attention was fixed on a file in front of him.

He looked up.

"You came back."

"I said I would."

"You said you needed another day."

"I did."

"And?"

I walked toward his desk.

"I have questions."

His lips twitched.

"I expected that."

I placed my copy of the contract in front of him.

"Let's start here."

He looked down.

"Public appearances."

"Yes."

"What's the problem?"

"You said I wouldn't have to interfere in your personal life."

"You won't."

"But this says I can't have a romantic relationship for twelve months."

"You're going to be my wife."

"Fake wife."

"Legally, there won't be a difference."

I narrowed my eyes.

"So you're controlling who I date?"

"No."

"Then what is this?"

"Protection."

"For who?"

His gaze held mine.

"Both of us."

I didn't like the answer.

"What happens if someone finds out we're not actually married?"

"They won't."

"That's not an answer."

"It is the only answer you need."

I leaned back.

"You're very frustrating."

"I've been told."

"Frequently?"

"Almost daily."

I almost smiled.

Almost.

I looked back at the contract.

"What happens if your family doesn't accept me?"

"They will."

"You sound very sure."

"I am."

"And if they don't?"

He was silent for a moment.

"I'll handle them."

Something about the way he said it made me believe him.

I looked down at my notes.

"Question six."

He raised an eyebrow.

"You numbered them?"

"Yes."

"How many are there?"

"Eight."

"Should I be worried?"

"Probably."

For the first time, he smiled.

It was brief.

Barely there.

But I saw it.

And somehow that was worse.

I looked away.

"Can I leave if I feel unsafe?"

"Yes."

"No consequences?"

"You walk away."

"And the money?"

"You keep whatever has already been paid."

I looked at him sharply.

"Already been paid?"

"The first payment will be transferred when the marriage is registered."

My heart skipped.

That was sooner than I expected.

"And the rest?"

"Monthly."

I nodded slowly.

"What about my mother?"

"Her medical expenses will be covered."

I froze.

"I didn't agree to that."

"I know."

"Then why did you include it?"

"Because you shouldn't have to choose between this arrangement and your mother's health."

For a moment, I couldn't speak.

That wasn't the Damien Blackwood I'd expected.

I cleared my throat.

"One more thing."

"Go ahead."

"If I do this, I keep my job."

"Yes."

"My home."

"Yes."

"My friends."

"Obviously."

"My freedom."

His expression softened slightly.

"Yes, Aria."

I looked at the contract.

Then at him.

"And you won't touch me unless I say you can."

The room went completely still.

Damien's expression changed.

Not dramatically.

Just enough.

"You have my word."

I nodded.

That was the answer I needed.

I picked up the pen.

My fingers tightened around it.

For a second, I couldn't move.

This was insane.

I was about to marry a man I barely knew.

A man who could buy almost anything he wanted.

A man who had somehow decided that I was the woman he needed beside him.

I looked at the signature line.

Then at Damien.

"If I regret this, I'm blaming you."

"I'll accept the blame."

I almost laughed.

"You're surprisingly calm."

"I'm not."

That made me pause.

I looked up.

For the first time since I'd met him, Damien looked uncertain.

It lasted only a second.

Then it disappeared.

I lowered my eyes.

And signed.

My name sat beneath his.

Aria.

Damien Blackwood.

Two signatures.

One year.

I put the pen down.

Neither of us spoke.

Then Damien reached across the desk and turned the contract toward himself.

He looked at my signature.

"It's done."

I swallowed.

"Yes."

He stood.

I expected him to shake my hand.

Instead, he walked around the desk and stopped in front of me.

He held out his hand.

I stared at it.

"What's this?"

"We have a wedding to plan."

I looked at his hand.

Then at him.

"You mean we're actually getting married?"

His mouth curved into the faintest smile.

"That's generally how this works."

I placed my hand in his.

His fingers closed around mine.

Warm.

Steady.

Real.

And suddenly, the contract didn't feel like a piece of paper anymore.

It felt like a door.

And I'd just opened it.