The Contract Marriage

Chapter Four:The Offer

The next morning, I was already regretting everything.

Not the gala.

Not the champagne incident.

Everything.

I had spent half the night thinking about my father.

About the way my mother had looked when I asked about him.

There was something she wasn't telling me.

I just didn't know what.

"Aria?"

I looked up.

My manager was standing in front of me.

"Sorry."

"You've been staring at that coffee for five minutes."

I looked down.

She was right.

The coffee was cold.

"I didn't sleep well."

"Go home early."

"I can't."

"You can."

"I need the money."

She sighed.

"Fine. But take your break."

I nodded.

As soon as she walked away, I picked up my phone.

There was a message from Laura.

Laura: You haven't told me you're married to Damien Blackwood yet.

I laughed.

Me: Very funny.

Laura: I'm serious. Billionaires move fast.

Me: He doesn't even know me.

I stared at my message.

Then frowned.

That wasn't completely true.

He knew my name.

But that was all.

At least, I thought it was.

By the time my shift ended, the sky had turned dark.

I stepped outside the café and pulled my jacket tighter around myself.

I was halfway down the sidewalk when a black car stopped beside me.

I slowed down.

The back door opened.

A man stepped out.

Tall.

Dark suit.

Familiar face.

My heart stopped.

Damien Blackwood.

I looked behind me.

Then back at him.

"Are you following me?"

His expression remained calm.

"No."

"Because this is beginning to feel slightly suspicious."

He almost smiled.

"I came to speak with you."

"About the champagne?"

"No."

"Then I'm not interested."

I turned to leave.

"Aria."

I stopped.

He knew my name.

Of course he did.

I turned around.

"What?"

"I need to make you an offer."

I laughed once.

"An offer?"

"Yes."

"What kind?"

"A business arrangement."

I studied him.

"You came all the way here to offer me a job?"

"No."

"Then what?"

He looked at me for a moment.

"Marriage."

I stared at him.

For several seconds, I couldn't speak.

Then I laughed.

He didn't.

My laughter slowly disappeared.

"You are serious."

"Very."

"You barely know me."

"I know enough."

"That's impossible."

"I've had my people look into you."

My expression changed.

"You investigated me?"

"I needed to know who I was approaching."

"That's not creepy at all."

"I understand how it sounds."

"You really don't."

He remained calm.

"I'll compensate you."

"How much?"

The question escaped before I could stop it.

His eyebrow lifted.

I hated myself for asking.

"Enough to solve your immediate financial problems."

I folded my arms.

"And what exactly do I have to do?"

"Marry me."

I stared at him.

"No."

He didn't react.

"Think about it."

"I already did."

"It took you three seconds."

"Because I'm not marrying a stranger."

"It's a contract."

"That doesn't make it better."

"It makes it simple."

I laughed bitterly.

"Marriage isn't simple."

"This one would be."

He reached into his jacket and handed me a black folder.

I didn't take it.

"What's that?"

"The agreement."

"I don't want it."

"You should at least read it."

"I said no."

He lowered the folder.

"Why?"

I looked at him.

Because I didn't believe in marriage.

Because my father had destroyed my mother's life.

Because I had promised myself I would never become like her.

Because marrying a stranger was the worst possible idea I could imagine.

"Because I don't know you."

His eyes held mine.

"Then get to know me."

I swallowed.

He continued.

"The marriage would last one year."

"One year?"

"After that, we divorce."

"And what happens during that year?"

"We live separately unless necessary. We maintain appearances. We attend certain events together. No expectations."

"No feelings?"

"No feelings."

Something about those words made me uncomfortable.

"Why me?"

He was silent for a moment.

Then he answered.

"Because you're not interested in my money."

I almost laughed.

"You don't know that."

"I know you spilled champagne on me and insulted me afterward."

Despite myself, I smiled.

"You deserved it."

His lips curved slightly.

"There. That's exactly why."

I shook my head.

"This is insane."

"Perhaps."

He held out the folder again.

"Read it."

I finally took it.

The folder felt heavier than it should have.

"How much?"

He gave me a number.

My breath caught.

It was more money than I had ever had in my life.

Enough to pay my mother's medical bills.

Enough to clear our debts.

Enough to change everything.

I looked up at him.

"You'd really pay me that much?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I need a wife."

I looked down at the contract.

My hands tightened around it.

This was supposed to be easy.

A simple transaction.

One year.

No love.

No feelings.

No heartbreak.

Exactly the kind of marriage someone like me should have wanted.

Yet my instincts screamed at me to walk away.

I looked at Damien again.

"Give me three days."

He nodded.

"Three days."

He turned toward his car.

Then stopped.

"Aria."

"Yes?"

"Don't discuss this with anyone."

"Why?"

"Because once this becomes public, there will be no going back."

He got into the car.

The door closed.

The vehicle disappeared into the traffic.

I stood alone on the sidewalk, still holding the folder.

I looked down at the contract again.

At the amount written inside.

At the signature line waiting for my name.

Three days.

That was all I had to decide whether I was willing to sell one year of my life to a man I barely knew.

I didn't know it yet, but that decision would change everything.