Contract marriage with the wealthy conglomerate

Melissa woke up from the ringing of her phone. She rubbed her eyes before reaching for the nightstand, squinting at the screen. Without checking the number, she answered, her voice groggy. "Hello?" "Is this Melissa Antonio?" A stern voice responded. "Yes, who’s this?" "This is the hospital administrator. We've tried contacting you several times about your overdue bills. They need to be paid immediately." Melissa sat up, suddenly alert. "I-I know. I'm trying to get the money together." "We can't wait any longer, Miss. If the payment isn't made, there will be consequences, we won't be able to complete your father's treatment." Melissa's chest tightened as panic set in. "I don’t have the money right now," she admitted, her voice trembling. "Please, can you give me more time? I promise I'll pay as soon as I can." The silence on the other end felt heavy. Then, the administrator spoke, unmoved. "We’ve heard this before, Miss. You must pay soon." Melissa’s heart sank as the call ended abruptly, leaving her in the dark. Melissa dressed quickly and rushed out the door. She needed to make it through another long shift at the restaurant. As she served customers, time seemed to crawl. Late in the afternoon, a man walked in, catching her attention. He sat alone at a corner table, his face tense. Slamming his phone on the table, he snapped, "I don’t care how you do it, get her here now! The wedding must happen today!" His voice was loud, filled with anger. Melissa paused and watched him for a moment, her mind racing. The restaurant buzzed around her, but her focus remained on Knight Stain. As she returned to her duties, she couldn't shake the thought that had crept into her mind: What if... Knight sighed heavily, sinking into his chair with a look of frustration etched across his face. "These damn ladies are driving me nuts!" he exclaimed, his voice loud and unrestrained, indifferent to the public setting. Melissa, taken aback by his outburst, tried to refocus on her work. But the frustration in Knight’s voice lingered in her mind. Her curiosity and empathy battled with her sense of propriety. As she glanced over her shoulder, she saw Knight with his phone pressed to his ear, barking orders into it with growing impatience. Gathering her courage, Melissa took a deep breath and approached him. “Uhm, excuse me...” she said hesitantly. Knight looked up abruptly, his face clouded with irritation. “What?” he snapped, his tone sharp and dismissive. Melissa’s heart raced at his harsh tone. She swallowed her apprehension and steeled herself. “I couldn’t help overhearing. It sounds like you need a wife urgently.” Knight’s eyes widened in surprise, and a vein pulsed on his forehead. “Don’t you know it’s rude to eavesdrop?” he retorted, his voice laced with annoyance. Melissa smiled, "It's not ease dropping when your voice was so loud even our competitors next door can hear. Knight scratched his head sheepishly." Right, sorry for that." He said, his voice finally simmering down. He then studied Melissa for a moment... She wore a waiter uniform. Short skirk and a red top. She had short brown hair, with brown eyes that complimented her hair. However Knight wasn't only drawn by her looks, but her directness. “How may I help you?” he asked, trying to process what she had just said. Melissa took a deep breath before speaking. "No, I believe we can help each other. Someone let you down, right? I can help,” she said, her tone calm. “I’ll marry you, but of course you’ll have to pay me.” Melissa could tell from his luxurious suit, Knight was a wealthy man. This was her chance to settle the hospital dues. Knight studied Melissa, his mind racing with the urgency of his situation. He needed a solution fast, and here was an unexpected offer. Time was running out, and he couldn’t afford to be picky. After a moment of silence, he looked at her and said curtly, “Fine. But we do this on my terms.” Melissa nodded, a wave of relief washing over her as Knight agreed to her offer. Yet, a cautious part of her mind wondered what his terms might entail. She brushed off her concerns, thinking, An opportunity like this comes once in a lifetime. Knight's voice broke through her thoughts. "When does your shift end?" "In a few minutes," Melissa replied, offering a smile. She tried to keep her excitement in check, aware that this was a pivotal moment. "Good, I'll wait," Knight said, settling back into his chair. As Melissa finished her tasks, the minutes seemed to stretch endlessly. Her anticipation grew with every passing second. Finally, her shift ended, and she approached Knight, who was already waiting. Knight led her out of the restaurant, and Melissa's eyes widened in amazement when she saw his car. Parked outside was a sleek, brand-new 2024 BMW. The sight left her momentarily speechless, her jaw dropping in awe. 'Melissa Antonio... You’ve hit the jackpot,' she thought, her excitement mingling with a sense of disbelief. "Get in," Knight instructed, gesturing towards the car with a hint of impatience. Melissa shook herself from her reverie and slid into the passenger seat, they drove off to a towering building with the sign "Stain Incorporated." Melissa covered her mouth. "Y-you're..." "Yep, the name's Knight Stain. CEO of Stain Inc." Melissa's head turned numb as he leads her inside. If Melissa lost count of how many times she was left awestruct by this man's wealth. And they've only met each other a couple hours ago. "Good Afternoon sir," The dozens of workers bowed and greeted him as they passed them. Eventually, the two entered the elevator and made their way to the top floor where his office is located. Knight leads her inside, the office was grand and futuristic. Knight took a sit at his desk, pulling up his laptop to draft a contract. "Done," After printing the contract, he began to explain, “You just need to act as my wife on paper. We’ll get married for 100 days, and then it will end.” Melissa agreed, understanding the deal. “Okay,” she said. "Sign here and here." He pointed which she complied. Knight also left his initials. "Is that all?" "No, we have to go to the marriage registrar to finalise our marriage." Knight didn’t waste any time. He took Melissa straight to the registrar’s office where they completed the marriage paperwork. The ceremony was quick, without any emotion, afterally, It was just a formality for Knight. After it was done, Knight handed her half of the agreed payment. The amount was so large that it left Melissa speechless for a moment. As she stared at the money, Knight reminded her, “Remember, no one can know we’re married.” With the deal finalized, Knight’s attitude changed. He became cold and distant, his rudeness clear. “This is strictly business,” he said bluntly. “For the next 100 days, you’re my wife on paper, nothing more.