Hired Love

Chapter 3

The television sound mildly fills the living room. Barbara emerges from the bedroom wearing a tank top and shorts. She heads to the kitchen to get a glass of water.

The running tap momentarily drowns out the sound from the television. Barbara turns it off and proceeds to drink her glass of water when a familiar name from the presenter catches her attention.

"The wedding of Jacob McClellan to Tessa Rock. The star-studded event took place earlier today at the prestigious Royal Grandeur Event hall, where the couple exchanged vows in front of family, friends, and a host of well-wishers.

She strolls leisurely from the kitchen to the front of the television, aiming to get a clearer picture and understanding of what the presenter was discussing.

"The ceremony was nothing short of magical, with the bride looking radiant in a stunning white gown and the groom dashing in a classic tuxedo. From heartfelt vows to tearful farewells, the day was filled with love, joy, and unforgettable moments.

Celebrities and dignitaries alike graced the occasion, making it a truly memorable affair. Paparazzi and media frenzy surrounded the venue, capturing every moment of this fairytale wedding.

As the newlyweds embark on their journey together, we wish Jacob and Tessa a lifetime of happiness and love…"

She drops her glass on the floor, her face turning sour in shock as she stares at the image of the couple displayed on her TV screen. She couldn't believe her eyes.

* * *

The entrance gates of Jacob's house were as massive as those of a castle. Herbert slowly drives in, parking right in front of the entrance door.

Jacob steps out of the car, approaches Grandma Aggy, extending his hand to lead the way. The door is wide open, with all the household workers lined up, eagerly awaiting their arrival.

Tessa struggles a bit with her wedding dress as she exits the car.

As they enter, they are greeted with applause from the workers. The smiles on their faces are contagious, and in an effort to appear polite, Tessa smiles back at them.

The house is a typical gigantic mansion that befits a billionaire's lifestyle. The aesthetics specifically complement his status, with interiors crafted by the best in the industry.

Jacob escorts Grandma straight to her room, while the workers disperse to attend to their duties. Though Tessa has been in the house once before, it was only in the living room, not other areas of the house.

"Excuse me, could you please tell me where I can change? This dress is a bit uncomfortable," Tessa politely inquires of the middle-aged woman approaching her.

"I was just about to take you to your room, ma'am. Mr. McClellan's room is upstairs," she answers politely as she proceeds to show her to her room.

"Wait, Jacob's room?"

"Yes, ma'am, it's this way," she responds calmly, leading the way.

Tessa silently follows behind, feeling a sense of confusion and uncertainty. She carefully watches her steps, her dress obstructing her free movement. They climb the stairs until they reach Jacob's room. She opens the door, leaving Tessa staring in awe.

She slowly entered the room, struck by its vastness, high ceilings and expansive floor space. The room exudes luxury and opulence at every turn.

Luxurious and plush bedding, featuring an ornate headboard positioned centrally to command attention. The bed adorned with petals strewn all over, adding a touch of romance to the room.

Surrounding the bed were a lavish bedside table adorned with elegant lamps and intricate decorating pieces.

On one side of the room, there is a well-crafted table and chair set, accompanied by its own mirror.

The décor is carefully curated to reflect sophistication and elegance, with tasteful artwork adorning the walls and exquisite lighting fixtures casting a warm glow throughout the space. A grand chandelier hung from the ceiling, adding a touch of glamor to the room.

"I'll be on my way now, ma'am," the woman utters, interrupting Tessa's inspection of the room.

"Er.. Could you help me out of this dress, please?"

"Sure, ma'am, with pleasure," she responds, swiftly unzipping the dress and calmly unwrapping Tessa from her misery, removing each section of the dress from the top down, one step at a time.

"Thank you," Tessa says, inhaling deeply.

"It's my pleasure, ma'am. I'll be on my way," she concludes, bowing her head.

"Oh, no, you don't have to do all that, and please, just 'Tessa' is fine."

"I'm sorry if I'm being too forward, but I can't call you by your name."

"Okay, okay, Miss Tessa is fine. Mrs... I mean, Mrs. Tessa," she pronounces, trying to cover her tracks.

"Okay, Mrs. Tessa, I'll have the dress taken to the laundry," she says taking the dress as she leaves, closing the door behind her.

Tessa takes a moment to absorb the ambiance and setting of the room, moving about in her see-through underdress, which reveals her underwear, as she examines every corner closely.

She scrutinizes his perfume shelf, displayed in a glass-like aesthetic, containing numerous colognes meticulously arranged in order.

Impressed by his walk-in closet, which was evenly sectioned from his suited wears to casual attire, down to his underwear, all neatly arranged.

"Woah," her mouth widens at the sight of the bathroom, which was twice the size of her bedroom back home.

The door clicking open alerts her to Jacob's presence. She steps out to see him looking at his room in utmost disgust, with the decorated bed upsetting him the most.

"What's the meaning of this? Helen!" he yells at the top of his voice.

Tessa flinches in surprise as she watches him seethe with anger. Helen, the housekeeper who happened to be the woman who helped her with the dress, hurriedly comes to his room.

"What is this?" he asks curtly.

"Well, Mrs. McClellan asked me to decorate your bed for your... erm... wedding night, sir," she says, bowing her head, not daring to look him in the eye.

He heaves a sigh. "I need this out of here, change the sheets."

"Okay, sir, I'll be on it right away," she says, about to exit the room.

"I SAID YOU SHOULD TAKE IT AWAY! ARE YOU DEAF?" he yells, causing a fright.

"My apologies, sir," she says, quickly removing the sheets with the petals and hurrying out.

He glances in Tessa's direction, where she meets his gaze with a look of disdain.

"What?" he asks, puzzled by her expression.

"You don't need to be arrogant to get a message across to someone. It doesn't speak well of a gentleman like yourself," she says confidently.

Jacob looks at her keenly before proceeding to walk towards her. "Did it ever occur to you that you were not mentioned when I was speaking? We, on the other hand, still have scores to settle," he says, taking each step as he speaks.

The depth of his voice was enough to break a dam loose, If you know what i mean.

"I don't understand," Tessa replies, taking a few steps backward as he advances.

"And yes, don't you ever keep me waiting like you did at the wedding today. I hate being kept waiting."

"Understood," she answers, while moving backward until her back hits a wall, leaving her with no way to move further, as she watches Jacob advance slowly toward her.

Jacob comes face to face with her, his towering height making her seem like a dwarf.

"The contract?" he asks.

"Pardon?" she responds, her expression clouded with confusion.

"The contract you were given to sign. Where is it?"

"Oh, right, it's..." She fumbles to retrieve it from beneath her under dress. "Here," she concluded, handing it over to him.

He looks at her in contempt, then slowly collects it from her and opens it. His eyes go straight to where both signatures were written.

A knock on the door interrupts him. "Who is it?" Jacob's voice protrudes.

"It's Helen, sir. I came with new sheets."

"Come in."

Jacob walks to the other side of the room, placing the contract paper on the table as he looks at himself in the mirror. Meanwhile, Helen swiftly dresses the bed with the new sheets before making her way out of the room.

"Call me Herbert on your way down," he instructs.

"Alright, sir," she replies as she leaves, shutting the door behind her.

He looks at her reflection in the mirror. "You can't entice me with what you have on, you might as well cover up properly. Herbert will be on his way here any minute," Jacob says, unbuttoning his suit carefully and pulling it off.

"I don't have my belongings with me. I will be going back to my house to get them," she explains.

"That won't be necessary. You'll go shopping tomorrow. For now, you can wear any of my casuals," he says, nicely placing his suit jacket on the chair by the table.

"But I want to go home to get my own clothes. I don't want any new clothes."

"We're not going to debate this," he states firmly, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.

A knock is heard on the door, prompting Tessa to hastily retreat into the bathroom.

"Come in, Herbert," Jacob said, with half of his shirt unbuttoned.

"File this," he instructed, handing it over to him.

"Yes, sir," Herbert acknowledged, placing it amongst the files he brought in with him before handing Jacob another paper and exiting the room.

"Here, read it," Jacob said, turning to look at Tessa, who was no longer in the room. His brows furrowed in confusion as he realized she had left without him noticing.

She walks out of the bathroom, her steps light as she approached Jacob to collect the paper from him. He turned to the mirror, admiring himself as he unbuttoned the remaining buttons of his shirt.

She silently read it for a while, her eyes scanning each word as her face contorted in anger.

"What's this?" She asks, her tone tinged with anger.

"My rules. You'll abide by them if you want to be with me before our contract elapses. You can't simply do as you please when you're the wife of a billionaire. You have a reputation to uphold. Hence, the list." he concluded, unbuttoning his shirt fully and pulling it off.

"No leaving the house without security, no stepping out without your permission, no pursuing other relationships… What is this?" Her voice trembled with disbelief, her brows furrowing in frustration. "I don't recall signing a contract to being your slave."

"However you want to put it, it's your problem, not mine. And for every time you go against my rules, there will be consequences," he said, turning to look at her, revealing his perfectly sculpted six-pack, broad shoulders and enormous muscles.

Her anger was momentarily overshadowed by a fleeting admiration as she gazed at his perfect build, which was prominently displayed before her.

Quickly composing herself, she refocused to stay on track. "I... I can't go through with this," she stutters, her voice trembling with uncertainty and frustration. "I didn't sign up for this."

"Technically, you don't have a choice," he said firmly as he walked straight towards her, his words carrying a tone of authority. "You're my wife, so you have to follow my rules."

"I am your contracted wife, YOU DON'T OWN ME!" she yells, her voice echoing with defiance as tension builds between them.

A shattering glass followed by a scream reverberates from downstairs. Jacob's expression shifts from dominance to concern and fear as he turns towards the source of the sound.

"Granny!"