Tempting the CEO

Episode2

Aisling couldn't sleep that night, she couldn't help stop thinking about what

happened today. A total stranger offering her a life changing contract. Five

million for a contact marriage? Who would throw away such amount of

money? Who was the man involved and why couldn't he marry someone he

knows? Did he choose her on purpose? So many questions were going

through her mind. She decided to read through the contract again. There

were just three rules

*No physical contact unless need arises

*No one else should know about the contract

*No form of unfaithfulness is allowed

The rules were reasonable, the contract was perfect. Her only problem

wa,as with the price. Why would someone pay five million dollars to marry

a stranger? For a year? There had to something else, something bad. No

one in his right senses would pay a huge amount of money for a contract

marriage. It just didn't make sense. So she decided to Google the

company. On the contract she saw Payne Corp. She gasped when she read the search results. One of the biggest tech companies in the world!! No wonder they could

offer a five million dollars contract.

Everything was finally making sense, she was putting the pieces together

but the one that just won't fit anywhere was the fact that they'd offer it to a

stranger. She decided to call Claire Xi.

"Hello, is this miss Xi?" She asked

"Mrs Xi, who am I speaking with?"

"It's... Um... Aisling Parker, you gave me your business card at the shop"

"Oh I'm sorry, hi"

"It's fine, I didn't expect to recognize.... Pardon me, am I wasting your

time?" Aisling asked

"No, not at all. I just woke up from a nap. Have you thought about it?"

"Yes and I have some questions, if you don't mind"

"Ask away then"

"Who is the man involved?" She didn't want to say husband because it felt

weird

"Zechariah Payne, CEO of Payne Corp"

"The CEO?" She couldn't believe her ears, the CEO of a multi billion dollar

company wanted to a contract marriage with her?

"Yes, it's complicated. I'm sorry but I can't share the details with you unless

I'm certain that you're going to agree...." Claire explained

"I understand, can I ask another question?"

"Sure"

"This might sound weird but do I have to live with him? Like in the same

house?"

"Yes, that was included in the contract because it's expected for couples to

live together" Claire answered like it was the most obvious thing in the

world.

"Wow, um okay" she was short of words, Claire's response made her

rethink the whole thing.

"Yes, if you're interested visit our company tomorrow to sign the contract

and to formalize the whole marriage"

"Okay, I'll be there" she wasn't sure if she was going to go, it all felt weird

and she wasn't sure she wanted to marry a stranger.

"Well then, I guess I'll see you tomorrow" Claire said as she ended the call.

The next morning, Aisling called Sarah to tell her about her decision and

her discussion with Claire.

"So you're really going to do it" Sarah asked but it was more like a

statement

"I'm doing this for dad"

"I know, I just..... I trust you, I trust your decision and I'll always support

you" Sarah reassured her.

"Thank you Sarah, I really needed that. I love you"

"I love you too Ash"

"I've got to go, I need to get ready. Talk to you later" she said as she ended

the call.

She took a cab home from the hospital, she got into the shower and had a

long bath and washed her hair. It had been so long. She hadn't enjoyed her

shower since her father got hospitalized. She wore a green floral dress that

matched her eyes and white sandals. She decided to let down her shoulder

length hair. It was made her more presentable, at least that's what Sarah

said. She put on light make-up. Just eyeliner and lipgloss. That was the

only makeup she owned. After having a final glance of herself in the mirror, she locked the door and

headed for Payne Corp.

It was a thirty minutes ride to the company, when she finally got there, she

was in shock. She had seen huge buildings but compared to this one those

ones were nothing. She walked in and asked the security for Claire's office, she was directed there. After was seemed like hours, she finally got to the office. Claire wasn't in

so she had to wait.

"Hi, are you miss Aisling?" A lady asked her

"Yes, I am"

"Follow me please, Mrs Xi will see you in Mr Payne's office" the lady said as

she led her towards the elevator. She was nervous, she was finally going to meet her 'husband to be'. She

didn't know how to react to this. Finally the elevator came to a stop and

they walked to the only door in the hallway. The lady leading her knocked

on the door.

"Enter" Claire answered from inside the office.

"You may enter now" the lady said as she left. Aisling said a silent prayer as she opened the door. She saw Claire sitting

on a chair opposite a man. A man? A demi-god actually. His facial features

were unreal, the only time she had seen a man looking like that was in the

manga she read. She didn't know that humans like that actually existed.

"Are you just going to stand there and drool" he said rudely. He was clearly

disgusted by her actions. Okay Aisling what a way of making a first

impression.

"Please, have your sit" claire said "I see you've made up your mind". She

continued

"Yes, I've um.... Decided to"

"Three million will be wired into your account and the remaining two million

will be sent at the end of the marriage" Zechariah cut in

"Oh okay"

"Uh okay? Why do sound unsure? You want a raise? How much more do

you want? Three million?" He replied

"No, I'm just...."

"You're in it for the money right" he cut in again

"Yes but I..... "

"Typical female, gold diggers" he laughed

"Excuse me, can you stop that? That's disrespectful and also disgusting!"

"Disgusting?" He let out a laugh which was more like he was mocking her

"wanna know what is disgusting? The fact that you would do anything for

money. That's more than disgusting, you have no dignity " he continued. She felt insulted, she was angry and hurt. How could he saw such horrible

things to her, he barely knew her.

"How dare you talk to me like that! You imbecile! If I have no dignity then

you have no manners . You have no right to insult me when you're the one

that offered the contract." She slammed her fist on the table

She wasn't going to let him talk to her any how.

"Now I see why no one wants to marry you, you're not only ugly, you're have

no sense" she yelled

Claire gasped, they were all shocked by her outburst. Even Aisling was

shocked but she couldn't stop now. She still had more to say and the shock

on Zechariah"s face was an encouragement.

"You had to settle for a contract marriage when no one wanted to marry

you. I have an advice for you. Use that five million for facial surgery and the

extra three million for character reconstruction. You need it" she was

fuming now.

*Claire *

Claire didn't expect things to turn out like this. She knew her boss was rude

but she didn't know he was going to insult a complete stranger and ruin the

contract, she was about to apologize when Aisling replied him. She was

shocked. She thought Aisling to be one of those sweet innocent women

but it turns out she is more interesting than that. She could never in a thousand years imagine that someone would talk to

her boss like that. Zechariah seemed to always get his way with everyone. They were to scared of him or they just wanted to find favour in his sight

so they couldn't talk back. But this woman sitting here, did it. She didn't

just talk, she yelled at him and insulted him. That was the most

unexpected thing.

"You're just going to sit down there and let this low life talk to me anyhow?" Zechariah questioned.

"Did you invite me here for your boss to insult me?" Aisling asked her

She should say something, anything but what could she say? Her brain

was blank, she settled for the first thing that came to her mind

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean for this to happen" she started

"Things got out of hand too quickly " she added. That seemed to calm the both of them. Thank God. One road block

removed.

"I'm not marrying her" Zechariah said.

"I'd rather marry a goat, at least it looks better than you and it has more

manners" Aisling countered

At that moment their phone rang. Zechariah got a call from his father.

"Hello" his father said from the other side

"Good morning". He replied coldly

"How are things going? Have you finalized the deal with Vic inc?"

"Not yet but I'm working on it" he heard his father sigh

"Zeke has finalized his and you know what that means right? " His father

asked

He cussed under his breath and gave Aisling look.

"Don't worry father, I'll be coming with my fiancee to tonight's dinner" he

said looking at Aisling. Uh oh, what is Zechariah planning? Aisling was on a call with a doctor

from the hospital so she didn't hear him.

"Yes sir, see you tonight" he said while he ended the call. Aisling was still talking to the doctor and it seemed like she was getting

bad news.

"I understand that doctor, honestly I do. Like I said before I'm working on it. Yes yes, I'll send the money now" she said while looking at Zechariah.

Okay it is settled, Claire's plan worked. Another roadblock destroyed. Aisling finally ended the call and there was a weird silence in the office. They had both agreed to the contract without even signing it. There was no

going back now. Claire pulled out two copies of the contract and she handed it to both of

them. They both signed the contract grudgingly. They talked at the same

time.

"You're welcome" Zechariah said

"I'm doing you a favour" Aisling told him. Today was a good day, at the end of everything the contract was signed. It

was a win for everyone in the room. Claire got a wife for her boss, Aisling

paid her father's surgery bill and Zechariah secured his position.

"The dinner is by 7 pm. I don't like waiting" Zechariah told Aisling.

"Oh right, that dinner date you totally invited me to. Infact I planned it so I

know the location". Aisling was being sarcastic now

*Zechariah *

"What?" Zechariah obviously didn't get her

"She was being sarcastic" Claire explained

"Claire will take you shopping to get some clothes and a ring I don't want

my wife looking like a maid"

"And I don't want my husband looking like a chimpanzee but oh well we

don't always get what we want" and with that she walked out of the office. This is going to be a very interesting year.

" What the hell was that? Does she have any idea who I am? I am going to

teach her a very big lesson. I am going to make her regret ever

disrespecting me. I am Zechariah Payne. How dare she talk to me like

that? I'm going to make the next twelve months the worst years of her life" Zechariah was ranting. He did this anytime he didn't have his way or when

thing did not go the way he planned. She was used to him do this. He was

like a little kid, always throwing tantrums when he didn't have his way. She

was only worried about Aisling, would she be able to survive in his world?

If she didn't, Claire would be blamed. She brought her into Zechariah's life . But what If things turned out well, what If she was a perfect match for

Zechariah? What was she thinking? After what happened this afternoon, she would only pray they wouldn't murder each other till the contract

expires.