THE CONTRACT

THE FIRST NIGHT IN THE MANSION

CHAPTER 3: THREE

The house was too quiet.

No generator noise. No neighbor shouting. No Danfo horn.

Just silence and the sound of my own footsteps on marble floor.

I walked around my room. West wing.

King size bed. Big TV. Walk-in closet. Bathroom bigger than our old parlor.

And I felt empty.

Married.

To a woman I met 3 days ago.

For 2 million naira.

At 12:30AM I gave up on sleep.

Went downstairs to get water.

The kitchen light was on.

Victoria was there.

Not in CEO suit. Not in wedding gown.

Silk pajamas. Hair down. No makeup.

She looked young. Tired. Human.

She was holding a cup of tea with both hands.

Staring at nothing.

"You don't sleep?" I asked.

She jumped. Tea almost spilled.

"What are you doing here? Rule 2."

"Couldn't sleep," I said. "This place is too big. Too quiet."

She sighed and sat at the kitchen island.

"Sit," she said finally.

I sat across from her.

Silence. But not awkward. Just tired.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

She laughed. No humor.

"My grandfather had another episode today.

The press is calling this marriage fake.

Chidi showed up at the reception.

And I just married a stranger.

So no, Daniel. I'm not okay."

Daniel.

She used my first name.

Not "contract husband".

"I'm sorry," I said. "About your grandfather."

"Don't be," she said. "You did your part. You showed up."

She pushed a second cup of tea to me.

We drank in silence.

"Can I ask you something?"

"What?"

"Why did you really choose me?

Out of all the men in Lagos?"

Victoria looked at me. Really looked.

"Because you looked desperate," she said honestly.

"But not greedy.

I googled you. No scandals. No baby mama. No debt except your father's.

And desperate men keep contracts."

I nodded. Fair.

"Can I ask you one more thing?"

"Go ahead."

"Are you scared?"

Her cup stopped halfway to her mouth.

"Every day," she whispered.

"If this fails, I lose the company. I lose everything my father built."

She looked down. "I'm tired of being strong, Daniel."

For a second I wanted to reach across and hold her hand.

The contract said no.

So I didn't.

My phone buzzed on the counter.

Unknown number again.

Text: "Ask her about Chidi. Ask her about the debt.

She's lying to you."

I locked my phone fast.

Victoria noticed.

"Who was that?"

"Nobody. Spam." I lied.

Her eyes narrowed. Just for a second.

Then she stood up.

"It's late. We should sleep.

Big day tomorrow. Press interview."

She walked out.

Halfway up the stairs she stopped.

"Daniel... thanks. For the tea.

And for not asking stupid questions."

Then she was gone.

Back in my room, I couldn't sleep.

The bed was too big.

The house was too big.

The lies were too big.

That text kept playing in my head.

"She's lying to you."

About what?

Chidi?

The debt?

Or about not falling in love?

I looked at my ring.

Plain gold.

It felt heavy.

First night in the mansion.

And I already knew one thing:

This contract was going to break one of us.

I just didn't know who yet.

Morning came fast.

7AM. Makeup artist. Photographer.

"Mr. and Mrs. Adebayo for interview."

Victoria was already in CEO mode.

White power suit. Hair tight. Face cold.

The girl from last night was gone.

"Smile," she told me in the car. "Act like you love me."

I nodded.

But as we drove, I kept thinking about her at 3AM.

Shaking. Tired. Just a girl.

And I kept thinking about that text.

The contract said 6 months.

But something told me

we wouldn't make it 6 months

without breaking Rule 1.