SEXY SCANDAL

THIRTEEN

Samantha

I clasped my hands tightly in my lap, my knuckles whitening as I tried to steady the tremor I felt coursing through me. I forced myself to meet his gaze. “Yes. I’ve thought about it, the contract marriage and I’ve decided to agree. I do need your resources if I really want to discover who… who the killer is.” I watched him closely, waiting for an answer.

He looked at me for a while till my legs felt like liquid under his gaze. He really was intimidating and I hated how much it affecting me. I tried hard to remain cool. His silence was infuriating. Was he doing this on purpose or was he just too calculating, always a step ahead, always in control?

Either way, I’d give anything not to be stared like his eyes were an x-ray. That thought made me feel naked for a moment, exposed and vulnerable, which was inappropriate considering the nature of this moment. Ellis leaned back in his chair, the leather creaking softly under his weight.

His suit was impeccably tailored, a deep charcoal grey that seemed to make him even more imposing. His dark hair was swept back, not a single strand out of place, and his jawline was set in a way that suggested his command. He reached for a file on his desk, and I couldn’t help but notice the way his long fingers handled the folder.

I didn’t need him to tell me that it contained the contract that would bind me to him. He passed it over to me. I took a deep breath and then opened the contract. I looked at it, the heading read, Contractual Marriage Agreement. I began to read.

Contractual Marriage Agreement

This Contractual Marriage Agreement was made and entered into on the 20th of May, by and between:

Party A: Ellis Murray, residing at ______

Party B: Samantha Martinez, residing at ____

The parties hereby agree to enter into a legal binding marriage for mutual benefit, social obligations, and to reach a common goal known and agreed upon by both parties. This arrangement is not based on romantic involvement but is governed strictly by the terms and conditions set forth.

The parties shall commence on the official date of legal marriage and shall remain in effect for a period of 2 years and can be terminated whenever the goal has been achieved.

The parties shall not engage in romantic or s****l relationships with other individuals during the term of this agreement.

The parties shall maintain the public image of a committed, loving couple for the sake of reputation, media, and social scrutiny.

The parties agree to attend all social or professional events as a married couple.

The parties shall cohabitate in the same residence unless otherwise agreed upon in writing.

Party A agrees to provide a monthly stipend of AU$100,000 to party B for the duration of this contract.

The parties shall;

Treat each other with mutual respect, dignity and professional.

Cooperate fully in any shared goal or investigation related to the nature of this agreement.

Refrain from disclosing the existence or terms of this agreement to any third party without mutual consent.

Exhibit appropriate social behavior consistent with a high-profile marital relationship.

Agree to engage in appropriate displays of affection.

If either Party breaches the terms of this agreement, the following consequences may be enforced:

Legal repercussions including but not limited to lawsuits.

All clauses within this contract are to remain strictly confidential. Any unauthorized disclosure shall constitute a breach and trigger the applicable penalties.

Any modifications to this agreement must be made in writing and signed by both parties.

In Witness whereof, the parties hereto have executed this contractual marriage agreement as of the date first written above:

Party A signature: ___________________

Party B signature: ___________________

My eyes scanned the document once more. The figures stared back at me. A hundred thousand Australian dollars. Per month. I nearly choked on my breath. Who the hell pays that kind of money to a complete stranger? A random woman? There was no way I could afford to walk away from this—no room for doubts, no time for overthinking.

My fingers trembled as I picked up the pen resting beside the leather file on his desk. I signed my name. Done. He had already signed his part, of course. His signature sat there—bold, elegant, impossibly perfect. Everything mine wasn’t. his handwriting looked like it belonged in an art gallery, while mine seemed like it was still learning to exist.

A quiet kind of shame crept in, but I pushed it aside. I looked through the contract again; Could I actually play the part of the devoted wife he needed? Samantha Murray…that sounded odd in my mouth. I wouldn’t believe it would belong to me. It felt… foreign. Awkward. Like slipping into a stranger’s heels and pretending they fit. This was similar to some scene out of a romance book—except there was no romance between us.

I was nervous about taking his first name. It would all be an act… fake display of affections. But I had agreed. Whether or not I believed I could do this didn’t seem to matter anymore. I caught him watching me from the corner of my eye, his gaze unreadable, cold yet calculated.

He looked too relaxed for a man who had just signed a binding contract with a woman he barely knew. Then again, Ellis Murray had always struck me as the type who could sleep through a hurricane. I looked at him passing the contract back to him. “I’ll assume you do not need me to give further explanations” he said closing the file.

I nodded, unsure of what to say. Besides, nothing was going to change my mind now. “You don’t have to look so terrified,” he said, shutting the file with a soft thud that somehow sounded final. “This is business. You’ll adjust.” His voice was smooth, indifferent, like he’d done this before, like this was nothing more than a formality.

I nodded stiffly, unable to find my voice. The room felt colder now, the air thick. I could feel his eyes assessing me, not with desire or affections, but with the gaze of a man who had just acquired a new asset. “We’ll need to schedule a public appearance soon,” he said, breaking the silence. “People will expect to see us together”

I nodded, it was weird now. All I was doing was nodding…just like a dog. My inner mind voiced. The reality of our arrangement was settling in, each detail a thread weaving into the fabric of my new life. Public appearances, shared living spaces, the façade of a loving marriage.

I looked at him, should I leave?? I thought, unable to voice it. Perhaps I should. I gazed up at him wondering if there was anything left for me to do. It was probably already awkward with the way I was staring at him, my eyes tracing the sharp lines of his jaw.

“We’ll start with a dinner next week. I’ll send you the information on that later.” I made it known that I understood it perfectly.