THE BILLIONAIRE’S CONTRACT WIFE 2
799 Words
The penthouse was silent. Too silent.
Floor-to-ceiling windows showed the entire city, but Ava felt like she was in a cage.
A very expensive, black-and-gold cage.
"Mrs. Sterling."
The housekeeper’s voice made her jump. "Your room is the master suite. Mr. Sterling said you are not to use the guest rooms."
Ava swallowed. "Thank you."
The master suite was bigger than her old apartment. King bed. Marble bathroom. A closet already full of designer dresses with tags still on.
And one bed.
One bed.
Clause 4b flashed in her head: non-intimacy clause
Her phone buzzed.
Unknown Number: Dinner in 30. Don’t be late.
Damien.
The dining room was cold. Literally. The AC was blasting.
Damien was already seated at a table that could fit 20 people. Just for the two of them.
He didn’t look up from his laptop. "Sit."
Ava sat across from him. Ten chairs between them.
"Thank you for paying the hospital," she said quietly. "My mom’s treatment started today."
"Good." He finally looked up. "That’s why I paid you."
Ouch. Business only.
The food came. Steak. Wine. None of it touched.
"Rules," Damien said, cutting his steak. "1. You attend all public events with me. Smile. Look pretty. 2. You don’t ask about my work. 3. You don’t touch me. I don’t touch you. 4. You sleep in your room. I sleep in mine."
Ava frowned. "You have two bedrooms?"
"I have three." His eyes were unreadable. "I don’t share."
The rest of dinner was silence.
After, he stood. "Stylist at 8am. Gala is in 3 days. 500 guests. Cameras. Don’t mess it up."
Then he walked away. No goodnight.
12:00 AM.
Ava couldn’t sleep. The bed was too big. The silence was too loud.
She was scrolling hospital updates for her mom when she heard it.
Footsteps. In the hall. Stopping at her door.
Knock. Knock.
Her heart stopped.
Ava opened the door.
Damien stood there in black sweatpants and a white shirt, sleeves rolled up. Hair messy. No tie. No suit.
He looked... human.
"What are you doing here?" she whispered.
He held up a glass of water. "Couldn’t sleep. You?"
"Same."
For a second, neither spoke. The hallway was dark except for city lights.
"You look tired," he said. It wasn’t an insult. It was a fact.
"I’m fine."
Damien’s jaw ticked. He looked like he wanted to say something. Then he didn’t.
"Go to sleep, Ava. Big day tomorrow."
He turned to leave.
"Damien, wait." The name slipped out.
He stopped. Didn’t turn around.
"What?"
"Thank you. For saving my mom."
Silence.
Then: "Don’t thank me. You signed the contract."
He walked away.
Ava closed the door, heart pounding. That was almost... kind?
7:00 AM.
Ava woke to screaming.
Not from her. From down the hall.
She ran out in her robe. Damien’s bedroom door was open.
And inside was chaos.
A woman. Blonde. Expensive dress. Screaming on the phone.
"Damien! You married someone?? Without telling me??"
Damien stood by the window, arms crossed. Calm. Deadly calm.
"Good morning to you too, Sophia."
Sophia.
The name hit Ava like a punch.
Sophia Reed. Damien’s ex-fiancée. Billionaire heiress. The woman in every magazine with him for the last 3 years.
Sophia saw Ava in the doorway. Her eyes went cold.
"So this is her. The charity case." She laughed. "A contract wife? Really, Damien? Couldn’t find someone better?"
Ava froze.
Damien didn’t move. But his voice dropped to ice.
"Get out of my house, Sophia."
"She’s not staying," Sophia spat. "Grandma Sterling would rather die than accept this."
"Then she’ll die disappointed." Damien stepped between them. Blocking Ava.
"Leave. Now."
Sophia threw her phone in her bag. "This isn’t over, Damien. The board will hear about this."
She stormed out, heels clicking.
The room went silent again.
Ava and Damien stared at each other.
"Did you know she was coming?" Ava asked, voice small.
"No." Damien ran a hand through his hair. For the first time, he looked frustrated.
"I’m sorry you had to see that."
It was the first time he’d apologized.
Ava nodded slowly. "Clause 4b... if someone breaks it, we’re bound forever, right?"
Damien’s eyes darkened. "Yes."
“So what happens if it’s not us who breaks it? What if someone else forces us to?"
Damien didn’t answer. He just looked at her. Really looked.
Like he was seeing her for the first time.
His phone buzzed. He glanced at it.
"Board meeting. Now." He grabbed his jacket.
"Stay here today. Don’t go out. Sophia will cause problems."
He left.
Ava stood alone in his room. On his nightstand was the marriage contract.
Open to page 17.
And next to it, a photo.
Young Damien. Smiling. With an arm around a little girl.
The girl looked exactly like Ava.
- Writer
