The Contract Wife

CHAPTER ONE

Lucas woke up to the buzzing of his phone. He reached over to his side to get the phone from the bedside stool.

"Slow down Tom," Lucas answered drowsily. "I'll be there."

He dropped the phone and looked at the lady lying naked beside him. She was naked under the duvet and one of her round luscious breasts was peeking at the pink n*pples staring at him.

He shook himself out of the reverie, he couldn't even remember her name and his head ached from all the activities of last night, he was still hung-over.

"Hey!" He tapped her, she needed to leave.

She stretched and opened her eyes, the duvet moved to her waist, exposing both her breasts now.

"Hey handsome" she said, moving her hands slowly from his chest to his groin.

He stopped her hand from going further.

"You need to leave."

"What?"

He got up from bed, opened his bedside drawer and handed her a wad of cash.

"This should do. Let me know if you need more"

The blonde looked at him in fury.

"Are you asking me to leave?"

"Yes"

She got up angrily and started to walk towards the bathroom, but Lucas did not have it.

"You need to leave now, miss."

She looked like she wanted to say something but decided against it and started to wear her clothes.

*****

"What sort of ridiculous idea is this? You must be delusional to think I want to get married even as a joke", Lucas asked his assistant.

"Desperate times call for desperate measures, sir" Tom, Lucas's assistant, replied nervously.

"There is nothing desperate about this situation, it's just the media, and they bark more than they bite."

"Our reputation is at stake, the credibility of this company is being questioned, sir. Brands and investors have been calling nonstop; two investors have notified us about possible withdrawal of their assets."

"Why are you just telling me this?"

"I've been trying to reach you all morning sir, Mira Holdings called too."

"I guess the damage is deep this time. I believe someone is feeding the media with lies just to destroy me."

"We are working on it sir, but if you decide to get married it will portray you as a responsible and family-oriented man, people will give you their trust".

"I don’t see how that will work, but let me think it through. I'll let you know what I decide".

"Yes sir", Tom answered as he hurriedly left the office.

Lucas rubbed his temples in frustration.

Lucas Blackwood was one of the most influential and wealthiest business persons in New York. He was also one of the eligible bachelors in the city. He owned countless businesses across the country and abroad.

Recently they had to bid for a contract to build the largest museum in the world for Mira Holdings. This was the biggest project Lucas had to handle but he wasn’t the only one bidding for it.

However, during this period, the press had chosen to slander his image. It wasn’t the first time, but this time it was messier than ever. He was very discreet about his private life but somehow, photos of him in a strip club had sufficed on the internet. Everyone was talking about it and it just kept getting messier.

********

That evening Lucas met up with his friend, Mike Sanders, at a dinner event held by one of his business associates. They stood in one corner of the busy hall talking about Lucas’s dilemma.

"I think you should take legal actions against these guys. They have taken it too far” Mike fumed

“Tell me about it, my investors have been calling all day” Lucas responded as he took a sip from his glass.

“I agree with Tom on this one, marriage will make you look good in their books”

“I don’t know how I feel about it”

“Dude it is going to be a contract marriage, you call the shots. It’s strictly business.”

“You are right, I will talk to my lawyer tomorrow, He should be able to draft something to keep me out of trouble”

“That’s the spirit bro” Mike patted him on the back.

In another part of the room Sophie smooths her crumpled shirt with her hands as she picks up the tray of champagne and attends to the guests. She was exhausted.

She hated this job but needed the money.

She was so engrossed in her thoughts she walked right into one of the guests before she could stop herself. A hand wrapped around her shoulder trying to steady her.

“You should watch where you are going” a voice growled, it was the man she had walked into, Sophie blinked hard as she stared into his eyes, he looked at her with irritation.

“I am sorry sir” Sophie said as she hurried off into the back room.

“You better be” he said after her.

Why was he so rude?

Lucas stared after the waitress. He was sure she had intentionally walked into him just to get his attention.

“These girls” Lucas said to Mike.

“She’s pretty” Mike smiled.

“I would rather not talk about women”

Mike laughed.

“How long until this dinner is over?” Lucas groaned.

Someone waved at Mike and walked toward them.

“Let me get some air, call me if you need me.”

“I won’t need you” Mike grinned.

Lucas walked to the south wing of the building and onto the balcony. He stared into the night.

Just when he thought he found some peace and quiet he heard footsteps approaching his direction. He turned and came face to face with the waiter from earlier. She looked shocked to see him there but he was not going to buy into this façade.

**********

Sophie was shocked to see the man from earlier.

“I…. didn’t know anyone was here” she stuttered.

“Could have fooled me”

Did he have to be this rude every damn time?

“About earlier, I am sorry again sir, it was not intentional,” She said

“I hear that a lot, I know women like you, but your apology is accepted regardless” he said with a wave of his hand to dismiss her.

“The world does not revolve around you and I don’t want anything to do with a man like you!” Sophie said, her arms crossed over her chest and nostrils flared.

He turned towards her, anger gleaming in his eyes. She didn’t flinch.

“What do you mean by a man that” he growled.

“You are rude and arrogant, I cannot help but feel sorry for people who work for you” She retorted

“You don’t even know me” he replied with a smug look on his face, he seemed interested now.

“You don’t know me either so how dare you!” Sophia said and stumped out of his presence.

Lucas kept stared after her in shock.

She was one feisty lady but she was pretty as much as he would have loved to deny it.

He glanced at his wrist watch, the night was far spent, and he needed to leave.