The Billionaire's Contract Decorator

CHAPTER 1: THE 50 MILLION NAIRA PROPOSAL The red eviction notice was still stuck to my shop door when his car pulled up. Black G-Wagon. Tinted windows. Driver in a suit. In Port Harcourt, that could only mean one thing: trouble with money. I was Tasha Okoro, owner of Nice’s Haven Decor. Or at least, I was until rent was due on Friday and my account had ₦4,200 in it. The man who stepped out didn’t look at the notice. He looked at me. Like I was an invoice he hadn’t paid yet. “Miss Okoro,” he said. Voice cold. “I’m Damien Cole.” CEO of Cole Group. Billionaire. The man whose company was swallowing every event in Garden City. And the man my bank said I owed 2 million naira to. “My lawyer said you’d come begging,” I snapped, arms crossed. “I don’t beg.” His lips twitched. Not a smile. “I’m not here for debt, Miss Okoro. I’m here for a job.” He pulled out a contract. Thick. Official. “50 million naira,” he said. “For 90 days of your time.” I laughed. “Decorating your office? My rates aren’t that high.” “No.” His dark eyes pinned me. “Be my fiancée.” The world went quiet. Even the generator across the street seemed to stop. “Fake,” he added quickly. “Public appearances. Family events. One ring. Rule 1: No feelings. Rule 2: No kissing. Rule 3: You leave when the 90 days are over.” 50 million. Enough to save my shop. Pay my staff. Start over. All I had to do was lie to an entire city... and to myself. I reached for the pen. My hand was shaking. “Deal,” I whispered. Damien’s jaw tightened. For half a second, something flickered in his eyes. Regret? Relief? Then his phone rang. He glanced at the screen and his whole face went hard. “It’s my mother,” he said. “The press release goes out in 1 hour. We’re engaged.” Before I could breathe, he grabbed my hand. Slid a 3-carat diamond ring onto my finger. It was too big. Too heavy. Too real. And as cameras flashed from across the street, I realized Rule 1 was already broken. Because my heart was pounding... and it had nothing to do with the money. ---