The Billionaire Contract

Chapter Four

Hailey's P.O.V

It's been two weeks since I got married to Dominic Bamford. The worst decision I could've made in my life. After my very embarrassing and never to be relived wedding night, I vowed to myself that whatsoever relationship between Dominic and I would be strictly business. I would force myself to lose the feelings I was beginning to have for him.

I still couldn't believe myself for falling for him just after a week. Definitely, I misread the signals and look where it got me- A broken heart and being embarrassed whenever I saw him.

But it was going to stop. I was already going to get rid of these feelings and soon enough, I'll be back to myself.

"Mrs. Bamford, I wanted to inform you that your husband is back from his trip." Nancy, the maid and my soon to be friend informed me through the door.

"Okay Nancy. I'll be down shortly. Thank you." I replied, putting my hair in a bun.

"You're welcome ma'am. " Her footsteps retreat and I'm left alone.

Dominic had gone on a business trip a day after our wedding night and that one day was spent holed up in his study before he left for a two week trip and just coming back today.

No calls. No text. Not even a post-it. Nothing. He upped and left.

You should've seen how stupid I looked when Nancy told me he had travelled. The embarrassment I felt that day was something not to be remembered.

I was pissed at him- borderline angry.. and he was going to hear it from me this evening.

Closing the door behind me, I walked towards the staircase only to find Dominic on his way up.

Scattered hair, eye bags and a little beard. He had that dishevelled look going for him but still managed to have his tie in place and still pulled off looking more handsome than the last time I saw him but I would never let him know.

His eyes met mine and for a second, he looked confused before getting his normal neutral expression back on.

"Hailey. I didn't know you'd still be awake. " He says like that was meant to be a greeting.

"Hello to you too Dominic." I replied sarcastically. He nods his head and wordlessly passes me to go to his room.

"Is that all you have to say? 'You didn't know I'd still be awake?'" I was honestly baffled at how much of an asshole he was proving to be.

"Is there something else you wanted me to say?" He asked like he was genuinely unaware of what to tell me which baffled me further.

"God- are you that clueless? Two freaking weeks Dominic. You left and you didn't say a word to me."

He studies me for a moment before walking to my room and standing in front of it.

"Could we please talk inside?" He asks with as so much interest as I was in watching a snail reach the top of a mountain.

Terrible comparison but you get the point.

"You don't want your staff knowing how much of an asshole you are?" I retorted earning a glare from him.

"Hailey. Inside. Now" What the hell? Did he think I was some kid?

"No." I replied.

Didn't do much to prove wrong.

"You really want to do this here? In the hallway?"

"A text would've sufficed Dominic. If you really didn't want to have any form of contact with me, you could've just texted. Or even a post-it. Something to let me know that you were leaving. "

"I didn't think that would be necessary. " He says. I looked at him as shock filled me.

"You- you didn't think that would be necessary? Dominic we got married. That means that I am your wife and you are my husband. Of course its necessary. " He doesn't say anything but takes slow steps towards me until he's standing in front of me.

He was much taller than I was and so towered over me. I could smell him which was a really good scent by the way. It would be nice to lie in a bed in that scent.

"You forget that this marriage is not real.." He says lowly, leaning down to me. His eyes are on me as he speaks. My heart was beating so fast at the closeness between us. His face just hung a bit above mine and any slight movement and our lips would brush each other.

I couldn't allow myself be affected by this little closeness. I was better and stronger than this.

"I didn't forget Dominic. Yes, this marriage is a sham but that does not mean that you don't at least tell me when you travel. We are in this contract together and I deserve at least that respect of knowing where you are."

He looks into my eyes as he says his next words.

" I paid you money to marry me. I don't see how you deserve any respect from me. "

A gasp leaves me from the shock and hurt that overwhelmed me immediately. I'm not able to reply because he walks away from me and when I hear his door shut, my knees give out. I put a hand on my chest like it'll stop the pain I felt from intensifying.

I had married a monster for a man. I couldn't believe that he had just said that to me. It hurt because it was true. I had married him because he had paid me.

I don't know how long I had been on the floor but when I eventually get up, my legs hurt as I walk to my room.

I didn't think I could carry on like this. This was too much for me. Staying with a man who didn't see me as nothing more than his paid wife.

My dignity and pride. I sold it for a measly 20 million dollars?

Measly?

You know what I mean. I was truly hurt and disappointed in myself. I didn't want to be in this type of marriage. Even if we didn't like each other, a little civility wouldn't hurt.

I took a shower and got ready for bed as I have done these past two weeks.

I was going to get out of this marriage tomorrow. Thankfully the ten million dollars still lay untouched in my account due to my not getting over the fact that I had ten million dollars which I was so happy about.

I would return the money back to him tomorrow and leave.

He could lose his precious company for all I care.

*

*

*

Waking up the next day, I felt better than I have since i got married. Maybe it was because I was about to end it.. this sham of a marriage.

The time was 6: 13am which means Dominic was probably getting ready for work. I knew he wasn't planning on letting me know that he would be leaving for work so I had to take matters into my hands and wake up early so I could meet him before he left.

I quickly brushed my teeth and left my room for his.

Now standing in front of his room, all confidence I had slowly left my body and was replaced with a certain kind of nervousness. Stepping into an unknown territory.

A knock on the door and my hand trembled.

"Who is it?" Dominic's deep voice asked.

"Hailey." I answered. There was no reply at first and when I thought he was planning on ignoring me, he spoke up.

"You may not come in Hailey. " My eye twitched in annoyance as I glared at the door, hoping it lasered through and created a hole in his head.

The nerve of this man.

"What right do you think you- Oh my God." I immediately turned away.

Why did I think it was a good idea to still barge into his room when he didn't allow me?

"Now you see why I said you may not come in Hailey?" I heard him say behind me.

He was naked behind me.. and when I say naked, I mean naked naked.

And I had fully seen him.

"Please put something on." I let out, feeling my cheeks get hotter by the second. The room felt hot now.

"Its my room Hailey. You can't tell me what to do in my room. " He chided. I knew he was doing it on purpose.

"Please put on something Dominic. " I begged. I had never thought of meeting him in that manner.. in my life.

I heard him sigh out behind me and then a ruffle of clothes behind me.

"I'm appropriate to look at. " He announced. I slightly turned to check if he was decent and he was so I fully turned to him.

He had put on sweatpants and a shirt, his hair wet and all over his face... probably from a shower cause I could smell the morning aftershave-

Jesus. Hailey get a damn grip!!!

"I'm sorry for barging into your room. " I apologised half heartedly, clearing my throat to rid myself of my stalkerish thoughts.

My eyes briefly scanned his room. One thing I know was that he was a neat man. The air in his room didn't feel stuffy at all. White and black sheets decorated his king sized bed. There was a green plant just by the massive window pane which made me suspect he has just gotten that recently because it still looked fresh and was also the only other bright color in this room.

It was too grey-y for my liking.

"And to what do I owe this presence of yours in my room around 6:22am in the morning?" He asks with a raised brow, folding his arms and leaning against his desk.

God- he looked so sexy that way.

Christ!

"I don't want to be married to you anymore. I want to end the contract." His relaxed position suddenly becomes not so relaxed anymore as a frown makes its way to his face.

"What did you say?" His voice is low. Too low. But I would not be affected. I needed to do this for my own good.

"I want to end the con-"

"I heard you the first time. " He rudely cuts me off.

"What gave you the right to think you can end the contract?"

I scoffed at his confidence and sheer arrogance he had.

"What gave me the right was the fact that I cannot be married to an asshole or a man who cannot treat me right."

"I cannot treat you right because I do not love you Hailey-"

"And I am not asking you to love me Dominic. You don't have to love someone to treat them right!"

"Respect. All I needed from you was respect and you told me to my face that you paid me to get married to you so I do not deserve your respect. You don't see me as someone to be civil with.. and so I cannot be married to that kind of person. "

"I already paid you. Ten million dollars. What would you do about that?"

"You don't even seem the least apologetic. " I said, feeling a bit shocked and hurt. He doesn't speak and just looks at me, like he was studying me.

"I have your ten million dollars. I will have it sent to you right after the contract is ended."

"You still have the money?" He sounded genuinely shocked which made me roll my eyes.

"Why wouldn't I? I'll send the money to you as soon as I see you get rid of the contract. "

"Well that would not be possible Hailey." His voice sounds unbothered, very calm as he goes into his walk in closet.

I wouldn't say I didn't expect him disagreeing with me but it still annoyed the s**t out of me.

"And why is that dear soon to be ex- husband?" I asked, a plastic smile plastered in my face as he walked out, holding two similar monochrome suits to his mirror.. like I wasn't standing here asking a question.. ignoring me.

"Dominic. " He glances towards me before dropping the suits on the bed and fully looking at me.

" Hailey. There's a reason why smart people take time in reviewing contracts, recognising the consequences that may impact various aspects of their life.. and you don't seem to be in that category. "

"Excuse me?" I was too shocked at what he just said for me to come up with any other thing.

"Go through the contract Hailey. Word for word. Then we can know if you have any right, whatsoever to breach this contract."

"You asshole! What did you write in that contract?" I say before I could stop myself. Anger was brewing inside of me.

"Its too early to cuss Hailey. Have you thanked the Lord for blessing you with another day of seeing me?"

I wanted to laugh.

I so badly wanted to laugh but I couldn't. He had said those words to me with a straight face and when I say straight face, I mean the kind you keep when the judge is about to make a serious verdict at whether you end up in prison or not.

Terrible comparison but you get the point.

I wasn't going to let myself laugh also because of the fact that this situation felt way too surreal. Dominic was flirting with me. That was a new step to climb. It hasn't ever happened in my three weeks of being here.. and honestly I didn't know if I wanted that next step anymore.

"You have some nerve thinking you can speak to me that way" I said to him, sounding more serious than before. He studies me for a while and then shifts his eyes away from me and back to his suits.

"Play time is over Hailey. I have to get ready for work now and you have misused most of my time already. Read the contract again and then come meet me if you still think that you have a right to breach the contract. " He walks towards the door and opens it, looking at me to leave the room.

It didn't surprise me at all. First, he flirts with me and then doesn't give a s**t no more .

"I never said that I was done speaking to you Dominic." I fold my arms as I speak to let him know I wasn't going to go down without a fight.

"And I'm saying that this conversation is over Hailey. Now please leave the room." He points towards his open door to the hallway.

A scoff left me and I walked towards the door but before leaving, I looked at him.

"I don't give a s**t about whatever you wrote in that letter...but one that thing I'm sure of, is that I am not staying married to you." With that, I exited his precious room, a new certain kind of determination found within me.

The forsaken document had been placed in one of my hand bags and somehow, it took me a while to find it. When I did, I quickly brought out my box to start arranging my clothes while reading the contract.

This Contract ("The Marriage Contract") is entered into on [21st June, 2022] by and between Damian [Bamford] ("Damian") and Party [B] ("Party B"), collectively referred to as the "Couple."

**1. Purpose of Contract:**

Party B agrees to enter into a marriage with Damian for the purpose of facilitating Damian's goal of inheriting his father's company. In return, Damian agrees to pay Party B the sum of twenty million dollars, with an initial payment of ten million at the beginning of the contract and the remaining ten million upon the termination of the marriage.

**2. Public Facade:**

- Damian and Party B agree to maintain a facade of closeness in public, including acts of intimacy, shared moments, and a united front against suspicions of marital discord.

**3. Private Realm:**

- Both parties are entitled to personal space and privacy within their shared residence, allowing for authenticity without the need for constant public performance.

**4. Emotional Understanding:**

- The Couple acknowledges that the marriage is not based on love or romantic affection. Both parties commit to a professional and respectful demeanor in their interactions, recognizing that the union serves narrative purposes within the marriage.

**5. Duration:**

- This marriage contract shall endure for the duration of two years, to be ending 21st June, 2024 on or before which Party B receives the remaining payment for adherence to the contract.

**6. Consequence for Breach:**

- In the event of Party B's breach of this Contract, she shall pay Damian a restitution fee equal to two times the agreed amount that Damian would be paying her, totaling 40 million dollars. Failure to comply within the stipulated time frame will result in legal action, and Damian reserves the right to sue Party B for breach of contract.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Damian and Party B have executed this Marriage Contract as of the date first above written.

[Signature of Damian] [Date]

[Signature of Party B] [Date]

Oh

My

God.

This asshole!

I couldn't believe he could pull this devious act. As much of an asshole that he was, I still always thought he was laidback.. and really didn't give a s**t about anyone around him. I forgot he was a business man. A ruthless one at that.

Forty million dollars. Where was I going to find such amount of money today? Even my savings wasn't up to a miniscule of the money he had given me.

As I stared at the contract, a mixture of fear, anger and frustration coursed through me aligning with the dawning realization that ending this marriage wouldn't be as simple as I thought it would be. Breaching this contract would leave me at an impact full loss and a life of debt.

Taking a deep breath, I decided that I was not going to give up. I would find a plan, a way.. anything.

Dominic had orchestrated a beautiful looking scheme but I refuse to be a pawn in his game.