The CEO's Contract Wife

Chapter 1: The Contract 🔥Rain slammed against the glass like stones. Aria Miller stood in front of the iron gates of Carter Mansion. God, please. Don’t let this be a mistake. If I turn back now, Ben dies. If I go in, I might die too. In her hands was a file. Inside it was her little brother Ben’s hospital report. CRITICAL. PAYMENT DUE: $1,000,000. OR TREATMENT STOPS. The wind was violent. Her old white shirt was soaked and stuck to her skin. But she didn’t feel cold. Fear had frozen her blood. One million dollars. How does a 22-year-old even make that? Dad’s gone. The bank said no. The hospital said ‘tomorrow’. There’s only one door left, and it’s this one. This was Carter Mansion. The most expensive, most silent, and most dangerous house in New York. And its owner was Zayn Carter, 30 years old. Billionaire. Top 10 on Forbes. And in the city, people were afraid to even say his name. The Ice King. They say he ruined three companies before breakfast. They say his last assistant quit after one week. And I’m about to marry him? Aria took a deep breath. The gate opened on its own. A marble path. Lights on both sides. And at the very end, he stood. Zayn Carter. Black 3-piece suit. Two buttons on his shirt open. Hair wet from the rain falling on his forehead. Tall. Broad shoulders. Jaw so hard it looked like stone. But the scariest thing was his eyes. Slate grey. Empty. Like he wasn’t human. Like he was a machine. Don’t look at his eyes. Mom said never look a predator in the eye. But why does he look... tired? Behind him stood two bodyguards. They didn’t move, even in the rain. Aria’s steps froze. “Go back,” her mind said. “Ben will die,” her heart answered. She walked forward. The moment she stopped three steps away from him, Zayn spoke. His voice was colder than the rain.“You should’ve been 5 minutes late.” Was that... disappointment? Does he want me to be late so he can say no?“I’m sorry, Mr. Carter. Traffic—” “I don’t listen to excuses.”He held out his hand. In it was a thick envelope. On top, in bold letters: MARRIAGE CONTRACTAria’s throat went dry. This is it. The moment I sell the rest of my life.“Come inside,” Zayn said and turned, walking into the mansion. Inside, it was even colder. High ceilings. A huge chandelier. Everything was black, white, and gold. No pictures. No flowers. Only silence. This house has no soul. Just like him. They stopped in a large office. Through the big glass window, the whole city was visible. Lightning flashed, and the city lit up for a second. Zayn went behind the desk. Sat down. He threw the envelope on the table. “Sit.” Aria gripped the edge of the chair. She didn’t sit. “I... I want to read the terms first.” Zayn’s eyes narrowed. “Read.” Smart. If I don’t read it, he’ll trap me. If I do read it, I’ll probably cry. With trembling hands, Aria opened the contract. CLAUSE 1: The marriage will last for exactly 30 days. CLAUSE 2: Mrs. Carter will attend all public events as Mr. Carter's wife. CLAUSE 3: No physical intimacy beyond public appearance. CLAUSE 4: No falling in love. CLAUSE 5: After 30 days, Mrs. Carter will receive $1,000,000 and leave. No contact after. At the end, in big letters: BREACH OF CONTRACT = $10,000,000 PENALTYTears filled Aria’s eyes. “What kind of joke is this? A contract to not fall in love?” Who even thinks like this? Who is so afraid of love that he puts it in a legal document? Zayn leaned forward. Elbows on the desk. He stared at her. “This is not a joke, Miss Miller. This is business.” “My company merger is in danger. The board thinks I’m ‘unstable.’ I need a wife. For 30 days.” “And you need money. For your brother.” He knows everything. He’s been watching me. That’s more terrifying than the money.“How did he know my name?” Aria’s heart sank.“You investigated me?” “I am investigating everyone,” Zayn gave a cold smile. “Your father died 6 months ago. Left debt. You lost your job. And now Ben’s surgery.” He says it like he’s reading groceries. Does anything hurt him? He pointed at the file in Aria’s hands. “So decide. Sign. The hospital gets paid in 1 hour.” Aria’s world spun. An hour ago, the hospital had called. Final warning. The machine shuts off tomorrow morning. “Is there no other way?” her voice broke. Please say yes. Please give me another option. I don’t want to be owned.Zayn stood and walked to the window. His back to her. “There was. You lost it when you didn’t pay your father’s debt.” Right. Because poor people deserve to lose everything. Aria closed her eyes. Ben’s face flashed in her mind. 8 years old. In a hospital bed. Oxygen mask.I’m sorry, Ben. I’m so sorry. But I have to do this. She picked up the pen. Her hand shook so badly her signature came out crooked: Aria Miller. That’s it. My name. My freedom. Gone in 6 letters. The moment she wrote the last letter, the rain got heavier. Zayn picked up the contract. Signed below: Zayn Carter. He didn’t even hesitate. For him, this was just another deal. He handed the contract to his secretary. “Notarize it. Now.” Then he turned to Aria. “Congratulations, Mrs. Carter.” The words were laced with poison. He took off his coat and draped it over Aria’s shoulders. She was soaked.“Remember rule number 1,” he said in a low voice. “Don’t look me in the eyes. Don’t talk to me. And don’t you dare... fall in love with me.” Fall in love with you? With an iceberg? I’d rather freeze. Aria bowed her head. “Yes, sir.”“Go upstairs. Your room is ready.” At 2 AM, the door was slightly open. Zayn stood in the doorway. Only in pajamas and an open shirt. Hair messy. His eyes were red. Like he hadn’t slept at all. Why is he here? Is he checking if I’m still alive? Or is he the ghost in this house? He came in without a word. Closed the window. Then left without looking at her. As he left, he said only one sentence: “Keep the door locked. This house has ghosts.” Ghosts? Or was the ghost just him? Aria locked the door and sat on the bed. Her heart was pounding.*_30 days. $1 million. And a man made of ice.___I thought I was selling my time. But what if I end up selling my heart too?*She didn’t know... that this contract was not just a piece of paper. It was the biggest trap of her life. And Zayn Carter... was the most dangerous hunter in that trap.TO BE CONTINUED…