The Billionaire's Contracted Bride

Aisha Bello had exactly two problems that morning, and both were enough to ruin her life. The first was sitting on her boss's table—a white envelope with her name on it. The second was hiding inside her handbag, wrapped in tissue paper—a pregnancy test with two pink lines. Three weeks ago, she was just a twenty-three-year-old sales assistant working in a luxury store in Wuse 2. Her life was simple. Wake up in her small one-room apartment in Lugbe, enter a bus to Wuse 2, sell clothes to rich wives, return home by 9pm. Until that company anniversary party. She didn't even want to go. Her friend Mariam forced her. “Just follow me; there will be free food,” Mariam had said. That night, everything went wrong. She remembered the lights, the loud music at Transcorp Hilton, and a man in a black suit who looked lost even though everyone was greeting him like a King. He had the kind of face that made you forget what you were saying. His name was Zain Ahmed. The owner of the plaza where she worked. The Billionaire's son everyone talked about in Abuja. The man who never smiled in photos. She remembered talking. She remembered him asking her why she looked bored at such an expensive party. She remembered laughing. After that, everything was blurry Until this morning “Aisha,” her manager, Mrs. Cole, said coldly “We have to let you go. The management said your performance is poor.” It was a lie. Aisha knew it. She had never missed a day. She was the only one who stayed till closing. But Mrs. Cole was not looking at her. She was looking at the door behind Aisha. Zain was standing there. He wore a simple white kaftan, but he still looked like he owned the whole building, which he did. “I need to speak with her privately,” he said. His voice was calm, but Mrs. Cole immediately stood up and left Aisha's heart started beating fast. So he remembered her. “Do you remember me?” he asked. She held her bag tighter. The pregnancy test inside felt like fire. “Yes, sir.” “That night at the party,” he said, stepping closer. “Did anything happen between us?” Aisha couldn't breathe. She wanted to say no. She wanted to lie and run away. But she was already three weeks late, and she had never been with any other man before that night. She kept quiet. Zain stared at her for a long second, then he placed a file on the table. “ My family is pressuring me to get married. My grandmother is sick, and she wants to see my wife before she dies. I need a contract wife for six months.” Aisha frowned. “Contract wife?” “Yes. You will pretend to be my wife for my family. You will live in my house in Maitama. You will attend events with me. No real feelings. No real marriage. After six months, we divorce, and you walk away with five million naira.” Five million. Aisha's mother was in the village, sick and needing surgery. Her rent in Lugbe was due in two weeks. She had just been fired. Five million was like a ten-year salary for her. “Why me?” she whispered. “Because you are not from my circle,” he said honestly. “You don't know my family, you don't want my money for fame, and you already know how to stay quiet. And…” he looked at her stomach briefly, as if he knew. “You look like you need this deal as much as I do.” Aisha felt tears come to her eyes. Was it that obvious? Did he know she was pregnant? If he knew, would he still want her? Or would he think she was trying to trap him? She had ten seconds to decide. If she said yes, she would become a billionaire's wife overnight, even if it was fake. If she said no, she would go back to Lugbe with no job and a baby on the way. She looked up at him. “If I sign, will you really give me the money? No cheating?” Zain brought out a pen. “It's a legal contract. My lawyer prepared it. You can read it.” Aisha took the pen with a shaking hand. Her future, her mother's health and her unborn child's future all depended on this one signature. She signed Zain took the paper back. “Pack your things. My driver will come to Lugbe by 6pm to bring you to Maitama. And Aisha… wear something nice. You are going to meet my mother tonight.” So she left for Lugbe, when she got home she started packing immediately, she had just two bags. One old traveling bag and one nylon for her shoes. Her fine clothes were only three. She picked the best one, a blue gown that Mariam dashed her last Christmas. She will wear it tonight to visit his mother in Maitama By 5:30pm she was ready. She sat on her mattress, waiting. Her phone was only 12 percent battery. She looked at the world clock.The clock was not working, but she was waiting. At exactly 6:01pm, her phone rang. A strange number Madam Aisha? I am downstairs. Black G-wagon. Oga Zain sent me Her heart stopped. The journey to Maitama had started. And there was no going back On their way, her heart was pounding. She continually gnashed her teeth, thanking God for such an opportunity. But at the same time what if she's been maltreated by Zain. On arrival at Maitama, Zain was the first person Aisha saw. He sat down on a couch, sipping some wine, and immediately there had eye contact. He said to her follow me upstairs, with a sad look, not smiling at all. Aisha heart raised