Bound By Vows, Torn By Hate

Contract negotiations.

“What the hell are you saying?” Jayden inquired, staring at the man intensely.

The young man who stood in front of Jayden as he smiled warmly. “I noticed that you are having a bad day despite the fact that it’s still early in the morning.”

“So it that why you came to make my day more ruined?” Jayden probed.

Being a subject of bully, Jayden has always lacked the confidence to stand up for himself because he always feared that if he angrily speaks back at others then he would end up being beaten.

But recently, Jayden have been learning how to speak out for himself.

Jayden has sustained a lot of trauma from what happened in his childhood and that has greatly affected him, mentally.

“No… I… why don’t we start afresh?” He inquired of Jayden before proceeding to stretch out his hand for a handshake. “Hi, I am Alfred Albert.”

Jayden also stretched out his hands to reciprocate the man's gesture. “Hi, I am Jayden Gunner.”

The young man nodded as he smiled warmly while exposing his teeth. “So, I am here to propose a contract marriage with you.”

“H-huh? Are you … Do you mean a gay marriage?” Jayden stuttered while questioning the young man in front of him.

Alfred nods.

“How did you know I am gay?” Jayden curiously questioned.

He has never come out to anyone because he is scared that others will bully him for being gay.

Alfred let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head. "I wasn't aware of your s****l orientation, Jayden," he explained. "I was just taking a shot in the dark. No offense intended."

Jayden’s lips formed a circle as he mumbled the word ‘Ohh!’

His shoulders relaxed slightly at Alfred's words, but the tension in his gut still lingered.

“So why did you approach me?”

Alfred inhaled deeply. “If I am being honest, I approached you because I am a bit desperate at the moment.”

Despite Alfred's good-natured explanation, Jayden was still unable to understand anything. His experiences had conditioned him to expect the worst from others, and Alfred's apparent kindness did little to assuage his wariness.

“Why are you desperate?” Jayden curiously inquired.

He wasn’t interested in a gay marriage or whatsoever but instead, he was a bit curious as to the reason behind the man’s motive.

“Finding a pattern who is going to accept a contract proposal would keep the parents off from setting blind dates.” Alfred calmly explained.

Jayden nods his head, finally understanding the reason why Alfred seems desperate. "I'm sorry, Alfred," Jayden whispered, his tone apologetic yet firm. "I appreciate your courage, but I'm not interested in any form of contract marriage."

“Ohh… Okay,” Alfred mumbled.

"I saw you from a distance and you looked distressed," Alfred uttered, a slight twinkle in his eye. "I figured you might be willing to entertain the proposal for a ten million dollar reward. It's a handsome sum, after all. But I understand that money isn't the only factor in these matters. Apologies if I was presumptuous."

“What!” Jayden exclaimed in complete surprise. “Ten million dollars for what?”

Alfred chuckled. "The contract marriage would last for only three months," Alfred explained, his voice smooth and persuasive. "In exchange for your participation, you would receive a payment of ten million dollars. A small price for a few months of your time."

Jayden smacked his lips as he shook his head sideways. “Are you trying to lure people into signing a contract?”

“Hahahah!” Alfred laughed out loud. “Ten million is a good price for three months, and no, I am not trying to lure anyone.” He playfully explained.

Jayden wasn’t the type to get curious about money, so he shook his head sideways before turning around. “Thanks, but it’s a no for me.”

Following Jayden's statement, he began to walk down the road. ‘Does that man see me as a greedy person?’ Jayden inwardly questioned himself.

‘But that money could go a long way in doing my eye operation and also buying drugs for my health issues.’ He thought to himself while gulping his saliva.

‘Alfred doesn’t seem like a bad person.’ Jayden whispered within himself.

From the last checkup that Jayden had taken, the doctor had solemnly advised Jayden to find funds for his treatment before his health becomes worse.

‘I need this!’ Jayden chanted within himself before turning around.

He saw that Alfred was standing still with a smile, almost as if he was waiting for Jayden.

He closed the distance between himself and Alfred. “What does the contract require from me?”

"The terms are straightforward," Alfred explained, outlining the details with ease. "You would live in a luxurious mansion for the duration of the contract, with no expectations of intimacy. Your main responsibility would be to attend a few family gatherings during that time. And, of course, you would receive the full payment in cash once the three months are up."

The explanation of Alfred doesn’t sound so bad, so Jayden decides to read the contract for himself.

“Can I see the contract?”

Alfred nod. “Follow me.” He instructed.

Jayden trailed after Alfred until they got to a black Ford car that was packed by the side of the road.

Alfred opened the passenger door, retrieving a sleek, black briefcase from within.

Without hesitation, he popped open the briefcase, revealing a stack of files neatly arranged inside.

He selected a single file from the collection and extended it towards Jayden, his eyes intense and unwavering.

Jayden took the file and instantly began to read its details.

Jayden scanned the document, his eyes catching on the bolded text: "Parties A and B will have individual control over their respective careers and daily lives, subject to the provisions of the contract."

The words were a breath of relief, reassuring him that he would not be forced to give up his work for the sake of this arrangement.

After a while of reading the entire details, Jayden smiled in contempt.

His mind raced with possibilities. ‘This contract could actually work in my favor,’ he mused. ‘I could continue my job search while pretending to be Alfred's husband. It's a win-win situation - I get paid for playing along, and I can keep looking for a job that suits me. And after three months, I'm free and ten million dollars richer. Not bad.’

“What is the purpose of this marriage by the way?” Jayden asked, just to be certain of what he was getting himself into.

“The marriage is to keep family members from arranging blind dates,” Alfred explained.

"I'm curious," Jayden said, his voice taking on a more inquisitive tone. "What's your background? What kind of work are into? And how old are you, if you don't mind me asking? Also, do you engage in recreational drug use? It's important to me that you don't engage in that sort of behavior if we're going to do this."

All of a sudden, Jayden launches a whole lot of questions towards Alfred because he wants to make sure that Alfred is a good man and not a man who is just posing to be good.

“Why… Why are you asking questions about myself?” Alfred probed because he didn’t quite understand the reason for such questions.

Jayden sigh. "I need to know more about you, Alfred," Jayden said, his tone growing more assertive. "The contract says I'll be living in your home, so I have to be certain I can trust you. I want to know what you do for a living, how you'll be spending your time, and what kind of person you are. This arrangement requires transparency from both of us if it's going to work."

“H-huh?” Alfred stuttered, confused by Jayden words. “Live with who?” He questioned while flustering his eyelashes.

‘Exhale!’

Jayden exhaled as he wrapped his hands across his stomach. “Just answer my previous questions.” He urges.

Alfred nodded and with that, he sincerely answered the previous questions of Jayden.

With a smile, Jayden intensely glares at Alfred. Jayden's train of thought shifted into overdrive. "I need to know when we can get a marriage license," he pressed, his words clear and direct. "And when would I receive an upfront payment? If we're going to do this, I need to know that I'll be compensated fairly from the start."

A smile spread across Alfred's face, the corners of his lips curling into a sly, self-assured grin. "Drop your details and I'll send you an upfront payment of one million dollars tomorrow," he said, his voice carrying a touch of confidence. "That's after we meet at the town courthouse at nine am to acquire the marriage license."