Chapter Three: The Decision
1533 Words
Amara did not sleep that night.
She tried.
She turned from one side of the bed to the other, pulled the blanket over her head, then threw it off again.
Nothing worked.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the same thing.
Her mother's face.
The hospital bill.
The contract.
And Damien Blackwood's calm expression when he had told her she had six days.
Six days.
She reached for her phone and checked the time.
2:17 a.m.
"God."
She sat up and rubbed her tired eyes.
On the other side of the room, the contract was still sitting on her table.
She had placed it there before going to bed.
Somehow, it looked even more intimidating in the darkness.
Amara got out of bed and walked toward it.
She picked it up.
Six months.
She could survive six months.
Couldn't she?
It was not love.
It was not a real marriage.
It was an agreement.
At the end of six months, she would walk away with enough money to pay her mother's medical bills and rebuild her life.
Simple.
At least, that was what she kept telling herself.
She opened the contract again.
Her eyes moved over the clauses.
No romantic expectations.
No interference in personal affairs.
Complete confidentiality.
Public appearances when necessary.
Shared residence.
Six months.
She stopped at the last one.
Shared residence.
That was the part she hated most.
Living with Damien meant seeing him every day.
Eating under the same roof.
Waking up in the same house.
Pretending to be his wife.
What if he changed his mind?
What if he expected more?
What if the arrangement became complicated?
Amara closed the folder.
She knew she should walk away.
A sensible woman would walk away.
But then she remembered the hospital.
She remembered her mother smiling at her despite being in pain.
She remembered the woman on the phone telling her that treatment could not continue indefinitely without payment.
Amara closed her eyes.
"I'm doing this for Mum."
The words sounded like an excuse.
Perhaps they were.
But it was the only reason she needed.
---
The next morning, Amara arrived at the hospital earlier than usual.
Her mother was asleep.
She stood beside the bed for several minutes, watching her breathe.
She looked smaller than she used to.
More fragile.
Amara reached out and gently adjusted the blanket.
Her mother opened her eyes.
"Amara?"
"I'm here."
"You came early."
"I couldn't sleep."
Her mother studied her face.
"Is something wrong?"
"No."
"You're lying."
Amara smiled weakly.
"You know me too well."
"I am your mother."
That made Amara laugh softly.
Her mother reached for her hand.
"Tell me."
Amara sat beside her.
There was no way she could explain the contract.
Not yet.
"I found a way to help with the bills."
Her mother's expression changed.
"What way?"
"A job."
"Another job?"
"Something like that."
Her mother frowned.
"You are already doing too much."
"I can handle it."
"You always say that."
Amara squeezed her hand.
"Trust me."
Her mother looked at her for a long moment.
"I do."
Those two words nearly broke her.
Amara looked away before her mother could see the tears gathering in her eyes.
She had made her decision.
She just needed to survive it.
---
By afternoon, Amara was standing outside Blackwood Enterprises.
The building rose several floors above her, its glass walls reflecting the afternoon sun.
She stared at the entrance.
She had called Damien's office earlier that morning.
He had agreed to meet her.
She had spent the entire journey convincing herself that she was not nervous.
She was lying to herself.
Her palms were sweating.
She walked inside.
The receptionist looked up.
"Good afternoon."
"Good afternoon. I'm here to see Mr. Blackwood."
"Do you have an appointment?"
"Yes."
"Your name?"
"Amara."
The receptionist checked the computer.
Her expression changed slightly.
"Miss Amara?"
"Yes."
"Mr. Blackwood is expecting you."
Of course he was.
Amara nodded.
"Thank you."
The receptionist directed her toward the elevators.
As Amara walked away, she couldn't help wondering how many women walked into this building hoping to see Damien Blackwood.
She pushed the thought away.
This wasn't about him.
It was about her mother.
The elevator doors opened.
She stepped inside.
When she reached the top floor, a secretary was waiting.
"Mr. Blackwood is in his office."
"Thank you."
Amara walked toward the large glass doors.
She knocked.
"Come in."
She entered.
Damien was standing behind his desk, reading something on his tablet.
He looked up.
His eyes settled on her.
"You came."
"I said I would think about it."
"And?"
Amara placed the contract on his desk.
"I have questions."
Damien set the tablet down.
"Ask."
"Why me?"
"I already told you."
"No. You told me I fit what you need. That's not an answer."
He was silent.
Amara waited.
Finally, he said, "My family expects me to be married."
"So marry someone you actually know."
"I don't want to marry someone who expects a real marriage."
Amara frowned.
"Meaning?"
"I don't want love, Amara."
The bluntness of his words caught her off guard.
He continued.
"I don't want emotional complications. I don't want someone believing this is the beginning of a permanent relationship. I need an arrangement with clear boundaries."
She stared at him.
"And you think I won't fall in love with you?"
Damien's expression remained calm.
"I think you're too practical to confuse an agreement with love."
Something about that answer irritated her.
"You don't know me."
"No."
"Then don't make assumptions."
"I don't."
She folded her arms.
"Good."
Silence settled between them.
Amara looked around the office.
Everything was perfectly arranged.
There was not a single unnecessary item.
It was almost as though Damien had designed his entire life to avoid mess.
She wondered if that included people.
"Another question."
"Go ahead."
"What happens if you fall in love with me?"
For the first time, Damien's expression changed.
Only slightly.
His eyes narrowed.
Then he answered.
"That won't happen."
Amara raised an eyebrow.
"You're very sure."
"I am."
She almost smiled.
"You're arrogant."
"So I've been told."
She shook her head.
"Fine."
She picked up the contract.
"I'll do it."
Damien stared at her.
"You're sure?"
"No."
The honesty surprised him.
"I'm terrified."
She looked directly into his eyes.
"But I need the money."
Damien nodded slowly.
"Then we have an agreement."
He reached for the contract.
Amara held onto it.
"Not yet."
His eyebrow lifted.
"I still have one condition."
"What is it?"
"I want the hospital payment made before I sign."
Damien studied her.
"You don't trust me."
"No."
"Fair enough."
He picked up his phone.
"Give me the hospital details."
Amara hesitated.
"You'll pay it now?"
"Yes."
"All of it?"
"All approved medical expenses."
She stared at him.
There was something unsettling about how easily he said it.
As if paying such a large amount meant nothing to him.
She slowly gave him the information.
Damien made a call.
The conversation lasted less than three minutes.
Then he ended it.
"The payment will be processed today."
Amara's chest tightened.
She had expected to feel relieved.
Instead, she felt something else.
Fear.
Because now she knew there was no turning back.
She picked up the pen.
Her fingers trembled.
Damien watched her quietly.
"You don't have to sign today."
Amara looked at him.
"Yes, I do."
She placed the pen against the paper.
Her name appeared beneath his.
Amara.
She stared at her signature.
For a moment, everything seemed strangely still.
Then Damien took the contract.
He signed his name beside hers.
And just like that, the decision was made.
Amara was going to marry Damien Blackwood.
For six months.
She placed the pen down.
"When do we start?"
Damien looked at the contract.
"Tomorrow."
Her eyes widened.
"Tomorrow?"
"You need time to move your things."
"Move?"
"You'll be living with me."
"I know that."
"Then tomorrow."
Amara stood.
"You're impossible."
"And you're already learning."
She frowned.
"Learning what?"
Damien looked at her.
"How difficult this marriage is going to be."
Amara stared at him.
For some reason, those words made her heart beat faster.
She ignored the feeling.
This was a contract.
Nothing more.
At least, that was what she intended to believe.
---
That evening, Amara returned to the hospital.
Her mother was awake.
The moment Amara walked into the room, she saw the smile on her mother's face.
"The hospital said the bill has been paid."
Amara stopped.
"It has."
Her mother stared at her.
"How?"
Amara forced herself to smile.
"I told you. I found a way."
Her mother studied her.
"What kind of job pays a hospital bill like that?"
Amara's heart skipped.
She sat beside her.
"I'll explain everything soon."
Her mother squeezed her hand.
"I hope you're not doing anything you will regret."
Amara looked down.
She thought about Damien.
His contract.
His rules.
Their six month agreement.
"I won't."
But even as she said it, she knew she had no idea whether that was true.
Because the moment she signed that contract, her life had changed.
And she had a feeling Damien Blackwood was about to change it even more.
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