LOVE IN DISGUISE

Contract

The door creaked softly shut behind them, leaving the girl alone in the quiet room.

✨ LATE AT NIGHT ✨

🦋 ALICE'S APARTMENT 🦋

Alice was engrossed in a phone call when the sudden chime of the doorbell pierced the air. She swiftly turned around, hoping someone would answer the door, but she was alone.

"I'll get back to you," she stuttered, hastily dropping her phone into her jeans pocket.

"Who's there?" Alice called out, cautiously approaching the door. She leaned in, her ear pressed against the wooden panel, her body tense with anticipation.

"Who could be visiting at this ungodly hour?" she whispered to herself, fear creeping up her spine.

But instead of a response, the person on the other side of the door began banging loudly, the force of the blows causing the door to crack and splinter. Alice stumbled backward, her heart racing.

Amanda, who had been upstairs, rushed down to find her mother standing frozen in terror.

"Mom... who's that?" Amanda stuttered.

"Go upstairs, Honey," Alice whispered urgently, but it was too late.

The door crashed to the floor, sending dust swirling through the air. A man stood in the entrance, his eyes bloodshot, his clothes disheveled.

Alice's eyes widened in dread as she recognized her husband, his face twisted in a drunken snarl.

"Where's my salary?" he slurred, his voice menacing.

Alice trembled, knowing she had to think fast. "I... I don't have any money," she stammered. "I lost my job."

The man's face darkened, his eyes flashing with anger. "You're lying!" he bellowed, taking a step closer to Alice.

Amanda hid behind her mother, fear etched on her face.

🦋 MADDIE'S ROOM 🦋

Maddie's heart sank as she heard a lot of commotion downstairs. She rushed out of her room, her feet pounding the stairs. The sounds grew louder, more intense - shattering plates, her mother's cries, Amanda's terrified screams.

As she reached the bottom of the stairs, Maddie's eyes widened in horror. Her father, his face twisted in a drunken rage, was beating her mother mercilessly. Amanda tried to intervene, but he shoved her aside.

Without hesitation, Maddie rushed towards her father, trying to push him off her mother. But he was too strong, too powerful. Maddie's eyes frantically scanned the room, searching for something, anything, to defend herself and her family.

That's when she saw it - a table knife, glinting in the dim light. With a surge of adrenaline, Maddie grabbed the knife and plunged it into her father's side.

He let out a loud roar, stumbling backward as he clutched his wound. Maddie's mother and Amanda stared at her in shock, their eyes wide with fear and gratitude.

The room fell silent, the only sound the heavy breathing of the injured man. Maddie stood frozen, the knife still clutched in her hand, her heart pounding in her chest.

Just then Amanda turned to her.

"What have you done?" She whispered covering her mouth.

Maddie's face crumpled as she realized the gravity of her actions. She had never meant to hurt her father, only to protect her mother and sister.

“I didn't... I didn't mean to”. She shuttered throwing the knife.

“Mom what should we do?“ Amanda muttered ignoring Maddie.

“Let's get him to the hospital” Alice muttered glaring at Maddie.

"I have no money. Your father's medical bills will be enormous. I don't know how we'll pay for them." She added and Maddie's heart sank. She had protected her family at all cost.

🦋 NEXT DAY AT:

｡♡♡｡๑♡♡๑✿ ♡♡

CLIFFORD HIGH

“Austin.. can I have a word with you” A feminist voice sounded behind Austin and he turned.

“Woah Maddie!“ He exclaimed in shock. He hadn't expected Maddie to approach him after everything.

“Yh.. feel free” He added with a smirk on his face. They were the only one outside the classroom.

“Ugh... About the j..ob" Maddie shuttered. She was finding it hard to say what she had in mind.

“About the job. I'm in” she finally muttered sounding braver than ever.

“You're in?“ Austin asked.. shocked. He didn't believe his ears.

“Yh. I need the money for something urgent”

“Okay... That's great news. You'll be working on weekends” Austin muttered walking closer to her.

“And you'll start by tomorrow...“ He added his voice sounding husky. They were only few inches away and Maddie felt irritated. She wanted to push him off but then he had her waist and Maddie gasp.

What was he doing?

“Why did you kiss him?“ Austin suddenly ask his gaze fixed intently at her eyes.

“Get off!“ Maddie screamed shoving his hands away.

“But I'm your boss now”

“That doesn't matter.. you have limits” Maddie said before getting back inside the class.

“Not that simple love...“ Austin muttered with a smirk. He was already thinking of all the things he'd do to make her his.

♡♡｡AT THE BACK OF THE CAFETERIA°♡♡

“Hey, you're here” Maddie muttered walking towards where Cameroon sat.

Cameroon just nodded smiling at her as she sat close to him. He thought she'd be playing music as usual but no! Instead she just sat there motionless.

“Life... Has different ways of teaching you by experience...“ Maddie began interrupting the long silence.

“Mine... Is tough.. rough... And not what everyone would wish for” she shuttered. Her eyes were already glossy and red. She wanted to cry.

“Everyone blames me.. hates me. Like who even wants a tomboy! When I'm only trying to help... I make matters worse... I don't know what you have experienced about life... But mine is the worse” she added with her head bent low and her body trembling. With the look of things Cameroon could tell she was crying.

He didn't know how to comfort her without speaking. He didn't want her to find out he wasn't mute. Not yet.

He gently wrapped his hands around her waist letting her cry on his shoulder.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

RD'S INDUSTRIES

Mr Reed gaze were fixed on his computer. Just then Suize walked in, her heels clicking on the marble floor. "Good morning, Mr. Reed. Here's your schedule for today."

Reed looked up from his phone, his eyes locking onto Suize's. "Ah, thank you, Suize. Can I talk to you."

Suize's eyebrows raised slightly as she approached Reed's desk. He stood up, his eyes never leaving hers, and walked around the desk to meet her.

Their faces were inches apart, the tension between them intense. It seemed like they were about to kiss, but just as their lips were about to touch, a loud knock at the door broke the spell.

Reed's eyes narrowed in annoyance as he turned to face the door. "Enter," he called out.

The door swung open, and a woman with brown curly hair walked in, she was Victoria Smith's one of the most influential businesswomen in the city, followed by her daughter, Ava.

Victoria's eyes sparkled with amusement as she took in the scene before her. "Reed, darling, I hope I'm not interrupting anything... important."

Reed's expression turned guarded as he nodded curtly. "Not at all, Victoria. What brings you here today?"

Victoria's gaze turned to Suize, who was still standing beside Reed. "I think we can discuss that in private, don't you, Reed?"

Suize's eyes flicked to Reed's, a hint of disappointment flashing across her face before she turned and walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.

Victoria's eyes turned back to Reed, a calculating glint in her eye. "I believe you know why we're here, Reed. We're interested in acquiring a significant stake in RD's Industries."

Reed's jaw clenched, his mind racing with the implications. "I'm listening," he said, his voice neutral.

Ava, who had been quietly observing the exchange, spoke up. "Mother, perhaps we should get down to business?"

Victoria's gaze turned to her daughter, a proud smile spreading across her face. "Yes, of course, Ava. Reed, we're willing to make a substantial offer. One that I think you'll find difficult to refuse."

Reed's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with the possibilities. He knew that she didn't make offers lightly. There had to be more to this.

"I'm listening," he repeated, his voice firm.

Victoria then sat down and dropped her bag gesturing Reed to do so.

And after a long silence she began:

"I want to arrange a marriage between Cameroon, your son, and Ava, my daughter," Victoria said, her voice firm but calculated.

Reed's expression remained neutral, but his eyes betrayed a hint of surprise. "An arranged marriage?" he repeated, his tone measured.

Victoria nodded. "Yes. It's the perfect opportunity to solidify our families' business ties. Cameroon's unique skills would be a valuable asset to our company, and our family connections would be beneficial to RD's Industries."

Ava's eyes widened, her face pale. She seemed to be processing the information, and she didn't like the idea... But had to act cool.

Reed's eyes narrowed, his mind working overtime. He knew that Cameroon was not just any ordinary person, and an arranged marriage could be... complicated.

“What about Damric?.. I think Cameroon mig...“

“It dose matter Reed. Let Ava choose by herself” Victoria interrupted with a sly smile. She was only doing this to get close to Reed.

But Victoria's expression was determined, and Reed knew that she would not take no for an answer.

LATER THAT DAY

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

REED'S MANSION

“And what did you say?“ Cameroon asked raising an eyebrow. But his dad kept quiet making him become impatient.

“Cameroon... I didn't say anything..“ Mr Reed began his voice low and steady.

“Ava has to decide herself who she really wants..“ He added and Damric who sat across him chuckled. He knew Ava had liked Cameroon since childhood and was glad.

“At least I'm not on the list” he muttered to himself his mind drifting back to Cecelia and a smile crept across his lips.

“And did you sign the deal?“ Cameroon spoke up. He knew his dad wouldn't neglect such deal since it came from the Smith's who were one of the most influential business people around eight countries.

Mr Reed stared blankly at Cameroon and after a long silence he said:

“I had no choice”

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

SMITH'S MANSION

“Mom... I can't and you know really well that Cameroon doesn't like me” Ava muttered staring at her reflection on the mirror while her personal maid brushed her hair.

“Well, you just have to Just stock to the plan I'm trying to get Reed” Victoria said and Ava's face twisted In disgust.

“Mom! Ewww you're almost fifty and Mr Reed is just forty two. Stop being a w***e”

Victoria's face twisted in anger at her daughter's word but she didn't care. “If you're ashamed of me.. it's fine. But Reed is mine.. and get that into your thick score” She said and then walked out of Ava's room.