Chapter 2 - The Midnight Signature
1055 Words
Elena’s POV
“Sign at this place, Elena.”
I jumped out of my skin, nearly dropping the pen in the process. His voice was ringing like thunder in my ears. When I turned around, there was no one in sight, not even a shadow. If anything happened to me here, no one would be available to rescue me, as I was on my own.
I thought maybe it was my imagination playing pranks on me, but it wasn't so. On the front page of the contract, there was a place where the time was boldly written on top. I had less than twenty-four hours to sign the contract, which meant I should sign it before midnight.
“Sign it,” I whispered to myself, trying to sound courageous, but it was rather in his mocking tone. My laugh broke halfway like it was some kind of comedy, but very bitter. “God, what exactly am I doing?”
The contract stared weirdly back at me, with the ridiculous cold clauses filled with heartless promises. A whole one year. My freedom would be exchanged for my mother’s life.
I sat down on my kitchen stool, the clock aggressively ticking toward midnight, giving me no time to think.
I pressed my palms into the table to control how my heart pounded, to at least calm down the storm in my chest, but it continued vibrating non-stop. “Mom… I’m only doing this for your sake. Not for him or myself.”
My phone vibrated, and when I checked, it was a text from him, showing the time to be 22:57. Time was running out.
I gasped, as I couldn't believe I was doing all of that. I knew who had sent the message, and what would happen if it passed the time they gave me.
My throat automatically went dry. He was watching me all this time, checking every one of my movements, to know if I consulted anyone before making my decision.
“Bastard,” I muttered, knowing that I could do nothing more than curse him. Snatching the pen, I pressed it hard on the paper, and the deal with the devil was sealed.
I checked the time, and it was 12:00.
As I dropped the pen, at exactly 12:01, my phone vibrated again.
*Congratulations, welcome to the Vale family. Ensure to be ready by morning.*
---
By dawn, I hadn’t slept a bit. I sat on my bed without even removing my clothes from yesterday, and I stared at the ceiling, hoping someone would tell me it was all a dream. But unfortunately, the contract was on the lampstand, staring at me like it owned me — and in truth, it did.
A knock jolted me back to reality. They had come for me even without morning breaking completely.
I yanked the door open, and standing before me were two men in suits. They had no emotions on, completely unreadable.
“Miss Ward,” one of them said. “Mr. Vale is expecting you at his penthouse this minute.”
“I… what? Right now?”
“Yes, ma’am. You need to follow us right now.”
There was no room for argument; they made sure none existed. And with that, they ushered me into the black car waiting outside. To my shock, cameras were all over the place to capture the moment, even with my shabby dressing. All I could hear were reporters shouting my name.
“Elena! Elena Ward! Is it true you are getting married?”
“Are you marrying Lucien Vale, or is it…?”
“Smile, sweetheart! Try and give us a wave!”
I shrank as I settled into the seat. My pulse threatened to stop. We hadn't even started and it was already like this. How did they know about our marriage so soon?
When we finally pulled up to his penthouse, I was mesmerized. The building was exceptional — all steel and glass, cold and untouchable.
Inside the penthouse was even worse. Everything screamed perfection with expensive décor, and not a sign of being a home. It was more of a fortress, silent and cold.
Lucien Vale stood waiting, to my shock. As usual, he was immaculate in his suit, hands draped in his pockets, his expression unreadable. The same man who came to my workplace yesterday, the one I served at the VIP section, was now posing as my husband.
His gaze ran over me, more like a predator assessing its prey. “From now on,” he started, with no room for pleasantries, “you belong to me alone.”
I couldn't believe what I just heard, as it was supposed to be a partnership, not slavery. The right words refused to form, all disappearing in my throat.
I forced myself to lift my face and meet him. “You make it sound like I just willingly signed away my soul to you.”
His mouth curved into a smirk. “Didn’t you just do that?”
Heat rushed to my face as he said that. I wasn't sure I heard him right. I just comforted myself to wait and see how everything unfolded. “This is business, and that’s how it will remain. Nothing more.”
“Exactly,” he said smoothly, already closing the distance between us. His cologne was intoxicating, but I kept quiet. “Our appearances must be flawless. There’s no room for mistakes. Ensure you smile at your best when I instruct you to. You should make the world believe that you are Mrs. Vale at all costs. Do you understand me?”
I swallowed, but managed to ask a daring question. “And if I fail to do that?”
His eyes lowered to mine, deadlier than I had ever seen. “You will do as I say. Because you’ve tied your mother’s life to mine willingly.”
Just mentioning my mom alone made me swallow my words.
---
Later in the day, I heard him making a call, so I decided to eavesdrop. “She signed,” he murmured. It was cold, calculating, satisfaction dripping from a business deal. “Now, everything begins.”
My blood ran cold just hearing him make the call.
What begins?
What exactly had I signed up for without knowing it?
- Writer
