The Billionaire's Secret Contract

chapter 2

It was not until the ensuing days, however, that the seriousness of the decision facing her really fell like a sledgehammer upon Emily in its full force. The house that had been the self-satisfied Carter tradition now stood to her vision as a gilded jail by virtue of the impending marriage. Memories of what had gone before her and which she was being driven away from followed her into every room. Her parents retreated into their daily routines, trying to maintain some sort of normality, but she knew they were waiting anxiously for her answer.

Sophie Harris arrived at the estate one morning. Otherwise, she would never have been in another human being's life at this particular point in time, because she was simply Emily's best friend. Sophie was a highly talkative and lively individual; at this particular point in time, things were going her way, and Sophie was far out there in the midst of this desolate state of mind of Emily. They were in the sunroom, having tea, Sophie perched on the edge of her chair, her mouth agape as Emily recounted everything Adrian had said and everything he had suggested to her.

"So you're seriously considering it?" Sophie asked, wide-eyed with incredulity.

Emily sighed, gaze still on the serene gardens far beneath. "It's not a choice. It's a necessity. My parents have all their fortune invested in this thing. If I don't carry it through, we'll lose everything."

Sophie's frown deepened; she drummed a beat on her teacup. "And what about you? What about what you want?"

Emily shook her head. That nagging sense, sandpaper against raw skin, seeped over her again: frustration, helplessness. "I don't know what I want any more. Everything is beyond my control, like. And then Adrian.this puzzle that does not make sense for me."

"Perhaps he's not to be figured out," Sophie remarked, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, and she rocked back in her chair. "He's a multibillionaire with a history of keeping everyone at arm's length. Be smart, Em. This deal may save your family, but it may cost you more than you're ready to pay."

It was Sophie's words that caused Emily to realize in that instant that she wasn't so sure after all. She recognized that Sophie was trying as best as she could to be as breathtakingly accurate, but then the reality was that they had not left her with much of a choice, and now she had to go and see Adrian, negotiate the conditions, and make up her mind, and that, which was final, changed her life.

That evening, Henry Caldwell's arrived at the mansion, Adrian's lawyer. Unobtrusive, middle-aged, phlegmatic, the man was, with a face as soft as a girl's, and his presence did, in a manner quiet and freeze simultaneously by professional ability. He brought to her a paper in a neatly packed folder, the marriage agreement, bound as such.

"This is the contract, terms are established," he said, waving sheets of paper through the air as her parents and she moved in a circle about his dining room. "All this includes within it the terms of the length of the contract, payment conditions, confidentiality terms, a public announcement, and appearances that will maintain the fantasies of an authentic marriage."

Her heart racing, she read her eyes down the page. The language had been so cold, lacking emotion, but what was behind it poured over her in a torrent. She was to be bound under the law to Adrian for twelve months and play wife in all outward respect, and be circumspect regarding what transpired clandestinely. Her family, by way of recompense, were to receive so much material assistance that it would maintain the house and leave them set up.

The more she read, the heavier it sat on her stomach what she was getting herself into. It was certain and clear, an emptiness to be filled with actual emotional feelings and freedom. It was a clinical transaction, light-years from the romanticized romance she had once kept in her head.

It was Henry. Henry. It was. It was. It was his voice. It brought her back to the present. "There's one other thing. Adrian's invited me to an official dinner tomorrow night, when we'll get to meet his family and make things official. It'll be your first official date with him.

She felt a pull at her stomach. To her, this trip to the Blackwoods' and into their world was like climbing Mount Everest. She never knew what was going to happen to her, more precisely, how she was going to be treated and judged. Not only that, she would also have to deal with Adrian on a personal level. She'd hardly chosen the first one and the feelings it elicited, much less the whole debacle.

The following evening came sooner than she liked. Despite her being properly attired for the evening in her navy blue black gown, racing up her spine, with her mane falling in waves around her face and just a dainty chain from her grandmother around her neck, Emily stood in front of her bedroom mirror trying to be nonchalant, though not much was done to stem the shaking of the hands that did nothing but toy with the dainty chain.

"You do look nice," Sophie said, moving over to give a reassuring smile. "You're doing it for the family. And who knows? It might not be that bad."

Emily forced a smile onto her face. "Thanks, Soph. I just hope I don't make a complete i***t of myself."

The limousine pulled up outside Blackwood Mansion, and nervousness just erupted in her stomach. It was such a huge mansion, there were just all sorts of rumors, nothing she'd ever heard before. Obviously, that was the Blackwoods who were rich and had influence. There are marble pillars surrounding the entrance, and there are huge crowds that pour into the courtyard outside the house but with the best of the best of cars. That was not even that quiet life Emily'd been accustomed to.

Henry greeted her at the door and escorted her to a ballroom full of the movers and shakers, properly attired, mingling amidst softly lit crystal chandeliers. It felt so alien to her, being one among it all that power and prestige.

Noticing her eyes from the other side of the room, he was moving towards her, a tiny, very proper, very tiny smile on his lips. Dashing in the well-tailored suit, of course, Adrian could say a lot by his very exuding of confidence and authority. The room became quiet as he approached, eyes glancing in their direction.

"Ah, Emily," he said to her formally, but warmly.

"What are you doing here?

"Thanks," she gasped. It was too much to endure alone under the shadows gathering around her, and too much to hold under the enormity of it.

She rested her hand along the bend of his elbow, taking his proffered arm. He walked her deeper into the room to meet his parents, who stood respectfully. The father was enormous, considerably bigger than she had expected, and his was the face of strength, set deeply into creased features. His mother was grace in carriage, as is mentioned in the fragile lines of her tiny physique. They stared at her incredulously and distrustfully etched onto their looks.

"Mom, Dad, Emily Carter," Adrian introduced her to unshattered voices. "Emily, my parents."

Elizabeth came back with a polite smile. "Hello, Emily. We've heard a lot about you."

Robert only nodded; his eyes were unreadable. "Welcome," he stated brusquely.

She smiled unconsciously; for the moment, it seemed as if all eyes in the room sized her up. How does one keep cool when she knew each word and action was being scrutinized under the microscope? And so on, the outsider's sense never abating, but dinner went on with protocol and courteous conversation.

The evening dragged on, and Adrian drew her into the corner of the ballroom. "I realize all of this must be fairly overwhelming to you," he whispered, his voice softer. "But I appreciate your willingness to ride this out.".

Her gaze probed upwards, rising to his face, seeking some imperfection in his finish that would yield a human emotional response. "Why me, Adrian?" she gasped, quivering, barely above whisper. "What was there about you that made you decide to make this offer to me among all the others you could have approached?

Adrian hesitated for a second and then stated, "It's because you're different from the rest. You are not artificial in here. You're real, honest. And I need that, that, and no one outside who will keep me honest in the midst of all this…phony stuff."

Emily was amazed and speechless at his candor. It was as if in an instant, a woman had entered into their conversation.

"Adrian, darling, doesn't it now suddenly occur to you that it is a sensible notion that you introduce me at last to your beautiful fiancée?"

She rose to see who had been speaking to her and found herself face to face with a stunningly beautiful woman approaching them. Victoria Ashford, one of the world's most cunning and ruthless businesswomen, smiled with forced politeness and extended a hand, eyeing Emily with curiosity and amusement.

"Victoria Ashford," she smiled and held out her hand to Emily, a glint of very slight devilment in her eyes. "I have heard so much about you, Emily. Lovingly veiled innuendoes about the woman who has at last wormed her way into Adrian's heart."

A knot in her stomach, and tension below was near palpable. The air became even colder than it had as she shook hands with Victoria. Victoria's grip was firm, very firm. An oppressive cloud crossed Adrian's face, and Emily sensed the shift in him.

The longer she talked, the more Victoria reminded her that something incredible lay ahead. Her face, one she had first held for Adrian, told not only of recognition, but some sort of greater evil with undertones of history of some sort. She couldn't help but wonder what type of role this woman could be to the already complicated mess she had gone and gotten herself into.

The evening finally came to a close when Adrian walked her to her car, still without a word. Nervously shaken, tired Emily said goodnight to the Blackwood house. Being introduced to Adrian's world had been incredible; Victoria Ashford was immersed in the intrigue of curiosity and suspense of a night she had not anticipated.