Contracted by fate

Episode3

Adrian's POV

A gentle tap jolted me awake. I snapped my eyes open, and I blinked against the light. A woman stood before me, her wide innocent gaze piercing into mine. As realization settled in. My stomach churned.

A one-night stand.

What? I growled, pushing myself upright in bed. Panic and disgust surged through me. Without another thought, I threw her out of the room, and slammed the door shut behind her.

I pressed myself against the cool wood, breathing heavily. Women. . I hated them. They were all liars—masters at taking what they wanted, leaving you broken and discarded when they were done. I wanted nothing to do with them.

How did she even manage to get in bed with me? Me, Adrian Black of all people? In bed with some random woman. The memories hit like a freight train. The bar. The drinks and her resemblance to her.

Sophie.

Sophie - the only woman I have loved. The one who had shattered my heart into pieces. My fists clenched as I tried to shake away the painful memories.

Her hurried footsteps faded down the hallway and then a knock at the door pulled me away.

"What now?" I barked. The door creaked open and my mom stepped inside. My irritation melted, my lips curled up into a smile. She approached, her expression unreadable.

"Mom," I greeted her warmly. Good morning."

She didn't return my pleasantries, her gaze cutting through the air like a blade. "Who's that woman I just saw leaving your house?"

I sighed. "Just someone I met at the bar. It was a mistake, Mom. It won’t happen again."

Her expression hardened. "You’re wrong, Adrian. She’s not a mistake."

"Mom," I sighed, already weary of the conversation. "It doesn't matter. It was a one-night stand. I’ll never see her again."

"No," she said firmly, her voice shaking slightly. She took a seat, her hands folded tightly in her chest. "Adrian, you will marry her, or I’ll kill myself."

"What?" The word shot out of me like a cannon. The room grew still as her unwavering gaze locked onto mine.

Her eyes didn’t waver. "You heard me. I’m tired of watching you waste your life in anger and isolation. You need someone, Adrian. A wife. A family." Her voice cracked, and suddenly, she looked so much older, so much more fragile.

"Mom," I began, my voice rising in protest.

"I have had enough of your defiance.," her voice cracked and tears spilled down her cheeks. "Why can't you just make me happy for once."

I clenched my jaw, my fists tightening at my sides. I hated seeing her like that. I had spent my life trying to be the man my father never was—the son she deserved. And now, with a single demand, she was taking away the one thing I had always clung to—control over my own choices.

"Okay mama," I whispered, my voice tightened with emotions. "I'll do it. I'll marry her," I said, my voice firm, but my heart tugging at the uncertainty.

She pulled into an embrace. "You will? Her voice lit up with happiness.

"Yes Mama," I said with a firm nod, though the word felt foreign to me.

She hugged me tightly. "Thank you, Adrian," she muttered. "Thank you."

Once she left the room, I leaned against the wall, letting out a long breath. The weight of her ultimatum bore down on me like a stone. Marry a stranger? The thought was ludicrous.

As I stepped into the bathroom, the cold water from the shower did little to quell the storm inside me. But then, an idea struck—a solution.

A contract marriage.

Two years, long enough to make my mother happy, and when she left for her overseas relocation, the divorce would follow.

No complications. No emotions. Just business.

I smirked at the thought, feeling a flicker of control return.

****

"I picked up a lady from The Hopkins Bar yesterday. Find her," I said to Joseph, my personal assistant and best friend as I walked into the office.

Joseph raised an eyebrow, a sly grin tugging at his lips. "It seems someone had a nice time last time. Hasn't it been years since you had a steaming night?" his tone teased.

I glared at him. "Don't start." He raised his hands in mock surrender. "Get to work," I spat.

"Yes boss." His laughs echoed behind as he disappeared from the hall.

I hurried to my office and sat at my desk, determined to work. Yet, after forty minutes of combing through files, frustration boiled over as her image relentlessly invaded my thoughts.

Hours later, a knock came on the door. "Come in," I called out to the person.

Joseph walked, his usual smirk, replaced by something serious.

I found her," he said. Then, after a pause, "But there’s a problem."

I stiffened. "What kind of problem?"

"She’s at the precinct," he said grimly. "She’s being charged with tax evasion and illegal business dealings."

I groaned, running a hand down my face. "Just what I need—a mess."

"Why do you even want her, Adrian?" Joseph asked, a teasing edge creeping back into his tone. "Is there something I'm missing?"

I shot him a glare, before snapping. "Get out."

He chuckled, backing out of the office. "You’d better act fast. She might be in court by the time you decide."

I didn’t need his reminders. As Joseph stepped out. I paced around the office, my mother’s voice echoed in my head. Marry her, or I’ll kill myself.

"Prepare a marriage contract," I barked into the phone minutes later, cutting Joseph off when he tried to tease me.

Minutes later, I sank into the back seat of the car, watching the streets of Zzyzx blur past. The air was heavy with tension, the silence between us almost oppressive. Joseph, unusually quiet, seemed to sense the storm brewing in my mind.

By the time I got to the precinct, she was on the brink of being charged to court. "Her lawyer is here," I announced as I entered, my voice echoing across the room.

Heads turn, including hers. Her eyes widened with disbelief.

Then I took it one step further. "Oh... darling," I said sweetly. "Sorry I'm late."

The detective’s eyes darted between us, narrowing as he assessed the situation. "Adrian Black?" he asked, recognition dawning. "The CEO of Zaron Cosmetics?"

"That’s right." I extended a hand.

His demeanor shifted instantly. "Big fan," he said, gesturing for me to sit.

"My girlfriend isn’t the kind of person to evade taxes," I said smoothly. "There’s clearly been a mistake."

Her head snapped toward me. "Girlfriend?" she whispered, barely audible.

The detective nodded, glancing at the woman, whose face mirrored pure shock. "We'll investigate further. she can leave, for now" he said.

"Oh...," I said , slipping an envelope across the table. "Thank you, detective. A little thing to appreciate your good work for the country," I said, tapping the envelope.

He gave a grateful smile, before we left the precinct. As we left, the silence between us was thick. Once inside the car she finally spoke.

"Thank you Mr black, but I don't appreciate you bribing the officers. It's against my ethics," she said, her tone defiant.

I scoffed. "But evading tax isn't against your ethics," I shot back.

Her eyes flashed. "I didn't do it," she said.

Something in her voice made me pause. It wasn’t just anger—it was desperation. Truth? Maybe. But I wasn’t in the habit of trusting people.

"Sure, sure," I said dismissively. "How do you intend to repay me?"

"Repay you," she repeated. "I don't know you want some kind of repayment. So tell me Mr Black, what do you want from me?"

Without another word, I reached for the document in the backseat, handing it over to her. "Sign it," I said coldly. "It's a marriage contract."