THE CEO'S ONE YEAR BRIDE

The Agreement

Hannah's POV

I fumbled with the lock, clumsily swinging the gate open. Almost instantly, a swarm of luxury cars rolled into the compound. They were all black, with windows tinted so darkly that it was impossible to tell if anyone was even inside. They were spotless, gleaming under the sun with an intimidating sort of glamour. There weren’t enough parking spaces in the driveway; several cars were forced to idle outside on the street, blocking the road.

I stood frozen, staring at the procession in a daze. I remember thinking that even Leon didn't have this kind of power in his convoy. Actually, did Leon even *have* a convoy? If Leon’s security was a breeze, then Ethan’s was a hurricane.

One of the bodyguards stepped out of the lead car. He was a mountain of a man—bald, muscular, and dressed in a crisp black suit with dark shades hiding his eyes. He walked with a heavy, purposeful stride to the second car and opened the door.

Then, Ethan stepped out.

He looked completely relaxed, as if he weren't currently invading my driveway. He walked toward me with an effortless elegance that made my heart hammer against my ribs. God, he was f*****g tall. I swallowed hard as he stopped right in front of me and Vanessa.

"Sir Ethan," Vanessa greeted him. Her voice was awkward, and she kept glancing at me with a confused expression. I stayed silent, my throat feeling tight. She turned back to him, trying to be polite. "It is an honor to have you here. Would you like to come inside? I can offer you a drink or some refreshments."

Ethan slid his shades down his nose, revealing eyes that seemed to read every secret I was hiding. A slow smile spread across his lips. "I would love to, but I’ll have to decline," he said, his gaze shifting to me. The smile widened. "I only came to see my wife."

Vanessa blinked, her jaw nearly dropping. "Wife? Hannah didn't mention she was married, sir. I’m sorry for asking, but I’m truly surprised."

"Enough, Vanessa. I'll take it from here," I interrupted. I didn't want her digging any deeper or saying something that would make the situation even more embarrassing. I turned to face Ethan, trying to keep my voice steady.

"I've decided. I'll sign the contract."

I reached into my bag and pulled out the papers. I realized I still had Mr. Evans' pen, so I quickly scribbled my signature on the line. The ink felt like a brand, sealing my fate. I handed the document back to him.

"Here. I agree to be your wife for one year," I said.

Ethan took the paper, a gleam of pure satisfaction dancing in his eyes. Without a word, he signaled to his guard, who immediately marched past us and into the house.

"What is he doing?" Vanessa and I asked in unison, bewildered.

"Don't worry. He's packing your things," Ethan replied casually. "You're coming home with me tonight."

Before I could even process the words, he reached out and gripped my waist. With one powerful motion, he hoisted me up and flung me over his shoulder like a sack of flour. I let out a small gasp, shocked by the suddenness of it. I could feel the hard muscle of his shoulder against my stomach as he carried me toward the black SUV.

Vanessa stood there, completely lost, before finally rushing into the house to make sure the guard didn't pack the wrong things.

Once I was shoved into the plush leather seat of the car, I finally felt like I could breathe again. I found myself sitting on his lap, panting heavily, my hair a wild mess around my face. I looked around the interior, noticing the thick glass partition separating us from the driver, giving us total privacy.

Ethan reached up, his hand lingering on my cheek as he gently brushed a stray lock of hair away from my eyes. His touch was warm, but his expression was predatory.

"A promise is a promise," he murmured. "You've kept your side of the deal; now I'll do mine."

He picked up his phone and dialed a number. "Maximus, it's Ethan. I want that video scrubbed from the internet immediately. I'm sending it to you now." He hung up and tapped the screen. Within seconds, a notification popped up.

"It's done," he said, a smirk playing on his lips.

I didn't trust him for a second. I quickly pulled out my own phone and checked the blogger's page. The post was gone. I checked three other gossip sites, but the video had vanished completely. It was as if it had never existed.

"I am a man of my word," he said, his voice deep, vibrating through my chest.

"Thanks," I whispered awkwardly.

"No need to thank me. You're my wife." He leaned in, his breath hot against my ear, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Get ready, because once we're alone, I'm going to spread your legs and bang you until you're screaming my name."

I shot him an angry side-eye, my face flushing. "This is a contract," I snapped.

"Well, lucky for me, you didn't read the fine print," he whispered, his hand sliding down to gently squeeze my breast. I felt my n*****s harden instantly despite my anger. He moved his hand toward my neck, his presence overwhelming. He was so huge, so powerful—I felt completely helpless, knowing that if he wanted to, he could easily pound me into the mattress.

Just as his hand reached for the buttons of my shirt, a loud, agonized scream ripped through the air.

I lunged toward the window. Outside, Leon was having a complete meltdown in the driveway, screaming and thrashing while Ethan's guards pinned him face-down into the dirt. Vanessa had finished packing my bags and was placing them in the trunk, watching the chaos with a look of mild amusement.

"Do you want to keep watching your pathetic husband crash out," Ethan asked, an evil grin on his face, "or do you want to f**k me?"

I hissed, leaning back. "I'd rather watch him crash out."

Ethan chuckled, the sound low and dark. "Fine then. You just prefer to wait until we get home. You want me to pin you down in a more conducive environment?"

He was devious. I had no idea he enjoyed talking dirty this much.

I bid Vanessa a quick goodbye and didn't even spare a glance for Leon. I was actually excited to leave, but Leon wasn't finished. He had brought his sidekick—my number one enemy, Melissa. The two of them stood in front of the convoy, blocking the exit.

"Come out, Hannah! Or I'll kill myself!" Leon yelled.

I sighed heavily. Despite Ethan telling me to stay in the car, I stepped out, crossing my arms over my chest. "What do you want, Leon?"

Leon stormed toward me, but a bodyguard stepped in his path, stopping him cold.

"You are a shameless creature, Hannah!" Leon barked, sounding like a rabid dog. "I sent my lawyer with divorce papers and you signed them happily! I should have known this was your plan—to elope with this... this... *Ethan*! I thought you'd beg for my forgiveness, but you're too proud!"

"I told you she wasn't a good woman," Melissa chimed in, her voice dripping with fake pity. "Once a cheat, always a cheat."

That was when Ethan stepped out of the car.

The moment he appeared, the color drained from Melissa’s face. Leon froze, his mouth hanging open wide enough for a fly to wander in.

"Sir Ethan!" Melissa gasped, suddenly switching gears. She scurried toward him like a nosy fly, all her previous arrogance vanishing. "Sir Ethan, we are so sorry for bothering you. Please forgive us. We didn't know you had business with this... this pathetic cheat..."

"I won't let you speak to my wife in such a manner," Ethan interrupted, his voice cold as ice. His face was twisted in anger, and ironically, it only made him look hotter. I felt myself falling for him all over again.

"Your *wife*?" Leon choked out.

Ethan didn't give them the satisfaction of an answer. He simply reached down, swept me up into his arms in a princess carry, and walked back to the car. As he slid back inside, I looked over his shoulder at them and mockingly stuck my tongue out.

Their expressions of pure shock and embarrassment were the highlight of my day. In the distance, I could see Vanessa chuckling to herself.

As the cars began to move and we headed toward our new home, I noticed Ethan checking his phone. The smile was gone, replaced by a deep frown. He looked genuinely worried. When he realized I was watching him, he quickly switched the screen off.

"Anything wrong, Ethan?" I asked.

He looked at me, the mask of the confident alpha sliding back into place. He shook his head and smiled. "No, princess. I'm fine."

He placed his hand on my waist and drew me closer, but as he kissed my forehead, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was very wrong