Three months
1134 Words
Amara didn’t answer immediately.
The contract remained on Adrian’s desk between them.
A single signature.
One decision.
That was all it would take to completely change her life.
Again.
The silence stretched.
Neither of them spoke.
Neither looked away.
Finally, Amara exhaled slowly.
“What happens if I say yes?”
Adrian’s expression remained calm.
“You move into my residence.”
“And then?”
“We act like a married couple in public.”
“Only in public?”
A flicker of amusement crossed his face.
“That sounded disappointing.”
Heat rushed to her cheeks instantly.
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Good.”
His tone was perfectly serious.
Which somehow made the moment worse.
Amara looked away.
“Keep talking.”
Adrian sat down again.
“The arrangement lasts one year.”
He slid the contract closer.
“You’ll have your own space.”
She nodded.
“Your education expenses will be covered if you choose to return to university.”
That surprised her.
“You included that?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because dropping out was a mistake.”
Amara blinked.
“You know I dropped out?”
“You’re easy to research.”
Of course she was.
This was Adrian King.
He probably had assistants capable of finding out what she ate for breakfast three years ago.
The thought was slightly terrifying.
“And after one year?” she asked quietly.
“We divorce.”
The answer came immediately.
Simple.
Clean.
Professional.
Yet something about hearing it bothered her.
Which was ridiculous.
This was never supposed to be real.
“Then why does that sound depressing?” she muttered.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Adrian’s eyes narrowed slightly.
But he let it go.
For now.
After another long silence, Amara looked down at the contract.
Her entire life had become a series of impossible choices.
Trust Daniel.
Disaster.
Trust Sophie.
Disaster.
Now another man stood before her asking for trust.
But unlike Daniel, Adrian wasn’t pretending.
He wasn’t promising love.
He wasn’t promising forever.
He wasn’t feeding her beautiful lies.
Everything was clearly written in black and white.
A business arrangement.
Nothing more.
And somehow that honesty felt comforting.
Finally, she reached for the pen.
Adrian watched her carefully.
“You understand what this means?”
“No.”
His eyebrow lifted.
“No?”
Amara managed a small smile.
“I understand the words.”
The smile faded.
“But I don’t think either of us understands how much our lives are about to change.”
For the first time, Adrian looked genuinely thoughtful.
Then he nodded once.
“Fair point.”
Taking a deep breath, Amara signed her name.
The moment the pen left the paper, reality crashed over her.
She had done it.
She had just agreed to marry a billionaire she met less than twenty-four hours ago.
Her life officially made no sense.
Adrian took the contract.
Looked at her signature.
Then signed his own.
And just like that the deal was done.
“Welcome to the arrangement, Mrs. King.”
The title hit her like a truck.
Mrs. King.
Not Bennett.
Not Daniel’s fiancée.
Mrs. King.
Her heart skipped unexpectedly.
“That sounds weird.”
“It will become familiar.”
The confidence in his voice was annoyingly convincing.
An hour later a black luxury SUV pulled into the circular driveway of Adrian’s estate.
Amara stared through the window.
Speechless.
The mansion looked less like a house and more like a luxury resort.
Elegant architecture.
Perfect landscaping.
Massive fountains.
Private security.
“People actually live here?”
Adrian glanced up from his phone.
“Usually.”
She rolled her eyes.
“You know what I mean.”
A faint smile appeared.
He did.
The vehicle stopped.
Several staff members immediately approached.
One opened her door.
Another carried luggage.
Another greeted Adrian respectfully.
Everyone moved with military precision.
This world felt completely different from hers.
And suddenly she felt nervous.
“What if they hate me?”
The question escaped before she could stop it.
Adrian looked at her.
“They won’t.”
“How do you know?”
His expression turned completely serious.
“Because if they do, they won’t work here anymore.”
Amara stared.
Then laughed.
Actually laughed.
For the first time in days.
The sound surprised both of them.
Adrian’s gaze softened slightly.
And for a brief moment neither looked away.
The atmosphere shifted.
Dangerously.
A strange warmth settled between them.
Then a voice interrupted.
“Mr. King.”
The moment shattered.
A middle-aged woman approached.
Elegant.
Professional.
She smiled warmly at Amara.
“You must be Miss Bennett.”
“Yes.”
The woman nodded.
“I’m Mrs. Harris, the house manager.”
Her smile widened.
“It’s lovely to finally meet you.”
Finally?
Amara frowned.
“What do you mean finally?”
Mrs. Harris immediately looked horrified.
“Oh.”
Silence.
Adrian closed his eyes briefly.
“Mrs. Harris.”
The warning in his voice was obvious.
Too late.
The woman swallowed.
“Nothing.”
Amara’s suspicion grew instantly.
“What aren’t you telling me?”
Nobody answered.
Which was answer enough.
Slowly, she turned toward Adrian.
His expression remained perfectly calm.
Too calm.
“You’ve talked about me before.”
“No.”
“You’re lying.”
“I’m not.”
“Then why did she say finally?”
Adrian looked away.
A mistake.
Because it confirmed everything.
Amara’s eyes widened.
“Oh my God.”
“What?”
“You were thinking about this before yesterday.”
Silence.
The guilty silence of a man caught.
Mrs. Harris suddenly found the ground extremely interesting.
Amara pointed at Adrian.
“You already had this planned.”
“I wouldn’t call it planned.”
“What would you call it?”
Adrian actually considered the question.
Then answered.
“Prepared.”
Her jaw dropped.
Prepared.
Prepared?!
This man was unbelievable.
Before she could continue the argument, another vehicle entered the driveway.
A sleek silver sports car.
It stopped abruptly.
The driver’s door opened.
A beautiful woman stepped out.
Tall.
Elegant.
Expensively dressed.
And judging by the way she was staring at Amara absolutely furious.
The atmosphere instantly changed.
Adrian’s expression hardened.
The woman’s eyes locked onto Amara.
Then slowly moved to Adrian.
“Tell me the rumors aren’t true.”
Silence.
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Then Adrian calmly stepped beside Amara.
Close enough that she could feel his presence.
Protective enough to send a message.
The woman’s face went pale.
“No…”
Her voice cracked.
“Adrian…”
But he never looked away from her.
“Vanessa.”
The name hung in the air.
Cold.
Sharp.
Dangerous.
And Amara suddenly knew one thing with absolute certainty.
Her problems were only beginning.
- Writer
