Contract marriage with the billionaire heir

CHAPTER FOUR: The Approval

Eva sat in the backseat of the luxurious car, looking out at the passing streets. She was on her way to the Walter Estate, one of the largest estates in the country. When the car finally pulled up to the mansion, she took a deep breath before stepping out. This would be her new home until the contract was over. She took in the view of the large estate. She had never seen anything like it. The estate was incredibly big, with a beautiful garden spread across the entrance and huge towers.

Jason was waiting for her at the door to the mansion, his expression was unreadable. "Welcome to your new home," he said, his voice in a professional tone. "I'll show you to your room."

Eva gave him a nod and followed behind him, her eyes expanding to fully see the lavish surroundings. The expensive furniture and works of art throughout the house suggested great wealth. The grand staircase and the dark marble floor shined in the warm light streaming through the white-painted walls. They walked up the grand staircase and down a narrow corridor until they reached a door, which opened to a large, spacious, and beautiful bedroom.

"This will be your room," Jason said, his tone plain. "I trust it meets your standards?" he asked, his gaze indifferent.

"It's lovely," Eva replied, forcing a smile. "Thank you."

"Get dressed," Jason said immediately. "We have an event to attend." His voice was filled with a tone that Eva couldn't quite place. "My father has arranged a party to formally announce my position as the CEO of Walter Enterprises. You'll be accompanying me."

Eva swallowed hard. She had known she would eventually have to meet Jason's family, but she had never expected it to be so soon. She nodded, and Jason turned to leave. Before he did, he paused. "One more thing. Our marriage contract means you should adhere to and meet certain expectations. We need to maintain appearances, so try to avoid unnecessary attention."

Eva nodded, even though she had no clear idea of what type of 'appearance' Jason exactly meant.

Eva chose a sleek black dress that hugged her curves tightly, hoping it would fit into the style of the Walters. She had never attended an event such as this one in her entire life before. Jason was waiting for her at the bottom of the grand staircase. He was wearing a perfectly fitted suit that showed off his broad shoulders and complemented his frame.

Eva was taken aback by what she saw when they first entered the room. The most influential business people in the city filled the room, all dressed classy and elegantly. They chatted over champagne and appetizers. The atmosphere was further enhanced by the soft music playing in the background. Fine art and paintings decorated the walls, and the air was heavy with the aroma of delicious food.

Jason led Eva through the crowd, introducing her to high-profile guests. They eventually approached Jason's father, a well-known and powerful-looking man who looked to be in his late sixties. "Eva, I'm glad you could join us," Mr. Walter said, extending a firm handshake.

"Thank you, sir," Eva replied shaking his hand with a warm smile on her face. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Please call me Michael, dear," he said laughing. "You're family now." The word 'family' settled heavily on Eva's shoulders.

Michael Walter's gaze lingered on Eva, a mixture of curiosity and approval in his eyes. "Jason has spoken highly of you. I trust everything is to your liking?"

"Yes, it's very fascinating," she said, trying to sound composed, though she was overwhelmed by the luxury.

Just then, a younger man approached them. Eva immediately recognized him from their brief encounter at the office. It was Jayden Walter.

"Ah, this is Jayden, Jason's younger brother," Michael said, making the introduction. "Jayden, this is Eva. Jason's wife."

Jayden's eyes widened in surprise. He recalled their brief encounter when Eva had delivered coffee to Jason's office. Their collision had been accidental, but Jayden had felt an unexpected spark. Since then, he had been thinking about her constantly. Seeing her now, married to Jason, only intensified his feelings.

"Oh, Eva," Jayden said, his shock evident in his tone. "You and Jason—what a surprise." He struggled to hide his jealousy, hoping it wasn't too obvious to the others.

"Yes," Eva said, giving him a polite smile. She remembered how kind he had been during their brief interaction.

Jayden genuinely smiled back, though his heart held personal interest. "I'm happy for you," he said, though his mind was already racing with thoughts of how things could have been different.

As the event proceeded, Michael Walter gathered the guests for a public announcement to present Jason's new role as heir to Walter Enterprises. As Jason made his way to the stage, the crowd grew silent, their conversations hushed in an instant.

Jason began, "Today marks a new beginning for Walter Enterprises. I am honored to take this position as CEO and to walk alongside you all." He glanced at Eva, who was in the crowd. "I'd also like to take a moment to introduce someone special," he said, gesturing for her to come up. "This is my wife, Eva."

Without warning, Jason placed a soft kiss on Eva's cheek. The room fell silent, with guests watching intently and paparazzi cameras flashing. The gesture was unexpected, and time seemed to pause for a split second. Eva felt a chill run down her spine.

Her eyes widened in shock. Did he just kiss her? Jason leaned in closer, whispering, "Play along," his voice low and firm.

She nodded slowly. Jason's hands remained tightly around her waist as camera flashes erupted, focusing on the intimate moment.

Jason looked at the crowd, who were now watching intently. "Let's raise a toast to a new beginning, the future of Walter Enterprises," he concluded, raising his glass.

Jayden stood across the room, his gaze flickering between Eva and Jason. A mixture of rage and jealousy clouded his eyes. That was supposed to be him up there, he thought bitterly. He had been prepared to take his place as heir, but now his brother had taken it, and with it, Eva. Jayden watched silently, determined to reclaim his position, not just in the family business but also in Eva's life.

********

Eva woke up the next morning with the events of the previous night playing in her mind. She couldn't get Jason's kiss off her mind; the way he had put on a show for the guests—it all felt surreal. She was still trying to process it when she noticed the headlines about their "marriage" plastered across social media. She couldn't escape the sensation of being in the spotlight, with comments ranging from congratulatory to accusatory.

Eva picked up her phone, hoping to send a text to her best friend Jackson. She hadn't spoken to him since signing the contract, and the reality of her situation was hitting hard. She was overwhelmed by the need to explain things to Jackson, but she had no real explanation to give. As she scanned her social media, a notification from Jackson popped up.

"What's going on, Eva? Your picture is everywhere." It read.

She quickly typed back, "I'll explain everything, I promise. Let's meet at the café."

After sending the message, Eva dropped her phone. She was unsure how to explain the situation, especially with the secrecy that was surrounding her marriage to Jason.