Contract of Deception

Chapter 3

Scarlett thought Wade’s new restaurant was beautiful. She knew about the chain of restaurants under the Dynasty name but she had never stepped foot in one, she’d probably have to sell a kidney or something to be able to afford the food. And now, here she was, getting the experience of a lifetime. The moment she crossed the threshold, it was like stepping into another world. The interior of the restaurant was a masterpiece of design, they had somehow fused modern design with timeless charm and made it work. Luxurious velvet draped gracefully from the ceilings, the crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow that gave off this illusion of inclusivity and intimacy.

Wade told her to take a seat and it was probably the softest chair she’d ever sat in. She watched him in the open plan kitchen, pleasantly surprised that he knew how to cook. Before she knew it, he was setting plates of delicious looking pasta on the table and they were engaging in pleasant conversation. She wasn’t one to overshare with people she just met, but there was something about Wade that made her feel safe enough to talk about her family and the paintings she cherished so much, she felt drawn to him.

She had taken another savoury forkful of pasta when he suddenly blurted out words she never expected to hear.

“Let’s get married Scarlett.”

His words made her choke on her food. Scarlett took a sip of her water in an attempt to push down the food that had gone down the wrong pipe. She looked up at Wade and he had a neutral expression on his face, like he hadn’t just dropped a bomb on her.

“Isn’t it a little too late for a proposal? Considering you quite literally threatened my father into selling me off to you.”

His arms were crossed and his face was a picture of indifference.

“And for what? You don’t even know me.”

She couldn’t come up with any plausible reason why the Wade Simon would want to marry her. As far as he was concerned, she was a nobody. She wasn’t a model, she didn’t come from an ultra rich family, and she certainly wasn’t fancy. He could have any woman he wanted with a snap of his finger, so why her? And added to the fact that they had just met eachother, it just didn’t make any sense. He was skipping about a thousand steps already.

“I don’t have to explain myself to you, or to anyone.” His jaw ticked.

“I can pay for the damages caused by my father, give me a year and I’ll pay gradually till every single cent is made up for.”

She knew she sounded pathetic, and he was probably enjoying it, but she didn’t care. This was the only chance she had to get herself out of this mess.

Wade took a deep breath. “I do not need your money Scarlett. And it is too late for you to do anything at this point.”

“But you don’t even know me. And what makes you think I’d agree to this anyway?”

He made a face and spoke casually like they were discussing the weather.

“There is no getting out of it. But I can assure you that I do not want this any more than you do.”

She looked up at him in confusion. If he didn’t want this, then why was he doing it?

And as if he’d read her mind, he continued, “I’m sure you must have heard all the rumors about me. I need a wife in order to keep my investors from backing out, I have no intention of starting a family or anything like it. It is all to put an end to the rumors.”

So this was all just some business deal to him.Scarlett was bewildered, and slightly pissed. He certainly didn’t think he could propose something like that and expect her to jump into it on a whim. She was pissed at his arrogance, she thought it was bold of him to assume he could make her do whatever he wanted just because he had money.

“I could be seeing someone else, you know?” She bit back, thinking it crazy that he just assumed she was single.

“I know you’re not.” He had a slight smirk on his face.

“And you’re so sure because?”

“You’ve spent an hour with me, you almost got hit by a car and you haven’t put a call through to anyone. Most women would want to call their significant other if something like that happened to them. Plus you spent a great deal of time telling me about your life, and you never mentioned a partner.”

Dang! He was good.

“But you could have anyone. Why me?”

“Because you’re here?” He shrugged. “And anyways, why would I waste the time to find someone?”

“Hmm.” She took another sip of her water.

“I could change your life Scarlett. I could put your art on the frontline, nobody would be able to talk about art without saying your name. And your father would definitely never have to work a day in his life again.”

She took a deep breath. His offer was tempting, she wouldn’t lie. But she also knew she wanted her work to speak for itself, and not because Wade Simon shoved it down people’s throats. Several moments passed before she spoke again.

“And just between us, it would be a contact marriage. It would only be for a year, enough time for all rumors about me to completely die down. And of course, you’d get whatever you want.”

She didn’t know what to say to this. Her heart was pounding in her chest and for the second time that night, she couldn’t seem to be able to make sense of anything. So she decided to leave before it sucked her in any deeper.

“Thanks for dinner,” She picked up her phone, slipped it in her jacket pocket and made for the door.

She left Wade Simon alone in his restaurant, wondering to herself what the hell just happened.

She spent the rest of the way home trying to forget the events of the night. His words hung heavy in the air, the benefits were there in her favour too, but would she really be able to have a relationship with a man everyone dreaded and envied at the same time?

Would she be able to have a relationship with a man whose face still scared her? Would she be able to convince the public that it was all real?

Her parents have always had big plans for her marriage, they couldn’t wait for the day she’d finally walk down the aisle in a beautiful white dress, she would be giving them that but it’d all be a lie.

And most importantly, would she be able to find herself when it was all over?