Contract Marriage with Mr. CEO

A Proposal She Can't Refuse

Chapter 4

Evans’ POV

I leaned back in my chair, watching Claire’s face as my words sank in. She looked like she’d been hit by a truck.

Her mouth opened, then closed, and for a moment, I thought she might faint. Her pale face gave away her shock.

“You... you want me to marry you?” she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Yes,” I said firmly, not giving her room to breathe. “I need a wife, and you need stability. It’s a simple arrangement.”

Her eyes widened as if I’d just asked her to jump off a cliff. She looked at me like I was insane, and maybe I was.

But I didn’t care. I had my reasons.

She finally found her voice, her tone sharper this time. “A contract marriage with you? My boss?”

“Yes.” I didn’t blink. “It’s not a request, Claire. I’m offering you a chance. Think it through before you answer.”

Her breathing grew uneven, and I could see the panic in her eyes.

She gripped the edge of the chair, her knuckles white. “This… this doesn’t make sense. Why me?”

I leaned forward, resting my arms on the desk. “Because you’re perfect for this. No strings attached. No emotional mess. Just business.”

Before she could respond, the door opened, and Sam, my secretary, stepped in.

“Sir, you have a meeting in five minutes,” he said, glancing at Claire with mild curiosity before turning back to me.

I sighed, annoyed at the interruption.

“Fine,” I said, standing up. I reached into my pocket and pulled out my card, sliding it across the desk to Claire. “Here. Call me when you’ve made your decision. Don’t take too long—I’m not a patient man.”

She stared at the card like it was a bomb about to go off.

“Sam,” I barked as I headed out the door, “make sure no one disturbs me again without a valid reason.”

**********

The rest of the day was a blur of meetings and calls, but my mind kept drifting back to Claire. Her shocked expression, her trembling hands. I couldn’t get it out of my head.

Why was I so desperate to make this work? I could’ve chosen anyone—someone polished, someone experienced in playing these roles.

But Claire was different. She was vulnerable, and I needed someone who wouldn’t question the arrangement too much.

Later that afternoon, I caught a glimpse of her from one of the office windows on the fifth floor. I noticed the exhaustion etched on her face.

She moved slowly, her shoulders slumped like she was carrying the weight of the world. Given the chaos going on in her life, I suspected she wasn’t good, coupled with the bomb I had thrown at her earlier.

I turned away from the window, shaking off the unease creeping into my chest. This wasn’t about emotions. This was about a deal. A simple business deal.

By evening, I couldn’t wait any longer. I asked Sam to update me about Claire's whereabouts. Shortly after, he told me she was still at the office. At that hour,

Immediately, I picked up my jacket and left my office. Heading towards her floor, I found her sitting at her desk, typing furiously. Her head snapped up when she saw me, her eyes wide with surprise.

“Ev—uh, sir,” she stammered, standing up quickly.

“Have you thought about my offer?” I asked, keeping my tone neutral, though the impatience was bubbling under the surface.

She hesitated, biting her lip. “I… I need more time.”

I frowned. “Time for what? You and I both know this is your best option.”

She crossed her arms, trying to look defiant, but the slight tremor in her voice gave her away. “You can’t just expect me to say yes immediately. This is my life we’re talking about.”

“And I’m offering to make it better,” I shot back, my voice sharp. “Shouldn't you be happy that your boss is asking for your hand in marriage? Some women would jump into this without thinking twice.

Her face fell, and for a moment, I thought she might cry. But then she straightened up, meeting my gaze with a spark of fire I hadn’t expected. “Fine. I’ll think about it.”

“That’s all I’m asking,” I said, softening my tone just a bit. “But don’t take too long. My patience has limits.” I returned to my office.

I was up late in my office, engrossed in work as usual, when Sam barged in without knocking, his face pale.

“Sir, you need to come quickly,” he said, his voice urgent.

I frowned. “What is it now, Sam?”

“It’s Claire. I just got info that she’s in trouble. Some men are at her house, trying to push her out. They’re threatening her.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. “What do you mean, threatening her?”

“They said she owes them money, and they’re taking her as compensation,” Sam explained quickly. “The situation seems bad, sir.”

I didn’t wait to hear more. Grabbing my coat, I stormed out of the office, my heart pounding.

When I arrived at her place, the scene was worse than I imagined. Two burly men were dragging Claire out of the small house, their hands gripping her arms as she struggled against them.

“Let me go!” she screamed, her voice filled with desperation.

One of the men sneered. “You think you can run from us, sweetheart? Pay up, or you’re coming with us.”

My blood boiled. “Let her go. Now.”

The men froze, turning to look at me. “Who the hell are you?” One of them spat.

“Her husband,” I lied smoothly, stepping closer. “And if you lay another finger on her, you’ll regret it.”

Claire’s eyes widened in shock, but she didn’t say anything.

The men exchanged glances, clearly uncertain. “She owes us money,” one of them said. “A lot of it. Are you going to pay for her?”

“How much?” I asked coldly, pulling out my wallet.

“Seven hundred thousand dollars.” One of the men said mockingly, smirking at me. Without hesitation, while staring at both men, I stretched out my hand to Sam, who was behind me, and handed them the cash from the briefcase with him.

“Take it and get out of here. Now.” I snared as I handed the money to them.

They grumbled but took the money, finally releasing Claire. She stumbled forward, and I caught her before she could fall.

She looked up at me, her eyes filled with a mix of relief and confusion. “Why did you…”

“You should know already, the deal is still open, I can see you're living a pathetic life, and now you owe me, you have no place to run to. Do you have the money I paid those men right now? I need it, and you have to pay me back!”

“No, I don't have it now.” She stares down at her feet as she fumbles with her fingers. Slowly looking at her head rising, she stared at me with those little innocent eyes of hers.

For a moment, while I was infatuated with her eyes, I heard her say, “I promise to pay back as soon as I can. Please give me some time.”

“I don’t think I can give you that time. Time is of essence, my dear.” Getting no reactions from her, but a cold stony emotion. I continued. “But you know, there are things you can do to forgo the payment.” At that moment, she fell to her knees before me.

“I'll do anything you want, just tell me what I need to do.” She begged, and my lips curled into a smile.

This was the time. Now she's vulnerable. “Accept my proposal!” I chipped in, and I stared at her face waiting for her response.

I know this time she won't be able to reject me.