#billionaire #contract marriage #ceo #romance

Chapter 1: Sign This or Your Brother Dies The doctor said 48 hours. The hospital bill said ₦2.3 million. My bank account said ₦1,450. I was 22 years old. A first-class graduate, Jobless. And my 10-year-old baby brother, Chuka, was dying in luth hospital because we couldn’t pay for his surgery. That was why I was standing in the lobby of Cole Towers, Victoria Island, Lagos. 30 floors of glass and money. The air conditioning was so cold it made my old blouse feel thinner. My only CV was crumpled in my handbag, My only shoes had tape on the side. “Do you have an appointment?” The receptionist didn’t look up. “No ma,o But I saw Mr. Cole’s ad for a personal assistant online. I just need 2 minutes.” “He cancelled that ad last week.” “Please. It’s an emergency.” She sighed and made a call. After 10 minutes she pointed to the elevator. “30th floor. You have 2 minutes. Don’t waste his time.” My heart was beating in my throat. Ding. The doors opened to the coldest office I’d ever seen. White marble, Black furniture, No photos, No plants, Just money. And him, Damian Cole. 29 years old Billionaire, CEO of Cole Holdings. The newspapers called him "The Ice King of Lagos". He was standing by the window with his back to me. White shirt. Sleeves rolled to his elbows. A ₦5 million watch glinting. He smelled like expensive cologne and power. He didn’t turn around. “You have 90 seconds,” he said. Voice low, bored. “Sir, good afternoon. My name is Ada Okafor. I’m here for… “I said I cancelled it.” “My brother needs surgery for ₦2.3 million. Please sir, I’ll do any job. Cleaner, Errand girl. I'm a graduate of Economics. First class He turned then, And I forgot how to breathe. Black eyes. Sharp jaw. The kind of face that should be on billboards, not in real life. Except there was nothing warm about it. It was like looking at ice. “How much did you say?” ₦2.3 million, sir. For surgery. It’s for my brother. He has a tumor and… He held up one hand and I shut up. He walked to his desk, picked up his phone and typed something. Then he looked at me again. “Why should I give you ₦2.3 million?” Tears burned my eyes. I’d cried all night but I refused to cry here. Because I’m desperate, sir. And I’m hardworking. I’ll pay you back, I’ll work for free for 2 years “ Stop, he walked around the desk and stopped 2 feet from me. He was tall. I had to tilt my head up. “I don’t do charity, Miss Okafor, And I don’t hire desperate people.” I nodded. My throat hurts. I understand sir. Thank you for your time.” I turned to leave,my legs felt like jelly. Then his voice stopped me. “I need a wife.” I turned back slowly. “Sorry?” “I need a wife,” he repeated. Like he was discussing the weather. “For 6 months.” The room suddenly felt smaller. “Excuse me, sir?” “My grandfather is sick. He owns 40% of this company. His last condition before he dies is that I must be married. If I’m not married by Friday, he gives everything to my cousin, and my cousin will destroy this company.” He said it all without blinking. So I need a wife on paper for 6 months. After that we divorce quietly, No one has to know it was fake. I stared at him. “And what does that have to do with me?” “You need ₦2.3 million. I need a ring on my finger. It's simple business.” He picked up a folder from his desk and dropped it in front of me. “Contract marriage, I will pay your brother’s hospital bill today, At the end of 6 months, I pay you ₦50 million, You walk away rich I keep my company Everyone wins.” ₦50 million. The number hit me like a slap. That was more money than my family had seen in 4 generations. Chuka would get the best doctors,my mom could stop selling akara by the roadside. “Is this legal?” My voice was small. “Perfectly legal. Standard NDA, Standard contract.” He opened the folder. 20 pages. Clause 3: No romantic involvement. Clause 5: No physical contact. Clause 7: You will attend 3 public events with me as my wife. Clause 9: If the press finds out this is fake, you forfeit all payment. He slid a pen across the table. Mont Blanc probably cost more than my school fees. “Decision time, Miss Okafor. Sign, and your brother lives. Walk out, and find ₦2.3 million somewhere else before Friday.” My hands were shaking. I thought of Chuka in that hospital bed. Tubes in his nose were too thin, smiling at me yesterday and saying “Sis, don’t worry God will provide.” God was providing. In the form of the coldest man in Lagos. “What if I change my mind in 6 months?” “You won’t. ₦50 million changes people.” “What if your grandfather finds out?” “He won’t. We’ll be convincing.” “What if... what if I fall in love with you?” For the first time, something flickered in his eyes. Amusement? “Don’t I don't love, Miss Okafor. That's why this will work.” Silence. Outside, Lagos traffic was honking. Inside, my heart was so loud I was sure he could hear it. I picked up the pen. “Where do I sign?” “Last page.” My name looked small on that paper Ada Okafor. The moment I wrote the last letter, his phone buzzed. He looked at it and nodded Hospital bill paid Check your email. I pulled out my old Tecno. Email. Payment Received: ₦2,300,000 to LUTH Account. I burst into tears. Right there in his office. “Thank you, Thank you so much sir” Don’t thank me. You earned it. He was already back at his laptop. The wedding is tomorrow, 8am. Federal Marriage Registry no guests, No photos, My lawyer will handle everything there in a white dress. Simple. “A white dress? But I don't….” My PA will send you money for one. ₦200,000, Don’t embarrass me. He finally looked up and gave me the smallest ghost of a smile. It didn't reach his eyes. “Congratulations, Mrs. Cole You just sold 6 months of your life.” Mrs. Cole. The name felt foreign and heavy on my tongue. I walked out of that office with ₦2.3 million proof in my email and a contract in my bag. I called my mom from the elevator. She screamed so loud the guard looked at me. “Chuka will live, Mama He will live.” That night I didn’t sleep. I kept reading the contract. No love, No touching. Easy, right? He was handsome but he was ice. And I was just a poor girl from Ajegunle who needed money. At 7:45am the next day, I was standing outside the marriage registry in a simple white dress the PA bought me. It was too expensive. It didn’t feel like me. Damian was already there in a black suit with no smile. The judge asked if we took each other. “I do,” he said, bored. “I do,” I whispered. Just like that, I was married. No cake, No guests, No ring Just a paper and a signature. In the car after, he handed me another paper, This is the address of the guest house. You’ll stay there. You'll come to 2 events per month with me. Other than that, we don’t see each other. Any questions? “Can I see my brother?” “Of course the hospital said surgery is scheduled for Monday.” He paused And Ada. I looked up. “Don’t fall for me. It would be a waste of your time.” Then he told the driver to drop me at the guest house and drove off. I stood there in my wedding dress, holding a contract, with ₦50 million waiting for me in 6 months. I thought I had made a deal to save my brother, I didn’t know I had just walked into the most dangerous game of my life. Because the Ice King had secrets. And by month 2, I was already starting to wonder why he chose me... and why his eyes got dark every time another man looked at me.