The Billionaire's Open Marriage Contract

UGLY ASS PAINTINGS

Scarlett had never seen a private jet up close. She had seen them in movies with celebrities stepping out of them on social media, sunglasses hiding their eyes while assistants carried their luggage behind them. But seeing one in person felt different, she had people carrying her bags and speaking to her like she was one of those celebrities she always watched.

That's one of the perks of having money like the Ryders. Scarlett slowed as she approached.

“Holy shit.”

The driver Jude had sent to pick her up glanced at her through the rearview mirror but said nothing the whole ride. She couldn't blame him.

A flight attendant greeted her at the bottom of the stairs.

“Miss Browne?”

Scarlett nodded.

“Welcome.”

Scarlett smiled awkwardly. “Thank you.”

She climbed the stairs, one hand gripping the railing as she tried not to look like a woman who had never stepped foot inside a private jet before, even though she hasn't. She could get used to all these for as long as her contract lasted. Then it dawned on her that she doesn't know how long her contract would last because of course she didn't read it.

The moment she stepped inside, she stopped to take in the interior. It felt like she was in an exquisite hotel room. She was ushered into the private room m, after being told that Jude was busy and she'll just have to make herself comfortable, which she didn't mind.

Herself and Galaxy were up the whole night, devouring every information on the Internet about the Ryders. She knew Jude was engaged and even though the Internet had no idea why the couple haven't been seen together lately, they kept talking nonstop about how big their wedding was going to be.

Jokes on them, their pitch perfect celebrity millionaire would be ending up with a lady of the night instead, Surprise!

“Ma'am, wine?” The attendant with the terrifying eyebrow asked.

“Sure,” Scarlet smiled politely as she allowed herself to be served. In no time, it was a feast in front of her, even though the food wasn't so good, too much greens, she enjoyed the hospitality.

The next few hours was a blur and in no time she could hear the pilot announce their landing. She got her hand bag and made her way to the exit.

“Why is it taking you forever to get off a damn plane,” Jude said as she got out of the aircraft.

Scarlett rolled her eyes, God she hated him. “If that's your way of saying hello, then I'd rather you not talk to me the whole day,” she shot back. His character was exhausting and it was beginning to piss her off.

He wasn't expecting her to talk back at him, so he quietly went back to his phone as they waited for their ride. Scarlett looked down at the diamond ring on her finger, it was given to her this morning when his driver came to pick her up.

For a brief second, she almost thought about selling the ring and running someplace else to start her life afresh, but she knew that was a lame idea. It would take Jude almost nothing to find her, then what?

Their ride arrived and she climbed into the back seat beside him. The car pulled away. She looked through the window, taking in the scenery. She didn't want the ride to end because of how beautiful the scenery was and secondly she was nervous, so nervous her airway felt blocked.

“This is beautiful.” She muttered, eyes still on the road.

Jude glanced at her. “Yes.”

That was it.

Scarlett looked at him. “When was the last time you were in Monaco?”

“I can't recall, been too busy to fly down here.” His eyes were fixated on his phone, so she took that as a cue to leave him be.

As weird and stupid as it may sound, she owed Bullet a thank you, before if he hadn't tried to kill her she wouldn't have been sitting right next to Jude Ryder in Monaco.

The car eventually turned through enormous iron gates. Scarlett's mouth slowly fell open. The Ryder estate appeared ahead. It was every massive but the house itself looked like it lacked life. But what does she know, she doesn't own a house.

As the car came to a stop, a staff member opened the door and she stepped out, grateful she dressed to kill. But then she wondered whether she was actually capable of convincing these people that she belonged here. Her satin dress sat on her body, hugging all her curves like it was made just for her. She knows she has a banging body, she got her money's worth and it's a surprise Jude hasn't asked to get down with her yet.

Maybe he will, tonight.

Jude walked ahead and she followed him inside. The inside was no better, it looked like she was in the house of a serial killer with so many sick arts on the walls and cactuses. She wondered who the interior decorator of the house was because the house is more like a reflection of their soul.

She almost laughed at the thought of an empty soul.

“Make yourself comfortable,” he said as he started to walk away.

“Wait, where are you going?”.” She was confused, where is everybody? “You're leaving me here?”

“You're not a child, so do whatever you want.” Scarlett watched him disappear down the hallway.

“What a gentleman.”

She turned around, and decided to give herself a little tour. She looked at all the paintings, trying to understand what the artist had in mind while painting. Most of them made no sense to her, but there was one in particular that caught her attention.

It had a detailed landscape and sitting by herself is the shadow of a woman ascending.

“You like it?”

Scarlett jumped, she didn't hear anyone come in. She turned and her eyes fell on a shirtless young man with a disarming smile. She could see the slight resemblance between Jude and this young man. He had to the Collins the other Ryder brother. From her research last night, she knew the Ryders had two sons, and she's searched for Collins the whole Internet and found nothing but a picture of him as a high schooler. He wasn't really into social media.

His gaze moved over her face, and he's eyes scanned her whole body. “Are you lost?”

Scarlett opened her mouth. “Uh…” She almost kicked her own ass for sounding so dumb.

Collins smiled slightly. “That's not an answer.”

“I’m here with Jude.” She finally said.

“Interesting,” his eyes never left her body. “Jude has never really been good at picking fine women, he's proven me wrong.”

Scarlett could feel her cheeks turn pink. Did he just compliment her?

“You like it?”

“Of course I love him,” she said trying not to sound like she felt.

“I mean the painting,” he pointed to the painting she was staring at earlier.

“Ow…I'm sorry,” for f**k sake, first it was her voice, now it's her ears. She should get away from this man. “If I'm being truthful, this is the only painting that makes sense since I stepped in here.”

He clutched his chest, forging hurt. “Too bad, I painted every art on the wall except this one.”

‘Not again’ she taught to herself. “Oh I didn't mean it that way, they all look great…”

“You don't have to lie to make me feel better. I paint whatever I'm feeling and these paintings signify my feelings at the time they were painted.” He winked at her. “So don't feel bad for being blunt.”

“If you insist,” she cracked a smile.

He tilted his head. “I'm Collins, and you are?” He stretched out his hand for a handshake.

“Scarl..ett,” she stammered. “Scarlett Browne,” she stretched her hand to shake his. He held her hand for an unusually long handshake.

“Collins, please go put on some shirt,” a firm feminine voice called from upstairs.

Scarlett looked towards the direction of the voice and immediately she knew who it was.