12. Intimacy Restrictions
Physical intimacy is limited to:
Holding hands.
Occasional hugs (minimum 5 seconds, maximum 10).
Subtle, "public appropriate" gestures such as fixing hair or guiding by the waist.
Pecks on the cheek or forehead only.
Private or extended displays of affection, including kissing on the lips or anything beyond the cheeks or forehead, are strictly forbidden.
Sex? Absolutely off limits.
Olaedo nearly choked on her breath. So… basically, we're a drama series without a romantic subplot.
She side eyed Chibuzor. He was calmly sipping his water as if he hadn't just written a manual for emotional celibacy.
---
13. Separate Sleeping Arrangements
Both parties will maintain separate bedrooms. However, during visits from parents, relatives, or guests, they must share a room to avoid suspicion.
In such cases, both parties must sleep as far apart as the east is from the west (or according to room size).
She blinked slowly. He actually included the east and west part? Is this a contract or a stand up comedy script?
---
14. Shared Expenses Clause
All expenses for joint appearances, events, celebrations, or any projects of Party B will be paid by Party A for the duration of the contract.
However, Party A reserves the right to decline funding for any project he doesn't personally approve of.
Olaedo nodded to herself. Ah, there it is, the rich man's fine print. Generosity with conditions.
---
15. Respect for Family Members Clause
Both parties must maintain respectful behavior toward each other's families.
Any confrontation, sarcasm, or "petty argument" will result in monetary fines to the offending party.
Her lips tightened. So, if his grandmother insults me, I'll pay for defending myself? Unreal.
---
16. Weekly Status Updates
Every weekend, Party A and B will meet privately for a 30 minute review of their "marriage performance."
Adjustments to affection tactics or couple pose ideas are encouraged.
Olaedo dragged her hand down her face. Weekly performance reviews? This marriage has HR policies.
---
17. Time Out Clause
In cases of extreme irritation, either party may invoke a temporary "time out" once per month, pausing all contractual obligations for up to 24 hours.
She nodded faintly. Good. At least there's an emergency button for sanity.
---
18. Monthly Date Night Requirement
To maintain the illusion of a happy couple, both parties must attend one official date night every month at a mutually agreed location.
All expenses will be covered by Party A.
Her heart sank. Great. I'll be fake dating my boss once a month for five years. Someone save me.
---
19. No Breaking Rules for Emotions Clause
Both parties agree to honor the contract regardless of "emotional tension" or personal feelings.
The contract supersedes all emotional developments or romantic complications.
Olaedo stared at the last page of the contract, her pulse loud in her ears.
20. A monthly salary of ten million of the local currency will be paid to Party B throughout the entire five years. Party A reserves the right to adjust said salary if Party B breaches any part of the contract.
21. One Month Grace Period
Should the situation become intolerable within the first month, either party may propose a "review" of the contract for possible amendments or withdrawal without penalty.
Signatures:
Party A: _____________________ Date: ___________
Party B: _____________________ Date: ___________
End of Contract.
---
Her eyes lingered on those words. End of contract.
But it didn't feel like an ending. It felt like a trap sealed with ink.
For a long moment, she didn't move. The air felt heavier, her lungs too aware of every breath. So the investor was indeed CEO Arinze, just not in the way she had imagined.
The perfect image she had built of him, mentor, role model, unshakable professional, shattered with a sharp crash inside her chest.
Getting married, huh?
Marriage had been the last thing on her mind since the day Maduabuchi disappeared. The word itself felt foreign now, like something that belonged in another lifetime.
And yet, here it was… written across a contract.
She placed the papers down slowly, the crisp sound echoing through the room, and looked up at Chibuzor. He was still watching her, his calm unreadable gaze following her every move.
When she finally spoke, her voice carried that familiar blend of composure and sharp sarcasm.
"So, let me get this straight. You want us to play husband and wife? Should I start practicing my 'good morning, honey' voice now, or are we sticking to 'strictly business' from nine to five?"
He didn't flinch. Instead, he leaned back slightly, as if measuring her tone.
"Only if you think it'll make the contract more convincing," he said. "and if that's what it takes, we'll schedule rehearsals."
Her jaw twitched. Yep, that's the CEO Arinze I know. Always direct.
Inside, her thoughts raced. So he isn't joking. The top bachelor in the country actually wants to marry me? No, pretend to marry me.
She needed the money. Every bit of it. But to give up five years of her life? Five years of pretending, smiling, posing, lying, just for a deal?
Her chest tightened. Is this really what my life has come to?
She sat there, torn between reason and instinct, until one clear thought broke through the noise.
I need someone to tell me what to do. Only one person can help me with this.
"CEO Chibuzor," she said, forcing her voice steady, "may I use the washroom? I'll be back soon."
He gave a slow nod. "Of course."
As she left, her heels clicked softly against the marble floor, steady, deliberate, but her heartbeat betrayed her calm.
Behind her, Chibuzor watched in silence.
Impressive. She's calmer than I expected, he thought, his gaze still fixed on the door she had disappeared through.
Then his expression shifted slightly, thoughtful, curious.
Who exactly is this woman?
He dialed his house line. The call barely rang twice before a familiar voice answered.
"Young Master?"
Chibuzor leaned against his car, one hand slipping into his pocket. "I just met the first lady you picked," he said, voice low but steady. "She looks oddly familiar, but I don't remember seeing her in the list I gave you. Who is she?"
There was a pause, a hesitant kind. He could practically hear the housekeeper swallow.
"Uhm, sir, she's indeed not on the list you gave me," the older man admitted carefully. "All the ladies on the list thought I was a scammer, so they refused to meet you. I… saw her biography online, and she met every other requirement."
Chibuzor's brows furrowed. "Every other requirement?"
"Yes, sir. Also, she recently suffered a huge loss at the hands of her fiancé, so the 'anti love and marriage' part was also checked. She was the only one I could find." The man's tone softened. "I'm sorry if she didn't meet your expectations, sir."
Huge loss at the hands of her fiancé?
His grip on the phone tightened slightly.
No… don't tell me he picked—
The housekeeper's next words cut through his thoughts. "Her name is CEO Anozie Olaedo."
Silence.
A long, heavy silence.
Chibuzor blinked once, expression unreadable.
"..."
He pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled sharply.
Great. Just great. I'm about to marry the one woman who wasn't even on the broad list, let alone the shortlist.
A bitter chuckle escaped before he could stop it. He couldn't even blame the old man. His criteria had been ridiculous from the start: no emotional baggage, no romantic tendencies, no interest in marriage, and no public scandals. Finding someone who checked all those boxes was basically asking for a ghost.
Still, he couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "This is going to be… interesting."
For a moment, he let the silence sit between them before finally saying, "Okay. Prepare the room opposite mine and add everything I asked for earlier. There's a high chance I'll be bringing home your young mistress."
The line went dead.
Back at the mansion, the housekeeper stood frozen, the receiver still pressed to his ear.
"Young… mistress?" he repeated faintly, eyes wide.
He slowly turned toward the staff bustling about and whispered to no one in particular, "How on earth did he manage to find himself a wife in just one day?"