If anyone had told me I would sit behind some fancy table with scented paper and fancy pen.
And sign my freedom.
I would say that was the biggest lie from the pit of hell.
Even if a prophet had climbed the pulpit and prophesied it for me ,I wouldn't have believe.
But here I was behind a desk. Neatly arranged seats papers and stamps arranged carefully and alternating colors of pen stacked.
Across the desk was the cold hearted billionaire.His expression was cold-unreadble as usual.
This time it was just me and him. No third party.
My heart was racing ,my blood pressure spiking.
I must have been a big fool not to realize that this meeting wasn't a casual one- that it wasn't contracted.
"It's a contract Clara" he spoke out as if reading my mind.He must have stared at me for minutes and realized I was startled,that he decided to clear the situation.
"Of course I know it's a contract" I fired at him
"Just not the contract you want " my inner mind screamed.
My body refused to follow the signals I sent.
I wanted to run,and scream and squeal.
The Billionaire is suggesting I marry him.What I would have never thought in my entire existence.
And just like I needed a little convincing to believe.
"Clara marry me "
His tone was surgical . His words were precise, controlled and emotionless - like a surgeon's hand ,every word was chosen carefully, cutting straight to the point without warmth or hesitation.
I wasn't angry.I was shocked
I wanted to say something but laughter caught the better part of me.
"This is absurd" I panicked
"No what is absurd is that you will reject the offer of getting married to the richest billionaire in town" his expression was blank
My pulse spiked not from attraction,but from the fact that he'd dare .
"Just one month, that's the deal,be married to me for one month,after that you can go wherever you want" he explained
"Thirty one Day's? I asked in a whisper
" Who the hell gets married for one month and then divorce " I screamed in my head .I must be running crazy .
"Yes, thirty one Day's. Once you sign now the clock starts tomorrow "he replied looking so unbothrred
"You must be joking" I felt my pulse beat.
"I never joke with business and you know it -and this right here is business" he gestered between us.
The word business felt so dry and unpolished.My heart sank ,I almost laughed-almost.because it felt like laughing was easier than screaming.
So all this was a fucking business to him? Of course it was .
What was I thinking.
"A proposal wrapped in arrogance and ink Typical Luke Voss -turning a nightmare into a business deal". I murmured
He must have heard me murmuring
'you were saying something?
My eyes snapped. "A business deal? That what this is to you? " I fired at him
"You think marriage is a business deal?
"For me -everything is "
I wanted to throw the stacks of pen at his face ,to wipe that perfect calmness off his face , instead I stared immensely at the legally dense papers.
A contract marriage. For one month
Something me and Lena watch on movie and mock them.
All of a sudden I've become one of them.
He pushed the paper closer " There read the details if you must. The terms are easy you marry me for one month,show up at public events together . You play the part and you can walk home with seven million dollars "
My eyes snapped"you're paying me?"
"Compensating " he corrected.
" For any inconveniences of pretending to be my wife "
Something inside of me broken. Quietly-patiently. The guilt of even considering that.
I've always dreamt of marrying the man of my dreams.It would be love at first sight. I've always dreamed of my Mr perfect and how gigantic my weeding would be .
How it would be true love …
If wishes were horse, beggar would ride on them all day long…..
"But why me" I said with a shaky voice "you have million of ladies that would kill to be in this relationship with you , why choose me?" Every pride I had left was crumbling like bricks collapsing
His eyes met with mine "because you are the only lady in the world who wouldn't "
For a moment there was silence between us ,I could hear the faint hum of the air conditioner and the faint tick of the wall clock.
I noticed he didn't used the word "girl" he used lady instead.That single act lit up something in me.
"You're insane " I shouted in a way that if there were any guards outside they'd hear clearly.
"You're saying it loud as if that's news" he replied me with the most highest level of nonchalantlcy I have ever seen.
I pushed the chair backwards with my ass and stood up ready to leave .I hadn't gotten to the door when….
"If you walk out of that door Clara ,you can forget about ever working again -every door you've been knocking at I will personally make sure they remain shut forever.
My breath caught.My whole body went still in panic.
He wasn't bluffing -the bastard has that kind of power and he knew I knew it.
I turned slowly but steadily retracing my steps .
" You'd really do that?" I asked plainly
He didn't answer. He didn't need to .his face said it all.
The tension in the room shifted. Nobody told me to sit my ass down . My hands trembled as I searched for the pen even though it was staring at me right in the face.
As I picked the pen the smell of ink filled my nose.My chest ached, not from sickness but from the weight of everything I couldn't say.It spread like a slow bruise beneath my ribs
. Each breath scraped as if my heart was folding in on itself.
I stared at the blank line where my name was suppose to go.
I didn't think. I just signed
The sound of the pen scratching the paper were louder than any thunderstorm.
When I was done I dropped the pen like it had some disease
I slid the papers towards him.
"There, happy now?"
He collected the papers and studied the signature ,then looked towards me.
"Good "
He stood up ,buttoned his suit jacket and picked up the file.
" The wedding is tomorrow"
I blinked in unbelief "Tomorrow?"
He nodded slowly, already walking towards the door "you agreed for thirty one Day's Clara ,the clock starts now "
He slammed the door.I could feel the rush of fresh air filling the room from outside..
And just like that he was gone.
I sat there staring at my own part of the paper I had just signed.My chest felt empty.
My freedom sold for ink ,paper,and arrogance.
Maybe I should have screamed
Maybe I should have cried.
But I just sat there and laughed , because someone once told me that sometimes when it's hurts the only one thing left is just to pretend it doesn't hurt
And that's exactly what I did........
To be continued....