The Contract

The sound of the alarm ringing echoed through the room. Aria opened her eyes, and the memories of last night flooded her mind. She blushed, feeling embarrassed.

“Snap it out of it, madam,” Aria thought as she stood up to do her daily routine.

Last night's spaghetti was microwaved again. She sat down to eat it. She messaged her friend, “Good morning,” but got no reply.

“Probably busy.”

She saw that it was already 11 a.m.

She picked up the business card Damien had given her, typed in the number, and called it. It was picked up immediately.

“Miss Bennett.”

“Mr. Ashford.”

“Let's meet up, shall we? Whenever you are less busy…”

“I’m less busy.”

He replied quickly.

“Oh… okay, then.”

“The same restaurant, Mr. Ashford?”

“Yes, Miss. I will be there.”

The call ended.

She decided to hail a taxi to the restaurant. She was surprised to see him already sitting there. He stood up to pull the chair out for her.

She flipped through the pages of the contract. Now that she thought about it, she hadn't read through the contract yet. She looked at the man in front of her, who looked like this was just a regular business deal. She had called him to meet at the restaurant, but she didn't expect it to be empty again.

“Rich people.”

She scoffed.

He stared at her. She ignored him.

The terms of the contract were surprisingly straightforward.

1. A legal marriage.

2. Separated personal lives; neither party may interfere unnecessarily in the other's personal decisions.

3. In public, both parties must behave like genuine couples.

4. Both parties will live in the same residence for the duration of the contract unless mutually agreed otherwise.

5. A stable job at Ashford Empire.

6. Mutual respect.

7. The contract can be dissolved when one or both parties fall in love with other people outside the contract.

Her brows knitted together.

“This…”

She looked at Damien.

“This isn't what I expected.”

“What did you expect?”

“I don't know.”

She hesitated.

“A controlling billionaire who wants to buy a wife.”

“And instead?”

She glanced at the contract once more.

“It looks more like you are hiring a business partner. Like this is meant to be a business deal.”

Damien didn't deny it.

“In many ways, it is.”

Aria placed the papers back on the table.

“Why?”

Damien remained silent.

“I deserve an answer.”

He picked up his glass and took a long sip of his wine.

“For twenty years, I built Ashford Group into the largest corporation in the country.”

His voice was quiet… measured.

“I sacrificed a lot.”

“Friends.”

“My youth.”

“My—my family.”

“My brother and his wife, Ethan's biological parents, who died because…”

He stopped.

“I believed I was building something that would outlive me.”

He paused.

“And now?”

“My son… I mean, Ethan has caused me a lot. I treasure him because I raised him, after his parents…”

Aria frowned.

“Because of a cheating scandal?”

“Not because of that. Because I realized I failed a lot in raising him. Investors no longer trust his judgment. He is the heir. Business is built on not just confidence but trust, and the moment that disappears, so does the money.”

She slowly nodded, trying to understand. Then it made sense to her, far more sense than she expected.

“The board of executives already doubts Ethan's ability to be the next CEO. He is reckless, laundering money.”

“And marrying me changes that how?”

“It changes the conversation. The scandal already dominates every headline, but if a new story appears, which is about my marriage, the story will stop focusing on Ethan, and so will the business world. They will shift from Ethan's mistakes because my marriage could mean producing a new heir. I'm not saying that I'm expecting you to carry my child, Miss Aria. It is just a way to shift the attention.”

“Okay… But won't it cause more problems marrying your son's ex?”

“I control a lot more than you know, Miss Aria. I will offer you protection.”

“My parents taught me that marriage should be built on love.”

“That is right.”

She looked at him in surprise.

“You believe that?”

“I do.”

“Then why are you asking for the opposite, a marriage based on lies and revenge?”

“Because sometimes life doesn't offer ideal choices.”

His answer didn't sound like an excuse but like a confession.

Aria studied him carefully.

There was something lonely about him.

Not obvious.

Not dramatic.

Just quiet. Too quiet, like a man who spent his life carrying something that he shouldn't. She wondered if he was happy. She had long ago come to the realization that money couldn't erase or cure loneliness.

“I agree to the marriage contract.”

“Really?”

“Yes, but…”

“But?”

“I have some things to add. After that, I will sign it.”

“Tell me.”

“Public displays of affection are only allowed when necessary.”

“You don't have the right to my phone, private messages, private conversations, or belongings.”

“No falling in love.”

Too late. I'm already deeply in love with you, darling, Damien thought.

“And lastly, we don't know how long this contract will last, so we help relieve each other.”

“Relieve?”

“Yes, Mr. Ashford.”

Aria leaned closer.

“Have sex with each other. Instead of being friends with benefits, we could be partners with benefits.”

Damien choked on air. He glared at Aria, who had a smug expression.

“Sure, Miss Aria,” he said as soon as he regained himself.

Aria was shocked that he agreed.

“I will have it drafted, and you can sign it.”

“I will have Marcus help you with your stuff, and you can move in with me.”

“I haven't agreed to move in with you.”

“It is for your own safety, Miss Aria. Soon, the media will swamp you. You need protection.”

“I can protect myself.”

“I'm sure you can, but please make this easy for me and just come and stay with me.”

“Okay, fine.”

“Thanks.”

“But first, let's drop the formalities.”

“You are Damien. I'm Aria. No more Miss Aria or Miss Bennett. Or should I call you hubby instead?”

Damien's face remained blank, but his heart was racing. He was trying to maintain his composure.

You don't know how much I have always wanted to hear you call me that, Damien thought.

“What are you thinking about? Are you falling in love with me?”

Aria giggled.

Damien felt like it was the most beautiful sound he had ever heard.

How can I not when you are this beautiful? You don't know how in love I am with you. Control yourself, Damien. You are a man in your forties. This is going to be a long marriage.

He groaned.