Chapter 3: The Contract

Feeling a burning sensation against my skin, I furrowed my brows and slowly opened my eyes, adjusting to the light. I groaned as I stretched out my limbs, only for them to hurt like hell.

Memories from last night replayed in my mind, and my eyes widened in realization.

My cheeks reddened as I remembered the things we had done, the way we had gone wild all night. It was unlike anything I had ever experienced.

But as I looked down at myself, I realized I was wearing his shirt.

I buried my nose in the collar and inhaled. He smelled like strawberries, quite feminine for a man like him.

I walked to the mirror in front of the bed and looked at the hickeys that spread across my skin down to my legs.

That explained why I was sore everywhere. I looked down at the table and found a thick envelope and a box beside it.

I lifted the envelope, and my eyes widened. I scampered to the bed and grabbed my phone from my purse, shocked.

“9 AM, shit, I am cooked,” I cursed, quickly picking up the envelope and opening it to find cold bundles of cash inside.

I shrugged, thinking he was just rewarding me for a good night. I needed the money!

I opened the box to find a bohemian dress. I wasted no time and hurried into the bathroom to freshen up and get dressed.

Leaving the bathroom, I quickly put on some makeup and hurried out of the hotel.

I quickly hailed a cab, and it didn’t take long for me to reach the hospital in time to pay the bills. The money was more than enough.

I didn’t know if I would see him again, but if we met, I would love to say thank you.

I was on the way to my mother’s ward when a nurse stopped me. I hadn’t received a call from Maisie, so I guessed she was still hungover.

The nurse informed me that the Doctor wanted to see me.

So, I nodded to the nurse, and she directed me to the doctor’s office. She extended her hand to the door, and I bowed my head slightly.

When she left, I took a deep breath, readying myself for what the doctor was going to say.

I carefully opened the door and popped my head in, ready to greet the doctor with a cheerful smile.

“Oh...” Wait... My eyes widened in shock.

I shut the door back and drew in a rapid breath. Maybe I was just seeing things, but the rush of memories from last night caused my core to ache.

“Miss Mia Athens, you can come in now,” the doctor’s voice filtered through the door.

I almost forgot to breathe as I froze in place. I turned back to face the door, and taking a painful gulp, twisted the knob.

I opened the door and popped my head in again, smiling at the doctor and avoiding looking at the man in a tuxedo sitting there.

“Oh, hi, doctor. How have you been?” I asked, a smile spreading across my lips.

“I have been okay. Come, sit down beside Mr. Asher here.” He replied, beckoning to the chair beside my handsome stranger.

I almost didn’t want to comply, but I had to. I took the chair without even looking at ‘Mr. Asher.’

“Well, alright, let’s talk about your mother’s case first.” He cleared his throat and settled his hands on the table.

The doctor explained that my mother had heart cancer, with a tumour that had dangerously grown in her heart.

I couldn’t help but shudder at the weight of the doctor’s words. My fist tightened against my thigh as a thousand things ran through my head.

One of them was that I didn’t want my mother to die.

He talked about the surgery and chemotherapy and was then elated to tell me that the rest of the bills had been paid by “Mr. Asher.” I regretted not knowing his full name.

I violently turned my head to look at him, my brows raised, and my lips pouted. “Say what now?”

“So I’ll leave you both to discuss for a while,” the doctor added with a soft smile as his eyes darted between me and my hot stranger.

Wait, no don’t go! I couldn’t voice the thought in my head until the door closed in front of me.

The hair on the back of my neck stood on end. I knew he was boring holes into me, and crimson spread across my cheeks.

“Miss Mia,” he murmured, and I flinched.

I turned my head slowly to face him and almost melted yet again. If I could turn into water, I would do it right away.

“That dress looks wonderful on you,” he mused, taking in my appearance with his blue eyes from head to toe.

I felt insignificant under his gaze. I cleared my throat, snapping my eyes shut and opening them to clear my mind of unholy thoughts.

“What are you doing here? How did you know about me?” I rambled, my eyes darting to the thick men standing behind him in black suits.

My eyes darted to them once in a while. Should I be scared?

“A little background check on you did the work,” he muttered under his breath, his voice deep and bone-chilling.

“Wait, that’s an invasion of privacy.” I scowled at him, and his lips drew into a smirk. I don’t think I can do this.

“How? You will be my wife; it’s only right I do this much.”

This much? What the fuck did he even mean by that?

“What do you mean, wife? I think you got the wrong person,” I half-laughed and rolled my eyes.

I won’t fall for it.

“No, I think I got the right person,” he whispered huskily as he suddenly leaned in and looked at me. Maybe I looked like a red tomato now.

My heart was drumming fast against my ribcage.

“Now that we have settled this, you are coming with me.” He suddenly declared and beckoned for his Goonies.

Then he waved them off and looked at me with a smirk at the corner of his lips.

My heart did a flip. That can’t be good, right?

He suddenly picked me up like a bag of potatoes and carried me over his shoulder. When I tried to wiggle, he would slap my ass.

“I should have let you wear fucking jeans,” he bit out angrily.

My hair fell over my face, and I couldn’t see anything. His shoulder nestled me like I weighed nothing.

I shouted, struggling to get down. Dizziness set in, but this man took me out of the doctor’s office.

“I don’t even know your name!” I groaned in retaliation.

“It’s Ryder, baby, Ryder, who is going to ride you.” That silenced me. I lay still in his arms, and the only thing that echoed in my head was that he would ride me.

I need Jesus because my mind is dirty.

****

We had visited all the stores at the mall, and he didn’t forget to stop at the Mimiso store to get me whatever cute thing I wanted.

At first, I was reluctant to let him buy me anything, but I didn’t have a choice. The girls there were drooling over him, and whenever they set their eyes on me, they threw daggers with their gazes.

Only if looks could kill.

When I saw the shopping bags filling the trunk, I was ecstatic that I had finally fulfilled my lifelong dream.

Break the bank! But wait, it wasn’t my bank.

“It didn’t even cost much,” he taunted. My joyous expression must have pleased him so much that he had to step on it.

Who would want to marry this jerk?

During the ride to God knows where both of us were silent. He was on a call one minute, and the next, he was typing something on his phone.

I assumed he was a busy man. The car came to a stop, and I almost hit my head against the back of the driver’s seat, which was easily stopped by Ryder’s hand.

He smiled, and we went into a beautiful Japanese restaurant. I was amazed. I couldn’t look like a first-timer, So I let Ryder take me wherever he wanted.

Once we were settled into one of the private rooms and had placed our orders, he cleared his throat, and my gaze settled on him.

I smiled, prepared to handle whatever he was about to throw my way.! To be his girlfriend, maybe?

I needed a distraction and money right now, so it wouldn't bother me. Plus, I can’t ignore good-looking men.

“Here, take a look at this contract. Read through it carefully, and then sign it.” He instructed, his face serious and emotionless.

“What?”