Novel-novel oleh Lena Monroe

I blinked. “You mean besides the eight hundred thousand dollars?”His expression remained unreadable. “Yes.”I hesitated, fingers tracing the marble countertop. Why had I agreed?Because my father needed medical treatment. Because I had no other options. Because, deep down, I wanted to prove I could handle this.Instead, I shrugged. “Why did you ask me to go into a contract marriage with you ?”Alexander exhaled, swirling the water in his glass. “You fit the image. You were the least complicated choice.”Ouch. I felt the harshness in that.“Glad to know I’m your best ‘least complicated’ option,” I muttered.He didn’t apologize, because, of course, he wouldn’t.Instead, he just said, “Get some rest. We have a public appearance tomorrow.”And just like that, he left again unannounced, disappearing down the hall.I let out a slow breath, staring at the spot where he had stood.This arrangement was simple on paper, but being in Alexander Pierce's world it was going to be anything but easy

I had no response. Instead, I slid the ring onto my. It felt foreign, like wearing a piece of someone else’s life.His gaze flickered to my hand before he straightened. “The press will hear about our engagement soon. Expect attention.”“Great,” I mumbled. “Just what I wanted.”“That's all I guess,” he said, checking his watch, “we are done for today.”I took in an unhurried breath “So, that’s it? I just go home and wait to be your wife?”Alexander met my gaze. “You can go home now, and make all necessary preparations but know for a fact that your life is about to change.”A chill went down my spine.I had signed a contract. I had agreed to this.So why did it feel like I had just signed away something bigger than I realized?As I stood to leave, the weight of the ring on my finger felt heavier than it should. This was just a deal, just a temporary arrangement. So why did it already feel permanent?Like a chain, I couldn’t take off? I asked myself.I eventually arrived at Alexander's

The way he said my name made me feel some kind of way more like a shiver running fast down my spine.I exhaled loudly, grabbing the pen in my hand.This was it. No turning back.I pressed the pen to the paper BANG!The door to Alexanders' office was forced open so violently that they nearly slammed into the walls.A woman suddenly badged into his office so quickly, like she was chasing after someone, or rather was being chased. Her heels clicked snappily against the marble floor. Tall, elegant, and furious, her kind of beauty is rare, I mean her beauty speaks. She had the kind of beauty that makes you feel less significant just by standing next to her.“Alex, you've got to be kidding me,” she exclaimed, shunning my presence completely.Alexander sighed, not looking too surprised like he had been expecting this.“Isabella now is not the time.”Isabella? The name sent off a distant alarm in my brain.Then I remembered. Isabella Monroe. CEO of Noir Monarch Media. The woman the tabloids

He laced his fingers together. “A wife. A legal marriage. One year and three months .”While trying to process what he just said, laughter bubbled up before I could stop it. “Is this a joke?”“Do I look like a man who jokes?”No. He didn’t.That I know too well and could tell, the look on his face alone says it all.I folded my arms. “And why, exactly, do you need a wife?”His expression didn’t change. “I need to secure a business deal with a traditional investor. He values stability and family. Without a wife, I risk losing a multi-billion dollar partnership.”I stared at him. He couldn’t be serious.“I’ll pay you, of course.” His voice was casual like we were discussing a business transaction, not marriage.My stomach twisted. “You think I’m that desperate?”His eyes flickered, just for a second. “Aren’t you?”Silence stretched between us. He knew. Somehow, he knew about my struggles.“How much?” I asked quietly.He slid a folder across the desk. A contract.I flipped through it, my

I couldn't cry when my landlord slid a sudden eviction notice under my door. I felt sick in my stomach as tears burned at the back of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Could hardly hold them back but somehow I did.But on a second thought, I shouldn't have. I should have rolled up on the floor of my tiny apartment, screaming at the unfairness of life. But I didn’t have the luxury of breaking down not when my Dad was lying in a hospital bed, his medical bills piling up faster than I could count.I really wanted to cry but remembered it was not going to change nor pay the bills so, instead of crying, I did the only thing I thought would be best I could do, I grabbed my apron and dragged myself to work.It was not the life I had dreamed of. For a very long time, I had wanted to be a writer, not just a regular writer, but a well-known writer in the world. A big dream yea? Well, I know too well but, still wanting to write stories that would make people feel something, I mean somethi