4

Present day…

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‘’Asher, I think if we are going to do this you should just be truthful with me. There is no way you can tell me that there is nothing you want out of this.’’

He takes a deep breath. ‘’In order to gain full control of my father’s company, I have to be married. It is just a stupid requirement of his, and he only gave me a year's time to be in the marriage.’’

‘’What? Why didn’t you just tell me the truth in the first place?’’

‘’It was placed in the contract. I never wanted to say it out loud because my father’s terms are quite ridiculous. But he claims that it's to prove to him that I can be a ‘family man.’’

‘’It was?’’

‘’You didn’t read the contract, did you?’’ Asher asks.

I begin to babble, and he gives a curt nod.

‘’Could have sold your soul then and wouldn’t know.’’

‘’How does one sell their soul?’’ I ask.

Asher shakes his head. ‘’The point is, you should have read the contract. And I hope you aren’t planning to back out now.’’

I scoff. ‘’As if I have a choice now and it’s not like you are going to do what the contract says.’’

‘’I’m not bound by a contract, and even so, I’ll keep up this act until I get full control of my father’s company.’’

‘’Could have just been truthful from the start.’’

Asher only shoots me with a look, so I stay silent, because what can I say? This is a done deal. I need the money and my citizenship. Maybe I should just read the contract when I get to his place to see what they really expected of me. Besides, he just happen to leave those parts out when we talked. He could have told me the reason, but remained so tight-lipped about it until now, but then again. Would I have agreed if I knew from the get-go?

“During the days, I’ll be busy with my work, and depending on my schedule, you won’t be able to contact me for hours, but I will get back home at the end of the day.’’

‘’So, why did you choose a random stranger like me, and why didn’t you take a female friend?’’ I ask, trying to make conversation. “I could easily run away with the money I already have or even begin to make ridiculous demands in order to keep my mouth shut.” I try again.

‘’I have my reason for doing things. Besides, if you run, you have plenty to lose and I don't.’’

‘’Oh.’’ I let out.

There is silence in the back of the car again. The driver weaves through the light traffic to get us to where ever this man lives.

I still can’t believe I went through with this crazy plan. I should have run for the hills when Mr. Asher Thomas first brought this to me. I try my best to not think about it but now it is too late to do any kind of thinking. I am now Asher's wife, will be living under his roof and have to abide by his rules, while having to attend to any family matters while pretending to be happy in this fake marriage.

I never stop to think about what I am getting myself into until now. I was too focused on the number of zeros that will be in my account and finally living here without looking over my shoulder. I never stop to think if I and this man had anything in common. I just agreed with his proposal.

Now I doubt we can even have a simple conversation. I know nothing about running a business or the world he lives in.

Soon we pull up outside a large contemporary and my mouth falls open because there is no way he lives here by himself. This place is enormous enough to fit my entire family.

''Welcome to your new home for the next year.''

I turn to Asher with a gulp.

All thoughts leave my mind for a brief second, and I don’t know what to say. Because at this moment, this is real. I am married and I have to be staying here with nowhere else to go because I got kicked out of my apartment the day before my wedding.

‘’We have to sleep in the same room and bed to save face. My family is here often and I don’t want them to find out that this is a sham,’’ Asher explains.

I glance at the driver and the other man which was waiting by the door, that is now helping to unpack our gifts for the trunk.

‘’Don’t worry, they know better than to keep their mouths shut if they want to continue working.’’

With that, Asher turns on his heels and enters the house that smells of furniture polish, home-cooked meals, and other scents that I oddly like. He begins to remove his jacket before turning to me again.

‘’You can relax now. We are safe here and out of wondering ears.’’

I glance over to the man who I took it upon myself to do research on a few days ago, and as it turns out. Asher Thomas is nothing but a brooding playboy and I guess this is the reason why his father wants him to get married, to leave the whorish lifestyle behind.

But the only thing is, neither of us is the other's type. He was too… handsome and I’m sure he will cheat with the supermodels he is used to dating.

Yes, I read that he uses to date miss Heywood Hall, but they had a bitter breakup when he cheated on her with an underwear model from Page Six.

I’m sure his family, mainly his father, will see through this. Especially since I begin from such a poor background and am not used to the fancy, rich life. But maybe if I grew up in money and with a gold spoon in my mouth like Asher, then maybe, just maybe, it wouldn’t be so bad.