Chapter 7 - The contract

Chapter 7 – The Contract

Grace Wilson

POV

I’ve slept every night comfortably in bed, yet I still have nightmares of my time with John, I would wake up screaming, sweaty and sitting upright, feeling as if I’ve never even slept a wink. There are some things you just want to forget.

Walking out of the bathroom, my hair bundled in a towel, my hair is finally back to its normal healthy curls. My hair was matted it took Mia and me washing it all week, she had to brush my hair with a special brush she got off A****n.

I sigh in relief holding the towel in my hands.

“Gracelynn Anabella Wilson.” A deep familiar voice speaks.

I jump up in surprise, the towel falls from my hold and my eyes dart across the room. A familiar figure sits at the table at the far end of the room. He doesn’t bother looking at me, he continues to look at the file he holds in his hands.

“Age twenty-one. Birthday 11^th February 1997. Eldest child to Melissa and Cole Wilson. Younger brother James Gray Wilson, a high school at an elite private school in Chicago. Gracelynn Wilson went missing three years ago, before he high school graduation, her family told friends she went to visit family in France.” He places the file on the table in front of him.

I look at him shock. How did he find out all of this? “Ho-How did you find out all of that?” I hold my hand over my heart. I was shaking in my boots.

He finally looks at me. He has a cold yet not menacing look on his face. The first thing I noticed was his forest green eyes, I’ve never seen a man as good looking as this man. Though all I’ve seen before today was men who looked like they’ve had ten too many beers. His sharp defined nose is the next thing you notice, after that my eyes fall on his lips.

My head tilts. I’ve never seen a man with lips as good as his. Though I’ve never actually been attracted to anyone. His sharp defined jawline is the next thing I notice. His broad shoulders. His hair tied into a bun. I take full inventory of his every feature. For all I know it might be my first and last time I see a man as good looking as he is.

I have no idea what he has in store for me and yet I don’t fear him, like I did the other guy.

His eyes narrow on me. “There’s not a thing in his world that could ever hide from me. This is nothing to me.” he says in a bored tone.

“I’ve looked at your medical report as well. You’re severely malnourished, that won’t do. I do hope Mia has been feeding you properly…” he gestures for me to sit.

On shaky legs I walk forward and take a sit in front of him. “She-she does feed me well. I eat three-three times a day.” I inform him. I fear he might hurt her if he thinks she’s not.

“So, is there anything you want miss Wilson?” he asks.

I shake my head.

“Okay so let me tell you why I bought you at that auction…” he pauses taking out a file and places in front of me.

I pick it up and read through it. “What’s this?” I ask when I see the words in bold. {Marriage Agreement.}

“My name is Rowan Priest. I’m one of the riches businessmen in the country if not world. I bought you because I need a wife. Though I would say fifty is a steep price for a wife.” His lips turn semi upward, before his face turns serious again.

Frowning I say. “I’m not worth being someone’s wife…” were the first words out of my mouth before I could even stop it. There’s no way trailer trash like me, a slave like me is good enough to be his wife. He has to be out of his mind.

“I don’t require anything from you of course. Though in a few years we’ll need to produce an heir… I guess you’re asking why would agree to something that ridiculous right?” he asks.

I nod in agreement.

“I’ll give you something no one else would offer you. I’ll give your freedom; you can come and go as you please. Of course, for your protection there will be someone watching over you. And you can work or study and if you do plan on studying, I’ll pay for that. All you need to do is marry me. I won’t interfere with your life; all you have to do is act pretty of course.” He says he takes the file out of my hand and pages through it.

He hands it back to me.

I look at the file before my eyes dart back to him. “Why would you do this?” I ask.

He shrugs his shoulders. “Something about you drew in my attention. I’d never love you; this is the least I can do for you. Though I did buy you, I have no intention to take your freedom away from you…” he stands.

Unable to answer I keep looking at the page scared it is all a dream.

“I’ll let you use the day to think about it. But we don’t have much time. If you agree we meet with my family tomorrow night. If you don’t, I’ll have to get rid of you of course.” He says before walking toward the door. He stops at the door and looks at me.

“Have you left this room all this week?” he asks.

I shake my head.

He frowns, opening the door and walking out. He just closes the door without saying a word.

I didn’t know I could leave the room, I’m a prisoner here. Why would they let me leave the room?

He is offering me a monthly allowance and to pay for me to study anything I want. I’d be dumb to accept his offer. He even added a clause that no one would lay a finger on me while in his care. There’s a clause that states he wouldn’t touch me unless we’re trying to produce an heir.

I’ve been living here for a week and other than that man, everyone has been treating me well.

Do I want this? Does this sound a lot better than being with any other man? Yes. I get my freedom yes, but being someone’s wife? I don’t know if I can be. I don’t know if I’m cut out to be anyone’s wife. If I wasn’t a good daughter, would I be a good wife? I know he doesn’t expect anything from me. Do I believe in the fairy tales I read all day? Good Lord no. I don’t think it’s real, do I believe in love? I don’t know. I know there would be no love, it’s in the contract. In bold letters stating there will be no love whatsoever in this marriage.

I stay seated for I don’t know how long thinking about my future as if I actually had a say in it.