The Contract

ANASTASIA’s POV

Oh…You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!

Was he serious? Like…actually serious? Or had he somehow lost a screw?

I let out a forced chuckle. ‘’Tell me you’re joking.’’ I snapped, my judgemental gaze trailed on him. 

But his face remained the same with no amount of a smile or mockery in his voice.

‘’No!’’ I declined immediately, my word final.

Brief silence engulfed us for a while until he opened his mouth. ‘’About your grandmother…isn’t she badly in need of top tier medical assistance?’’

My blood ran cold.

Was he threatening me?

‘’I would never threaten you with your grandmother, Anastasia.’’ He said as if knowing exactly what was in my mind.

But the worst part was the way my body reacted when my name rolled off his tongue.

‘’But I can threaten you with this video. You stole from me, not the other way around.’’ 

My hand tightened into fist and I started to curse Bianca with everything In me. 

If she hadn’t been such a conniving bitch, then I wouldn’t have to be in this position, taking hits for her.

It hasn’t been the first time.

In junior high, I had been blamed for beating up a fellow student when Bianca had been the one to do it.

Same thing in senior high, college too.

Just when I thought we were grownups and getting blamed for Bianca’s actions were now over, she pulls this.

Stealing from a rumored mafia boss!

What the fuck was she doing in Monaco anyway?

‘’I don’t wish to be tied down to someone like you ever. Trust me, this is also a hard decision for me.’’ He uttered, jumping to his feet.’’

And I swear, my heart clenched at his words even though I knew I felt exactly the same.

‘’Our marriage would only be on paper. A fake marriage for six months. You would fill every blank position beside me and attend every event that requires your position as my wife. In return, I do not turn you over to the police for theft or sully your reputation by leaking the video to the press. Instead, I would make sure your grandmother’s medical arrangements is fully covered. After six months, we go our seperate ways.’’

Every word felt like a hot iron digging into my chest. I swallowed the bile stuck in my chest and inhaled sharply, trying to gulp in air. 

I contemplated the offer, my teeth gripping the flesh of my cheeks till the mentallic taste of blood filled my mouth.

If ever the video of Bianca stealing from Nikolas Starvros hit the media, the condemnation would be lethal.

My stocks would plunge to oblivion and my Reeds and Associates would take a brutal hit.

I shook my head, shaking off the negative thoughts.

Six months.

Just six freaking month to act as his pretend wife and bend to his will in public places.

That wasn’t such a hard job. Was it?

I shut my eyes tight before opening them with a new resolve. ‘’Fine!’’ I muttered, accepting.

Nikolas nodded and slipped a small file from his briefcase.

I hadn’t even seen him with a briefcase.

I was so lost in his face that I had failed to see that.

He stretched the file to me and I took it, flipping through the pages.

It was the fake marriage contract stating our positions in the relationship and the confidentially policy surrounding it.

I picked up my ball pen and read through the clauses again, looking for a way out of the situation with Nikolas intense gaze locked on me.

I pulled away just before my pen could touch the paper.

‘’Can I bring in my friend as a witness. I don’t…’’ I drawled, not wanting to say it.

But I knew he knew exactly what I meant.

I didn’t trust him.

Didn’t trust that he wouldn’t pull off some tricks and use it against me in the near future.

‘’Sure.’’ He muttered, his voice hoarse. ‘’But only her. No one is allowed to know this is a fake marriage expect the both of us. I’m making an exception. If she dares to breath even a word of this to anyone…’’

He didn’t say anything other that.

I stepped out of the office and pulled my best friend, Zara from her office, just next to mine.

She looked confused, just following behind me with lots of questions at the edge of her tongue.

But I had no time to explain.

I pulled her into my office and slammed the door after us.

Immediately her eyes landed on Nikolai, a sharp gasp escaped her lips. ‘’Oh my fucking—‘’

i jabbed her in the shoulder, stopping her next words.

She stared at Nikolai, then me, then back to Nikolai with wide eyes.

I pulled her towards the file and once her eyes landed on it, her eyes widened ten times the normal size.

‘’Stacia, Are you insane?!’’ She shouted, he mouth falling open in horror.

I heard the faint sound of Nikolai saying the nickname Zara had just called me.

I ignored her and went through the clauses again before scribbling my signature on every part of it.

Then I passed him the paper and watched a sly smirk curl across his lips like he has just acquired something worth boasting about.

This wasn’t the fake smile he carried when he leaned on the chair opposite me and countered every single one of my words.

No. This was a genuine smile with a hint of possessiveness.

‘’Nice doing business with you, Anastasia Reed.’’ He uttered, jumping to his feet and stretching his hands to me.

I took his hands in mine, feeling the warmth of his palms wrapped around my hand.

‘’Nice doing business with you too, Nikolas Starvros.’’ I uttered, letting go of my hold on his hand.

But his hand tightened around my hand, his grip not enough to hurt me but enough to have my hand in his hold.

He stared at me for a while, his gaze rendering me speechless. Then he let go, turned around and left the office.

‘’Are you crazy?!’’ Zara screamed the moment Nikolas left the office.

I turned to her, ‘’What?’’

‘’Nikolas Starvros? You are entering into a marriage with Nikolas freaking Starvros??!’’ She said, her voice rising. ‘’Do you have any fucking idea what you’ve just done?’’

I waved a dismissive hand in the air.

‘’It’s not a big deal, Zara. Calm the fuck down.’’ I muttered, heading for my desk.

‘’Why would I calm down when my friend just signed a contract to her death?! That man is Nikolas Starvros. A man with close relations to the underground world. He—‘’

‘’That’s just a rumor, Zara. Cut the shit please.’’ I interrupted, plopping on my desk.

‘’Rumor?’’ Zara asked, widening her eyes. She took long strides out of the room before storming back in with a crumpled news paper.

She smoothened it and slammed it on my desk.

It was a newspaper dated at least four years ago. But the statement was real. And though, Nikolas face wasn’t clearly captured, I could tell that it was him.

My eyes widened and I stared up at Zara whose hands were trembling as she stared back at me.

‘’You just signed a marriage contract with a goddamn killer!’’