CHAPTER TWO

(NATALIE POV)

About three days had passed now since Alexander made the contract offer to me. It was a Thursday evening and I was still in my office.

Most of my colleagues had left for the day,

but I remained at my desk, hunched over a project that seemed more insurmountable with each passing second.

The numbers on the spreadsheet were refusing to align, no matter how many formulas I tried.

The frustration was killing as I clenched my jaw really hard, willing my brain to cooperate.

I was still hanging here when my phone suddenly started to vibrate against the desk, the lit-up screen displaying a name that my fingers stiffen...it was my mother

I froze as I started to withdraw from the work,

Letting out a slow, shaky breath, before reaching for the phone.

I picked it up, stared at the screen for way too long

Then with a frustrated huff, I dropped the phone back onto the desk without answering.

I pressed my palms against my face, dragging them down slowly until they fell back onto the desk.

Of course I knew why she was calling.

I did. It was about the money.

Specifically, the money I had promised to help pay for Dad’s medical bills.

At the time I even made that promise, I didn’t have a single plan, not even a small glimmer of hope.

I had only promised because I couldn’t bear to see her cry anymore. It felt easier to lie and borrow later.

But now... Now things were different.

The deal with Alexander had come out of nowhere, blindsiding me.

It was salvation that came with a lot of chains.

I still hadn’t told my family about the agreement, the marriage, or the money.

It wasn’t happiness or relief I felt it was guilt, an all-consuming, energy draining guilt.

Alexander had assured me he would transfer half of the contract amount by the end of the week. A whooping $600,000.

More than enough to cover the hospital bills.

He even said he could have handled the payments directly, just that it would draw the attention of his hospital staff.

He didn’t want questions, and frankly, neither did I.

The other half, he had said, would come at the end of the year-long contract.

I let out a sharp, bitter laugh and blinked against the sting in my eyes.

If there had been any other way to get this money, I would have turned him down without a second thought.

But there wasn’t. Dad’s condition wouldn’t wait, and neither would the mounting bills.

Since I accepted I could barely sleep.

The thought of being Alexander Hayes wife even in name only was suffocating.

This was the strictest, most meticulous man I had ever encountered.

I had seen firsthand how he ran his empire, his people snapping to attention at his mere presence.

And now, I was supposed to stand by his side? Play the part of his loving wife, even when cameras were rolling and billionaires at cocktail parties scrutinized my every move?

The thought made me shiver.

I was just... me. Natalie Harper. A nobody. A mere commoner.

I gasped at the absurdity of it all, my chest tightening.

And while I was still in this state , my phone rang again.

The made me jolt on the chair.

My first thought was that it was my mother again, feeling a little hint of guilt.

I reached for my phone, dreading the conversation, but with my hand already hanging in the air, I suddenly realized it wasn’t even my phone ringing.

The tone wasn’t familiar, and the sound wasn’t coming from my desk.

My eyes flashed around until they landed on the corner where the intercom was.

A new wave of tension shot through me.

I rose quickly, the chair scraping against the floor, as I strode toward the device.

At once my fingers gripped the receiver as I brought it to my ear.

“Yes?” I answered.

“Ms. Harper,”

Mark’s familiar voice filtered through.

“It’s three minutes to closing. Just a reminder that Mr. Blackwell has instructed me to meet with you tomorrow morning to finalize the logistical details for your first public appearance together.”

I closed my eyes, exhaling slowly to steady myself before replying with,

“I understand, Mark. I’ll be ready.”

My voice came out a little too soft, a little too meek.

I gripped the receiver tighter, already eager to end the call.

But as I moved to hang up, Mark's voice abruptly interrupted.

“Actually, Ms. Harper…one more thing please.”

I hesitated, bringing the receiver back to my ear.

“What is it?”

There was a brief pause on his end, followed by a deep breath.

“I was hoping you could do me a little favor.”

I frowned, my lips pressing into a tight line

“Favor? What kind of favor?”

He hesitated again, and I could almost hear the awkwardness in his voice.

“I... might have left some important documents at President Hayes house. If I go there myself, he’ll chew me out for dinner. But you…well, he’ll definitely be much easier on you. Could you pick them up on your way home?”

The words left me speechless.

My expression twisted into grave disbelief.

Was he serious? Of all the things he could ask, why this? I was already treading lightly around Alexander, trying not to make any mistakes that could set him off. And now, Mark wanted me to waltz into Alexander’s house his personal residence to retrieve forgotten documents?

I had never even been there before.

I opened my mouth to protest but stopped.

Mark was the one person I could trust to help me navigate my deal and my way around Alexander.

He had been my go-to for explanations, updates, and the occasional reassurance.

I couldn’t afford to alienate him now, not when I would likely need his help again soon.

I let out a long, resigned sigh.

“Fine,”

Still trying to convince myself that this was happening.

“Thank you Miss Harper”

Mark’s voice lit up with relief and appreciation.

“I promise, I’ll make it up to you. I’ll send you the address in a text right away. Thank you so much for this.”

“Sure,”

I muttered, not bothering to mask the reluctance in my tone.

“I’ll get it done.”

After a few more pleasantries, the call ended. I replaced the receiver slowly, staring at the intercom for a moment before my gaze shifted to the wall clock above.

“6.00pm”

It was exactly closing time.

I rubbed my temples, the gravity of Mark’s favor sinking in.

This was the last thing I needed right now. Alexander’s house. The thought alone made my stomach knot.

I exhaled sharply, whispering under my breath,

“This better be worth it.”