Four

Emily was stunned. Marry him? 

He turned and looked at her. 

"That was what you wanted. Yes. You crawled up to my bed to seduce me last night and sold the video to the press. You should be grateful I didn't imprison you, shameless thing," Noah said rudely. 

"I didn't do anything. It was you who took advantage of me!" Emily shouted back. She was surprised at her utterance and her courage. She didn't know where she gathered such courage from. 

"Indeed," Noah mocked and focused his attention on the road. Emily wondered where he was taking her to but she was too scared to ask. Noah Harper was a very powerful man and could do anything. 

Rose's phone beeped and the latest news report popped up. She tapped on it and it read,

'The gay ceo of Blackwood Towers, Noah Harper in bed with a strange woman'

She smiled. What great news for the press. She tapped on the news. Few seconds later, her phone fell off her hand. 

"Impossible." she shouted. 

Her mother, who was nearby looked and asked in concern,

"What is the matter?"

Rose pointed at her phone unable to speak. Her mum picked up the phone and read the news. She too was surprised. Emily? Noah Harper? How? What will become of them and their five million dollars? How were they going to explain this to the Masons'? No! They would not sit tight and lose five million dollars. Never. They both ran towards the door at the same time. They collided with each other but they didn't mind. Their target was the child outside. They flung the door open but Emily was not in sight. 

"Emily? Where is that good for nothing girl?" Olivia spat.

Emily stood in the well furnished office. This was the most beautiful office she had ever seen. Noah's secretary came in and Noah said to him, "Get her something decent to put on."

Emily suddenly realized she was still putting on the revealing dress from last night. Little wonder she was mistaken for a slut. 

"Why are you still here?" Noah asked her.

"Eh…" she stammered

"Get out," he thundered.

Emily walked out of the office. Noah sat on his desk and opened his laptop. He must save his name from scandal. Yes, he must. The press wasn't going to defame him. Few minutes later, Emily returned with the secretary. She was wearing a decent jump suit now. The secretary bowed and left, leaving Emily all by herself. Noah pretended not to notice her. When he was done typing, he moved towards the printer on his desk and took out two pieces of paper. 

"Emily Grant, right?" he asked.

"Yes sir," she answered timidly.

He looked at her and sighed. He held the papers towards her. She moved forward and took them. The paper contained a contract agreement. 

"What was going to happen to her marriage tomorrow? Well, to hell with it. She would be better off with anyone but Jayden. If she signed this contract, she won't have to apologize to Jayden and her family will not use her to get millions or social status. Moreover, it was just a two year contract and she will be paid a sum of 10 million dollars. This was indeed much better," she thought. 

Noah waited for her to read it. When she was done, she raised her face and looked at him briefly, then she returned once more to the paper. 

"Marry me for two years. Within those two years, I will provide all your needs and will also give you 10 million dollars. I will give you an employment in one of my subsidiary companies. But, within these two years, you must do my bidding and do nothing to tarnish my image or my family's image. After those two years, you must never appear before me in your whole life. For the rest of your life and as long as you live, we must never cross paths," Noah stated his conditions in plain words. 

His voice was flat. It was evident that the man was accustomed to making commands. It had the power to make people subconsciously obey his orders, irresistibly. 

Emily stared at the paper. The two year contract was going to be better than staying in the Masons' family or her family. Moreover, marrying someone as powerful as Noah will protect her from her family and from Masons' family. Noah's signature was already on the papers. It was also sealed with an official seal. 

The paparazzi waited eagerly for Noah downstairs. As soon as he stepped out, he held Emily close and whispered sternly,

"Behave yourself."

The paparazzi rushed to them. Shouts of "Oh! They are together!" again rent the air. Cameras clicked and flickered. 

"Give us a word, sir."

"Tell us what is going on."

"A minute, sir."

"A moment of your time, sir."

"Who is the lady?"

"Are you finally making your relationship public?"

The list was endless. The paparazzi questioned at the same time. Noah finally halted and said,

"She is my fiancée."

Emily was surprised. She had not signed the contract yet. She tried to play along as agreed. They entered the car and went away from the paparazzi who were all disappointed. They had waited to spot more dirt on Noah. 

The moment they were in the car and away from the Paparazzi, Noah released her like she was some hot coal.

"To the civil affairs bureau," Noah instructed his driver. 

"Yes sir", he answered promptly.

Emily was shocked. Civil affairs Bureau? He was really going to marry her. She was yet to sign the contract. Emily pulled out the papers from her bag.

"A pen, please," she requested politely. 

Noah looked at her and took out a fancy ball point pen from his pocket and handed it to her. 

"President Noah, I know nothing about what happened last night. I also did not notify the press or the paparazzi. In fact, I was drugged last night," Emily tried to explain.

"Nice. It's not expected of a slut to say the truth," he sneered. 

Emily was heart broken. She said no more. She took the pen and endorsed her signature on both papers. She had signed the two year contract.

What next? What did life hold in store for her?