Me? A contract wife?

Piper was busy attending to customers at her bakery when a man walked in. He seemed interested in ordering some cakes and cookies, but Piper could also tell that he was trying to flirt with her.

"Hi there, my name is Alex. And I must say, your bakery is amazing," he said, flashing a charming smile.

"Thank you, I'm glad you like it," Piper replied politely, trying to focus on taking his order.

As they continued to talk, Alex seemed to become more and more interested in Piper. He kept asking her questions about herself and her business, and Piper found herself enjoying his company.

"Hey, Piper. I was wondering, would you be interested in going out sometime?" Alex asked, looking directly into her eyes.

Piper felt a flutter in her stomach at the suggestion. She had been single for a while and Alex seemed like a nice enough guy. "Sure, that sounds great," she replied, jotting down her number on a piece of paper.

As Alex left the bakery, Piper couldn't help but feel excited about the prospect of a date with him. She couldn't wait to see what the future held.

********* 

Vivian walked into the grand lobby of ROWES. As she approached the front desk, she could feel the weight of her anxiety lifting with each step. The receptionist greeted her with a warm smile.

"Good morning, how may I assist you?" the receptionist asked.

"I'm Vivian. I received an invitation from ROWES," Vivian replied.

"Oh, yes! Please have a seat, and I'll call Rowan," the receptionist said, picking up the phone.

Vivian waited for a few minutes before the receptionist returned, "Mr. Rowan will see you now. Please follow me."

Vivian followed the receptionist through a maze of corridors and elevators to the CEO's office. As they walked, she could not help but wonder why she had been invited. When they arrived, the receptionist knocked on the door, and a voice from inside said, "Come in."

The receptionist opened the door, and Vivian stepped inside the office. She was taken aback by the sight of Rowan sitting behind a massive oak desk. They had met before, but she never knew he was the CEO of ROWES. The memory of their first encounter flashed before her eyes. Rowan's car had almost hit her, and he had tried to give her money as compensation, which she had angrily refused.

"Good morning, Vivian. It's good to see you again," Rowan said, standing up to greet her.

"Good morning, Rowan. I'm surprised to see you here," Vivian replied, trying to hide her astonishment.

Rowan chuckled, "I'm the CEO of ROWES, so it's only natural that I'm here."

Vivian nodded, still trying to comprehend the situation. Rowan offered her a seat, and they started talking. As they chatted, Vivian's curiosity was piqued when Rowan mentioned the reason for the invitation.

"I have a proposal for you, Vivian," Rowan said.

"What kind of proposal?" Vivian asked, leaning forward.

"I want you to become my contract wife," Rowan replied.

Vivian was taken aback by the unexpected proposal. She could not believe what she was hearing. She had heard about such arrangements before, but she never thought she would be approached with such an offer. She felt insulted that Rowan thought she would agree to such an arrangement.

"I'm sorry, Rowan, but I'm not interested in becoming your contract wife," Vivian said, standing up.

"Please, Vivian, hear me out. I can offer you anything you want, money, security, and stability," Rowan pleaded.

Rowan took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. "I know you've been struggling to find a job.

Vivian shook her head, "I'm sorry, Rowan, but I can't accept your offer. I have my dignity and self-respect. Goodbye."

With that, Vivian stormed out of the office, leaving Rowan stunned. He had never been rejected before, especially by a woman. As he watched her leave, he knew that he had lost a great opportunity. He had not expected Vivian to reject his offer, but he knew that he had to respect her decision.

Vivian walked out of ROWES, feeling angry and frustrated. She could not believe that Rowan dared to make such an offer. She had her pride and self-respect, and she refused to compromise them for anyone. She hailed a taxi and headed to Piper's bakery, determined to put the encounter behind her.

When Vivian got to Piper's bakery, she told her about Rowan and his offer.

Piper was at first annoyed but tried to convince Vivian to accept the offer.

Vivian couldn't believe Piper was suggesting that she should accept Rowan's offer. She thought her best friend would be more supportive and encourage her to find another solution.

"Piper, how can you suggest that I become someone's contract wife? Do you even know what that entails?" Vivian asked, her voice shaking with emotion.

Piper sighed and took Vivian's hand, trying to calm her down. "I know it's not ideal, Vivian, but think about it. Your mother needs that surgery, and we both know you don't have enough money to pay for it. Rowan's offer could solve your problem, at least for a while."

"But what happens after the contract is over? Will I just be discarded like a used tissue?" Vivian retorted.

Piper didn't have an answer for that, and she knew it. She felt guilty for suggesting something that could potentially harm her best friend. "I'm sorry, Vivian. I just don't want to see you struggle anymore. You deserve better than this."

Vivian took a deep breath and wiped away her tears. "I appreciate your concern, Piper, but I can't accept Rowan's offer. I refuse to be someone's property, even if it's just for a short time."

Piper nodded understandingly. "I get it, Vivian. It's your decision, and I'll support you no matter what."

The two friends hugged, and Vivian left the bakery, still feeling overwhelmed by the whole situation. She knew she had to find a way to pay for her mother's surgery, but she refused to compromise her values to do it.

As she left Piper's bakery, Vivian's mind was filled with doubts and questions. Was becoming a contract wife the only option she had left? Would it be worth it in the end? And most importantly, could she go through with it? She didn't know the answers yet, but she knew she had to find them soon.