V

When she was a little girl Robin always had some sort of vision of her future. A good marriage with a hardworking husband, two or three kids filling the house with their joyful screams, and a cute golden retriever as the family dog. That was the life she had dreamed of.

Instead, she was tossed aside by her fiance on their wedding day, used as a pawn by her own mother, and ridiculed by her sister. Her reality was far from the dream life she had wished for. 

"I'm sorry, what now?"

"Being a mistress to a well-known CEO would mean danger for you. Put simply you would be a target for the media. However, if a marriage between the two of us is established then you would have my protection from the media and they would be less likely to attack you."

If it was dangerous for me, why would he care? It's not like we know each other or something so why is he suggesting this for my protection?

"Okay, but what is in it for you?"

She asked looking up at him from the couch. 

"It would clear up my name and this entire mess which you caused would simply be swept under the rug"

There was more than just that of course but he had no intention of telling her.

"Okay, but what if I say I don't want to?"

He smirked at her comment, amused that she even thought she had a choice. Walking to her he placed his hands beside her caging her in between his arms. Leaning down to her level his face an inch from hers. Her breath caught in her throat gazing up at the man. 

Shifting his position to her ear he whispered with a low voice.

"If you refuse I will sue you for everything you're worth."

Shivers ran down her spine. The thought of losing everything she had worked so hard for was enough to convince her to drop any and all morals she had left.

Backing away from her he looked her in the eyes a stern look on his handsome face. The look was enough to convince her that this man was more than willing to destroy her life. 

"Then, then I'll do it"

"Good choice"

He smirked and finally got off her. He reached for something in his jacket, pulled out a stash of papers, and handed it to her.

"Read and sign it"

Taking the papers out of his hands she read the title above. Marriage Documents. Appalled by the letters she froze. It had only been a day when she ended a marriage before it could begin and here she was already falling into another. 

It was as if the world were punishing her for even trying in life. Gazing up at the tall man standing above her she felt small in his eyes. It was like him standing above her was defining just how insignificant she was as compared to those with riches. 

Reading over the papers she saw that indeed both would benefit quite a bit from this. He would be labelled a family man with a more human-like appearance and she would receive a monthly salary and at the termination of their contract/marriage, she would be compensated with fifteen thousand.

She could not pass up on such a great deal. Not like she had any other choice though. Closing her eyes in thought Robin knew she was trapped in a cage with only one way out and that way was Ethan. 

Standing up from he seat she faced the man with her head held high and shoulders stiff she faked confidence and said with conviction,

"Alright, I'll do it. I will marry you"

Staring down at the woman more than five inches shorter than him he smirked at her words. 

"Very well then."

Handing over a pen to her she looked at it for a few seconds in thought but soon grabbed it and scribbled down her signature in the required areas. When she was done she looked at the pages in a daze. 

Leaning down Ethan grabbed them out of her hands looking over the documents.

"Congratulations, you are now Mrs. Acres"

Giving him a blank face she watched him walk across the living room toward the door, before he left he looked back at her.

"You have twenty-four hours to pack your things, I'll send someone to fetch you."

"Wait I-"

Leaving without giving her time to finish her sentence he slammed the door shut. She could hear the sound of his footsteps receding in the hallway as he walked away from her door. Silence then greeted her and for a moment she was still, unmoving from her position she stared at the closed door. 

Not knowing what was to become of her after this she collapsed on her couch. She had still not fully processed her last relationship and its outcome, how was she to deal with this situation? 

"Ugh, what are you doing Robin?"

She asked herself frustrated at how her life was unfolding. Burying her face in a pillow she sighed heavily as thoughts plagued her mind. Was she really married to some rich billionaire guy she met last night, admittedly she was the fault for him being under the close watch of the tabloids right now. 

"Huh, I need some sleep"

Closing her eyes she shut down all her thoughts in an attempt to get some sort of peace. Slowly falling into the rabbit hole of slumber, her then stiff limbs began to ease. The tension slowly drifted out of her body and she found herself in a bottomless pit.