Chapter 3 – The Offer

Nancy

“Ma? Why don’t you like her? Janella is a well-known actress. She has many endorsements and shows. You will like her. I’m sure I can just talk to her into being my temporary wife. The last will only states that I need to have a wife before my dad dies,” Sir Dwayne said.

“I don’t like her. Do you think I didn't run a background check on your women? Janella is one of those with undisclosed meetings with many politicians and wealthy men. And I am sure that woman is a gold digger; she won't agree to just be your contract wife, and she certainly won't agree to sign a pre-nuptial agreement,” Madam Elena answered seriously.

I accidentally nodded, which made Madam Elena look at me thoughtfully.

“Dwayne, why not Nancy instead?” she asked.

I was stunned and pointed at myself, “M-Me?”

“Why not ask Nancy? She’s loyal to you. To her, it will just be another part of her job,” Madam Elena said while massaging her chin.

I swallowed hard and looked at Sir Dwayne. He looked back at me, then let out a deep sigh.

“Nancy, marry me. I’ll pay you one hundred million dollars. We’ll stay married until my father passes away. After that, we divorce. No sex. No emotions. Just business.”

No sex? Forget it.

Just earlier, I actually wanted to bite—er, deepthroat—his big and thick junior!

I was shocked and hurt. To him, it was a deal. But for me? It was a dream—one I knew wouldn’t last.

“Sir…”

Sir Dwayne held my hand, “Please, it’ll just be a civil wedding and we’ll get a divorce anyway after I get my inheritance. No one else will know that we got married. It will be our secret.” His words hurt me even more.

Our secret?

No one would know? Naturally, he’s probably ashamed of having me as a wife. And why wouldn't he be? I'm so plain and ugly.

“Nancy, you and Dwayne will have a pre-nuptial agreement, but don’t worry because aside from the $100 million dollars and a 1% share in the company, we will also ensure that the marriage remains a complete secret and that you tell no one. If it's true that Leo only has a month left to live, your life together will be just as brief. The divorce will be finalized once my son gets his inheritance,” Madam Elena explained.

“Just agree to it. Don’t worry, I’ll also increase your salary tenfold,” Sir Dwayne coaxed further.

I took a deep breath, looking down at our intertwined hands, “A-Alright. I agree.”

I was startled when Sir Dwayne suddenly kissed the back of my hand, “Thank you. We’re getting married tomorrow.”

When I got home, I had no appetite to eat. Before leaving earlier, Sir Dwayne told me that starting tomorrow, right after the civil wedding, I would temporarily move in at their mansion while we are married.

I didn't know whether to feel happy or sad.

Happy because I would be marrying the man who was the first, and likely the last, man I would ever love.

Yet also sad because I knew it was all a sham. No love, no emotions whatsoever.

On paper only, I would be his wife. Suddenly, I found myself wishing that Sir Leo would live for ten more years, or even longer.

Even now, I already felt a pang of sorrow knowing we would eventually have to part ways.

I was certain that the moment Sir Dwayne secured his inheritance, he would marry Janella in a church.

Suddenly, tears fell down my cheeks. How annoying. Loving someone in secret is so hard. I shook my head, quickly wiped my eyes, and began packing my clothes.

The next day, instead of a municipal hall, our civil wedding took place right inside the grand Johnson mansion. The judge who arrived had probably also been paid handsomely by Sir Dwayne.

I expected some sort of ceremony to take place since it was a wedding, right? But that wasn't how it went. The two of us basically just signed some papers and were told we were now married.

Huh?

No kiss? Or rings?

So I am now Mrs. Nancy Johnson?

Sir Dwayne and Madam Elena shook the judge's hand and handed him a thick envelope, likely stuffed with cash. With the papers in hand, he left.

When Attorney Bernard Sandoval arrived, he was even surprised to see that my boss had chosen me as his wife.

Why does this fool look so disappointed?! I pouted to the side.

“Sir Dwayne, so you managed to find a sham wife. What a pity, I was hoping to introduce you to my niece.”

So that was it! The sly lawyer had a hidden agenda of his own.

“Yes,” Sir Dwayne nodded, “Now, go take care of my inheritance.”

“Okay, don’t worry,” Attorney Sandoval replied, then glanced at me again.

I wanted to poke his eyes out right then and there!

“Nancy, your temporary room will be the guest room at the very end of the second floor, right next to Dwayne’s room.”

I looked at Madam Elena and nodded, “Yes, Mrs. Johnson.”

She walked up to me and held my hand, “Thank you so much for your help, Nancy.”

“It’s nothing, ma'am. I’ll do my best to help,” I said with a smile.

“Wait, we never even asked you—do you have a boyfriend?” she inquired.

Sir Dwayne suddenly threw an arm around my shoulder, “She doesn't have a boyfriend.”

“Y-Yes, none,” I answered.

“Good, because you know we want this to remain a secret,” Madam Elena noted.

“Don't worry, let's just think of this strictly as work, and nothing personal.”

Sir Dwayne suddenly pulled me into a hug, “That’s why I trust you so much, Nancy. I can rely on you for everything.”

The bed inside the guest room was huge and so soft. Being rich really hits different.

$100 million dollars, a 1% company share, and a tenfold salary increase.

I wasn't losing out on the deal, but why wasn't I happy?

My boss is now my husband. The man I love and yearn for—er, dream of.

It sounds wonderful to say we are married, but whenever I remember that all of this is a fake, I just feel so pitiful.

It felt as though they only viewed me as a servant who could be ordered to do anything. Someone who could be easily bought and bossed around.

Today was supposed to be our honeymoon, but here I was, all alone in this room. From the window, I watched Sir Dwayne leave. He was definitely going to see one of his women.

Or maybe Janella...

Will he ever learn to love me, too?

Sir Dwayne and I arrived at work together the next day. No one found it unusual since we were always together anyway. You could say I was his shadow or his tail.

As we stepped into the company lobby, employees were crowding around something, so we quickly walked over. My breath hitched when I saw the reason.

Janella Anderson.

Almost everyone wanted to take a picture with her. She gladly accommodated them, but the moment she spotted Dwayne, she excused herself and immediately latched onto his arm.

“Dwayne, you’re finally here!” she beamed, planting a kiss on his lips.

He’s my husband! I wanted to scream.

The lobby erupted with teasing and squeals of delight from the employees. I remained completely quiet until Sir Dwayne suddenly looked over at me.

I couldn't read the meaning behind his gaze, so I quickly averted my eyes, told the employees to get back to work, and rushed toward the elevator.

The three of us stepped inside, and I positioned myself right behind them. My heart literally shattered when they started kissing the moment the doors closed.

Could they really not see me standing right here?