Chapter 3:

Viktor left me staring at the contract. My fingers were too frozen to flip past the first page.

What would ‘the’ Viktor Douglas want from a girl like me? A girl without anything tied to her name?

The conflicting thought lingered a while until I decided to steer to the brighter side. It was promising and clearly the only thing I could do at the moment. If anything,  he didn't seem as cruel as the papers painted him. What's the worst that could happen?

But I knew better than judging a man's character by a few displays of respect in a single evening yet it didn’t seem like I had another choice now.

I decided I needed to hear a third voice, maybe to hear something convincing. So I dialed Naomi.

The moment my best friend's voice came through, my composure cracked.

Layla.. you're not calling to cry about that slimeball of a husband right?

Relax Naomi... it's not Julian.  It's something else.

Better. So what now? Did Chloe fall down a flight of stairs?

That cracked me up real good. So good that I doubted if the laughter was from me. I didn't think I still had it.

No, it's the CEO of Glaz firm, Viktor Douglas. I said , making sure the last two words came out as slow as possible.

The devil-in-tuxedo Viktor Douglas? What about him?

Yes him. He proposed. I said, swallowing hard after saying it.

Naomi let out her usual dramatic laugh. "I pray for your sake that this man proposed  a partnership or funeral service,  if they actually propose that. Don't play with me Layla."

"It's a contract marriage Naomi. It's not even that serious. "

Okay. Now I can say that you've officially lost your mind. I've got no words for you.

At this point, I had to let Naomi rant so I kept quiet.

Layla.. She broke the brief silence. Listen to me, I've said it numerous times and I don't mind saying it once more. Marriage is bad news. Didn't I tell you don't say 'I do' to Julian?  But you went ahead and built yourself the most miserable cell possible and now? You want to go all the way from prison to solitary confinement with the devil himself?

Naomi...

No, don't interrupt me! Are you cursed? Why would you want to sign yourself to another man after what just happened. You clearly don't need marriage.  You need therapy!

I covered my face, torn in between tears and laughter. Naomi's outrage was ridiculously comforting. 

Then I whispered slowly, thank you so much baby. Really , but  I promise you, I'm taking the direct opposite of everything you advised.

Then the call went click!

Naomi hung up but  I didn't know why I kept laughing.

Then a suffocating silence followed afterwards. Naomi has never been able to sway me in the past years, maybe that was why I called her, because I know she wasn't capable of changing my mind.

My phone buzzed. A single text popped up from Viktor , What do you sat?

Reality revisited once more. I stared at my glowing screen while making my final decision. I had nothing,  no money, no job, no name or a roof that felt like home.  Then u whispered into the empty room.

I'm doing this.

The following day,  I walked into Viktor’s office ignoring all the stares from the hallway. Then I dropped the papers on his desk. I've signed it.

I watched his expression soften immediately like I just handed him a trophy. He opened the folder and scanned through it quickly then closed it and rose from his chair and took my hand.

My breath hitched when he raised it to his lips and pressed the most beautiful kiss I've ever felt. Then he said, "You'll thank me later."

I don't know why the confidence in those words scared me so much.

I had a mix feeling of salvation and damnation .

At least it was something. Something to pick me up from the floor Julian left me. 

The relief lasted about two days before the tabloid explosion took over.

Headlines read: DISCARDED WIFE MARRIES RUTHLESS CEO.

FROM TRASH TO TREASURE.

I nearly dropped my coffee when I saw my face splashed across the newsstands.

Shortly after, at noon, Julian stormed I into Viktor’s office and fell on his knees.

Sir, I'm believing this was a mistake ,Demotion? To junior assistant after five years of work?

Viktor spared him no glance or response.

I stood at the corner watching with a bit of shock. I hadn't expected Viktor to go as far as humiliating him like that. In front of his colleagues,  stripping him bare of his pride.

Julian's eyes caught mine. I could feel the bloodshot from a distance. His glare was venomous.  One that didn't talk but said everything.

It stirred something in me. Fear.

I wondered if Viktor’s form of protection had just painted a target on my back.