chapter 8

Damien stops the car at an upscale restaurant.

There's nothing out of place in the refined restaurant. Every flower is pruned to perfection. Every tablecloth pressed within an inch of its life. The grand chandelier has so many crystals that it looks like a discoball when it reflects the sunlight. I never thought I would set foot in such a rich restaurant.

I'm walking behind Damien, wearing the big hoodie that he bought me. My eyes dart around the restaurant only to realise that I'm the only one dressed so casually. The men are in expensive suits. The women are in stunning dresses. I manage to steal some glances from the gorgeous girls, probably wondering what a nobody like me is doing in their swanky space.

Damien picks a spot in the corner, next to a window with a scenic view of the city. As he pulls the chair for me, I spot the bruise on his knuckles. He swiftly slips his hand in the pockets of his pants. I wonder how he got the bruise and why he's hiding it.

The waiter brings the menu. Chinese rice, spicy chicken and orange juice is my order. A salad and scotch is his.

"I'm the black sheep of the restaurant."

"Why would you say that?" Damien quirks an eyebrow.

"Look at me." I scoff. "Wearing some hoodie and sweatpants when everyone is dressed so elegantly. They probably think I'm here to steal."

"Steal their spouses?" He smiles. "With all that beauty, I'd be worried too."

I roll my eyes and chuckle. This man is so handsome and hilarious at the same time. I was so mad at him for being rude and ghosting me but here I am laughing at his stupid jokes.

I clear my throat and switch to the serious conversation that brought us here.

"You ghosted me." I start. "I thought you already had your fun and didn't want anything to do with me."

"Sorry for the things I said." He says. "I was just... a little mad that night. I shouldn't have lashed out on you like that. I was ashamed to see you the next morning."

"Is that why you wrote that cheque?"

"Why did you return it?"

"Because it felt like you were paying for my services the previous night. I'm not a prostitute."

"It was my way of saying thankyou."

"Thankyou?"

He drops his spoon and clears his throat.

"Can I be honest with you, Dani?" He starts. "I'm a billionaire with a boring life. All I do is spend hours at the office. Stuck on my computer. Holding meetings. Signing brand deals. Shaking hands with clients. Faking smiles. For the past ten years, this company has been my life. Very rarely do I meet people who make me have fun. You did that, Dani. You made me have fun that night. Lots of fun. And I don't just mean the sèx. I mean everything. Even the kids game."

"So that's why you want to marry me?" I smirk. "Have fun with me when you feel a little bored of your boring billionaire life?"

"Yes." He says bluntly. "But that's not the main reason."

"What's the main reason?"

"Business." He smirks. "Our marriage will be good for business. The media LOVES love. The company sales burst through the roof when the relationship rumors reached the media. Everyone has been talking about it. Imagine the impact a marriage would have?"

"So the marriage will benefit your business." I say. "But, what do I get?"

He stares at me for a moment, sipping his juice. He narrows his eyes on me and clears his throat.

"Your dreams will come true."

"What?"

"Danielle Fox." He starts. "Born in Brentville to a family of medicine. Twenty-five years old. The youngest of three siblings. Both parents are surgeons. Dad is a retired neurologist. Mom is a retired cardiologist. Big brother is a neurologist just like dad. Big sister is a resident, practicing cardiology like mom. You are the black sheep of the family. At eighteen, you ran away with your high-school sweetheart. You have worked as a waitress, janitor, secretary, bartender and caregiver. You want to be a fashion designer. Owning a Fashion House would be a big dream for you. And I'm here to make that dream come true."

"How did you..."

"Social media." He smirks proudly. "Had to do a little background check to make sure I'm not marrying a serial killer, you know?"

"What if I don't want to marry you?"

"That would be unfortunate." He sighs. "You broke up with Brandon. You don't have a home. You don't have a solid job. You can't stay with Lana forever. You'll have to go back home after eight years of not speaking to your parents. That doesn't sound fun."

I glare at him, biting on my chicken. He did his homework perfectly. My parents and siblings are not on any of my I*******m posts. It's a mystery how he gathered information about them. He must have hired someone to do his dirty digging.

"How long will the marriage last?"

Damien grabs his briefcase and shoves out an envelope. He passes it to me with a smile. There are two papers inside the envelope. I fish them out in confusion and sit back on my chair. This man is actually serious about this fake-marriage thing. It's ridiculous.

"That's the contract." He says. "It's brief. You can read it now and proceed to sign."

Damien passes a black pen and sinks back on the chair. He's sipping his scotch, that small smile on his lips. Watching intently as I read it.

CONTRACT

Made this day of ......... of 2019 ("The commencement Date")

BETWEEN

MR. DAMIEN HUNT ("The Acting Husband")

And

MISS DANIELLE FOX ("The Acting Wife")

THE PARTIES AGREE AS FOLLOWS

The following are the terms of a binding contract between The Acting Husband and The Acting Wife.

FUNDAMENTAL TERMS

1. The fundamental purpose of this contract is to boost business for The Acting Husband and build the fashion career of The Acting Wife.

2. Both parties agree and acknowledge that all that occurs under the terms of this contract will be consensual and strictly confidential.

3. Any breach of the terms of the contract shall render it void with immediate effect and each party agrees to be fully responsible to the other for the consequence of any breach.

ROLES

1. The Acting Husband shall offer financial support to fully support the career of The Acting Wife. He shall offer the money, networking and skills needed to boost her career. If at any time The Acting Husband should fail to keep to the agreed terms set out in this contract, The Acting Wife is entitled to terminate this contract forthwith.

2. The Acting Husband shall provide a monthly salary and deposit the amount to the bank account of The Acting Wife. The Acting Wife shall do as she pleases with the salary.

3. The Acting Wife shall take on the role of "The Perfect Wife" for the media. She shall be affectionate with The Acting Husband infront of the cameras.

3. Both parties MUST act as the perfect happy couple when they are out in public and provide the media with a Public Display of Affection (PDA).

COMMENCEMENT AND TERM

The Acting Husband and Acting Wife enter into this contract on the commencement Date fully aware of its nature and undertake to abide by its conditions without exception.

This contract shall be effective for a period of Two Calendar Years from the Commencement Date. On the expiry of the term, this contract shall terminate and both parties shall be free to resume their lives separately.

There will be NO extension of the contract upon expiry.

AVAILABILITY

The Acting Wife MUST make herself available to Work parties, Formal events, Family and Friends parties and Public dates with The Acting Husband.

LOCATION

The Acting Wife shall move in permanently with The Acting Husband and live under the same roof. Both parties shall live in the same house until the termination of the contract.

RULES

1. Sèxual intercourse or any sèxual activity between both parties is NOT allowed.

2. Kissing, touching, cuddling or any form of affection indoors is NOT allowed unless family or friends are present.

3. Both parties shall NOT share the same bedroom unless family members or friends are present.

4. Both parties are allowed to enter sèxual relations with other parties ONLY if those parties agree to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement.

5. Both parties MUST live in the same house. The Acting Wife is NOT allowed to move out until the termination of the contract.

Failure to comply with any of the above will be considered a breach of the contract and shall lead to immediate termination of the contract.

CONCLUSION

We the undersigned have read and understood fully the provisions of this contract. We freely accept the terms of this contract and have acknowledged this by our signatures below.

............................................................

The Acting Husband: Damien Hunt

Date

...........................................................

The Acting Wife: Daniella Fox

Date

.............................................................

I look up at Damien after reading the contract. He has barely touched his salad. He's almost done with his scotch.

"So basically, I'm a Wife for Hire."

"Correct."

"Why did you pick me?" I ask sharply. "There are plenty of elegant women who would be willing to act as your wife."

After a moment, he leans on the table staring at me with a little crooked smile.

"I didn't pick you." He says. "My team picked you. They deemed you as the perfect partner because you wouldn't turn down the contract given your current circumstances."

"My current circumstances?"

"The breakup. The financial stress. The unemployment. The fear of going back to your parents after years of silence. We can both agree that this contract is manna from heaven."

Staring at him, I slip the papers back into the envelope. I push it back to him and watch the smile fade from his face.

"What are you doing, Dani?"

I take a big bite of the chicken and finish the orange juice. He looks at me in confusion as I stand from the seat.

"Guess your team will have to find another perfect partner." I smirk. "Good luck with your fake marriage, Damien. It was nice knowing you."

***