HAYLEY’S POV
I figured with each painful and frustrating day spent living in this personal hell that is my life, I realized that God has favorites. Chester almost humiliated me at the club last night. I also drew the attention of a stranger, who never seemed to leave me alone.Since the first day we met, he could pick up on the fact that I was needy and broke. Is that how everyone sees me? a total fuckup?I eventually got to see my mom at the hospital yesterday; I couldn’t even pay her clinic bills. I felt so ashamed. I couldn’t look her in the eye, but I felt her pity.I couldn’t do this anymore; I couldn’t keep depending on Kitty and Darren to survive or let myself down.So I took his advice, the handsome, judgy stalker.Christian Montgomery, CEO of Montgomery Enterprise Holdings I could almost swear that the name sounded too familiar, but then I just couldn’t quite get it.I kept staring at the card he gave me and the big name boldly sitting on the company building as I stood in front of it. I couldn’t bring myself to step inside the building, but what if he could help?My heart raced as I walked into the building. The interior was way more eye-catching than the exterior, and the polished marble floors seemed to amplify my footsteps. I suddenly felt like this atmosphere and look were his ideas."Excuse me, miss, can I help you? Or you are perhaps lost.” The secretary’s icy tone cut through my nerves. Her eyes dismissed me with a single glance, but I chose to shake it off."I have…" I paused, trying to catch my breath so I could appear confident. "I’m here to see Mr. Montgomery; he gave me his card." I flashed the business card, and she looked utterly unimpressed."What’s your name?""Hayley Marshall."A curt nod, and she began tapping away at her keyboard, making me wait in uneasy silence. I suddenly started regretting my decision to come here. By the way, this cheap pair of jeans I bought was starting to pinch, and I was growing impatient."Sorry, are you trying to check if I have an appointment with him?” I asked,"Oh no, I’m just trying my best to ignore you." She gave a fake smile. Who was this bitch?"Mr. Montgomery’s schedule is tight today; I don’t think he has time to see you, even if his schedule wasn’t tight."“Okay, I’m sorry, have we met? Or do you have a problem with me?” My tone changed completely, I was irritated by her.“Listen, no offense, but..." She was interrupted by a cold and chilly voice, and before that, I could feel the air shift a bit.I turned, and there he was. Christian Montgomery. Tall and commanding, with an aura of power that radiated from him. His chiseled jaw was set in a stern expression, but his piercing blue eyes held a flicker of recognition when they met mine.Why was he looking so casual but hot in black denim and a white collared shirt?"That’s enough, Rebecca," He fired."Do you want to lose your job? Or have you lost your mind?""But Christian…" Rebecca tried to say something, and he cut her off. Wait, she just called him by name?"Excuse you? What did you call me?” His expression changed into a frown."I’ll deal with you later."I was expecting her to be terrified by that last statement, but then a smile curled at the corner of her lips; it was like a smirk. Only a child wouldn’t figure out that something was going on between them."You came." His attention was diverted to me.My eyes narrowed to the floor. “Um-Y-yeah...”He would have figured that I was desperate by now. I managed to look him in the eye, and he smirked. It was like he knew I’d be back."Let’s talk in my office."I took one glance at the secretary, who kept shooting daggers at me with her eyes, and I hurriedly followed him toward the transparent elevator. I thought they only existed in movies.I was so lost in the beauty of this strange yet beautiful elevator, that I didn’t know I was still standing outside it."Are you coming?” He asked with narrowed brows.“Oh, I'm sorry, I just….”"Don’t worry, it wouldn’t be the first time common folk were fascinated by it.” He said in a firm yet boastful tone. Common folk?I instantly entered the elevator with him and tried to stand as far apart as possible. No offense, but he was rude.The elevator came to an abrupt stop, dinged, and opened."Damn what…" I mouthed it in the most silent way possible; the elevator had brought us directly into his office.It was nothing short of breath-taking, designed with a touch of elegance and sophistication.The office's color scheme was carefully chosen to match the mesmerizing blue of his eyes."So… First warning: on no occasion should whatever is said in this room leave this room. Understood?"He sat down and leaned back on his brown leather couch, crossing his two legs on the small rectangular table in front of him.“Um—Sure." I shrugged, and he raised a brow."Sure? That doesn’t sound like a firm answer.""Fine, it won’t. So let’s talk about this offer.” I finally asked, cutting to the chase."I guess you’re suddenly eager to hear me out, should I be happy?” He asked, his eyes wandering into mine."Just….just explain it to me."“If you can recall, I asked you to marry me. so will you do it?”“Look, I can’t just marry you. You aren’t giving me full details here.” I crossed my arm over my chest.“What else do you want to know?”“Everything you aren’t telling me, like what am supposed to do? How this is even supposed to work.”“Hayley….” I cut him off.“I don’t think you get this, but it’s not every day a random stranger just asks me to marry him. I want to know what I’m getting myself into.” I insisted.I paused and he stared at me, hoping I was done talking.“What you need to know is the benefits involved in this, I’m not asking you to give me a baby. Just be a pretend wife.”He wants me to pretend. I can pretend.“Why do you even want me to marry you anyway? What’s in it for you?”His countenance changed at my question.“It’s none of your business, I won’t stress this further.” He dropped his leg from the table.“Marry me and get paid handsomely for it. You don’t have to work at the bar, I’ll cover all your expenses. But you can leave if you still think it’s fishy.”His last words hit me hard, I needed money. I needed it badly.I could just walk away, he wasn’t forcing it on me anymore. But then I’d be at a loss.He wasn’t asking me to do much, just pretend Hayley.“I’ll marry you.”CHRISTIAN’S POVAs I sat and waited for a reaction from her, my mind couldn’t help but go back to Rebecca. She was starting to push her boundaries; she was becoming a problem. I don’t like problems; they piss me off.Even though I hate to admit that this is my entire fault, I should have known better than to fuck my secretary. What the hell was I thinking? It’s not even office romance; it’s more dom and sub.My thoughts briefly flickered back to Hayley, and I couldn’t help but marvel at her ability to catch me off guard. There was a raw innocence about her that intrigued me, a stark contrast to the polished women who typically surrounded me.But I don’t want her as a submissive anyway; pure innocence sometimes bores me."I’ll Marry you” My eyes widened in surprise, she agreed.I got up and walked towards where she stood, my body towering over her small figure.As I kept staring at Hayley, the door to my office swung open, revealing Cassidy’s entrance. I shouldn’t be seeing more of this
HAYLEY’S POV "Moving? To where? What’s going on, Hayley? "Kitty kept pestering me with her numerous questions as she followed me around the house as I shoved my things into the duffel bag I moved in with anyway. "I really can’t explain it, Kitty; I wish I could tell you…."I paused and she stopped abruptly, narrowing me down like she was waiting for the remaining sentence. "But?" She arched a brow.I exhaled deeply, in as much as I love kitty. I couldn’t risk letting her know about this arrangement, news spread. All she has to do is blab to one person and it’s over for me. "I promise that I’ll explain everything as soon as I can, I’m sorry and I love you" Kitty moved closer to me, "I just want to know you’ll be fine, if where you’re going will be of great help to you then I won’t stop you." I let out a soft smile; She had always supported me. "Be safe love." She pulled me into a hug before I dragged my duffel bag and walked out of the apartment. Terry, Christian’s driver quickl
"Take it off." He ordered he kept staring at me coldly. There was nothing about the way he looked at me that screamed sexual, he just enjoyed barking orders I guess. “But I like this outfit, this is what I want to wear Mr Montgomery.” I refused to budge, since when did he think he could tell me what to wear? “I can tell you what to wear since the moment you signed that agreement.” He ran his hands in his hair. “That was in the contract!?” My eyes bulged with shock, I didn’t see that part. How come I didn’t see it? Fuck! What have I done? “I guess you didn’t read it thoroughly, what if I wanted you to do….” He kept walking towards me and I moved back slightly till my back touched the mirror. He was now standing in front of me, I felt cornered. “Something immoral.” He whispered in my ears, I know I’ve only met him for like few hours and he’s like a total jerk, but there was something about him that made me shiver with seduction. Can I explain it? No! “I don’t think your little inno
CHAPTER NINE After Christian dropped the bombshell on the reporters, they still wanted more, but Christian seemed to be a man of suspense. He knew what he was doing; he had it all planned out. He just wanted to give the media a hint to further sell this lie; at least by tomorrow morning, the media would be going wild. I couldn’t believe my eyes as Christian and I walked into the business meeting gala. The lavishness of the venue made me short of breath. Everything looked so good, from the crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling to the walls adorned with artwork and the impeccably dressed guests, whose every move smelled like money and power. Never have I even dreamed of being somewhere like this. I guess busting your ass at a local bar for a long time won’t give you time to dream. Beside me, Christian appeared cold and distant. I’m not surprised he wasn’t as mind-blown as I was; he was born into this. "Wait here, I’ll check around for my parents." His hands brushed my arm sli
CHRISTIAN'S POVThe rest of the evening was filled with my parents gushing over Hayley; Hermione was already talking about babies. I’d hate to break her little heart when this contract ends, but we have to break a few eggs to make an omelet.I’m sorry Hermione, but no grandkid for you. Not now or even ever, I don’t do shit like that. I still found it somehow weird that my dad kept insisting that he knew Hayley, but she said she didn’t recognize him and they’d never met.Could Dad be right and maybe she was lying? I couldn’t fully trust a woman I’d only known for a few hours.“Goodbye, Mr. Montgomery, and I’ll see you soon Hermione.” Hayley waved as I held the car door for her to get in.My parents waved back with soft smiles, I got in the car and Terry closed the door. Hayley played quite the charmer; at least now I can say the fake marriage might work. She bought them!“You did a great job tonight, I hope it gets better.” I adjusted in the seat as I loosened my tie a bit, I glanced a
“What do you think you are doing?” I growled as I grabbed her aggressively by the arm and she flinched“I-I’m sorry, you said to pick a room and I didn-I didn’t know that this was..” She couldn’t even find the appropriate words to use, she was just all over the place.“It was a mistake, I’m sorry.” She apologized, her gaze fixated on the marble floors in the room.I exhaled deeply before letting go of her, she had found it anyway. What most women sign contracts to see is what she just walked right into, was I mad? Definitely.“So-so you’re into BDSM?” She swallowed.“I’m guessing the room already answered your question” I scoffed, with one hand on my hips as I watched her in annoyance. Could I survive six months with her if she was already getting on my nerves, defying me, and trespassing?My sexual fantasy wasn’t something I share with many women, only those I see fit to. I liked them submissive, crawling to me and begging for me.“Right.” She mouthed softly before trying to leave t
Christian remained silent before breaking into a little chuckle, why would she ask that? It’s not her fault anyway; he’s hot cake and all of a sudden he’s getting married, Of course, they’d want to know all the tea.“I like to keep the media in suspense, so I hate it break it to you but that question lingers on. Should you or should you not? That’s for the world to guess.” He answered,The interviewer seemed taken aback, it wasn’t the answer she was expecting but she couldn’t do anything about it. One of the cameramen started waving a timer from behind me, her time was up.The ten-minute interview was over. “Anyways that’s a wrap on New York Daily Magazine, Thanks for being with us Mr. Montgomery.” She smiled softly at him, almost like she too was lost in his looks.Christian left the stage and approached me, “You did…” He crashed his lips for a quick kiss on mine before I had time to finish my sentence, getting used to that might be hard. Especially since it wasn’t real.I took a shy
HAYLEY’S POV “which other world do you exist in apart from mine?” His words kept echoing in my head, did he really think that low of me? I mean of course he would, I jumped at the slightest opportunity of marrying him because of the money.He’s an arrogant, hot and rich billionaire, our worlds were so apart from each other. So how the hell did I even expect him to respect me?My eyes started to water as I walked rapidly on the busy streets of Manhattan, I ran into an alley where I would be away from the prying eyes of passersby.“I hate it here! Fuck!” I shouted as I threw my purse on the floor, the tears I had been fighting back didn’t hesitate before pouring from my eyes, why does it always have to be me?I hit my back on the wall as I slid down to the floor in frustration; I rested my head in my palms as I bawled my eyes out. It was like escaping from frying to fire, from Chester who always made me feel like nothing whenever things weren’t going his way to a billionaire who just