Chapter two

Adrian

There was something about her—distinct but familiar. I couldn't place a finger on it. 

The way her eyes seemed to hold words that her lips were not expressing. The way her fingers played with each other, her demeanor lacking confidence. The way her face almost leveled with the floor, barely raising her gaze to mine was a typical day-to-day interaction with ladies for me. 

She almost seemed the same with other girls—lacking confidence and an elegant aura but she still kind of seemed different. 

It's complicated. 

She had seemed put together but uncertain. I don't do uncertain. 

I have no idea why my grandfather mentioned her name in his will as my wife but in all I know, I needed her for the company. 

I stared at my reflection through the rearview before ruffling my hair and then grabbed my phone and dialed Isabelle. 

She picked on the first ring. Just like I had expected. 

“You do realize it's late, right?” 

“What are you up to? Are you busy?” 

“That’s so out of the line for you to ask!” her voice sounded different like she had had a change of mind over the past few weeks we hadn’t spoken. 

“I guess I made a mistake calling tonight. Pretend this call never came through,” I was about to end the call when her voice came in. 

“Wait…Wait, Adrian,” 

I arched my upper lip in a smile as I waited for her response. 

“Where are you?” she asked. 

“My place,”

“I will be over in thirty… no, twenty minutes,” 

As I ended the call, a smile stretched on my lips but the tiredness in my eyes was evident. I rested my hands on the steering wheel, my mind juggling back to the diner. 

I loosened my tie a bit before letting out a deep breath. 

“Does she really want to throw the offer away? Does she really not care about the money because of some words she found offensive?” I thought hard for a second. 

Was that what was different about her? Other ladies would jump at the offer regardless of any deameaning words said to them but she walked away, leaving a multi-million dollar offer behind. 

I opened the car door, stepped out, and took only a few steps towards my front door when a call came in. 

I checked the number, it wasn’t saved on my phone but the last few digits looked familiar. 

It was her. Anna.

I deliberated a bit before finally picking up the call. 

“Hey,” I said but the other end was silent. I dodged the phone from my ear, checking the screen but the call was still on. 

“Hey. This is Anna, right?” then I heard it. She sniffled. She was crying. 

I had no idea what the feeling in the lower part of my stomach was but it was a foreign feeling to me. My chest seemed to tighten and something close to concern, and worry, surged from within. 

“Are you… Are you crying?” 

She sniffled again, followed by her weary voice. “My mum… she slipped. I… I take the offer!” 

I swallowed hard. “What?” 

“I agree to be your wife for a year. I would take the contract and be your wife. Just, please…please save my mum!” 

Before I could stop myself. Before I could think twice about what she had just said, I rushed back into my car, and drove off. 

Like I knew where I was heading. Like I had an idea where her mum was, I drove off like a lunatic. 

Heading to no destination in mind. 

While I drove, speeding at the highest velocity, my phone rang repeatedly, and every time I checked, it was Isabelle. 

Then, her message popped up. 

Where are you? I told you I would be here in twenty minutes, you must have thought I meant to say twenty hours? Ughhh!

****

Just like that night, she wouldn’t raise her face to mine even while mine was locked on her. 

She would often play with her fingers, her brows creasing and falling, her breath, almost nonexistent. Then her lips would stretch out like she was swallowing hard. 

Then, the lawyer cleared his throat, locking his hands on the table. 

“Now that both parties are present here, I believe there has been a pre-consensus to this contract or at least, the knowledge of the contract herein has been disclosed,” 

“Yes!” her voice came as a shock to me and I shot her a glance. 

“Yes,” I replied as well and the lawyer nodded. 

“Here are the papers. You have the preference to peruse and sign where appropriate,” 

“That can be done now, right?” 

“Yes. Definitely, except where special attention is needed in some areas, there is no reason you can’t append your signature now,” 

“Fine, then!” I replied, immediately signing. 

“Uhmm…” she started, looking up from the papers and then meeting my gaze. 

“It’s written here that I can’t have any other partner within the time I am bound by this contract. Why does that apply to just me,” 

I looked over at the lawyer and she did the same. The lawyer cleared his throat and as he was about to reply, I spoke. 

“That is because you will be my responsibility throughout the time of the contract and if at all there are any liabilities to be taken, it would be clear that it is mine to take and there would be no ambiguity,” 

That might not be as convincing as it sounded in my head but she didn't question that further. 

“No touching, no feelings, no intruding. A divorce after one year,” she read out with all skepticism. However, her mind seemed to be made up. 

She was doing this for her family anyway. 

She skimmed through the papers one more time before letting out a deep breath and then signing. 

I had tried to make sure she knew she didn't have to do this. Hell, I didn't want to do this either. I had made sure to let her know her mother would be well taken care of even if she didn't sign the contract with me but of course, there would be a limit to my generosity. Such an act would only extend to settling her mum’s hospital bills and nothing more. 

She, however, has more on her plate than she displays. She needed more than just that so she decided to push through regardless. 

No coercion was put in place. 

I nodded and then looked over to the lawyer. 

“I would reach out for the divorce after one year but neither of the parties are to disclose the basis of this contract, as a contractual marriage to the public,” 

We both nodded and the lawyer got up, leaving. 

We were alone in the room now. My office wall seemed to be closing up on us and I knew she felt that way too. 

It felt heavy to think about. This was the first time I was bound by marriage with anyone. Especially with a stranger. 

I got up, adjusting my suit and tightening my buttons before walking to my ceiling-to-floor window, staring out. 

“Thank you for that night,” I suddenly heard her voice and it was closer now. “I really wasn't expecting you to show up like you did. It was…” 

I spun around and I could see how startled she was. 

“It was the least I could do,” I replied. 

She furrowed her eyebrow like she wished I could let her speak, to probably appreciate me properly but it wasn't needed. 

“Do you mind if I…” She stretched her hands out to help with my tie but before she could, I held her hands in place, glaring at her. 

Did she not digest the contract well? No fucking touching! 

Just as we stood in place, the door flung open, revealing Isabelle and my secretary, Sarah. 

Sarah bowed and walked off while Isabelle walked closer to us, her eyes never leaving us. 

“Who is this?” her voice was dangerously low. 

I owe her no explanation but I guess I needed to let her know now. 

Anna quickly dropped her hand, voluntarily staring up at me for the first time since we met, expecting a word from me. 

“This is Anna. My wife.”