The Agreement

Nora's POV 

"You want to be my wife?" Damon asked, a mix of shock and disbelief boldly displayed on his face.

I cleared my throat loudly, shaking my head as I spoke. "I want to be your fake wife." I corrected.

He smiled, his cold gaze sending shivers down my spine. "It's the same thing. I never considered Sasha as a wife anyway and you won't be different." He snorted.

I wondered again the kind of marriage they had and why Sasha ran away when she had looked at him in the wedding picture like he had the sun buried in his pupils.

"I don't want a husband as well." I reply defiantly with a raise of my chin. "Even if I desire one, it won't be you."

"Good." He nodded slowly, letting out a grunt. "I'm glad we agree on the first rule."

"First rule?" I croak, wondering what he was talking about.

I hated rules. Growing up with a family that didn't want me and battling loneliness made me develop the habits of breaking rules as much as I could. Just to get noticed.

Unfortunately, I never got noticed. Sometimes, I got scolded but most times, I got ignored.

"I have five rules for you. If you can comply with them, I can help you with what you are trying to run from."

"Who says I'm trying to run from something?"

"You won't be here, offering to be a substitute wife if you aren't."

I swallowed, hating how he could read me easily. "I'm not running from anything." I lied. "I would have left the moment it got confirmed that I'm not Sasha but I chose to stay to help you because I saw how worried you are about getting ruined if the news about your wife's disappearance got known by the public."

He barked out a harsh laugh, his Adam's apple bobbing in amusement. "What are you? A Samaritan?"

I winced at the veiled insult. "A good person who doesn't want the enemies of her kidnapper to succeed."

He scoffed, his gaze turning icy again. "Whatever. My mother is coming tomorrow evening. How intelligent are you? I hope you aren't a dimwit."

"Excuse you!" I glared at him.

"My mother is quite the observant person and as much as I don't like Sasha, I admit that she is an intelligent lady. If you are anything but intelligent, my mother will sniff out our falsehood before dinner is over."

"I'm intelligent." I reply, hating the angry bite in my voice. 

He didn't act as if he noticed the anger waves rolling off of my skin. He continued talking as if we were business partners discussing over cups of tea. I could see why Sasha ran off.

"Good." He turned to Hart. "Get me the files she needs."

Hart nodded, walked out and was back in a few minutes later with a huge bundle of files. My eyes widened as he dumped them before me. 

"What is this?" I breathed.

"Details of everything and everyone Sasha knows."

"I have to memorize all these? Within a day?" I gasped. He had to be kidding.

"I thought you said you were intelligent." He challenged.

I bristled at the mockery in his tone but ignored it. "I never said I was a computer."

"I need you to be one or this won't work. You won't be helping but damning me if our deceit gets noticed tomorrow evening."

"I will try."

"Don't try, girl." He hissed. "Do your best."

"He hates it when people only try." Hart supplied.

I rolled my eyes, remembering my boss who was just as insufferable as him. I had hell dealing with the man during the day.

"I will do my best." 

"Good. I think you are the same size with Sasha so her clothes should fit you. I will call a stylist in tomorrow to cut your hair."

"Cut my hair?" I croaked, my eyes widening in horror. "Why?"

"Sasha never grew out her hair." 

I ran my hand through my full length glossy black hair and a sob escaped my throat. I can't lose it. "Can I wear a wig instead? I can't cut my hair."

Damon glanced at Hart. "Can she?"

I kept my snort in. Did he know nothing about women?

"We will get her a wig tonight." Hart said.

"Thank you." I breathed, relief washing down my chest.

Hart bowed to Damon and left the room. I swallowed, nervous about being alone with Damon.

"Now, shall we discuss my rules?" He asked, his gaze pinned on mine.