CHAPTER 2: Contract!?

It had been three days since Rosa's discharge. She still limped a little, clutched her sides when she laughed too hard and felt her head spin whenever she got tired.

A sigh escaped her lips. At least the briuses were healing fast.

But nothing could prepare Rosa for the question her aunt had just asked her,

“Are you expecting anyone, Rosa?“

She frowned. No

“Cause there's a black car parked in front of our house."

A car?

Rosa immediately stood up and peeked through the window and indeed there was a car. It looked familiar. Where had she seen it?

Her aunt gave her a narrowed look and she didn't know why.

“That's the car of that CEO”, her aunt said pointedly and Rosa blinked. Huh?

And few seconds later, they heard the doorbell ring. Rosa exchanged looks with her aunt who nudged her to go open it.

“Go on. He's probably here for you."

Rosa pursed her lips, making slow strides to the door. Gripping the door knob tight, she opened it with forced courage and her nose was hit with that familiar scent. His cologne.

She looked up to him slowly and her eyes locked with his eyes that looked charcoal grey today. He wore a black suit and his tie was a deep blue that made his eyes appear even almost colder.

She swallowed feeling tense.

“Miss Hamon,” he greeted.

“Mr. Wade,” she replied, her throat suddenly dry. “Um… hi.”

He nodded once, eyes sweeping briefly around the modest living room behind her.

“May I come in?”

Nardine appeared before Rosa could answer. “I suppose we don’t have much choice, do we?” she said icily, stepping aside.

Rosa winced. “Aunt Nardine”.

But Alexander only gave a faint smile. “It’s fine.”

He stepped in, the scent of clean cologne and polished leather following him. The contrast between him and their tiny home was startling. His presence felt far too big for the space, too precise, too intense.

He didn’t sit until Nardine gestured toward the couch, then he took the seat with quiet authority. Rosa sat across from him, nerves knotting in her stomach, while her aunt sat beside her with a guarded expression.

“I owe you an explanation,” he began, placing his leg over the other. “And a proposal.”

Rosa blinked. “A… proposal?”

Nardine frowned. “What kind of proposal?”

“The professional kind,” he said smoothly. “Though…somewhat unconventional.”

He reached into his briefcase and set a neat folder on the table and a pen. The golden emblem embossed on the front read Wade Holdings.

Rosa stared at it like it might drain her life system.

“Mr. Wade, you already paid for my hospital bills. I don’t know how to-”

“-This isn’t about that,” he interrupted, his tone steady. “I’m not offering you charity. I’m offering you an opportunity.”

“Opportunity?” Rosa asked, confused. Wasn't he helping her too much? Or this was out of pity…on how unfortunate her life was.

He met her eyes. “I need a wife.”

The room fell silent. Rosa's breath hitched.

Even the ticking clock on the wall seemed to pause.

She blinked. “I-I’m sorry…what?”

Had she heard correctly?

“A temporary arrangement,” Alexander clarified calmly, as if what he’d just said was perfectly normal.

“A contractual marriage. One year.”

Aunt Nardine forced a laugh. “You can’t be serious.”

“I am,” he replied, his eyes falling on her briefly, “Completely.”

Rosa could only stare at him, her pulse quickening. “You….you want to….marry me?”

“Yes.”

“Why?” she blurted.

He leaned back slightly, studying her reaction with little to no readable emotion.

“Let’s just say certain traditions in my family require me to appear… settled. Married, specifically. My family, board of directors, they all believe stability at home reflects stability in leadership and my late grandfather wrote it down on his will. Even as CEO, my place is not still solidified. So I need to marry in two months time….or lose my inheritance”.

Rosa gaped. “So you need a fake wife?”

“Precisely.”

Nardine’s hand shot to her chest. “This is ridiculous! She’s not..she can’t!“

Rosa’s head was spinning. “You don’t even know me!”

What was this? A movie!?

He tilted his head slightly.

“I know enough. You’re twenty three, graduated from Oxdale High, Went to Ford college, orphaned, unmarried, currently unemployed, responsible, and not easily intimidated…..at least”.

Rosa's jaw dropped. H-how did he..

“You did a background check on me!?“

His lips curved into a dangerous smile.

“Does that make you unhappy….Rose?“

Her heart betrayed her by skipping a beat.

“It's Rosa”, she curtly replied and he chuckled. The sound making her stomach churn. She gripped her skirt tightly.

Get a grip!

His eyes lingered on her for a moment and her cheeks burned red.

“Miss Hamon,” he said, voice low but firm, “I’m not asking for romance. I’m offering a contract. You would be compensated handsomely, financially and otherwise.”

“Compensated,” Nardine repeated mortified. “You make it sound like she’s signing a lease!”

“In a way, she would be,” Alexander replied without missing a beat.

Rosa opened the folder with trembling hands. Inside were neatly typed pages of legal language she barely understood. There were clauses about discretion, confidentiality, duration and payment.

Oh my God….

She skimmed to the section labeled TERMS OF AGREEMENT and froze. The compensation number nearly made her choke.

Six figures. For one year. Jesus.

“Is this… real?” her voice came off strangled and his eyes locked on her.

“Very,” he said. “Half will be transferred upon signature. The rest upon conclusion of the contract.”

Rosa looked up. This was incredulous.

“Why me? You could hire an actress. A model. Literally anyone else.”

She was just an odd human.

He met her gaze evenly. “Because I don’t want anyone else. I want someone who has something to lose if she breaches confidentiality. Someone who won’t try to turn this into a dramatic scandal or a love story.”

Her cheeks burned. “So you picked me because I’m…desperate and poor”.

“Because you’re honest,” he corrected softly.

Rosa swallowed hard. “And if I refuse?”

He shrugged slightly. “Then you refuse. I’ll find another solution.”

His calmness unsettled her more than anger would have. He didn’t pressure her, nor did he even plead. He simply waited, as though he already knew she’d say yes even before he walked though that door.

Nardine sighed. “Rosa, I'm not cool with this”.

Rosa tore her gaze from Alexander and stared at her aunt.

“Auntie, what am I supposed to do? This is insane.”

“It’s dangerous, that’s what it is,” her aunt hissed. “You don’t just marry a stranger because he’s rich!”

Rosa's eyes darted between her aunt and Alexander. Shouldn't they have gone somewhere else to discuss this?

“I know,” Rosa whispered. “But look at that number.”

Her aunt crossed her arms. “Money isn’t everything.”

“Maybe not,” Rosa said quietly. “But it’s something. We could pay off your bills …for your surgery. You know that's what's pushing me for a job and I could finally get back on my feet.”

Nardine sighed, her eyes softening.

“Sweetheart, you’ve been through enough already. Don’t trade your peace for his problems.”

Rosa smiled faintly. Her peace was a bundle of problems anyway. Nardine not seeing her reply shook her head in defeat. She knew her mind was already made up. She sent a glower to the CEO who didn't react. He remained unfazed.

“Well?” he asked after watching their 'private' conversation.

Rosa hesitated. “This… contract. What exactly would I have to do?” She didn't know anything about the Wealthy lifestyle.

He regarded her carefully. “Attend social functions with me. Live in my residence for the duration. Maintain the public image of a married couple. Beyond that, your privacy will be respected.”

“And after one year?”

“It ends. You’ll walk away with your payment and your freedom.”

Rosa exhaled shakily. “This sounds like something out of a movie.” Too good to be true.

“Then consider yourself the main character”, he answered nonchalantly.

Nardine spat, “You have no shame.”

Alexander turned to her politely.

“Mrs. Churchill, I assure you, your niece’s safety and dignity will be protected. You have my word.”

Nardine eyed him warily not saying a thing and looked away.

Rosa bit her lip as she stared at the page she had to sign.

She took in a deep breath.

This is for your aunt, Rosa. For you. For your dreams.

And then, she grabbed the pen from the table and signed her name on the paper.

Her aunt closed her eyes, not able to watch.

Rosa, with trembling hands, offered the file back to Alexander.

“There….I've signed it”. A lump formed on her throat as he stared at her signature with a smug smirk.

He then raised this eyes to her anxious expression. She looked so feeble. Like a scared bunny.

“Good, Mrs. Wade”.