Chapter 2, New deal

"Excuse me?" he asked as he turned to me with a perplexed look on his face. 

I tried to compose myself. I took a deep breath and said, "I can't marry you like this. I have no guarantees for my future. I can't waste time with you knowing that you might just throw me away when you're done with me!"

He rolled his eyes at me and let out a loud sigh. "Seriously? I know what you're doing. You're trying to take advantage of the situation that everyone is here. What is it that you want? Is the four million not enough for you? Do you want me to pay you in advance?"

I shook my head and said, "No, it's not about the money. I need to feel that I can trust you. I don't even know you, and you want me to just marry you? Give me your word that you won't just abandon me when this is over. I don't want to be treated like this, to be ordered around all the time!"

We fell silent for a few seconds, then he spoke up and said, "Okay, let's make a new deal. I'll give you a monthly allowance so you don't have to worry about your future. I'll give you a monthly allowance of 10k. Is that enough?"

"I told you, money isn't the problem here!" I was feeling uneasy again; I felt a heartburn, yet my voice remained clear and calm.

He completely lost his temper. He turned around and suddenly kicked one of the chairs. The chair flew across the room and shattered as it hit the wall. I was startled by his sudden outburst and watched his back as he tried to compose himself. After a few seconds, he turned back to me and said, "Sorry about that. You're right; it's not all about money. Just tell me what exactly you want. Speak your mind; don't be afraid."

I didn't know why, but for the first time, I felt assured by his words. I had newfound confidence; I wasn't scared to ask for what I wanted for the first time in my life. "I want to get rid of the one-year condition in our marriage contract. Let's not set a time limit."

Three hours later:

We were heading to his family's mansion. It was just my husband and me in the limousine. He didn't say anything to me the whole ride. Back at the hotel, we signed the marriage contract and had a small celebration; the big party was to take place in his parents' mansion.

I was looking out the window when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned to my husband; he raised his phone to me and showed me what he was writing on his notepad app. The message said, "I don't want the driver to hear us, so write your response here. I agreed to eliminate the one-year time limit from our marriage contract and informed my lawyer of this new arrangement. In exchange, I expect you to keep your part of the deal and act like a happy bride, especially in front of my parents."

After I read the message, I took the phone from him, typed, "I understand, thank you," and gave the phone back to him.

When we arrived at the mansion, he stepped out of the limousine and offered me his hand. I took it and stepped out carefully so as not to trip over my dress. The others arrived shortly after us. The maids led us to the garden where the celebration continued. 

It was a nice evening. To my surprise, there weren't that many people-only family and close friends-unlike the reception at the hotel. I tried to memorize the names of everyone he introduced me to, but most of them had long and strange names. 

I had no intention of flirting or trying anything with him, but I'm a woman after all, and I noticed the looks people gave us. Women were whispering to each other and giggling; the sound of their giggles was very similar to the hissing of snakes. 

I tapped his shoulder to grab his attention. He was talking to one of his friends, who I guessed was another young CEO. He politely excused himself, ended the conversation, and turned his attention to me. He took my hand and walked me a bit farther from everybody else. When he made sure no one could hear us, he asked, "Do you need something?"

I stepped closer to him, pulled a small mirror from my purse, and told him to take a look. From the reflection of the mirror, he saw the group of women who were whispering things about us and secretly giggling. I explained to him that people were starting to grow doubtful of our relationship, and if we didn't do something about it, the rumors about him would grow worse; the paparazzi would have a field day.

He sighed and said, "You're right. We should act more like a real couple. This poor performance will expose us. My mom has reminded me to smile three times already, and my father just told me that I look like someone securing a business deal, not a man getting married."

He ordered glasses of water for both of us, then told the DJ to play a slow romantic song. When the water arrived, he passed me a glass and said, "Drink this; you'll need it."

To my surprise, the music they played was one of my favorites. He gently took my hand and led me to the middle of the dance floor. The DJ asked everyone to clear the dance floor for the bride and groom.

I had never danced with anyone before; luckily, this was a simple dance. He bent down and whispered to me, "Put your hands around my neck, then pretend to smile and slowly laugh. It would be nice if you could act like you're embarrassed or overwhelmed-just make it convincing."

I was trying my best not to roll my eyes at him. I did as I was told and tried to fake a shy smile. After a few seconds, he spoke to me and said, "Did you see what my cousin is wearing?" 

I wasn't sure who he was talking about, so I asked, "Which cousin? You have a lot of them!" 

With his eyes, he motioned to a middle-aged woman who was talking to his mother. She was a tall woman, a little chubby, and she looked good to me. There was nothing unusual about what she was wearing, so I asked him, "What's wrong with what she's wearing?" 

He replied, "It doesn't suit her. She needs to wear something more appropriate for her age. This color is highlighting her double chin." 

Just when I thought that I could actually start to like him, I wondered why rich people needed to be arrogant. He noticed that I was getting quiet, so he said, "Why are you spacing out? Don't break character; keep smiling. You're a shy bride who's helplessly in love with your billionaire husband."

As the car glided through the quiet streets, I leaned my head against the cool window, my eyes heavy with exhaustion. The festivities of the day had drained me, and the soft hum of the engine was almost soothing. I could barely muster the energy to respond to my husband's playful banter.

"Just wait until we get home," he said, glancing over at her with a smirk. "I'll show you to my room, and you better sleep immediately. You have so much to do in the morning."

I turned My head slightly, giving him a tired smile. "What exactly do I have to do? I thought today was the big day."

He chuckled, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Oh, my dear bride, this is just the beginning. You have to meet the staff, go over the schedule for the week, and don't forget about the charity gala next month. You'll want to start planning your outfits."

I let out a small sigh, feeling overwhelmed at the thought of all that awaited me "I didn't realize marrying a billionaire came with so many responsibilities," I replied, trying to keep her tone light.

"Welcome to my world," he teased, but then his expression softened. "But don't worry. I'll be right by your side through it all. Just focus on getting some rest tonight."

As we pulled up to the mansion, the grandeur of the estate loomed before them, illuminated by soft lights that danced across the manicured lawns. He opened the door for me and offered his hand, helping me out of the car. I took a deep breath, steeling herself for the night ahead.

"After you," he said with a flourish, gesturing toward the entrance.

Inside, the opulence was overwhelming-marble floors, high ceilings adorned with crystal chandeliers, and artwork that seemed to whisper stories of wealth and history. I felt a mix of awe and anxiety as we walked through the halls.

"Let's get you settled," he said gently, leading me up the grand staircase. "And remember, sleep is your best friend right now."

As we reached his room, he pushed open the door to reveal a spacious sanctuary filled with soft hues and luxurious furnishings. "This is where you'll be sleeping tonight," he said. "And tomorrow, we'll tackle everything together."

I nodded, feeling a wave of gratitude wash over me "Thank you," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Now go on," he urged playfully, nudging me toward the plush bed. "I'll be just down the hall if you need me."

With a final smile, I sank into the comfort of the blankets, letting my eyes flutter shut. The weight of the day began to lift as I surrendered to sleep, knowing that tomorrow would bring new c

hallenges-but for now, I could rest in this unfamiliar yet comforting world.