CHAPTER 7

After much deliberation the previous night, Sarah made her decision. She would agree to the contract marriage with Daniel, but on her own terms. 

She would set strict boundaries and make sure that she was not compromised in any way. 

She would be in control.

Sarah woke up early the next morning, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement. Today was the day she was going to meet with Daniel, the arrogant jerk who had proposed a contract marriage to her in exchange for his information.

She dressed in a professional outfit, making sure to look her best for the meeting. As she arrived at the towering skyscraper that housed Daniel's office, she felt a knot form in her stomach.

Taking a deep breath, she approached the receptionist and announced her name, after which she headed to the elevator that led to his office.

As she got out of the elevator she was greeted by Mrs. Stakes who informed her that her boss was waiting for her in his office.

Sarah walked into Daniel the Billionaire's office, her heart pounding in her chest. As she stepped through the door, she saw that Daniel was facing the outer view of his office, his hands in his pockets and his back turned against her. 

She took a deep breath and walked towards him, her heels clicking on the marble floor.

"I'll do it," she said, her voice steady and resolute. "But we do it my way."

Daniel turned around slowly, his eyes meeting hers and nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Of course," he said. "I wouldn't expect anything less from a journalist of your caliber."

Sarah couldn't help but roll her eyes at Daniel's comment. She knew he had a reputation for being arrogant, but she couldn't let that deter her from her aim of being here. 

"Great, so let's get started," she said, trying to hide her irritation.

Daniel gestured towards the chair in front of his desk. "My lawyers will send over the first paperwork for you to sign within the next 24 hours."

Sarah sat down and crossed her legs, trying to appear confident. "Actually, I have some conditions before I sign anything," she said, leaning forward.

Daniel raised an eyebrow. "Conditions?"

She nodded. "First of all, I want this marriage to be purely for show. No physical intimacy, no romantic involvement, nothing of the sort."

Daniel smirked. "Are you sure about that?" he said, gesturing to his chiseled physique.

For a second, she couldn't help but imagine what those hands could do to her body. She felt a warm sensation wash over her just by thinking about those blue eyes staring at her in the dark and whispering sweet things to her ears while his hands played with her sensitive spots.

Sarah ignored his comment and continued. "Secondly, I would only be marrying you for a year, after which the marriage would end, and we would go their separate ways.."

Daniel leaned back in his chair, looking slightly annoyed. "Fine, I'll have my lawyers draw up the necessary documents."

"And lastly," Sarah said, taking a deep breath, "I want to make it clear that I have no intention of being a trophy wife. I have my own career and I plan to continue working."

Daniel listened carefully to Sarah's conditions. "That's perfectly fine with me," he replied. "To some extent I don't expect you to give up your career."

As Sarah stood up to leave, Daniel spoke up. "One more thing, Sarah. I want to make it clear that I have no intention of falling in love with you. I can promise you respect, but nothing more. I won't be able to give you the emotional support that a real husband should provide."

Sarah looked him in the eye and nodded, "I understand. This is a business arrangement, and I am not looking for anything more."

He sat confidently behind his large mahogany desk, his sharp eyes fixated on her. 

He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest and said with a smug grin, "Well, it seems our little arrangement is finally coming to fruition. The official signing of the marriage documents is in two days, my assistant will let you in on the details."

Sarah shifted uncomfortably in her seat, taken aback by his words. She had agreed to the marriage not because she had any interest in him. But she knew that this was going to be one hell of a contract.

Daniel continued, "Don't worry, my personal assistant will take care of everything for you. She'll arrange for you to go shopping for dresses and a complete wardrobe makeover to fit into your new role as my wife. I can't have you embarrassing me at public events with your lack of style, now can I?"

Sarah gritted her teeth, trying to keep her composure. She knew she was in a vulnerable position, but she didn't appreciate his condescending attitude. "I'm perfectly capable of dressing myself, thank you. And I don't need anyone to interfere with my life."

Daniel chuckled, clearly amused by Sarah's defiance. "Oh, I see, you really have no idea what you're getting into, do you? You're not just marrying me, you're entering a whole new world of privilege and luxury. And if you want to keep up, you'll need to play by my rules."

Sarah didn't like the sound of that, but she knew she didn't have much of a choice. She just had to get through the next two days and then she would be set for life. 

She forced a smile and replied, "I understand. I'll do my best to fit in."

"Very well then." He replied. "I'll see you in two days"

Sarah bit back a retort and simply nodded before making her way out of the office. She knew this was going to be a difficult arrangement, but she was determined to see it through.

With that, Sarah left, feeling both relieved and a bit sad. She had known all along that this was a marriage of convenience, but hearing him confirm that he would never love her still stung a bit. 

However, she knew that this was the best decision for her career and her future, and she was ready to move forward.

And so, the deal was struck.