Chapter 2

Nathaniel's lawyer, Mr. Martin, sat across the desk from Olivia, a thick stack of papers between them. Olivia fidgeted nervously in her seat, feeling like a small fish in a big pond. She couldn't believe she was about to sign a contract that would change her life forever. She thought of all she has been going through since the death of her father and she has been struggling to take care of her family, she became lost in her thoughts but was taken aback by the lawyer's question.

"Are you sure you understand the terms of this contract, Miss Thompson?" Mr. Martin asked, looking at her sternly.

Olivia nodded, trying to show confidence even though her heart was pounding in her chest. "Yes, I've read through it thoroughly and I understand it perfectly."

"Very well," Mr. Martin said, before sliding the papers towards her. "Then please sign here, here, and here."

Olivia took a deep breath before picking up the pen, her hand shaking slightly. She felt Nathaniel's eyes on her, but she didn't dare look up.

As she signed her name on the dotted line, a sense of finality washed over her. She was committing to this contract marriage for a year, and there was no turning back.

Nathaniel took the papers from Mr. Martin, quickly scanning through them before handing them back to the lawyer. "Everything looks in order," he said, before turning to Olivia. "Welcome to our marriage, Mrs.Montgomery."

Olivia felt a shiver run down her spine at the sound of her new name. "Thank you," she said quietly.

Nathaniel stood up, and Olivia followed suit. "Let me show you to your new home," he said, before gesturing for her to follow him.

As they walked out of the lawyer's office and into the elevator, Olivia couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. She had just signed a contract marriage with a man she hardly knew, and she was about to live with him for the next year.

But as they stepped out of the elevator and into Nathaniel's penthouse apartment, Olivia was momentarily distracted by the opulence of her new surroundings. The apartment was stunning, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city and high-end furnishings that screamed luxury.

For the tenth time that day, Nathaniel greeted her with a charming smile, and Olivia couldn't help but feel a flutter in her stomach. He was tall, with piercing blue eyes and jet-black hair, dressed in a designer suit that made him look like he belonged on the cover of a magazine. Olivia felt underdressed in her simple jeans and blouse.

"Welcome to our home," Nathaniel said, gesturing around the room. "I hope you like it."

Olivia nodded, taking in the plush furnishings and impressive art collection. "It's beautiful," she said, trying to keep her nerves at bay.

Nathaniel led her to the master bedroom, where Olivia saw that her belongings had already been moved in. She felt a pang of homesickness for her small apartment and her old life, but she pushed the feeling aside. She had made this choice, and she would see it through.

Nathaniel turned to her, a serious expression on his face. "I want to make something clear, Olivia," he said. "This is a business arrangement, and we will act accordingly. Our marriage will be in name only, and we will keep our personal lives separate. Understood?"

" Yes, I understand. She nodded

Nathaniel led her into the dining room, where a table had been set for two. He pulled out a chair for her, and Olivia sat down, feeling like she was in a dream.

As they ate, Nathaniel peppered her with questions, asking about her family, her past, and her dreams for the future. Olivia found herself opening up to him in a way she hadn't with anyone else, and she was surprised by how easy it was to talk to him.

But just as the meal was winding down, the sound of shattering glass echoed through the apartment. Olivia jumped up in alarm, her heart racing.

"What was that?" she asked, looking around frantically.

Nathaniel's face darkened, and he stood up, pulling out a gun from his jacket pocket. "Stay here," he ordered, before stalking out of the room.

Olivia was left alone, her mind racing. She had no idea what was going on, but she knew it couldn't be good.

After what felt like an eternity, Nathaniel returned, his expression tense. "It's taken care of," he said, tucking the gun back into his pocket. "I'm sorry you had to see that."

Olivia felt a wave of fear wash over her. "What was that?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Nathaniel hesitated, as if debating whether to tell her. "Just some business associates who got a little too aggressive," he said finally. "But don't worry, it won't happen again."

Olivia wasn't sure whether to believe him or not, but she knew one thing for certain: she was in over her head. This contract marriage was starting to feel a lot more dangerous than she had bargained for.

Olivia sat nervously at the dining table, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Nathaniel had finished eating and was watching her intently, a small smile on his lips.

"You don't have to be so nervous, Olivia. We're in this together," Nathaniel said, his voice gentle.

Olivia looked up at him, her eyes wide with fear. "I know, but I still don't know what's going to happen next," she said, her voice trembling.

Nathaniel got up from his seat and walked over to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Let's go to my room and talk about it," he said, his voice calm.

Olivia nodded, standing up from the table and following him out of the dining room. They walked in silence down the hallway, Olivia's mind racing with all that had happened that day.

As they reached his room, Nathaniel turned to her, his eyes fixed on hers. "Olivia, I need to tell you something," he said, his voice low.

Olivia felt her heart sink. What was he going to say?

"I know this is all a bit overwhelming, but I want you to know that I'm here for you," Nathaniel said, his voice full of sincerity.

Olivia felt a sense of relief wash over her. Nathaniel was right - they were in this together. "Thank you, Nathaniel. I appreciate it," she said, her voice soft.

Nathaniel walked over to the bed and sat down, patting the space next to him. "Come and sit with me," he said, his voice gentle.

Olivia walked over to him and sat down next to him, their bodies almost touching. Nathaniel put his arm around her, pulling her close.

"I know this is all a bit unconventional, but I think we can make it work. We just have to be there for each other," Nathaniel said, his voice low.

Olivia nodded, feeling a sense of calm wash over her. Nathaniel was right - they could make it work.

As they sat there in silence, Olivia felt her body relax. Nathaniel was warm and comforting, and she couldn't help but feel drawn to him.

Suddenly, Nathaniel stood up and pulled her to her feet. "Come on, let's go to bed," he said, his voice full of laughter.

Olivia smiled, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. They walked over to the bed and climbed in, Nathaniel pulling her close.

As they lay there in the darkness, Olivia couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort and security in Nathaniel's arms. Maybe this contract marriage wouldn't be so bad after all.

Nathaniel leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her cheek. "Thank you," he murmured, his hand moving to her chin as he tilted her face up towards his.

Olivia felt a sense of electricity coursing through her veins as Nathaniel's lips met hers. It was a gentle, tender kiss, but there was a sense of urgency behind it - as if they both knew they were entering into something dangerous, but they were willing to risk it all.

They pulled away from each other, a sense of longing in their eyes. Nathaniel took her hand, leading her towards the balcony.

The night air was cool and crisp, but Nathaniel's warm embrace made her feel safe. They stood there for a few moments, looking out over the city lights below.

"This is all so new to me," Olivia said, her voice soft. "But I'm willing to take a chance on this, on us."

Nathaniel smiled, a sense of pride in his eyes. "I'm glad to hear that," he said, his voice low. "I'll do whatever it takes to make this work, Olivia. I promise you."

They spent the next few hours talking and getting to know each other, a sense of comfort settling over them as they shared stories and memories.

As they got ready for bed, Nathaniel wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close to his chest. Olivia felt a sense of contentment wash over her - for the first time in a long time, she felt like she was exactly where she was supposed to be.

But as they drifted off to sleep, the sense of danger that lurked around them was impossible to ignore. They were embroiled in a scandal, with no clear way out - and they both knew that the road ahead would be anything but easy.

Olivia was wide awake, staring at the ceiling, unsure of what to do next. She had spent the night tossing and turning, unable to sleep. She knew she had made a big decision by marrying Nathaniel, but now she was questioning if it was the right one.

Olivia couldn't close her eyes to sleep while Nathaniel slept peacefully beside her. She was lying on her side, staring at the wall, her thoughts racing. She couldn't help but wonder if she had made the right decision by agreeing to this contract marriage with Nathaniel.

She had always been an independent woman, never relying on anyone else for support. But her family bills had left her in a desperate situation, and Nathaniel had offered her a way out. She had agreed to marry him, but now that the reality of the situation was sinking in, she wasn't so sure.

Nathaniel had been kind to her, treating her like a queen since the moment they met. But Olivia couldn't help but wonder if it was all just a show. Was he just doing all of this to fulfill the terms of their contract?

She turned to look at Nathaniel, sleeping peacefully beside her. He looked so peaceful, so content. Olivia couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. How could he sleep so soundly when she couldn't close her eyes?

Olivia tried to clear her mind, but her thoughts kept spiraling out of control. What if Nathaniel was just using her for his own purposes? What if she was just a pawn in his game?

She couldn't help but feel a sense of unease, a feeling that something wasn't right. She tried to push these thoughts away, but they kept creeping back into her mind. She felt like she was drowning in a sea of uncertainty.

Olivia knew that she had made a decision, and she had to live with the consequences. But she couldn't shake the feeling that she had made a mistake. She didn't know Nathaniel well enough to trust him completely, and that scared her.

As she lay there, staring at the ceiling, she couldn't help but feel a sense of loneliness. She had agreed to marry Nathaniel for the sake of her family, but she had never anticipated the emotional toll it would take on her.

She wanted to reach out to Nathaniel, to talk to him about her fears and doubts. But she didn't know how to bring up the subject without seeming weak or vulnerable. She had always prided herself on her independence, and admitting her doubts would be a blow to her ego.

Olivia felt a tear roll down her cheek. She wiped it away quickly, not wanting Nathaniel to wake up and see her crying. She felt like she was in a dark tunnel, with no end in sight.

Finally, exhaustion overtook her, and she drifted off to sleep, her thoughts still racing. She didn't know what the future held, but she knew that she had to face it head-on. And with Nathaniel by her side, she hoped that she could find the strength to overcome her doubts and fears.

Morning dawned so fast, Nathaniel walked into the room, fresh from his morning shower. He noticed her awake and walked over to her side of the bed.

"Good morning, Olivia," he greeted her with a smile.

"Morning," she replied, trying to smile back but failing miserably.

Nathaniel noticed her unease and sat down beside her on the bed. "Is everything okay?"

"I don't know," Olivia confessed. "I feel like I've made a mistake."

Nathaniel placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Olivia, you made a decision last night, and I respect that. But if you're having second thoughts, we can talk about it."

Olivia let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Nathaniel. I don't know what's wrong with me. I just feel so overwhelmed."

"I understand," Nathaniel replied, "But you don't have to worry about anything. I'll take care of everything. Just let me know what you need."

Olivia smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Nathaniel. I think I just need some time to adjust."

"Of course," Nathaniel replied, standing up. "But first, let's have breakfast. I had the chef prepare something special for us this morning."

Olivia nodded and got up, feeling slightly better. They walked to the dining room together, where a lavish breakfast spread awaited them.

As they ate, Nathaniel made small talk, trying to make Olivia feel more comfortable. She found herself relaxing in his company, and by the time they finished breakfast, she felt much better.

After breakfast, Nathaniel suggested they take a walk in the garden. As they strolled hand in hand, Olivia felt a sense of peace wash over her. Nathaniel's touch was gentle and reassuring, and she knew that she could trust him.

As they returned to the house, Nathaniel turned to her and said, "Olivia, I know this may not have been the ideal situation, but I promise to make this work. I'll do everything in my power to make you happy."

Olivia looked up at him, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. "Thank you, Nathaniel. I believe you."

Nathaniel leaned in and gave her a soft kiss on the lips, causing her heart to race. "Let's go inside," he whispered, "I have a surprise for you."

As they walked into the house, Olivia couldn't help but wonder what Nathaniel had in store for her. She knew that with him, anything was possible.