Marry who?

I’ve frozen in place as soon I stepped out of the cab and looked up.

Saint Mary Hotel was a freaking castle.

I manage to climb the stairs with trembling knees.

Fear winning over me.

At the entrance, a host drove me to the restaurant where Mr Montgomery was waiting. How the hell did the host know who I was, had no fucking idea.

“Sit.” Mr Montgomery ordered coldly.

“Good morning, sir” I try showing him how to greet someone.

“Read this” he slides a paper across the table with marriage contract in capital bold letters.

“What is this?” I ask, trying to convey my disbelief in this awkward situation.

“Are you capable of reading, Miss Moore?” This bastard…

“I am capable, indeed, but as you must acknowledge, this is not a very common situation, is it? Perhaps, marriage contracts are something you do as a regular habit?”

I’m definitely pissed. Why do rich people look down on others?

He smiles, a cute dimple showing.

“I was wondering if an apparently innocent little girl from a small town would have something interesting to show. It seems you do have a sharp tongue, don’t you?”

Again, I feel his dark green eyes burning as he stares at me as if he’s swallowing me whole without even touching a little hair of mine.

He is a really beautiful man. Although his dark hair was messy, he was wearing an elegant light grey suit.

“So, what is this marriage contract thing, again?” I cleared my throat feeling my face heat and my heart pounding.

“I was hoping you read the terms and conditions before talking about it but since I’m getting a little impatient, I’ll resume” He points to the agreement in my hand. “Montgomery Corporation is one of the biggest in technology business. We’re trying to get some investors for a project we want to start with NASA, but the main investor is a man who’s a sucker for happy families”

After a pause, he continues.

“I am not a person with a good record regarding long relationships and, for the last five years I’ve done anything other than be spotted on dates with different women. Unfortunately, it’s all over the media.

“It happens Arthur Collins, the investor we want to catch, does not have the best opinion concerning me. And I’m willing to pay to get his best attention.”

“So, you want to buy a wife”

“Correct” he says naturally as the psychopath he must be.

“It’s a bit sexist, to say the least” I try not to burst in anger.

“It’s business. This world is no fairytale and sometimes we got to get things done by unconventional means” he glanced at me with a meaningful expression. “So what do you say?”

I read the first term of the contract: it’s a two year agreement. And then I read the first condition: none of the parties can be involved romantically with other people until the end of the contract, in order to preserve Montgomery’s reputation and the integrity of the agreement.

After two years, the agreement is automatically over unless both parties agree otherwise.

“I’m not an expert in this kind of agreement but it shouldn’t have an offer in money for the time spent in a fake marriage? It’s a contract after all and you’re buying a wife”

“Glad you ask” he gives me a side smile, taking another paper from a brown file. “This is the inicial payment but it’s open to discussion”

The paper had written in bold letters: divorce agreement and the sum of money was unthinkable.

“Ten million dollars?” I gasped.

“It’s not enough?” He asks genuinely.

“Are you mocking me, sir? Do you know how much money this is?”

“I’m fully aware, indeed. But I also know some people have greater… standards.” Greater prices, he wants to say.

“Last question. Why me?” I ask, determined to take down the deal and go home to keep applying for fucking jobs.

“Because you’re new in town. No one knew you till now.”

“What do you mean?” I frown.

He points to a table where a man with a black hat and a camera in hand glance suspiciously in our direction.

This fucking bastard set me up!

The moment I stand up to run from there, Mr Montgomery grabbed my wrist and turned me to face him. He was a tall man with large shoulders and a great strength. I tried to pull my wrist from him but he held it firmly.

He kneels, sliding his hand from my wrist to hand, holding it softly, taking a small blue velvet box from his pocket.

He opened the box and a delicate diamond ring showed.

“What the f…” I couldn’t finish the sentence.

“Elena, will you marry me?” He asked in a deep voice, projecting it loud enough so the paparazzi could hear.