~~~~~
That morning, Eric woke up feeling unusually excited. Today was the day he would meet Diana in Canada, and he could hardly contain his anticipation. Fully dressed, he stepped out of his room, hoping to find his so-called wife ready and waiting. Instead, he encountered his butler.
“Good morning, sir,” the man said, offering a weary smile despite his age.
“Morning,” Eric replied, distractedly adjusting his suit.
“Your luggage is already in the car, sir,” the butler informed him.
“Ah… I see.”
“But I’m afraid the madam has not yet woken up,” he added.
Eric raised an eyebrow, momentarily confused. “My mother isn’t coming with us, if that’s what you mean.”
“Oh, no, sir. I’m not talking about Mrs. Nora,” the butler clarified.
“Then who are you referring to?” Eric asked.
“I’m tal
~~~~~Finally, they arrived in Canada, and just as Eric had commanded, the jet touched down on the grounds of the penthouse. Like his other properties, this one was breathtaking, complete with a swimming pool on one side, a bar on the other, and a stunning fountain—it was truly a sight to behold.While the guards and maids busied themselves with our bags, I took my time, soaking in the extravagant view of the penthouse. As I approached the staircase leading inside, Eric suddenly pushed past me, nearly knocking me off my feet without so much as a “sorry.”“Hey, watch it! Are you trying to get me killed, is that why we are here?” I demanded, but instead of an apologetic look, he shot me an indifferent glare.“Asshole,” I murmured, shaking my head as I climbed the stairs again.When I reached the top, the driver was waiting alongside an elderly woman who smiled warmly at me. I returned her smile, feeling a bit
~~~~We arrived at the room Mrs. Lola had recommended, and just as she said, it was better—spacious, airy, and filled with natural light.“It’s good. I like it,” I commented, taking in the room’s elegance.“I’m glad, ma’am,” she smiled warmly. “What would you like me to prepare for dinner?”“Dinner?” I glanced at the wall clock; it was barely past 4. “Nothing, I’m not hungry, maybe later. But right now, all I need is a bath and then straight to bed.”“As you wish, ma’am, but if you change your mind, just let me know.”“Sure. Thank you,” I replied.“You’re welcome, ma’am,” she said before slipping quietly out of the room.After unpacking, I indulged in a hot bath, letting the warmth melt away every bit of tension from the day. Soon after, I slipped into bed, and as my head hit the
~~~~I wasn’t thinking of anything as I made my way down the hall. My head was foggy, my mind blank. What was there to think about? Eric and I didn’t like each other; we could barely tolerate one another’s presence. I had been hired to play the part of his wife, and now that he’d told me to quit, I was ready to walk away. Sure, I might not find another gig that paid this well, but the money they owed me would help me get started for a while. Maybe I’d even try my hand at acting for real. It wouldn’t be easy, but it would be a start.Hurrying back to my room, I felt hot tears streaming down my face, and I couldn’t stop them. Why did it hurt so much? His words shouldn’t have affected me; they shouldn’t have meant anything. But they did.I collapsed onto my bed and cried my eyes out. From that moment on, everything changed between us. We barely spoke, didn’t eat together, and avoided looking each other in the eye. I stayed holed up in my room, only venturing out for fresh air. This silen
~~~~I pulled on black leather pants, a fitted turtleneck, and high-top black sneakers. My hair hung loose down my back as I made my way downstairs, feeling nothing but a cold emptiness. I handed James a slip of paper with my bank details. “Here’s my account number. You said five times the pay, right?”“Right.” He gave me a questioning look. “So, does that mean I was right about everything?”I let out a low laugh. “I don’t know, James… why don’t you find out? But before we go anywhere, I want my account filled. Now.”He smirked, but I could see the flash of annoyance in his eyes. “Fine. I’ll pay you ten billion dollars—half now, half when you’re done.”Ten billion. If he could casually throw out that amount, I knew he had much more stashed away. “Fifteen billion,” I said, meeting his gaze without flinching. “And I want the full amount upfront. I don’t trust you.”He gritted his teeth but nodded. “Fine. But we need to leave now.” He looked around, nervous, as if someone was watching.“
Continuation****James pushed the car to its limits, speeding through the empty streets to make it to the press conference on time. His phone buzzed relentlessly, but he refused to let it break his focus. He glanced at the caller ID—Eric, of course—but ignored it. When he did answer briefly, he remained silent, waiting for Eric to give up before the line went dead.Beside him in the passenger seat sat Mary, his brother's so-called wife, quiet and unreadable. He cast a quick look at her, thoughts churning. She’d agreed to help him, and for that, he was grateful—or maybe just lucky. But how far could he actually trust her? Once the truth came out, she’d be useless to him. She’d already sold Eric out without a second thought; he wondered, with a bitter smirk, how quickly she’d turn on him too if the price was right. He could see her for what she was—a hustler, someone born from the streets, loyal only t
~~~~~I laughed, relishing the sound of his anger on the other end. “Woo, brother, calm down. No need to shout,” James said, his voice taunting. “See, that’s where you’re wrong. I didn’t kidnap or drag her as you’re thinking—she came with me of her own free will.”A long silence stretched from the other end. “Nonsense… My wife would never—” Eric’s voice started, but James cut him off.“Wife?” James laughed the sound sharp and mocking. “Please. You and I both know she’s not really your wife. She admitted it to me, and now, soon enough, the whole world will know.”Another silence, but this time there was a tension in it. Eric’s voice, wary, asked, “What are you talking about, James? What do you mean the whole world will know?”Bastard, I cursed inwardly as I yanked the phone from James's ear. “What he means, assho
~~~~But the media wasn’t the only one on edge; Eric and Nora Black were perched on the edge of their seats as they each watched the big screen from their respective homes. They knew that if the world were to find out about what they had done, it would spell disaster for their family for generations to come.The moment the press asked Mary about her marriage to the Blacks, Nora felt her heart leap into her throat. “No… I can’t watch this,” she said, pushing herself up from her seat. “Or I’ll die of a heart attack. I can’t believe I trusted her enough to choose her. I thought she was different. How could she do this to me?” she cursed. “I’m going to ruin her,” she swore, storming over to the bar. Pouring herself a drink—one that was high in alcohol—she muttered, “If this whole thing doesn’t kill me, I hope this wine does,” before downing the entire bottle.In Ca
Continuation...There’s no way I’m letting someone like her bring me down. I smiled at her—but it wasn’t the kind of smile that warms hearts. Not by a long, short.“I’ve heard stories about you—the journalist who stops at nothing for a scoop. Once you latch onto a story, you hold on tight. I have to admit, I respect your commitment, but I can’t stand people like you who take pleasure in tearing others down.” I scanned the room, the cameras still focused on me. “You’re meant to bring truth and life into focus, not to shatter families or lives. Your constant invasion of privacy has devastated countless lives, leaving them unable to recover. Actors can’t truly be themselves; they can’t love freely or chase their dreams because they live in fear of what you’ll publish about them.” I snapped. “All for a damn paycheck. Maybe I should grab a camera myself, thanks to m
~~~~~Did he seriously just ask that? The man who’s spent the last month ignoring me, treating this fake marriage like a business deal? The same man who constantly reminded me of my duty, my so-called worth, and never failed to draw the line between me and his precious Diana? That same man is asking what now?I was pissed. “What do you mean by ‘conclusions’? Even a blind man could see it.”“Oh, really?” His tone was sharp, mocking.“Yes!” I snapped. “You were never really happy about going out with me today. I bet you were forced away from Diana because of me, and that must’ve annoyed the hell out of you. You’d rather be with her, wouldn’t you?” I stared him down, waiting for him to deny it. But no. Instead, he laughed.“Is that what this is about? Did my call with Diana earlier get under your skin, Mary?” He stepped back slightly, giving me some space—but his tone was anything but gentle.“What…” I began, fumbling for words.“Since when did Diana become an issue for you?” he a
-----Me stopping half way didn't stop his devious mind from figuring it out, because the next thing he said was-- "Too Late." I turned to respond, but just then, the driver returned, and the awkward silence resumed. The rest of the ride was filled with quiet glances between us, my embarrassment only growing. I just wanted to get home as quickly as possible.From the moment I opened my eyes this morning, it felt like my prayers were finally coming true. We were home! I was relieved, mostly because the awkward silence between us was beginning to get to me. But just as I turned to ask if it was okay to grab my things from the car trunk, his phone rang. I glanced at the caller ID—Diana.The moment I saw the name, I cursed under my breath, wishing I hadn’t. It wasn’t just the caller that made me feel like crap; it was the sudden change in Eric’s expression. His face lit up with a happiness I hadn’t seen earlier. It was so much more than the
~~~~Well, it was foolish of me to run to the car when I knew the driver wouldn’t move without his master’s presence.I sat there, quietly, trying to ease the discomfort I felt. It was as if his hands were still lingering on my lips, and I couldn't shake the feeling.Soon, he came out of the restaurant, chatting with the manager, exchanging goodbyes. I watched him stride toward the car. Ah, he was beautiful, and undeniably tempting, I had to admit.How I wished we had met under normal circumstances. But then again, someone like him—so far out of reach—would never be able to like someone standing on a different level.“Sorry for the wait,” he apologized as he slid into the car.“It’s alright,” I responded, not meeting his gaze.The ride home was silent. Neither of us spoke.Finally, the driver pulled over at a beachside filling station to fuel the car. I pretended to be asleep, trying to avoid any confrontation, until Eric spoke.“Hey,” he said softly, his voice breaking the
~~~~I stared at him, my mouth hung open in disbelief. Was he serious? Did he have any idea what he was asking me to do? My eyes darted around, realizing that the whole surrounding area had gone completely quiet. Everyone was watching us—waiting for something to happen. I glanced back at Eric, and it hit me: he wasn’t joking. This was happening.My heart was pounding in my chest, so loudly I was sure he could hear it. I needed to act, to play my part. I straightened up and smiled, trying to mask the panic rising in me. "Quit joking," I said, keeping my voice light, pretending I wasn’t completely freaking out inside."Oh, but I wasn’t," he replied, a grin spreading across his face as he bared his teeth."Come on, kiss him!" A voice rang out from the crowd."Yeah, don’t be shy!" another chimed in. The comments kept coming, each one more outrageous than the last.Jesus, how do I get out of this? Am I seriously about to lose my virgin lips because of this rude…? I shook my head, f
~~~~I stood frozen, still unable to fully process what had just happened. A staff member had humiliated me—me, in front of other customers. The absurdity of it stung. I’d worked in various establishments, and never once had I insulted or disrespected a customer, no matter the situation. So why would a staff member think it was acceptable to treat me this way?Just as I was caught in thought, I saw her walking back toward me with that same smug grin. "Well, if you're done brooding and acting like the store mannequin, do you mind moving aside?” she sneered, brushing past me. “You're blocking the pathway."I felt my patience snap. “What?” I asked, feeling the anger bubbling within me.“You heard me… move… you’re…” before she could finish, my fist connected with her face. She stumbled back, eyes wide with shock, then crumpled to the floor, her hands covering her face as tears welled in her eyes.I looked down at her, letting my voice drop to a cold, unforgiving
~~~~Eric sighed with pleasure as he rolled off Diana’s warm, bare skin. She was the only woman who could ever satisfy him, he reminded himself. They’d made love—on the desk, the bathroom, and now the bed. He had built a separate suite inside his library, hidden from anyone but Diana, and he’d been a fool, he thought, to ever confuse pity for love.Yes, he loved Diana. He always would. With Mary, his heart had only softened briefly, a momentary weakness when she’d shared her family struggles. But that was nothing more than pity, he concluded.He turned to Diana, his fingers grazing her skin. “Hey.”She sighed contentedly. “Hmm?” she murmured, still catching her breath.For some reason, his desire sparked again and he was hard. “Let’s go one more time,” he said, sliding his hand over her.She chuckled through a moan. “You’re crazy—I can’t.”“You need to work on that stammer,” he teased, positioning himself between her legs again.“Or maybe…you’re just an animal,” she smiled,
~~~Eric was restless, pacing in his library, feeling a whirl of emotions that he couldn’t quite sort out.Ever since discovering Mary’s true personality, he’d been battling mixed feelings. She wasn’t just the stubborn, rebellious figure he’d written off as money-hungry. Somehow, understanding the depth beneath her rebelliousness had changed things.Before, her every move had seemed calculated, aimed at showing off. Now, though, he couldn’t ignore the way his heart softened each time she spoke, her words striking chords he hadn’t felt in years.And the moment she proposed, they became business partners? It had left him in an unexpectedly pleasant mood, a rare thing these days. Then, hearing that she had taken it upon herself to prepare their food? His heart nearly leaped out of his chest.It was baffled. He’d even raised his voice at Diana—the woman he thought was the love of his life.He
~~~~Eric stood close to Diana, but she wasn’t moving. “Diana?” he called out to her.She turned to him, glaring with anger. “You should’ve told me you were going out. Then I wouldn’t have to see... unpleasant things,” she blurted out.Eric moved to take a seat. “What do you mean? I didn’t go far,” he said, settling down. “Take a seat; let’s eat. You must be hungry,” he added.Diana glanced at the so-called fake wife, thinking to herself, Not going to happen. “Let’s go eat outside. I don’t feel like eating home food,” she suggested.Sighing, Eric responded, “I’m already seated. I can’t just leave. Come sit by my side, and we’ll go out later,” he said, patting the seat next to him.Still glaring, Diana reluctantly sat beside Eric. Meanwhile, Mary simply continued eating, not looking at or paying attentio
~~~~Everything was set when Mrs. Lola and the other maids entered the kitchen. All the ingredients, even some unfamiliar ones, were neatly organized. The chicken was diced perfectly.I was preparing more ingredients when I noticed Mrs. Lola. “Oh, Mrs. Lola, you’re here? Thank God.” I walked up to her. “Please, I need you and the maids to help dice the remaining chicken, carrots, garlic, tomatoes, cabbage, and spices. Do you think you can manage that?”They stared at me, their faces full of surprise. I didn’t need to guess what they were thinking.Clearing her throat, Mrs. Lola replied, “Ugh… Sure, madam.” She quickly turned to the maids. “You heard her. Get to work.”“Yes, Mrs. Lola,” they said in unison, moving to start.I couldn’t help but smile. I understood their shock. It wasn’t every day you saw the wife of a multibillionaire preparing food and chopping vegetables.But the truth was, I wasn’t the wife of a wealthy man, nor did I come from a rich family. I learned to cook as a t