Chapter 1

*Venus POV*

“I am ready if the offer is still available,” I said into the phone the moment he picked the call. It was a difficult decision for me, but I had no choice.

“I knew you would call me back, you cannot resist my charms you little thing”

I could hear the mockery in his voice, I needed no soothsayer to know he had a big smirk on his face as he spoke. Who does he think he is?

“I am doing this for the money, not you. You are just a lucky bastard born into wealth, you have no right to gloat.” I responded, stressing every word to pass my message.

He chuckled and replied, “The fact remains that you are a nobody, and that is why I chose you. I only need you to prove a point, and once I am done, I'll discard you. You should be grateful for this opportunity and not be rude to your benefactor.”

I sucked in my breath, trying not to be angry. I needed the money and resident permit, his disgusting attitude wouldn't stop me from getting what I wanted.

“Mr Earl White, when shall we meet to sign the deal and get done with the wedding?”

There was silence and I wondered if he had changed his mind. No, not now. He was my last hope to get out of this situation. I was ready to take in my pride and beg.

I checked the phone screen and realized he was still on.

“Hello Mr White, are you there?” I asked tentatively, pressing the phone to my ear.

“Meet me up at the Horizon Hall tomorrow by 10 a.m, we'll sign the deal and get married there. Do not keep me waiting, else the deal is off.”

There was silence again, this time he had ended the call without waiting to hear if I was okay with the time and date.

“Asshole” I murmured as I dipped my phone into my pocket, thinking about what I was getting myself into.

My life had been going fine, at least to an extent until I was fired from my job a month ago.

Getting a job was a hard task for an immigrant without papers, the only job I could get was at a rowdy club filled with men who only wanted to touch my body and make me warm their bed.

The manager had warned me never to talk down on the customers, but I couldn't control my anger the last time when a pot-bellied man squeezed my breast while I served his drink.

I wasn't thinking when I slapped him and emptied his drink on him, and that was the end of my job.

I was back on the street without a job, and I was running low on cash.

Going back home was out of the option, I had debts to pay, and a sick sibling whose hospital bills never stopped rising to cater for.

I sighed and looked into the sky, and said, “Tomorrow, I'll be married, and all my worries will be gone.”

********

I made it to the hall at exactly 9:30 a.m, it didn't matter if I hated Earl's gut, it was all business and it would be treated as such.

I sat in the lobby, dressed in a cream short gown I got from the thrift store, I had my hair pulled up in a ponytail, and mild makeup adorned my face. I waited till it was 10 a.m.

“I see you can't wait to become Mrs White”

I turned immediately to see Earl three feet away from me. How did he get so close without me noticing? And why does he look so ravishingly handsome?

“Okay, I know I'm good-looking, but do you have to drool publicly?”

I blinked, hating myself for even admiring a mannerless man.

“You give yourself so much credit, Mr White, I was only surprised to see you all dressed in an expensive tuxedo to a contract marriage”, I snarled, hoping that would wipe off the sarcastic smile on his face.

Instead, he chuckled and sat beside me, he had his driver by his side.

“You know, not everyone is poor. I don't do thrifts” he replied, patting my shoulder.

I was speechless. Would I be able to live with this man for two years? He was too saucy for a man and it irks me.

He brought out a file and pen from his suitcase and placed it on my lap.

“Here is the contract, go through it and sign it. I already booked a slot for us with the registrar and he is waiting for us.”

I opened the file and read through the two-page document.

I read out the seven rules. “You must not be involved with any man till the end of the contract. No one must know it's a contract marriage. There will be no intimacy between us. You will not meddle in my personal affairs. You must be ready to follow me whenever I ask you to. There will be no divorce until the end of the 2-year contract. You will receive 2 million dollars after the marriage certificate has been issued, 3 million dollars after a year, and receive the balance of 5 million dollars at the end of our contract.”

“Is that all?” I asked, staring into his ocean-blue eyes.

He smiled and nodded, “That is all my lady. Now sign it I don't have all day.”

I rolled my eyes and picked the pen to sign. The rules were easy, I was only 22 years old and still a virgin, staying away from men for two years would be nothing, and I did not want to be in his business either.

I handed over the file to him and we went in to finalize the marriage.

*********

We stood before the registrar and listened to the rules and regulations attached to being married.

Tears stung my eyes as memories of how I had dreamt of being married came flooding. I believe in love, I wanted to get married to the man who loves and respects me, not like this.

Not to a rude rich stranger whom I only met three days ago at the park after a fruitless job search.

I had been sitting alone that evening, thinking of what else to do when he walked up to me and sat beside me in the almost empty park.

I remember his words, “I can tell you are broke and you need help, and I need a wife to secure a spot at my company. How about we reach an agreement? I pay you 10 million dollars, and you marry me for two years? You are not my type of woman, and that is why I choose to do this with you.”

He had said those words with a condescending look, and I told him to go to hell with his money. But he laughed and dropped his card for me to call him when I was ready, and here we are.

Earl had taken his vows, and it was my turn.

“Do you Venus Lawrence, take Earl White to be your lawfully wedded husband, to love, to cherish, until death do you apart?”

I stared at Earl and wondered if I wanted to do this, I knew I still had time to change my mind. He had a look of certainty in his eyes, he was so sure I would go ahead with it.

I shut my eyes briefly, I don't want to live in misery because of money.