The gathering

My heart races as I stare at those three names.

Mr. Grayson watches me, his eyes sharp and calculating. "You have to choose now," he says flatly. "We don't have all the time in the world."

I take a deep breath. How do you pick a husband you've never met? I look down at the brief descriptions next to each name:

Liam Grayson: 28. CEO of Grayson Tech. Eldest triplet.

Lucas Grayson: 28. International Business Development. Second triplet.

Logan Grayson: 28. Head of Grayson Investments. Youngest triplet.

My finger hovers between the names.

Liam Grayson. Something about his name feels solid. Reliable.

"I choose Liam," I hear myself say, my voice small in this massive room.

Mr. Grayson's eyebrow rises slightly. "Interesting choice," he says, pulling out another document. "Sign here."

My hand shakes as I take the pen. One signature to completely change my life.

Mr. Grayson makes a quick call. "Maria, prepare for our new family member."

A woman in her fifties arrives shortly after, her crisp uniform suggesting years of service. Maria approaches with a warm but controlled smile.

"Ms. Thompson," she says, "I'll escort you to your new residence."

I look at Mr. Grayson, confusion written all over my face. "I'm... starting immediately?"

"Arrangements have been made. You'll live with the family from this moment forward."

The car ride is quiet. We arrive at a massive estate that looks more like a palace than a home. Maria guides me through elegant hallways to a bedroom that's bigger than my entire previous apartment. Soft gray walls, a king-sized bed, walk-in closet, and large windows overlooking a manicured garden.

After Maria leaves, I sink onto the bed, my mind spinning.

"I'm married," I whisper to myself. "How did this happen? Just this morning I was about to be homeless, and now..."

My phone catches my eye. Sarah. I haven't told her anything.

I grab the phone, my fingers hovering over her contact. What would I even say? 'Hey, I just married a stranger and now I'm living in a mansion'?

My fingers trembled as I dialed Sarah's number. She picked up on the first ring.

"Ashley! How did the job interview go?" Her voice was full of excitement.

I took a deep breath. "Sarah, you might want to sit down for this. It wasn't exactly a job offer..."

"What do you mean?"

"I... I just got married. To Liam Grayson."

The silence that followed felt like forever. Then Sarah screamed so loud I had to hold the phone away from my ear.

"YOU WHAT? THE LIAM GRAYSON? Ashley Thompson, explain everything right now!"

I tell her everything – the contract, the choice, the sudden move. Sarah listens, gasping throughout.

"I'm coming to see you as soon as I get back," she declares. "This is insane. But also... kind of amazing? You're not homeless anymore, you're a Grayson!"

Just as I hung up with Sarah, there was a knock at my door. Maria entered, carrying several garment bags.

"Ms. Thompson, there's going to be a family gathering in two hours," she said, laying the bags on my bed. "The entire Grayson family will be there, including your husband."

My stomach did a flip. My husband. Those words felt so strange.

She zipped the bag revealing a beautiful deep blue silk dress, along with shoes and jewelry that cost more than my old apartment's rent.

"Mr. Grayson had these brought for you," she explains. "I'll help you get ready. We want you to make a good impression."

As Maria helped me into the dress, I caught my reflection in the full-length mirror. I hardly recognized myself. The dress fit perfectly, making me look elegant and sophisticated – nothing like the desperate girl who'd been crying over an eviction notice this morning.

"The Graysons are... particular about appearances," Maria said carefully as she styled my hair. "But don't let them intimidate you. Just be yourself."

"Will..." I hesitated, "Will Liam be there?"

Maria nodded, pinning up another strand of my hair. "All three brothers will be present, along with their father and several other family members. It's tradition to welcome new additions to the family."

My heart was racing. In a few hours, I would meet the man I had married. The man whose name I had chosen from a piece of paper.

“What's he like?" I ask. "Liam, I mean."

Maria's hands pause. "Mr. Liam is... dedicated. Focused. He works hard and expects the same from others. But you'll see for yourself soon enough."

As she finished my makeup, I stared at my reflection again before turning to her.

"It's time," Maria said softly, adjusting my dress one last time. "Remember to hold your head high. You're a Grayson now."

The doors open, and all eyes turn to me.

The ballroom was filled with people in expensive clothes, all staring at me. That was when I saw them – the Grayson triplets.

They stood together near a grand fireplace. Three identical faces, yet completely different. Mr. Grayson Sr. appears at my side. "Allow me to introduce you."

"My sons, meet your new sister-in-law, Ashley."

Logan, the one with the brightest smile, immediately stepped forward. "Welcome to the family!" he said warmly, giving me a quick hug that caught me off guard. "I have to say, you're braver than most – marrying into this crazy family without even meeting us first!"

Lucas moves next, taking my hand with surprising gentleness. He brings it to his lips.

“ Enchanted," he said with a charming smile. "Though I must admit, I'm a bit disappointed you didn't choose me."

And then there's Liam. My husband. While his brothers were warm and welcoming, he remained distant. When he finally moved forward, it was with rigid formality. He extended his hand for a brief, businesslike handshake.

"Welcome," he says simply, his voice a bit distant.

Before I could respond to him, a woman's voice cut through the awkward moment. "Oh, how interesting! The new Mrs. Grayson!"

"I'm Regina Grayson, the boys' aunt. Tell me, dear, how does it feel to hit the jackpot? From nearly homeless to a Grayson overnight!"

I felt my face burn. How did she know about that?

Logan quickly stepped in. "Aunt Regina, please. Not tonight."

"Of course," Regina laughs dismissively. "We're all curious about the girl who managed to become a Grayson!"

Just as she was about to speak, Liam stepped forward gently placing his hands around my waist. “ if you will excuse me, I will like to speak to her. “

He guided me to a quiet area, turned to face me, his expression unreadable.

"Thank you," he said, "For accepting this arrangement and choosing me."

I nodded, unsure what to say.

"There's something important we need to discuss," he continued, his eyes fixed on mine. "This arrangement must remain completely confidential. No outsiders can know about the true nature of our marriage."

My thoughts immediately went to Sarah. "But—"

"Furthermore," he cut me off, "during the period of this contract, you won't be seeing anyone close to you. No friends, no former connections."

"What? That wasn't in the contract. I already told my best friend Sarah—"

The sharp look he gave me made the words die in my throat. "That was your first mistake. But nevertheless please no one else should know again.

Without waiting for my response, he straightened his tie. " Thank you once again for your cooperation, I need to return to our guests."

The tears I'd been holding back spill over as he walked away. What had I gotten myself into?

I didn’t hear anyone approach until I felt a hand around my shoulders.

"Hey now," Logan says softly, "you shouldn't cry and ruin that beautiful face."

I tried to wipe away the tears, but they kept coming.

"Why did you agree to this if you weren't strong enough to handle it?" He asked, His voice gentle. "The Grayson world isn't for the faint of heart."

I couldn't answer through my tears. Everything I'd thought I was gaining suddenly felt like a prison.

“ It’s alright you will be fine.” I came here to fetch you, someone is here to see you.