Chapter 3

Scarlett's POV

"You can't be serious." My jaw dropped at the new contract laid out in front of me. "This wasn't what we discussed last time."

He shrugged. "You shouldn't have disagreed with me."

I eyed him warily, waiting for an explanation.

He sighed, leaning in closer. "I just learned my family wouldn't accept a kid out of wedlock and I need one to get my inheritance. Something about proving how responsible I am." His voice was low, in a whisper.

I snorted. He wasn't responsible and every tabloid out there would prove that.

"Why are you whispering? We are in your office. It's not like anyone can hear us."

He leaned back, giving off that powerful aura he always had. "The walls have ears." He stared me dead in the eyes, uttering his next words with a deadly threat in them. "No one can know about this, I don't care how close they are to you and I believe your parents wouldn't utter a word."

I gave a fake laugh. "I'm not agreeing to this. This is insane." I pushed the contract away from me, leaning back arrogantly.

He punched the bridge of his nose. "Why do you have to be so stubborn? How about a new pay? Name your price. A million dollars?"

I could hear my heart beating in my ears and I wondered if he did too. A million dollars would go a long way. I wouldn't have to worry about my bills for a while and could focus on studying.

"This project must mean a lot if you are offering that much," I stated astutely.

"Like I said, my inheritance depends on this. I need this ship sailing as quickly and smoothly as possible."

I leaned back and took a long look at him. He was desperate and couldn't possibly go around asking random women to be his surrogate and contract wife. I had the upper hand here and I'd be stupid not to take advantage of it.

"Add another six hundred and you got a deal," I said nonchalantly. He couldn't possibly refuse.

With a smirk, he nodded. "Done. I like you already. You are ambitious and greedy."

I shrugged, not bothered by his words. "It comes with the package."

He pushed the paper back to me, his eyes daring me. "Sign here and it's a done deal."

My finger moved swiftly and in seconds my signature was boldly on the paper.

"It's going to be a pleasure working business with you, Mr. Vilarez." I held a hand out to him for a shake.

He stared at him for a moment before taking it. "Likewise soon-to-be Mrs. Vilarez."

I don't know why but I shuttered at his words. They sent a nice shiver down my spine.

We sat in a comfortable silence till I broke it.

"Now what?"

He glanced at me, taking the contract and placing it in a drawer. "Now, we have dinner."

"What?"

"To get to know each other. We can't fool everyone if we don't know a thing about ourselves." He explained.

"I see. Well, I hate vegetables and I'm allergies seafood with-

He cut me off. "Let's do this over dinner."

***

*

"This is nice. It has a nice ambiance," I looked around the place, cutlery clashing on plates and a piece of soothing music filled the air. Like I said, it was nice.

He cocked his head in question. "You don't do this much, do you?" He beckoned to a waiter around the corner. "You don't go on dates. You don't look like you have suitors."

I glared. "Go ahead, insult me."

"I can. I'm paying a million dollars. I can do whatever I want." He poured wine into a glass, the scene earning a click when the bottle touched the glass. "Guys don't really go for skinny girls."

I feign shock, "Really? Yet here you are with me." With a smug look, I place the glass on my lips.

"I didn't have a choice. Every other lady I know either has a loud mouth or wants a piece of this," he motioned to himself like he was God's gift to women. "It was either you or nothing." He whispered under his breath but I caught it.

I cleared the lump in my throat. Wanting to get the sham of a dinner out of the way, I opened my mouth. "Tell me about yourself."

He raised a brow in question.

Quickly, I cleared the air of any confusion. Motioning between us, "That's why we are here right, to get to know each other." Like I would want to get to know him.

"Right."

"That's not necessary. How did we meet?" He asked, ready for the forgery

to begin.

"Exactly how we did. I came by the office and we bumped into each other. It was love at first sight."

I must have said something ridiculous because he snorted. He actually snorted.

Just as I was about to get a piece of my mind, the waiter was by our side.

"What would you like to order, Mr Vilarez?" He asked politely, his hands going behind him.

I raised a brow. "You come here a lot? You just do if they know your name." It was my turn to cock my head in a condescending manner. "You bring a lot of women here?"

The waiter sensing he had caused trouble tried to say something but Aiden shushed him. Aiden, I never realized how lovely his name was.

"I hold a lot of business meetings here. My clients love a good meal. Might I say it clouds their judgment and gives me the advantage."

"So you trick them with food."

"They are busy and rich. So busy they forget to eat. I'm just nice enough to consider their stomachs." He looked down at the menu, ordering a steak, medium rare.

"What would you like?" He questioned

I looked down at the menu. The prices almost had me choking on saliva. So much money on a meal. Quickly, I try ordering the cheapest on the menu.

"I'll have pas-

Aiden cut me off. " She'll have the same as me." He took the menu from me, giving them back to the waiter.