THE CONTRACT

Drake Holt had just left one of his flings , currently he was having a bad time moving on from his hot celebrity actress Lilian Red who had just broken up with him.He is trying to recover and then his ex Sarah Rosewood just walked out of his office door . He was shocked when he had seen her resume on his table that morning.

" come in." He replied his secretary whose knock helped him escape his thought.

" I just wanted to remind you about your dinner with Miss. Red ."

" Yes , I will leave soon.Tell my driver to get the car ready ."

He had no choice than to honour his ex invitation to a dinner he really wanted to avoid badly , she was still his business partner and he loves her dearly but he just could not have her as a wife and so they had to break up.

Looking at his wristwatch , he knew he better be on his way or he might miss the dinner , he took his phone from the table and hurried out quickly.

" the flower you requested for , sir."

He took the flower from his secretary quickly before he walked away,getting inside the car his mind was forcefully bothered with the fact that Lillian was getting married . And then Sarah had come to his office that day too . It was only fair that he should give her the job but he did not want to .

Getting down from the car he walked into the restaurant, of course there was a large gathering at the table .The friends of the bride and groom to be , he guessed.

" I thought you would not make it ."

Lillian said as she stood up to hug him

" I would not miss such a big occasion,this is for you." He handed her the flower as he released her from the hug sluggishly

" you look gorgeous. " he whispered into her ear .

" thank you Drake ." she replied

" we want to appreciate you all for joining us today....." Lillian husband to be stood up immediately to give a toast while a waitress in a tiny mini skirt and a skimpy vest popped the cork of wine in front of Drake and poured him a glass of champagne, Drake smiled and thanked her before slipping her a fifty pound tip.

" so what have you been up to ." Lillian asked Drake after a long silence . Drake knew what she was up to . He didn't want to mess up in the front of his business associate and of course the celebrities who must have interest in his life not to talk of the paparazzi.

" I am good , been trying to ..."he could not finish before she cut him off quickly.

" no I mean , I read the paper and I saw your new woman." She sips her drink slowly when she noticed all eyes on Drake already.

" actually I was going to announce next week that I am engaged ."

" wow." Lillian exclaimed while the rest of the crowd clapped joyfully

"And who is she Drake ?."

"Let keep this hidden till your wedding day ." Drake managed to smile as he lied again looking at the eyes that seem to stare at him in disbelief .

Looking at the others on the quiet table ,he was confused and so he gulp his glass of wine hungrily before he stood up.One thing was sure ,he will definitely proof to them what he said wasn't a lie.

The thought of this getting out to the paparazzi wasn't a strange thing to him , the news of his bride to be will be everywhere tomorrow and they will do a lot of digging .

And the fact that Lillian shows to ask him a sensitive question like that in this sought of gathering baffled him ,probably he should not have lied about the whole engagement thing and now he has to cover up for his lie .

" Are you okay Drake ."

Lillian asked when she noticed his lack of composure.

" yes I have to leave now if you don't mind; I have a couple of things to do before midnight ."

He stood up quickly , hugged her waved to the others then walked out of the gathering. Getting out he was so mad with himself for letting Lillian get to him . Of course he was angry about her getting married just after a month of their breakup ,but what is more annoying is her trying to make him feel bad about his situation.

Lillian knew quite well he wanted just the intimacy when they were in a relationship until she started asking for more than he could not give , likewise Sarah and his relationship with other woman .

They always wanted more.

More.

More .

He was not in a good mood and so his chatty driver drove in silence , Drake wasn't sure but he made sure he gave them no marriage impression . He just never wanted marriage and he usually made it clear till they all start wanting more .

He walked into his highly technology mansion unbothered not to notice the increased number of security men everywhere till he got to the elevator leading to his room.He was agitated that Lillian got him so easy after she broke off what they had . He had beefed her till today to accept him back which she bluntly refused , it wasn’t often he had ever been told no in his lifetime. He had spent the majority of his life being surrounded by people who were there only to serve him and do as he wanted.And so he was infuriated.

" what's going on here ."

He looked around to see if Ashroff , his head of security was around but he wasn't. Angrily he got into the elevator while dialing Ashroff's number.

More than marriage the other thing he hated was the lifestyle of people watching him.They felt like the paparazzi to him and he had bluntly rejected their aid over the years .Meanwhile his grandmother insisted.

Just as he was about to step into the living room before his room ,Ashroff came in politely with a bow .

" why is there so many guards out there? I thought I made myself clear I didn't want any of this."

" your grand mum came by today, she insisted there wasn't enough of the guards ."

" okay , I need a glass of wine and something light ."

Guessing the situation he shoved Ashroff of as he walked to his room .He knew how his grand mother could have gone to achieve her aim.

A minutes later after he had returned to the sitting room, two different kitchen staffs he had never seen before came in with trays .He knew what this was about and he wasn't in anyway surprised but short of words.

" just bring me a glass of water ."

His grand mother is definitely responsible .Furstrated about everything, he lost his appetite .Today wasn't such a good day for him and then his grandmother decided to make things worst .

Now he has to start putting up with the new staffs she put in place all over his house . He wasn't enjoying it at all and he remember speaking to her several times but she would not listen .

And to make matters worst she chose the best of ladies to be in the kitchen, she must have known he had problem taking his eyes off women . And then his mind went to Sarah , she is the reason he stopped looking at the house helps or kitchen staffs .

She happened to be the first and only maid he actually had an affair with . He didn't want to remember the past and so he didn't think about it so deeply. All his grandmother wants his a grandchild. And the fact that she wants it badly baffles him . The fact that she doesn't care if he impregnates a maid or anyone .

He sips the water brought before him quietly before he stretch into the sofa properly .He loved his grandmother but she was doing too much . She is the only one he had since his father and his new girlfriend died in a car crash on a rainy day when he was just recovering from a terrible illness.He loves her but she just pushes him to far and it frustrates him.

He curled up on his sofa with a cup of tea and stared out of the window. It was a cold day for spring and the sky was grey. Slowly the heavens opened and tiny raindrops scattered the windowpane. He always loved being inside when it was raining,especially after his parents incident and so therefore he never rode a car on a rainny day . He felt cosy and safe. He leaned forward and pulled his mobile from the coffee table. He had a text from his grandmother wishing him a good night rest , and he smiled.He just could not stay mad at her . She was the only person he had left , the only person that stood by him . He couldn’t believe she always comes around so quickly, the fact that she messages him on rainy days .

" I saw what you did . Sleep tight ."

He replied , just immediately the names of the qualified people for the job popped up and fortunately his secretary had shortlisted Sarah .He was just left to pick a certain person he wanted so his secretary can invite the person over.

He decided to email Sarah immediately without thinking, typing very fast , he wrote the email and read it over again to be sure he didn't seem to have let his ego down.

"I just wanted to inform you "

He erased it all again then wrote;

"Resume tomorrow morning."

He tried to erase it again, but unfortunately his hand sent the message . He almost threw his phone away when he realised the mess he had just created .The fact that his secretary was suppose to send the message instead and also the fact that Sarah will think there was more to it . Sarah is smart and he wasn't ready for anything she thinks . He scratched his head angrily before he laid back on the sofa angrily.

The thought that he wasn't even sure if she deserved the job more than the rest of the nominated list .He liked to take his job serious than anything in the world . His job mattered more to him than anything too .

Sarah wasn't the type to give up.And now she might just be his shot for a fake engagement.The thought of using her to get back at Lillian too.Picking up his phone he called his lawyer immediately as there was no time to waste.

up from bed as the message tone rung .Throughout that evening she had been disturbed and praying within herself for a miracle, She prayed silently wishing it was a possible response from one of the companies she had applied in.Still baffled whether to read it or not she decided to do the cross sign on her forehead before she opened it and what she saw almost made her scream out loud that night.

Drake Holt had just texted her even after what she did to him at the office , she did not know whether to be happy or sad as she did not know what he was up to .Drake was the first and only man she ever had in her life and working for him wasn't the best option right now .

But she certainly didn't mind but will risk it . She had thought about it like over a hundred time and yet she could not let this opportunity go by . She will do her best to avoid any form of intimacy,as that was her worst fear . And most of all avoid unnecessary conversation or drama between them.

This job determines a lot to her and her family. And so therefore she will keep her personal feelings out of the way.Looking at the message again she finally let a quick smile before she jumped back into her bed.

And then the thought of Drake's body earlier that day strucked her mind ."or was it his voice ?" She wondered .

He was sexy , no qualms .He had it all ,and her heart began to beat fast in her chest. He was unbelievably sexy and powerful, she could tell by the way he had so much confidence and the air around him screamed success. She was intimidated and shy and had needed to get the hell out there and away from him. She recollected how she had scurried down the corridor with her head bowed acting all tough and furious.

He had been so repulsive and yet endearing like it was nothing . She hoped it was just the fact that she saw him a long time ago that had made her head so confused and fuzzy. She left the office as fast as she could and hailed a taxi to take her home.

Probably if she didn't find a taxi she might have gone back to his office begging for another chance like she did two years ago.She has since then never felt this hot for someone before.

" focus Sarah , focus ."

She murmured quietly to her self as she rubbed her head with her hands . She should not be doing this . He didn't deserve her and she will never let him win over her anymore.

Her door opened and her sick brother walked in , Ben is eight years old but one will mistake him for a twelve years old boy ." I told you to always knock ."

" I forgot ."

" you always do ."

Sarah hugged him as he sat closer to her , he was all she had left , she didn't have any friend at all . Five years ago after her mother had died , it been only her and Ben and her dad who was currently receiving treatment in the hospital. Ben has athsma and her dad is sick from a kidney disease.

" I thought you slept already. "

" I had a bad dream, can I sleep here tonight?. "

" yes sure ."

Sarah pecked his forehead sweetly before she tucked him in her bed , Ben was a miracle child , he just happened for her parents as they were not expecting babies anymore after several trials . They had given up on trying to make a baby until he came. There was so much joy when he came ,her parents were more than happy. But her mother could see him grow for two years . Tears fell from her eyes when the memories came flooding back.

" why are you not sleeping ."

Ben touched her lightly when he noticed her crying, Sarah wiped the tears in her eyes quickly and adjusted into bed cuddling him closer .

"I will sleep now ."she said as she nugged him closer

The next morning , Sarah dressed Ben up quickly for school , packed his lunch as fast as she could before his school bus arrived.

" please don't forget to use your drugs Ben , they cost a fortune.' She said as she dropped his inhaler into his bag

" it was just once sis."

Truly the school nurse only reported once to Sarah that he didn't come for his drugs but she just wanted to remind him .

" I know right .Your bus is here honey ." she pecked him before he carried his back

" remember no rough play and no running Ben , easy does it ." Sarah said as he walked out of the door .

" okay." he replied slowly

Sarah ran up the stairs to get ready , luckily she still had enough time for herself , she had her bath quickly, threw on a suit down and a flat pair of heel , she will call Mrs Spencer her neighbour to let Ben stay with her after school , just in case she starts working today or get back late .Not so sure about how she was feeling right now .

Anxious and at the same time not sure if that's what it was. Getting to Drake's company she was immediately led into his office . It was obvious he had informed his secretary already . Now she was beginning to feel relieved of her curiosity.

" the boss wants to see you Miss Rosewood and congratulations." the secretary said as she opened the door for her to go in .

" welcome ." he said firmly barely letting her shut the door behind her

" we need to make a deal Sarah." He said immediately walking up to her .

" I have contacted the hospital your dad is at, I just want you to know that I want something very simple in return."

" what are you up to Drake , if you think I am going to be a part of any game you are up to , trust me I am not interested ."

" I am covering for your dad medical bills and all I want you to do is pretend to be my fiancee for a month or two at least ."

" your fiancee?. " she laughed sarcastically as she stood akimbo

" its a simple thing Sarah."

" you think it is easy to get my dad out of that hospital right . You don't know how far I have gone and how much I have tried so just cut this crab."

" I have my ways Sarah ."

His gaze warred with hers for endless seconds, like so many of their battles in the past. It was strange, but this was one of the things she’d missed most about him. He was never one to shy away from an argument and nor was she. She had always secretly enjoyed their verbal skirmishes because most, if not all, of their arguments had ended in bed-wrecking make-up sex. She wondered if he was thinking about that now—how passionate and explosive their sex life had been. Did he miss it as much as she did? Did he ever reach for her in the middle of the night and feel a hollow ache deep inside to find the other side of the bed empty?

No, because his bed was probably never empty.

Sarah was determined not to be the first to look away even though, as every heart-chugging second passed, she could feel her courage failing. His dark brown eyes had a hard glaze of bitterness and two taut lines of grimness bracketed his mouth, as if, these days, he probably only rarely smiled.

The sound of his phone ringing on the desk broke the deadlock and Drake turned to pick it up. ‘'padre?'’ The conversation was brief and in Italian but Sarah didn’t need to be fluent to pick up the gist of it. She could see the host of emotions flickering across Drake’s face and the way the tanned column of his throat moved up and down. He put down the phone and looked at her blankly for a moment as if he’d forgotten she was even there.

‘Is everything all right?’ Sarah took a step towards him before she checked herself.

" your father will be fine and a donor has become available.’ His voice sounded strangely hollow, as if it was coming through a vacuum. '‘I thought there would be more time to prepare. A week or two or something but... The surgery will be carried out within a matter of hours.’' He reached for his car keys on the desk and scooped up his jacket which made some papers fell on the floor , his jacket which was hanging over the back of his office chair, his manner uncharacteristically flustered making Sarah speechless and distracted.

" you just need to sign the papers Sarah so the doctor can commence ."

Drake had never seen Sarah so out of sorts. Nothing ever seemed to faze her. Even when he’d told her he was leaving two years ago, she’d been as emotionless as a robot. It intrigued him to see her feeling something. Was there actually a heart beating inside that impossibly small chest? he bent down to pick up the scattered papers and, tidying them into a neat pile, silently placed them back on his table.

‘I can’t let him down,’' she said in a low mumble, as if talking to herself. ‘Not now. Not like this.’'

‘'Would you like me to go with you?'’ The offer was out before Sarah could stop it. ‘'My flight doesn’t leave for a few hours so I have somtime to spare ."

Her expression snapped out of its distracted mode and got straight back to cold, hard business. ‘If I come with you, I am coming as your fiancée right ? "

"Deal or no deal.’' he asked