CHAPTER 4

Emily's mind buzzed from the lingering effects of the alcohol, and drowsiness began to set in. She swayed slightly, trying to process the shocking proposal.

Lucas's words echoed in her mind: "Marry me...fake marriage contract...one year...terms and rules..." It all seemed surreal.

She looked down at the card in her hand, her vision blurring. Lucas Cole's name and contact information stared back at her, a harsh reminder of the bizarre offer.

As she stood there, the room began to spin, and her eyelids grew heavy. The softness of the bed beckoned, and she stumbled towards it, collapsing onto the mattress.

The last thing she remembered was Lucas's piercing gaze and the sound of the door closing behind him, leaving her with a decision that could change her life forever.

About an hour later, Emily's phone rang, piercing the silence and jolting her awake. 

She scanned the room, finally spotting her phone on a dressing table. But before she could reach it, the ringing stopped.

She picked up the phone and saw Kayla's name on the caller ID, along with several missed calls and messages. As she opened them, she felt a pang of guilt. 

Kayla's messages were filled with worry and concern, asking where Emily was, if she was safe, and if she had gone through with the offer.

Emily could almost hear Kayla's voice in her head as she read the messages. She also asked about the $300,000 and who had delivered the message from his boss, saying Emily was safe and that she Kayla could go home.

Emily felt a slight ache in her head as she massaged her temples. She wasn't ready to face Kayla yet, so she decided to visit her mom at the city hospital instead. She hadn't been there since starting work at Nexus, and the guilt was eating away at her.

With a newfound sense of purpose, Emily picked up her belongings and headed out, hoping to find some solace in her mom's presence and escape the turmoil of her own thoughts.

Emily checked her phone and saw it was past 1 pm. Luckily, it was her day off. She hailed a taxi and headed to the city hospital, her mind preoccupied with thoughts of her mother.

Upon arrival, she rushed to her mother's ward, only to be met with devastating news.

Her mother was in the emergency room, and her condition was rapidly deteriorating. The doctor requested Emily's presence, and she was greeted with pity, worry, and helplessness in his eyes.

"Emily, we're running out of time," he said, his voice laced with urgency.

Tears welled up in Emily's eyes as she pleaded, "Doctor, can't you treat her? I'll come up with the money soon, I promise."

Doctor Maxwell shook his head, his expression unyielding. "I'm sorry, Emily. It's against hospital policy. You must find a way, and fast."

Emily left the doctor's office feeling defeated, her mind racing with thoughts of so much desperation. She reached into her pocket and grasped the card Lucas Cole had given her, wondering if she should seek him out.

At that point, she didn't even care about herself or her happiness. She just wanted to save her mother knowing she was all she had left.

With a newfound sense of determination, she boarded another taxi. "Colecrest Company, please," she whispered to the driver, lost in her thoughts.

The memory of Lucas's words echoed in her mind: "Don't keep me waiting." She felt a sense of trepidation but knew she had no other choice.

As Emily stepped out of the taxi, she gazed up at the Colecrest Company's headquarters in awe. The building towered above her, a sleek and modern marvel of architecture that seemed to touch the sky. 

The exterior walls were made of gleaming silver glass, reflecting the sunlight like a thousand tiny mirrors. The entrance was a grandiose affair, with towering pillars and a sweeping archway that seemed to whisper "opulence" to all who dared to enter.

The building's facade was adorned with intricate carvings of silver and gold, depicting scenes of prosperity and success. The Colecrest logo - a stylized letter "C" made up of tiny, interconnected circles - gleamed like a beacon above the entrance, as if proclaiming to the world that this was a place where dreams came to fruition.

As Emily stepped inside, a sudden sense of fear and trepidation washed over her, considering the life-changing decision she was about to make - a fake marriage contract? A small voice whispered in her ear. She looked around, still in awe, before approaching the reception desk.

The receptionist's gaze was unsettling, but Emily tried to brush off the feeling. "I'm here to see Mr. Lucas Cole," she said slowly.

"Who are you?" the receptionist asked, her tone laced with hidden anger and indifference.

Emily was taken aback, unsure how to respond. She wasn't about to reveal the true nature of her visit - the fake marriage contract.

Just as she stood there, unsure of what to do, a voice called out to her. "Ms. Emily?"

Turning towards the voice, she saw Leo, the man Lucas had left her with earlier. She breathed a sigh of relief, surprised by her reaction.

Leo approached her and asked, "Are you here to see my boss, the CEO?"

Emily's eyes widened in shock. Is he the CEO of this grand company? she thought, but maintained her composure. "Yes, I am," she replied.

As she followed Leo past the receptionist, she caught snippets of their hushed conversation. "Who's she, anyway? Another one of the endless women trying to seduce the CEO? Who does she think she is?"

Emily chose to ignore their gossip and followed Leo to a private elevator. "It's the CEO's private elevator," Leo explained. "It'll take us directly to his office."

The glass elevator offered a stunning view of the city, and Emily took a moment to marvel at its beauty, temporarily pushing her turbulent thoughts.

Leo knocked on the door, and they both heard Lucas's cold tone from the other side. "Come in."

Emily stepped inside, and Leo shut the door behind her. She found herself in a spacious, dimly lit office with a color scheme that seemed to reflect Lucas's personality - predominantly black and grey, with accents of dark wood and metallic silver. The walls were painted a deep, rich grey, and the floor was made of polished black marble that seemed to absorb the light.

Lucas sat behind his massive, minimalist desk, his back to her, Emily couldn't help but notice his hair which looked dark, almost black and perfectly styled, not a single strand out of place. The desk was made of black glass, with a subtle sheen that caught the faint light filtering through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

 The windows themselves were tinted a dark grey, casting a somber mood over the room.

As Emily stood there, she noticed the lack of personal touches or decorations in the office. No family photos, no artwork, no plants. Just a few, carefully selected pieces of modern sculpture that seemed to echo the cold, angular lines of the room.

Lucas's chair was a sleek, black leather, with a subtle recline that suggested he spent a lot of time sitting there, surveying his kingdom maybe. The chair seemed to be molded to his body as if it had been custom-made for him.

When Emily finally spoke up, saying "Uhmm, sir?" to get his attention, Lucas slowly swiveled his chair around, his movements economical and precise.

 His eyes narrowed slightly as he took her in, his gaze piercing and intense.

Despite the cold, reserved atmosphere of the office, there was something about Lucas's demeanor that suggested a laid-back, almost lazy confidence.

Lucas got up and walked towards her, a triumphant smile on his face or had she misread his expression she thought. "I see you've made a decision," he said.

Emily swallowed hard before responding, "I'll sign the contract, I'll marry you. But please, my mom's condition has deteriorated badly, and she needs the surgery as soon as possible." Her voice cracked, and a tear escaped her eyes.

Lucas frowned, seemingly annoyed with himself for feeling a pang of discomfort at seeing Emily cry. He picked up his phone and dialed Leo's number. "My office, now!" The call disconnected.

A few minutes later, Leo walked in with the contract, surprising Emily. She eyed the papers in Leo's hand as she stole a glance at Lucas, wondering why he seemed so confident she'd accept his offer.

Seconds later, she found herself signing a paper that would change her life - for better or worse? She'd find out soon.

"Leo?" Lucas called out.

"Yes, boss?" Leo responded.

"Transfer her mom to a private hospital and pay all the necessary bills. The surgery should take place immediately," Lucas ordered.

Leo nodded and walked out to perform the task.

Emily left alongside Leo, eager for her mom to receive treatment. As for Lucas and the contract, she'd think about it later.

Over two hours passed with Emily pacing back and forth outside the emergency room, scared and muttering silent prayers for the surgery to be a success, she wouldn’t be able to handle losing the only relative she had. She sat on the floor beside the door, her mind filled with thoughts.

"Had she taken the right decision by signing a marriage contract with a stranger? Would her mother's surgery go well after she had put her life's happiness on the line?"