TBG - Chapter 5: Sealed Deal

Nadia sat at the small, worn-out desk in her apartment, her eyes scanning the contract she held in her hands. The light from the single lamp on the table flickered, casting shadows across the room. Her fingers trembled as she turned the pages, each line more overwhelming than the last.

200,000 US dollars a month.

She blinked, trying to process the number in front of her. The amount felt surreal, almost like a dream. 200,000 USD. Every month. It was more than she could ever imagine earning, and it would solve so many of her problems. No more juggling multiple jobs. No more barely making ends meet. Her brother’s medical bills—taken care of.

She read on, and the contract grew more complex with each line.

"All medical expenses for Chris, including hospital bills and future treatments, will be covered separately by Theodore Thatcher."

That was already more than she could have ever hoped for. The thought of Chris being able to get the treatment he needed, without the looming threat of debt hanging over them, made her heart swell with gratitude.

The next clause stopped her in her tracks.

"Both parties will reside together in one of Theodore Thatcher's properties during the length of the contract."

The idea of living in one of Theodore’s luxurious houses was strange—so far removed from the life she had known. But, as absurd as it seemed, it was an escape from the grind, from the daily struggle.

She continued reading, her breath catching in her throat as she got to the next section.

"Neither party shall engage in any romantic or intimate relationships with anyone outside of this contract during its duration. Any breach of this clause will result in immediate termination of the agreement, and the responsible party will be required to repay the total amount given during the contract period, amounting to $1,000,000,000."

The words hit her like a punch to the gut. 1 Billion. If she broke the terms of this agreement, if she did anything to jeopardize the arrangement, she would owe him that amount. A number that seemed impossible, unachievable. She had nothing to her name, and the thought of such a crushing debt was paralyzing.

But, Nadia reasoned, it was the only way. This was her only chance to secure a better life for Chris, to give him the care he deserved without worrying about how they would pay for it.

She quickly skimmed the next section.

"The wedding will take place one month from the signing of this contract."

One month. One month to prepare for a wedding that wasn’t hers. A marriage of convenience, a lie they would sell to the world. But at least it would give her the freedom she needed.

Then, the final detail:

"In three days, Theodore Thatcher will introduce you as his fiancée to his family. Prepare accordingly."

Three days. Just three days to step into a life that wasn’t hers, to become someone else entirely. The thought made her head spin. But she had no choice. For Chris. Always for Chris.

Nadia closed her eyes for a moment, breathing deeply as the weight of the decision settled on her shoulders. She had no real choice in this matter. Theodore’s offer was an escape, a lifeline she couldn’t afford to turn down.

Her pen hovered over the line at the bottom of the page. She hesitated, but only for a moment. What other choice did she have?

With a deep breath, she signed the contract. Her handwriting was messy, hurried, but it was done.

She placed the pen down, staring at the signed contract before her. It was final. There was no going back now.

As she closed the file, her phone buzzed on the table. It was a reminder—Theodore would pick her up at 6 PM tonight. Her heart skipped a beat. In just a few hours, she would step into the life she had agreed to.

She took one last look at the contract, knowing that her life, and Chris’s, would never be the same.

At 6 PM, she would meet Theodore and begin this strange new chapter of her life.

It was 6 PM, and Nadia stood outside the hospital, her mind buzzing with the events of the day. Chris’s chemotherapy session had just ended, and the doctor’s words echoed in her mind. There was hope now, a real chance for Chris to recover. The treatment was working, and with all the medication he needed now in his system, his condition was expected to improve. Nadia smiled faintly, a weight lifting off her shoulders. But despite the good news, she still felt a heavy unease about the path she had chosen.

Theodore was already waiting for her by his sleek, black car. His presence was commanding, as always, and for a brief moment, she hesitated. This was it—the beginning of the life she had agreed to, the life she never expected to enter. It felt like stepping into a world that didn’t belong to her, yet one that promised a better future for Chris. Her stomach twisted with nerves, but she couldn’t turn back now. She had signed the contract. She had no choice but to follow through.

Nadia gathered all of her things from her small apartment and packed them into a few bags. There was no going back. She looked at the empty apartment one last time before closing the door behind her and locking it. She would leave the life she knew behind for a new one with Theodore. The one-month wedding countdown was already ticking in her mind, but tonight, she had to face the reality of it all.

As she entered the car, Theodore’s eyes briefly met hers before he focused on the road ahead. Nadia settled into the plush leather seat, her fingers tapping nervously on her lap.

After a few moments of silence, she finally spoke, her voice tentative. “Hi?” she began, her words coming slower than she intended. “I’ve been thinking about the contract... about everything. And I’d like to add one condition, if that’s possible.”

Theodore’s eyes flickered toward her for a brief second before returning to the road, his expression unreadable. “What is it?”

She took a deep breath, gathering the courage to voice her thoughts. “I understand the terms of the contract—everything you’ve outlined. But I want to be clear about something. You’ve set everything up for us, and I know we’re bound by this agreement. But I need to address the part about the marriage. We’ll be married, yes? But after that, do you understand what that means for me?”

She paused, her hands clutching the edge of the seat as she tried to articulate her concerns. “I know that according to the terms, this is a marriage of convenience, a business arrangement. But what happens after we’re married? The contract doesn’t really address anything beyond the wedding. I don’t want to get pregnant during this arrangement. It wasn’t part of the contract, and it’s not something I want to happen. You see, I need to be clear about this because the idea of being in this situation, married but expected to do more than what was agreed upon, is not something I want to deal with.”

Nadia shifted slightly in her seat, feeling a tight knot form in her stomach. “I’m only agreeing to this because of Chris. This whole marriage, the agreement, it’s all to secure his future. But I don’t want complications. I don’t want to deal with anything that wasn’t part of the terms. I know this might sound unreasonable to you, but I need you to understand where I’m coming from. This is all about Chris’s treatment, not about anything else. So, can we skip the ‘honeymoon’ part? I just want to focus on keeping things simple, keeping things in line with the contract. We have enough to deal with without adding that pressure.”

Her voice wavered, and she quickly turned her gaze out of the window, not wanting Theodore to see the uncertainty in her eyes. She hadn’t expected to feel so vulnerable, but the weight of the situation was starting to settle in.

Theodore slowed the car and eventually brought it to a stop. For a moment, he closed his eyes, as if trying to compose himself. Nadia couldn’t help but notice the subtle tension in his posture, though she couldn’t quite place the reason. It was as if something in her words had struck him, but she couldn’t tell exactly what.

She glanced at him, unsure of what to make of his silence, but before she could ask, she saw the corner of his mouth twitch. His eyes were still shut, but the way his shoulders shook just a little... he was trying to suppress a laugh. Nadia frowned, her heart pounding. Was he laughing at her?

Finally, Theodore opened his eyes, his expression still controlled but now with a trace of amusement lurking behind his cold demeanor. He cleared his throat briefly, but the laughter was still there in his eyes.

"Are you serious?" he said with a short chuckle, his voice colder now, though still carrying the faintest trace of amusement.

Nadia couldn't hold it in anymore. She rolled her eyes dramatically, letting out a long, exasperated sigh. "I’m just trying to keep this as professional as possible, and here you are, treating this like a comedy show."

She shook her head, scoffing quietly. "Unbelievable... I should've known. Only in my luck would I end up in a ridiculous arrangement like this."

Theodore started the car again, pulling smoothly into traffic. The hum of the engine was the only sound for a moment as the city whizzed by outside. Nadia sat back in her seat, her thoughts swirling as she wondered what came next in this strange new chapter of her life.