Chapter 5: The Contract Marriage

"It is impossible to unsign a contract, so do all your thinking before you sign."

-Warren Buffet-

***

Dion was reading a book when he heard a knock. It was the maid who informed him that it was time for him to have dinner. He nodded and dismissed her.

Since Sofia’s arrival in the place, he found it difficult to concentrate on anything because he kept on thinking about his decision earlier.

It was time for him to meet her again and he needed to be firm about it.

When he entered the dining room, he saw her with the lilac dress he assigned to her and she looked so much better after getting all cleaned and dressed up.

It made her look less like a sad golden retriever and more like the charming angelic beauty that she was.

“You look so much better.” He said as he took a seat right across her.

“Thank you, now I feel somewhat like a human again.” She replied with a small smile on her face The chef entered the room and placed the food on the table.

She was not too familiar with the dish served but there were plenty of meat and Italian looking dishes which made her feel a bit relieved since she was naturally a picky eater.

“If there is anything you dislike, just tell me so you won’t have to eat that dish again in the future.” He told her as he started eating.

Sofia just nodded while she tasted a bit of everything served before her.

All of them actually tasted pretty good and since the ingredients used were somewhat familiar to what she often had, she didn’t have any difficulty adapting to the dishes.

“By the way, tomorrow I will have to go to work, you should just stay at home and recover for a day. Get that wound of yours treated and I will give you our marriage contract in the evening once I am back home.” He told her.

Since she was wearing a shoulder less dress, her wound was exposed for all to see.

At that moment, Dion wondered how could a man stoop so low to shoot his own wife who was pretty much innocent.

He wouldn’t consider himself a good man, but he certainly would never do something so despicable toward a lady.

“What should I do when I am alone?” She asked him since she was not familiar with the property.

“You can go anywhere you want, outside or at home, all rooms in this house is open for you, just try to avoid the basement, it’s full of dust there, you wouldn’t like it.” He told her calmly as he took a bite of his meal.

She nodded in understanding, couldn’t wait to just get everything over with and took her revenge, but she had to be patient. One step at a time.

After dinner was over, she planned to go straight to her room and sleep since it felt like so long since she was able to have a good night sleep.

When she was about to enter her room, Dion suddenly appeared from behind her, startling her.

“What are you doing here?” Sofia asked, a little cautious.

“Your bandage was wet, you have to change it before you go to sleep otherwise it might cause more problem for you later on.” He told her.

“I know, I will change it myself.” She replied, trying to dismiss him since she was already so tired and just wanted to rest.

“You’re going to change it yourself? You’re making me laugh. Physically you can’t. I’ll help you change it.” He stated firmly. It didn’t sound like an offer, it was more like an order.

Sofia thought about it for a moment, wondering if he had any kind of ulterior motive but as if he could read her mind, he followed.

“Don’t worry, I am not a lewd man, I promise you I won’t do anything you don’t want.” He convinced. Sofia was still a bit skeptical but she thought the faster she got it over with, the faster she could go to sleep.

“Okay.” She finally let him in and headed to the bathroom to change into a sleevless night gown while he sat right at the edge of the bed with a bandage and a box of medical kit ready at hand.

Once she stepped out, she sat beside him and let him do his job.

Actually, she was a bit nervous. She had never been this close to any man beside Christian and from upclose, Dion was extremely handsome.

He was like one of those Renaissance male statue sculpted to perfection.

Even though she was trying to keep her calm, she was still a woman who could feel attraction toward a handsome face. Her heartbeat was racing faster but she tried to mask it by keeping a straight face.

The silence between the two of them only made her even more nervous. She felt the urge to break it. As he wrapped the bandage around her, she asked him a question.

“How did you learn to do this?” A lot of people she knew wouldn’t be able to wrap a bandage so beautifully like he did unless they were medically trained.

“I used to do some work for the military in my early twenties. Had a few injured comrade that needed some emergency stitching and this.” He replied casually while still focusing his attention on the bandage.

“And what is it exactly that you do now for a living? Certainly a man like you wouldn’t just live off your family’s inheritance.” Sofia could say that because in some ways, she found him similar to her.

He was also the heir to a large family fortune. Before all of this happened, Sofia was the designer and executive director of De Laurent. In terms of power and status, they were almost equal.

“I am running the family business. Let’s just say everything falls on my shoulder and become my responsibility. The real estate business, the olive farm and another online based business venture I am starting at the moment. It’s been quite busy for me.” He explained.

He kept it rather vague, as if he didn’t want to go to the details but she understood.

“Do you have any siblings?” She asked.

“Yes, I have one biological younger brother, he’s currently in the UK to get his business master degree. He’s ten years younger than me, we often clash but since my parents are no longer alive, I’m the one looking after him now if he ever need help.” He replied.

“You’re a good brother.” She complimented him.

“I am not the best at it, but I am trying my best.” He replied.

“Do you have any other family members at the moment?” She asked.

“I have my uncles, aunts, my cousins, but that’s about it. My grandparents are gone, my parents are gone. The only close family member I have is my brother.” Once he said this, he was done and rose from the bed.

“You should be fine after this, try to not wet it again in the morning when you take shower. I will change it for you again tomorrow evening once I am back from work.”

“Yes, thank you.” She thanked him and for a split second, she could see a smile on his face.

“Have a good rest, Sofia.” With that, he left the room and she was on her own again.

She laid down in bed and closed her eyes, feeling a sense of warmth within her heart she had not felt in a long time.

The next morning after breakfast, she was called to his study and he laid down the contract before her. It was a rather simple and easy to understood contract. There were only five main points that she got from it.

1. Both parties would get married and legally bounded to each other as husband and wife for a year. The period will be extended if both parties agree to it.

2. Both parties would not interfere in each other’s business throughout the contract marriage period and remain in separate rooms unless both parties agreed otherwise.

3. Both parties would act as husband and wife in front of other people and maintain a harmonious appearance in the public’s eye.

4. No sexual encounter will be conducted unless both parties have agreed to it.

5. Party A will help and provide party B with all resources necessary for party B to achieve her goal. By the end of the contract, party A will receive five percent of De Laurent’s company stock and legally become a board member of the company as a form of remuneration.

Those were the points of the contract and she thought it was not bad.

Nothing shady about it, no hidden agenda, no hidden clauses. It was perfect.

It didn’t take her long to sign the contract and within minutes, it was done.

“Our wedding will be held exactly one week from now on. It will not be a public wedding, but it has legal power.”

One week? It was so fast. Sofia never thought she would get married again so soon considering she had never even formally and legally divorced Christian. Was it even possible?

“Also, there is one more thing I need to tell you.”