Chapter 3

When Xander told me he had forwarded my email address to his friend, now my business partner, so he could send the contract to me and we could arrange to meet. 

I immediately got nervous because I pictured that being the multi billionaire that Xander's friend was, he would certainly want to meet in a five star restaurant and that thought alone made me anxious.

Not that I had anything against five star restaurant, it was just that I'd feel out of place. Like I don't belong there. Which I certainly don't.

But when a mail notification popped up on my phone, boy was I wrong.

I inclined my neck to have a better view of the restaurant. 

*Mamma Mia Eats*

This is my second time spelling out the name of the restaurant where I was supposed to meet my future contract husband, and it still made me cringe.

What the fuck was "Mamma Mia Eats?"

Then the overthinking kicked in. 

Was Xander's billionaire friend a weirdo? 

I never got the full details of who his friend was, what he looked like,how old he was, or if he was an anti social odd ball with a few screw loose.

Because why else would a multi billionaire not be capable of finding his own girl that he had to go for the contract marriage option??

*Oh God*

"Miss Ana Reed?" 

I turned in the direction of where the voice came from. 

A middle aged man wearing sun shades and dressed in a cooperate suit was right beside me, looking at me expectantly.

I pointed at myself questioningly, "Me?"

The middle aged man smiled patiently, "Yes, Miss Ana Reed. That would be you,yes?"

"Yes I am?" It came out as a question.

"I'm Joseph, Mr Asher Howard's personal assistant. He's currently waiting for you inside the restaurant."

*Mr Asher Howard?*

Who the hell was that?

Joseph must have noticed my confused state so he explained further. 

"I sent you the contract and the address to this restaurant this morning via email. " 

"Oh! "

So his name was Asher?

Well,Asher didn't sound like a name an antisocial creepy man would bear. 

Right?

I silently let out my breathe. 

I was nervous as hell.

"She is here sir." 

Joseph announced to somebody and I raised my head to look at who he was referring to.

He had a sharp jaw that looked perfectly chiseled, his chocolate brown hair styled in a slick hairstyle. He was dressed in white dress shirt with the sleeve rolled up to his elbow. 

I just met him for the first time and I hadn't never even spoken a word to the guy but the aura around him held so much authority. His presence was so charismatic and intimidating. He looked like he didn't need to ask for respect, he naturally commanded it.

Somebody cleared their throat distracting my thoughts and I blushed slightly, embarrassed of myself for ogling the man on our first day of meeting.

The "somebody" was Asher Howard. His beautiful brown eyes were staring at me with his brows shot up.

"Can you sit down please? So we can get to the business of the day?" His voice was resonant and authoritative.

Great! Just ten seconds into meeting the guy and I had already embarrassed myself.

"So is there any part of the contract you don't understand or aren't comfortable with?" Asher asked, getting straight to business.

I shook my head negatively. "No. I already signed it and forwarded it back to the email that sent it."

He nodded, "Okay,so Joseph would send you the details of what our story is supposed to be. You have to go through it thoroughly. There can't be any mistake. And you have just two days....."

"Two days??" I cut in.

"Yes, two days." He replied, giving me a hard look.

"Joseph, I thought you said you explained everything to her." He queried without looking away from me.

"I might have omitted that part by mistake. I apologize sir." 

I glanced at both of them, waiting for an explanation.

"We are having a family dinner in two days time and you are coming with. My cousin is bringing his wife , so naturally I have to bring mine." Asher explained,and my jaw dropped unattractively.

Two days??!

They are not even going to give me time to digest things?!

The wheels were still turning in my head when Asher shoved a mobile phone in my face.

"Put your mobile number here. It'd be weird if I don't have my wife's number on my phone. Wouldn't it? "  

The word "wife" coming out of his mouth gave me some weird feelings in my stomach and I frowned a little bit at the reaction.

"Send your home address, my driver would come pick you up tomorrow." Read the text that popped up on my phone's home screen.

I frowned.

"I'm getting you new set of clothes. Seeing your sense of fashion today, and I can't particularly say I was impressed. It's Asher btw."

Realization dawned on me, followed by a jab at my heart and an eye roll.

I could barely afford my bills, how the hell was I supposed to get clothes that suited his taste? 

Arriving at my apartment, I noticed that the lights were on.

Right. I had to tell Diane. I just signed a marriage contract today which practically means I'm now a married woman.

I mentally flinched at that reality. 

It hadn't set it yet. The reality that I was now married to the grandson of Howard Companies, a multi billionaire.

When I entered my crappy apartment, Diane was on the couch munching on popcorn from a large bowl while watching a rerun of Grey's Anatomy.

"Hi." I tried greeting her even though I knew quite well that I would get no reply.

Well, let's just get it over with. I said to myself.

"Diane. I have something to tell you." 

She finally looked up at me.

"What?" She eyed me suspiciously.

I went silent. I didn't know how I was supposed to drop the news on her.

"Are you pregnant or something?"

"What no!" I exclaimed.

"Then say whatever the fuck it is you want to say!" She yelled at me.

" I-- I got married today." 

"What do you mean?"

"I'm now married. It's a contract marriage actually. I had to do it to pay back the debts because they offered me a lot of money. I'm--"

"You got married? What the fuck are you talking about Ana?" 

She didn't wait for my reply.

"And it's a contract marriage?! You got married for money? To pay your debts? The righteous and holy Ana Reed entered into a fake marriage for money!" She let out a loud mocking laugh.

"Diane..." I trailed off. 

The part where she said "...your debts" instead of "...our debts" didn't go pass me. And it made my heart clench.

Diane stood up from the couch and started walking towards me, in an intimidating manner.

"But tell me Ana. Is it really to pay off your debts or that is just an excuse to run away and leave me here in this shitty apartment." She pushed me using her index finger.

"You just want to use that as an excuse to escape from this trashy life, right? You sly selfish bitch,do you think I'm going to believe that you enter into a fake marriage just to pay off your debts?!"

 She yelled at me and a lone tear escaped my eye.

Because there was an iota of truth in what Diane just said.

"So who is he?" She asked , her voice carrying a tone of scorn and disgust. The expression on Diane's face was colder than ever.

"Diane, it's not what you think. I'm doing this because of us. I had no other choice, the loan sharks were--" 

"I said who the fuck is he?! I should at least know my brother in-law, don't you think?" Her tone was mocking me.

"Asher Howard." My reply came in a whisper. I felt drained and exhausted.

There was a moment of silence before Diane released a loud laugh.

I watched her curiously until her laughter died down.

"Asher Howard. Howard, as in Howard Companies? The multi billionaire Howard? You mean, Asher Howard who was on top under thirty successful men?"

Well, I didn't know that much about him.

She raised her hand and slowly patted my hair, staring into my eyes icily.

"So tell me Ana, does Asher Howard know about your little secrets? Does he know that his wife used to deal drugs?"

My jaw dropped and my heart sank as my brain processed the reality my sister just dropped on me.