Mr. Price's contract marriage

With Th

l

from the man who held my future in his wrinkled hands, I wondered if the unive

fact that she was laying all alone in a hospita

, not on

e effortless confidence of a man who never heard the word 'no'. Expensive tailored suit clu

, right?" he asked, his smooth voice

he same look I had seen my whole life – the stare

ed

moistening my lip

possible and I had exhausted every option I had – begging the bank for a loan, p

g was

t to sell my soul to the

ing out the words. "In return, you erase

s face. "You are a smart woman, Elena. I

he right cho

hoice when you were

would seal me to a man I barely knew, save for the occasional ne

Pri

chelor. From the rumors I heard, he was a man who too

et him and proclaimed I was his wife. I pushed the thought away

won't like th

uckled. "

it was a good thing. Heavens save me. W

out of this overpriced restaurant, let my pride win and fi

was no o

ice had my deepest, darkest secrets in his h

ut once the contract ends, I get to walk away,

my dear. You can trust me. Afte

least, was a transac

reath before pressing the pen to paper and watching as the ink and

a." He said smoothly, slipping the

meet him tomorrow. His secretary will communicate the time and pl

e, but you may not like that. But, happy

e h

tan's most successful and youngest business man. Who was I? A nobody. A wo

ate. I'd say it

e hospital and if Thomas kept his words, pay for my mother's surger

aurant, all I could think wa

ute later, flashing a

eadquarters." I read the message slowly, then read it again just t

when he found out? Did his grandfather already tell him? Would he

met before – and play wife. It felt as ridiculous as it sounded but it was my r

agreed money was now sitting in my account – it was time for me

t through the night. My morning routine was a blur and before I knew

nnounced with a tight smile on her face. "Thirty-fif

e. Although, I felt

him, practicing my prepared speech over and over again. After cringing several times and changing the open

Elena Madison, you

d when the door opened, a young man – about my age – in we

as tight as his suit pants. He would

answered

Mr. Price has be

. Okay, Elena, practice your lines one last time. "Hi