The Sterling Contract: From Obligation to Love

e bed and saw a string o

eeling be

ou eat a pr

ully you. Call me i

ought of my mother, who only ever called to complain or ask for money, and my father, who was now a

tchen to find a full breakfast spread on the table. Julian was sitting t

Eleanor said, patting the ch

o start thinking about giving me some great-grandchildren. A big,

the wrong way. I started coughing,

"Mrs. Sterling, we

uncomfortable. He stared down at his

t. "I have to get to my inter

or declared. "Juli

the subway,"

e repeated, her tone leav

stood up, grabbing his car keys. I fo

garage filled with an astonishing collection of luxury cars. It

h again. As we drov

s?" he taunted, a sli

the window. "I ne

uilding, I asked him to pull

. "What, are you asham

I just don' t want my colleagues to see me getting out of a car

re. He just grunted and pulled away

nd Sarah, were waiting

Sarah said, her eyes

ked past them, not wa

was state-of-the-art, but the fridge was practically empty. If I

was I even doing? Playing house with a man who hated me? But then I pushed the though

nds of olive oil, a ma

uldn' t have to do her own shopp

ks," I said, mov

waiting, though he wouldn' t admit why. Her presence in his life was a constant, low-grade annoyance,

I started cooking.

na tonight. Would y

cceptance was a

ulian, drawn by the aroma, emerged from his office. He st

rang. It was Eleanor. She walked in, saw us both in t

nderful! A real

. "I' m sure

colded, swatting his arm. "Si

s stiff and annoyed. I couldn' t help

hrough dinner, praising my cooking and su

ara out on a proper

t grunted

ad a second helping of the lasagna.

ip, about a new project I was excited about, engaging El

a small, gift-wrapped box into my hand. "A litt

he left. The emotional effort

xpected call from E

g to a gallery opening this

an, but I don

ave some fun. All work and no p

ersation, his brow furrowed in a deep frown. He didn' t like the easy, familiar tone of

fell into bed, confused by Julian' s dark mood. I fell asleep almost instantly,

whispering and casting strange glances in my

o women by the

ifferent guy drive he

ful? You know she' s

, that I was momentarily stunned. I did

e over to my desk, her face pale.

you need to

e, AI-generated but disturbingly realistic, in compromising positions. The cap

loe. It h