Silvia and Cia were utterly dumbstruck. They couldn't believe what they were hearing.
"W-What? Why?!" Silvia asked. No wonder she reacted like that when his name was mentioned the other day.
"The company is going bankrupt under my brother, Axel's management. His output in the company is more than his input. He lavishes the company's finances on gambling and unnecessary luxury and the worst part is that my dad isn't saying anything about it.
"Now the company is going bankrupt, they want to use me as a tool. If I get pregnant for Leonard Yul, they would use the advantage that the Yuls are searching for an heir. They would force him to get married to me and use it as an opportunity to get money from him as his in-laws, to fund Shipman enterprises," Olivia explained her father and her brother's plan.
"And what's your mom saying about it?" Silvia asked.
"You know my mother has no say," Olivia answered. Her mother has always been a submissive wife, who follows and supports her husband whether he was wrong or right.
"No! I won't let this happen," Silvia said.
"You are not going to be the one to bear the consequences for Axel's poor management!" Cia added.
"Where's that father and brother of yours? Let me have a word with them. I can't let you do this. For you, I will fund the Shipman enterprises," Silvia offered.
Olivia shook her head wiping her tears;
"You know how proud my family is. We've not been in good terms with your family after the incident. They would rather sell me to the devil than to accept help from you," Olivia responded.
"So you're going to really do this?!" Cia asked.
"I don't have a choice," Olivia replied.
"Olivia, have you forgotten this would be your first time? Are you willing to give up your virginity to someone who wouldn't appreciate it, all for a family who wouldn't be grateful for what you are about to do?" Cia asked.
"How do you even plan on seducing a person like Leonard Yul?" Silvia asked. Between three of them, Olivia was the most inexperienced in these things.
"Leonard Yul is organizing a get together to celebrate his parents 35th marriage anniversary. My dad, Axel and I will be attending. Then I must try to seduce him and get him to impregnate me," Olivia said.
"Leonard Yul is a smart man. How do you think you are going to get him to sleep with you without protection?" Silvia asked.
"Leave me to worry about that..." Olivia trailed off in a whisper.
"You won't have to worry about it. When is the get together coming up?" Silvia inquired.
"In a couple of days time" Olivia answered.
"I'll make sure to see your father and brother before then. I'll try to convince them," Silvia assured.
"I hope," Olivia mumbled.
"Oh sweetheart," Cia sighed as she brought Olivia's head to rest on her shoulder.
***
The following day...
Silvia sat, waiting for Davian at a restaurant. Eventually, he came.
"You're late!" Silvia reprimanded him.
"Had to take care of some things Ms. Reyes, I'm here now, aren't I?" Davian replied. Silvia just stared at him, almost glaring.
"That's the first thing that needs to go. We can't be so formal with each other while we're pretending to be lovers. Got it, Davian?" she said and he leaned a little forward.
"Yes, Silvia," he said. She didn't know why it sounded like that when he was saying it. Was he saying it like that on purpose? She liked the way her name sounded from him.
"W-Would you like to order anything?" Silvia almost stammered. She cleared her throat and swallowed. Why was she feeling embarrassed in front of him?, she thought.
"Nothing, let's get it over with," he said and stared out the glass wall as they were seated close to it.
"Also Davian, you need to fix that attitude of yours. Don't talk to me with such impudence," Silvia demanded. He turned towards her and scoffed.
"Right after you fix yours. The world doesn't revolve around you, princess," he replied. What a jerk, she thought. If she had more time, she wouldn't have gone with him.
"You've been warned. Between the two of us, you need me more than I need you," she said and he smiled.
"We both need each other, Ms. Reyes. You need me as much as I need you," he replied. She hated the way he had his way with words just like her.
"It still doesn't give you any right," she continued.
She can't believe she was here arguing with him when they were literally running out of time. This man, she thought.
She reached out to her bag and brought out an envelope which she gave to him, he collected it.
"That's the contract..." she trailed off as he removed the documents from the envelope and began to go through it.
"Don't worry. There's nothing you wouldn't like," she added. Davian continued to read through it though.
He read the conditions and the various clauses. One stated that once party B gets married to party A, party B has to live with party A for a year before they'll get a divorce.
Another stated that, once party B gets married to party A, party B was not allowed to have any affair whatsoever till the duration of the contract expires.
His grey eyes met her eyes when he read the second condition.
As if she read his mind, she spoke up immediately; "We'll be married couples. You can't go fooling around with other women, what if someone sees you?" she said.
"I thought that was supposed to be your escape plan. That I cheated on you and that's why we're were getting a divorce," he reminded her.
"You don't have to cheat, we'll only tell them that and make people think that way and you'll admit to it without remorse when asked," she replied and he smirk. It sounded more like she was the one that badly didn't want him to cheat on her.
"Okay," he said.
"Good," she replied.
He continued reading the contract.
Party A and B has to come to an agreement the moment this contract is signed, that only a few individuals are allowed to know about the contract marriage.
Party B is not allowed to abuse or assault party A in any way.
Party B would be sued to court if he attempts to use the issue of the contract marriage to manipulate or blackmail party A in the later future.
Party B should not ask for any special treatments nor will party B ask for any conditions in the contract.
Party B wouldn't be sharing a room with party A for the duration of the contract.
Party B has no right to demand for anything intimate from party A.
Davian almost laughed when he read it.
"What's so funny?" Silvia asked.
"Nothing, nothing," he replied.
"Then please hurry up and sign it already. We'll be having dinner with my parents today, I'm going to introduce you to them today as my fiancée and we have a lot to practice," Silvia urged him.
"Okay, just a minute," he said and rushed through the conditions. He read the last part; Failure to comply with these conditions will lead to several consequences and even the termination of the contract.
He continued till he got to the benefits. Party A will fund the bills for party B's mother's surgery, this will take place immediate effectively as soon as party B signs the contract.
Party A will pay the sum of five million to party B and party A will take care of party B's welfare and that of party B's family for the duration of the one year.
She is willing to pay this much, he thought. Having no problem with the contract, he collected a pen from Silvia.
"Sign here and here," she said, showing him where to sign.
For a moment, he hesitated. But then he remembered his mother's life was on the line, so was his and his friends' jobs. With that in mind, he signed the contract. Silvia released a breath of relief, a breath she never knew she was holding. This was it, he was going to be her contracted husband for a year.