Maddison shook her head, "How is that fair to you? It sounds like you're getting the short end of the stick."
Elias sighed. He wasn't expecting this much pushback from her. He knew exactly what her situation was and that included her finances. The amount of money he offered was more than she could ever earn in her lifetime.
Why was she still hesitating?
"Well, if you do not accept this deal. I will sue you for defamation and you'll never be able to find a job ever again in this city or any other city."
"Are you threatening me?" Maddison gasped as she curled her hands into fists.
"Your name and mine were intertwined the moment you bumped into me, Miss Lane. I'm offering you a helping hand and I suggest you take it. Help me, help you, Maddison. It's as simple as that."
"Show me the papers."
Maddison flipped through them reviewing them in great detail. Though she wasn't a lawyer, she still knew a few things. She was about to sign her life away! She had better be extra careful about it.
To her surprise, the contract was drafted well. It ensured both parties were protected. Everything was perfect and in order. The money Elias promised would be sent to her as soon as she signed it.
Furthermore, she was allowed to spend it however she wished. This was all too good to be true!
"Do you have a-"
Before she could finish her sentence, Elias handed her his pen. He had a smug look on his face, no doubt confident that she would have taken the deal from the start. Maddison didn't like being manipulated like this but what choice did she have?
With a heavy heart, Maddison signed her name on the line. Elias took back the pen and did the same. He got up from his seat and returned shortly after with a card in his hand. It already had Maddison's name printed on it.
It was a card issued by Royale Bank! That's the bank only members of high society used. There were no credit limits on their cards and people coveted them as they were status symbols.
"Here, I've already created a bank account for you. The money is credited in there and you can use this card to access it or spend the money. Do as you wish. Oh, the pin is your birthdate."
"How did you know my birthdate?" Maddison asked.
Her question caught him off guard but only for a split second. Elias quickly regained his composure and gave her a smile.
"I have my ways."
Maddison looked down at the card Elias had handed her. It looked legit. All Royale Bank cards were made of platinum. From the weight and feel of the card he gave her, it was likely to be platinum.
"Now, that it's all settled. I need you to get out of my house," Elias said as he handed Maddison her things.
To make it believable, Elias suggested Maddison look a little rougher as if she was leaving a one-night stand.
"Why would I do that?! We didn't even do anything… according to you anyway." She protested.
"It would make our blossoming relationship a little more believable. This is our first encounter. Our romance progresses from here and we'll be married in three months because we're madly in love."
"Three months? Madly in love? What planet are you living on?" Maddison asked as she crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes.
Elias chuckled in amusement, "I thought you read through the contract carefully. Did you not read the fine print before signing?"
Maddison reviewed the copy Elias had given her to keep. He was right. There was a stipulation that they were going to get married in three months! How could she have missed that?
"So…" Elias came closer to her as he spoke. Maddison backed away from him but she quickly hit a wall.
He placed a hand on the wall to stop her from escaping. Their faces were a mere few inches apart! Maddison felt her heart pounding in her chest as she looked intently into Elias's eyes. Elias reached out his hand and curled a lock of Maddison's hair in his hand.
"Would you like some help to mess you up?" He asked with a grin.
She shook her head, "No no need. Also, I think it would be better if I went out well dressed no? We wouldn't want to further taint your reputation, Mr King?"
Elias took a step back, "True. Also, please call me Elias from now on. There's no reason for you to call me Mr King."
"Alright, Elias. You can call me Maddy. That's what most people call me anyways," She replied.
"Maddy sounds perfect."
A knock on the door cut their conversation. It was the man from earlier! This time, Maddison didn't have time to hide. So she simply stood there frozen, while Elias turned to speak to him.
"What is it, Jack?" Elias asked.
"Sir, it's your lunch appointment. We need to leave now."
Elias got up from his seat and walked towards the door.
"Are you just going to leave me here?" Maddison asked in confusion.
Elias turned back to face her, "Yes, I have a lunch appointment to attend to. Please leave 30 minutes after I do. I'll have Jack arrange for a cab to wait for you downstairs. It will take you wherever you wish to go."
Before she could ask him another question, Elias was gone. Along with his assistant, they left the penthouse. Maddison stood there for a moment, wondering what had just happened. Her life was a mess.
Looking up at the clock on the wall, a cold chill ran down Maddison's spine. She didn't have time to think about anything else.
First order of business, get to work!
Maddison gathered up all her things and looked at herself in the mirror. She couldn't possibly go to work dressed like this! She was in pajamas! She looked around the room, hoping to find something she could use.
That was when she noticed a shopping bag. It was pastel pink, so it stood out from everything else in the room.
"There's a note…" She whispered to herself as she picked up the note that was attached to the shopping bag.
"Thought you might need this," She read it out loud.
Looking inside the bag, Maddison found a beautiful outfit. To her surprise, it fit her like a glove. As she looked at herself in the mirror, she wondered how he got her measurements so well.