Exhaustion clung to Bella like a second skin as she slipped into her rented house. The day's whirlwind schedule had taken its toll, and she practically collapsed onto the sofa, her bag slipping with a soft thud onto the floor.
"Welcome back!" A cheerful voice called from the kitchen. Bridget, Bella's friend and roommate, approached her, a wide grin splitting her face. "Guess what? Joe is cooking dinner tonight!"
The infectious enthusiasm in Bridget's voice cracked a smile onto Bella's weary face. "Wow, that's amazing!"
Joe walked over with a cup of steaming coffee. "I thought I would treat the ladies tonight. Get home early, you know, to appease the wife." He winked at Bridget, who responded with a playfully seductive smile.
"Suddenly, I'm famished," Bella said with a grin, taking the offered coffee.
"Hold on!" Bridget exclaimed, taking everyone by surprise. "What happened to your hand?" Her smile had vanished, replaced by a deep furrow of worry between her brows.
Joe, mirroring his wife's concern, leaned closer, his brow furrowing as well. "Yeah, how did you burn yourself?"
Bella sighed dramatically, rolling her eyes. "It's Olivia." She then narrated what had occurred the morning. However, she chose to omit the altercation at the bar, not wanting to burden her friends with unnecessary worry.
Bridget's expression darkened at the mention of Olivia's name. "That bitch!" she muttered, her protective instincts kicking in. "She needs a good teaching. Why don't you complain about her? Your boss is kind to you. I think he will help you deal with her."
Bella's face fell. It was Zack's kindness that had gotten her into this mess in the first place. His fiancée mistakenly suspected her of flirting with him and caused trouble for her. The last thing she needed was to take any favor from him.
"There's no need to involve my boss over something so trivial," Bella asserted. "I can deal with Olivia on my own."
"I have confidence in you." Joe squeezed her shoulder reassuringly, his smile unwavering. "Bella is strong, and we are proud of you."
"At least let me take care of that burn," Bridget added gently.
"It's nothing, really. I'll be fine," Bella dismissed dismissively.
But Bridget wasn't having any of it. Ignoring Bella's protests, she grabbed her arm with surprising strength and marched her towards the bedroom.
The next day…
The sharp ringing of the phone jolted Bella awake from her slumber. Reaching instinctively for her phone on the nightstand, she answered it with a sleep-roughened voice, "Hello?"
"Good morning, Miss Dawn," a cool, collected voice responded. "This is Skyler, Mr. Reid's assistant."
Bella bolted upright in bed, the last vestiges of drowsiness fleeing like startled birds. "Good morning," she managed, her heart suddenly pounding. Why on earth was he calling so early?
"Please be at the Civil Affairs Bureau in one hour," Skyler continued, his tone conveying a low but firm urgency.
"Erm… In an hour?" Bella glanced at the clock on the dresser. It was nearly half past eight.
"Today is your wedding registration," Skyler stated matter-of-factly. "Don't be late. Mr. Reid does not appreciate tardiness."
The unspoken warning was apparent in his tone. Not only was Theodore Reid cold, but apparently, so was his assistant.
A flicker of annoyance sparked within Bella. However, she couldn't offend them. "I'll be there on time," she asserted with forced confidence, disconnecting the call.
With a surge of adrenaline, she leaped out of bed and dashed into the bathroom, muttering under her breath, "Bella, you absolutely cannot be late for this."
An hour later…
Bella hurried into the bustling Civil Affairs Bureau. Skyler materialized before her, his face an impassive mask. "Miss Dawn," he greeted curtly. "Please follow me. Mr. Reid wants to have a few words with you." He gestured towards a sleek black car parked nearby.
Bella glanced at the direction he was pointing and saw Theodore, her heart skipping a beat.
His presence radiated an undeniable coolness. Yet, even from a distance, she couldn't deny his magnetism. Dressed in a sharp black suit, his profile resembled a chiseled Greek god. Just a glance could steal anyone's heart.
An unsettling mixture of intimidation and unexpected attraction warred within her.
With each step closer, her pulse quickened. She was about to marry this enigmatic man. Although it was a contractual marriage, a faint hope lingered in her heart. Perhaps, against all odds, he might fall for her, transforming this arrangement into something more. A tentative smile tugged at her lips.
"Get in." Theodore's cold tone cut through her daydream, shattering her fragile hope. The smile faltered, replaced by a flicker of nervous uncertainty. She self-consciously tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear before slipping into the back seat beside him.
Without a preamble, Theodore thrust a folder into her lap. "This is the marriage contract," he stated without warmth in his voice. "Sign it."
Bella took the folder, her hands slightly shaking. She scanned the document, her mind reeling.
"Our marriage will be only on paper," Theodore continued. "You are free to live your life as you see fit. I will not interfere, and I expect the same from you."
His words struck her nerve. Bella glanced up at him, stunned. So, they were not going to live together like normal couples.
"However," Theodore added, "your loyalty should be to me for the duration of this contract. You will not see other men." His sharp gaze pinned her to her seat, a clear warning glinting in his icy dark eyes. "And I'll be loyal to you."
Bella blinked rapidly, a nervous flutter erupting in her stomach. This marriage was not going to be easy for her, she realized.
"Additionally," he said, "you will be needed to accompany me to visit my grandfather and attend occasional family functions as my wife. Got it?"
Bella turned her focus to the file on her lap and flipped through the contract, searching for the clause. To her surprise, there was no mention of intimacy. Was a physical relationship part of the deal, or not? Her throat tightened with a sudden dryness.
"Any questions?" Theodore's voice cut through her internal debate.
Bella pursed her lips, then blurted out, "There's nothing about... sex in the contract. Does that mean it's allowed?"
Theodore leaned towards her with lightning speed. His hand braced against the seat behind her, his face mere inches away. His warm breath tickled her cheek, sending shivers down her spine.
Bella froze. Her heart was ready to jump out of her mouth.
"Do you want it?" he rasped, husky and intense. His gaze held hers captive, his dark eyes burning with an unreadable emotion.
Bella's mind went blank. She swallowed hard, unable to form a coherent response.
A faint smile played on Theodore's lips. "Relax. I am not interested in having sex with you." He pulled back, adjusting his coat. "Sign the contract if you're comfortable with the terms."
Relief washed over Bella tinged with a flicker of disappointment she couldn't quite explain.
A year. The contract would end in a year. The less they were involved emotionally, the better for her. With a resigned breath, she picked up the pen and signed her name.