"What do you mean I will get married to you forever? Aren't contract marriages just for a specific amount of years?" Lola questioned, confusion taking over her features as each oxygen she emits is coated with annoyance.
Was Max trying to trick her into something bad?
And even if that's his intention, would she be able to turn down the offer and walk away?
"I believe every contract is different. I am a business tycoon, I think I am well-versed enough to be able to tell you that since you apparently don't know. And I understand since your kind of job doesn't require you to sign contracts the way a billionaire like me has so many to sign every day." Max laughed at her, feeling good within himself. He knew Lola was desperate, and he was going to take advantage of that desperation.
It would have been easier for her to have taken the offer when he was begging her when he was the one pleading and ready to even go on his knees.
"I am not a fool. I understand very much that contracts are different from each other. But you certainly can't expect me to be married to you for the rest of my life. Contract marriage is for the sole reason of what we are doing. And it should be for just a specific amount of time. Not forever." Lola argued back.
"Well, this is my contract. My contract, my rules, Lola. So deal with it. Do you need my money or not?" Max questioned her, feeling pissed at the fact that she was talking as if he wasn't a man worthy enough to marry her. He is Max Donovan, the gorgeous and handsome-looking bachelor billionaire that many women just want to be with.
"I am definitely not an ugly and broke man, so why can't you stay married to me for the rest of your life?" Max added, asking her.
"Why ask me a question you already know the answer to?" Lola asked back, her eyes darted back to the papers she was rereading, assimilating the content of the contract again. It felt like she was practically selling her life for fifteen million dollars. Like she was intentionally entrapping herself in a marriage she would never be happy.
But thinking about James, her younger brother, once again, she knew she actually had no choice. In this matter, her happiness and freedom mattered nothing. James came first, he will always come first. So she knew she couldn't walk away from this deal, she couldn't turn it down, she couldn't refuse it.
"So do you want this or not? My time can't be wasted, Lola. I could be signing multi-million deals right at this moment that I'm chatting with you about a measly deal. Hurry or the contract is over." Max said to her in an annoyed tone. His words didn't sit well with her, she really just wanted to raise her voice at him and cuss him out. How can a man who had done her bad in high school still have the heart to treat her and talk to her this way?
This only showed that his apology a few days ago was blatantly fake just as she had guessed.
"From what I remember Max, you also need me," Lola said to him.
"I did. Not anymore. I'm only being pitiful right now. I'm trying to be a good person since everyone thinks I'm not." Max replied in a prideful tone. He lied. He was the one who needed Lola the most, he was the one that is going to die in a matter of a few weeks if he didn't marry her. He was the one in an extremely crucial situation, not Lola.
But she doesn't need to know that. Her only chance at clawing at him was when he begged her to marry him. But now, it's his turn to be nonchalant about it. It was his turn to act as if he didn't need her.
So lying it is.
"Pitiful huh?" Lola scoffed, that word Max called her situation made her feel hurt.
She couldn't fully blame him. It wasn't his fault that she was broke. It wasn't his fault that the universe decided to be mean to her and her brother once again. As if ripping their parents away from them and making life hard for them weren't enough. Now, it had to inflict cancer on her brother. It just had to remain cruel to them for no substantial reason, except she was a great offender in her past life.
Maybe that was the case.
"Let me finish reading it, then I will sign it as long as it suits me," Lola told Max and went back to sit down on the sofa.
Her life was once again taking a new turn. A new turn that made her feel like she was never going to be happy.
Because with Max Donovan, happiness can't be guaranteed. She hated him as much as she had loved him. And she was certain she would always hate Max Donovan.
Lola continued reading all the rules that bound this contract marriage she was about to dive into with life jackets. Because in just some hours, she would belong to Max Donovan, the richest bachelor in the world.
She was required to do everything at all costs to make the public believe that they were actually true lovers. So if they had to kiss for the show, they would kiss with every passion they had. They have to act like everything is real.
People must not suspect that they are involved in a contractual marriage.
She knew she couldn't argue with all the points stated in the contract. They were reasonable because of his status.
But there were other things that she wasn't all good with.
So she asked him for clarification, "Max, what do you mean by a rotational couple sleeping? Not sex right?" She asked.
Max answered quickly, "It means that we'll each have our separate bedrooms, but we'll also have our shared bedroom because we will have to sleep in the same room whenever I feel like. And no, no sex. It's just for the formalities."
"But the house will be private, why do we have to sleep together sometimes?" Lola asked.
"My contract. My rules." Max answered. But the truth was that he wasn't exactly sure how they would bond as soulmates, so if they had to spend sleeping hours together sometimes, then he would make it happen. The only thing they wouldn't be doing is having sex. He wasn't crazy about sex, so he knew he could always get a quick fix from one of his occasional partners when needy.
"It doesn't make any sense." Lola complained, "And what is this about always being obedient to your rules? Would I not be able to live my life after we get married?" She asked.
"You would. But you just have to obey my rules. You are new to this luxurious world, you don't know exactly how things run. When you eventually know, then you will be able to do as you like. But as of now, it's all by my rules." Max replied to her.
Lola knew she couldn't argue. He was right. But she wouldn't tell him that, especially when she knew he was bound to overstep the boundaries. But she just had to close her eyes and enter this fishy contract marriage with blind eyes. Even though she could see some things that could pose as red flags.
But she needed this money. She needs to save her brother. So she picked up the pen and inscribed her signature on every part of the contract that needed her signature.
"Done!" She announced, looking up at Max who was intensely staring at her.
Max stood up with a victorious and satisfied smile, walking towards her, and said, "That's good, Lola. You are just one more step to becoming my wife."
"Getting married I suppose?" Lola said.
"Getting married is for sure. But we need to do kissing practice." Max answered, making Lola's eyes widen in surprise.
Was he crazy? No, he must be definitely crazy.