Chapter 3: Terms and Conditions
Evelyn paced the floor of the family's small art shop, her thoughts tangled in a whirlwind of fear, doubt, and reluctant curiosity. The morning sun streamed through the windows, illuminating half-empty shelves and a cash register that had seen better days.
Alexander Hayes's voice echoed in her mind: "A year, maybe less. You'll walk away with enough to secure your family's future."
Could she really go through with it? Could she marry a stranger—no, worse, a man who practically oozed arrogance—for money?
Her mother's weak cough from the back room snapped her out of her thoughts. Evelyn glanced toward the door, her heart clenching. This wasn't just about her pride anymore.
The bell above the shop door jingled, and Evelyn turned to see him standing there, as composed and commanding as ever.
"You came," he said, as if there had been no doubt in his mind.
Evelyn crossed her arms, a defense against the whirlwind of emotions he stirred in her. "I haven't agreed to anything yet."
Alexander gestured toward a small table by the window. "Let's discuss terms."
Evelyn hesitated, then followed him, her heart pounding. She sat across from him, her palms clammy against the worn wood of the table.
"First," she began, her voice steady despite her nerves, "why me? You could hire someone who's already in your world—someone who actually wants to be your wife."
Alexander leaned back, his piercing gray eyes fixed on her. "Exactly. They'd want to be my wife. They'd expect more than what I'm willing to give. You, on the other hand, don't want me. That makes this arrangement… cleaner."
Her jaw tightened. "Glad to know I'm such a convenient option."
He didn't respond to her sarcasm. Instead, he slid a sleek black folder across the table. "This contains the contract. Read it carefully."
Evelyn flipped it open, her eyes scanning the dense legal jargon. "You really thought of everything, didn't you?"
"I don't leave things to chance," he replied.
Her gaze caught on a section labeled Non-Negotiable Clauses. She frowned. "I have to live in your house? No. I'll stay here with my family."
Alexander's expression darkened. "No. If we're going to convince the world this is real, you'll stay with me. My house, my rules."
Evelyn bristled. "This isn't a dictatorship."
"It's a partnership," he countered smoothly. "But one that requires sacrifices on both sides. I'll provide financial stability for your family, and in return, you'll play your part."
Her stomach churned. The offer sounded colder with every word he spoke. But then she thought of the stack of bills, her mother's frail figure, and the looming threat of losing everything.
"What about my art?" she asked. "I won't give that up."
"You won't have to," Alexander said. "In fact, I'll fund your exhibitions. You'll get exposure you could never dream of on your own."
Evelyn's breath caught. Was this a lifeline or a trap?
She closed the folder and met his gaze. "I have my own conditions."
A flicker of amusement crossed his face. "I'm listening."
"No physical relationship," she said firmly. "This is strictly business."
Alexander's lips curved into a half-smile. "Agreed."
"And I'm not changing who I am," she added. "You might be able to control everything in your world, but you don't control me."
"I wouldn't dream of it," he said, though the glint in his eyes suggested otherwise.
Evelyn leaned back in her chair, her chest tightening. "Fine. I'll do it."
The words tasted bitter, but she forced them out.
Alexander extended his hand. "Then we have a deal."
As her hand met his, a shiver ran down her spine. This wasn't just a handshake—it was the start of something far more dangerous.