Chapter 1 CHAPTER 1

Isabella's POV Biting my lower lips softly and watching the image of my boss on my laptop and other details about him, I twirl my chair around my little office with a sigh of frustration. As much as I want to give Juliet's advice a try, I am damn scared. Scared of my boss. Scared of what he would think of me. Scared that he would insult me again today like he did yesterday when he scolded me for being clumsy. But I need to give it a try. I need his help. I want my grandmother to live, I want her to witness my white wedding and see me have kids who will keep her company while I am at work. If I don't talk to my boss about the supposed help that I need, how can I make sure that grandma survives? Where will I get the money the doctor requested of us? Will grandma still be alive when I am eventually married four or five years from now? I close my eyes, twirling my black straight hair and murmuring to myself in remembrance of the hot guy I met at the club Juliet and I went to last week. I thought I had eventually succeeded in landing myself a rich hot boyfriend until he asked me to give him a blowjob in the club. Gosh! I was so embarrassed. I thought that was all and I was excited about having my first sex but when he told me about how he enjoys sex, I knew I had to escape. He is a fucking sex maniac and he derives pleasure from beating a woman. The ringing sound of the intercom jerks me out of my reverie. I twirl the swivel chair back and grab the intercom with a tone of professionalism. With Jayden Alex Russell as my boss, I have learned to push back all my problems out of my mind whenever work is at hand. He hates unprofessionalism. He hates clumsy employees and sometimes, I used to wonder why I haven't been sacked yet. "Ms. Romano", his deep husky voice booms into the intercom, making me self-conscious of what I have been thinking. "Yes, sir", I sit upright and listen with rapt attention. I won't want to miss anything. "Come to my office now", he instructs sharply. Before I can reply, he drops the phone and I do the same, taking in sharp breaths to calm my nerves and make me summon up the courage to bring up my problems when I am eventually inside his office. I just hope he is in a good mood. I will put Juliet's advice to good use today and that will determine the next line of action. If he doesn't help me, then I will have no choice but to go look for Frederick Alberto, the man who derives pleasure from hurting a woman. I exit my office, striding at a fast pace towards my boss's office. I had gone to serve his coffee an hour ago and he didn't even spare me a glance. I wonder why he is requesting my presence now. He always tells me all that I need to do on the phone unless it is important. I knock softly on the door, waiting with my heart thumping hard. He echoes a "Yes" and I go in. I see him writing on a plain sheet of paper and his laptop is open in front of him. He looks busy. I know him to be someone who doesn't like to be disturbed when busy. What does he want? "I'm here, sir", I tell him, making him raise his head to look at me. "Sit!" He commands and I flop to the chair opposite his large desk filled with numerous paperwork. "Adrian Peterson has sent an email and you didn't inform me about it", he stares at me deeply with a harsh glare. I swallow a lump, scolding myself mentally for wasting my time looking at his information on the internet instead of starting work. I have missed the emails. "I checked the mails before leaving work on Saturday, I guess it just came in this morning", I reply with my hands shaking on my laps. They are sweaty as a result of my nervousness. He doesn't look convinced. "Haven't you been in your office?""I have.""What have you been doing, then?" He asks calmly. I am surprised he isn't shouting at me today like the rest of the days. Is this a good sign? Should I go on with letting him know about my problems? "Take this", he pushes a file towards me and I take it. "Check the mail, before you work on this file. I want you to arrange them alphabetically, then reply to his mail before returning this file. I will need them before noon.""Ok, sir," I say obediently, taking the file from him. "Good", he nods. "You can go." I nod my head and stand up, biting my lips and debating within me on whether to tell him about my problem or leave it till later when I am done with my first task for the day. "What? Why are you still here?" He has the pen in his hands already while he gazes up at me. I shake my head, losing my confidence. "I'm sorry.""Wait", he orders with implacable authority, making me halt in my step and close my eyes. I am trying to build my confidence and courage. I need to do this. Grandma needs this. I turn back and bow my head. "There is something I need to tell you, sir." Silence falls. He isn't saying anything and it makes me look up. Why is he silent? He is just watching me with his two hands below his jaw. I decided to continue. "Hmmm…I need a favor sir", I stammer, fidgeting with my fingers. My grandma needs to be operated on because of her legs. The doctor wants me to deposit some money…." "What do you want?" He cut me short in impatience. I exhale deeply and mutter a prayer under my breath before saying. "We need $20,000 for the surgery. I want to request a loan from the company and I will pay it back with my salary." He looks surprised and I wonder if he will help. "You want us to pay you a year's salary in advance?" Reality crashes on me. I didn't even calculate it. My grandma's salary will cost me a year's salary? Wow! I nod meekly. He leans back on the chair, looking thoughtful for a while and watching me intensely. His gaze pierces deep into me and I look away, scared that interlocking eyes with him will make him not to help me. My heartbeat increased in anticipation. The silence is killing me. Is he going to help or not? He should just say something, is it a yes or a no? Whatever it is that he will say, I am going to take it the good way, it is not the end of the world. I am just going to resort to the last option. Becoming Frederick's slut. "I will help you", he announce, making my heart skip a beat and my mouth drop open in surprise. Relief washes through me suddenly and I almost kneel in sincere appreciation. God bless you! I pray within myself. "Thank you, sir", I cry out in excitement as my face breaks into a smile. "Thank you so much, sir. God bless…." "But there is a condition attached", he interrupts me with a face devoid of emotions. A condition? What condition? I ask within me as a frown touches my lips. My heart begins to race again. Pounding wildly in my chest as if it will soon burst out. "I want you to become my wife", he blurts out, without a change in his countenance. It takes a while before his statement sinks deeply into my system in understanding. When it is fully absorbed, I exclaim loudly in disbelief and with mouth agape. "What?!" "Yes", he nods intermittently. "But it is going to be for just a year." "What?!"

Chapter 2 CHAPTER 2

Jayden's POV It's been two years already. Two f***ing years of torture. Two years since she died with my baby. I have been through the phase of remembering the memories of the night we spent together and what led to our quarrel before death took her away. It's been nothing but pure torture and hatred for myself and what I represent. I still blame myself for her death. If only I had listened to her, if only I had given up on the dangerous family business like she used to call it, maybe this wouldn't have happened and we would still be together with our child. But I didn't. I was too stubborn to let go of the life I have been brought up into. My Father was the Mafia Leader. I was trained to become one too but Helena was in the way. She hated what we do with passion. She wanted me to cut ties with anything that will make me go into it. It was hard for me. I loved what we did. I loved being in control. I loved punishing the offenders. Helena hated it till death. Now I have abandoned every single thing that reminds me of her as well as cutting ties with my ever busy father. He understands my plight and we haven't spoken in more than a year. Mother on the other hand has been pestering me about getting a wife and a grandchild. Helena and I didn't make it to the altar and I doubted if I could ever love another woman as I do love her. Ever since she died, love scares me and it has been erased from my dictionary. In fact, commitment means nothing to me. I hate the word. Mother keeps pestering me and I want to prove to her that marriage or having kids isn't for me. They will be an object of target to my rivals and enemies. I hate to go through another tough phase of losing loved ones. I am done. But I will satisfy her by getting married to someone, then we would be divorced after a year. This was my confusion last night after a video call with her. But the problem was who to tell, who to discuss this with, and who to take as a wife. I told my friend, Gabriel and we have plans to go to a club tonight. Gabriel is married and he is in support of me getting married too by letting go of the past. But is it that easy? Yes, it is. I have let go totally but I would never believe in love, I would never be committed and I would never be married on my own free will. As soon as Isabella with her long straight black hair and vivid blue eyes entered and began to stutter about her problems, I decided to use her problems to my advantage. She needs my help and I need hers too. I expect her to understand. In fact, I am glad she is someone I can control. I am glad I don't need to go out in desperate search of a woman that I know absolutely nothing about. Isabella is a striking-looking girl who is exceptional in her work. The only thing I hate about her that pisses me off is her clumsiness and I hope we can work together to make sure the marriage I am proposing to her looks real and then after a year, we would go our separate ways. A year is enough to stop my mother from pestering me further. It is enough to prove a point to her. I don't need a woman in my life. I am good this way. But she doesn't understand that. She thinks I am still hurting from the death of Helena and our child, Susie. But I am not. I have healed from the hurt. Isn't two years enough to heal from your wounds? Isn't it enough to make the scar oblivion like it never existed? Time heals all wounds. I believe this and time has healed mine. "What?!" She exclaims again, this time more loudly. I watch her blue eyes piercing deep into me like she wants to read through me and know what I have in mind and why I am proposing this. "Yes. Sit down!" I instruct sharply. She blinks and rushes over to sit. I can see her hands trembling and her eyes turning red in anxiety. I lean backward, watching and thinking of how it would be a success after a year. I know how calm Isabella can be and I'm sure we can pull this through. "Are you calm now?" I demand impatiently and she nods vigorously. "Good", I lean forward. She takes a large gulp and drops her hands to her lap. "This is going to be a contract marriage. I just want you to be my wife for just a year. After a year, I will pay you additional money and you can leave. In total, I will pay you $50,000- the first $25,000 will be as soon as the contract is signed and the next $25,000 will be after the marriage is over", I explain, expecting her to jump up in excitement that she will be free after a year and I will pay her handsomely. But she isn't doing that. She looks scared. She looks like someone who is about to cry. She doesn't look excited about the idea of getting married to me in secrecy for a reason known to me alone and getting paid for doing that. I sigh. "Do you understand?" She shakes her head and a tear drops. I furrow my brows. What the hell is this? Why the hell is she crying? Anger courses through me and I am thinking of dismissing her when she raises her eyes to stare at me. "Marriage? Why? Why me?" She wipes her years with the tip of her fingers. "Are you in or not? Stop interrogating me!" I reply harshly. I already said it is a contract marriage and it means a contract will be drawn for this purpose. She can go through the rules and regulations guiding the contract and if she isn't satisfied with any of them, she can inform me or decide not to do it. What is the big deal anyway? I am doing her a huge favor here and she ought to be grateful. Why is she behaving as if I am punishing her? She shakes her head and my brows crease further in confusion. "I'm sorry, sir", she apologizes for no reason. "I'm sorry, sir but I can't do that.""Why?" I question with a frown on my face. Why the hell is she rejecting an awesome offer like this? Does she even know what it means to get this huge money for just a year's job? "I just can't", she sobs. "I can't get married if you need a contract…." I begin to laugh, interrupting her from going further. She can't marry me based on a contract? She wants to marry me because of what then? Anger fills me up again and I slam my fist on the desk, making her bolt upright. I ball my fist and watch her with a deadly look. I regret putting this to her. I shouldn't have told her. I should have just stuck with the initial plan of going to a club with Gabriel later tonight or asking his wife to help me get one of her friends to be my wife for just a year. "You know what?" I ask pointedly with a serious face. My hands shake in anger. She bows her head, not wanting to look me in the face. "Forget I said all of that", I say to her. "Get out!" She hoists her head with disbelief skating her expression. "Get out!" I hell, making her scurry to the door. She stands there for a while as if contemplating what to do with my offer. Before I can shout at her once more to leave, she dashes out.

Chapter 3 CHAPTER 3

Isabella's POV This is definitely not what I have envisioned for myself. I have never thought of giving contract or arranged marriages a try despite how I have been so unlucky in relationships. I have never been in a relationship before and I am a f*king virgin. I don't know if it is the excitement of having a man talk to me that is the problem that makes them go away and never come back for another date or probably because of my sticking behavior towards intimacy. I have been sitting in my office all day long, doing absolutely nothing but crying, cursing, and wishing for the impossible. How can I be married to my boss? And for just a year? How is that even possible? Is it the fact that I will be under his roof that is the problem or the issue of being with him for just a year? I can't pinpoint the reason for my sadness. I just don't feel like going through with this. My boss is a f*ing Greek god and I am worried about my weak heart. When I first started work here a year ago, I had secretly admired him from afar for the first few weeks but when he showed me his true colors by shouting at me, giving me orders, and tormenting my life with loads of work to do all in the name of punishments, my crush for him began to fade away the way it came and I sank myself deeper into my work. Grandma needs her leg surgery to be done in the next few weeks and I have nothing in my savings account. Absolute nothing! My salary only helps to pay the bills; laundry, electricity bills, rent, groceries, our home management, and grandma's medications. Aside from all of these, I have nothing else left to save. How do I come up with money before the next appointment which is in two weeks? This appointment with the doctor in two weeks will determine the day for the surgery. If we don't go to the hospital with the money, the doctor might send us out because we haven't been paying the hospital bills for a month now. Something came up and I used that money for something else. Gosh! I hit my head. Crying won't solve the problem. I need to think of an alternative. Should I ask Juliet for advice on what to do? I have never been so indecisive in my entire life. I have two options at the moment and I don't wish to go for any of the two; becoming Frederick's slut forever while he pays my bills and attends to all my financial needs or becoming my boss's wife for just a year. I am chiding myself not to cry again. I have shed almost all the liquid left in me and all I want to do now is curl up in my small bed and wallow in self-pity. The intercom ringing jerks me out of my reverie and a sudden realization that I haven't done a single job for the last 5 hours dawns on me. Is it the boss? Is he calling to fire me? I haven't even worked on the file he gave to me this morning? I am a dead meat. I know he will shout at me and probably fire me at the end of his long scoldings. Tears spring to my eyes as I summon up the courage to pick the intercom up. "H…he…llo, sir", I stammer with my lips shaking in anxiety. I don't know what he wants to say but something stirs in me. If he fires me, I deserve it because I didn't do my job and I have allowed my personal problems to distract me from my job. "You can go home", he dismisses me sharply, without any other word. "What?!" My heart thumps wildly in my chest and I begin to breathe heavily at the thought of losing my job when I need it the most. "Did you hear what I said?" He shouts at me angrily. He is still angry from earlier. "I said leave work and go home." He repeats and I furrow my brows. This is so unlike him. I should leave my job and go home? Is he sacking me from my job or just dismissing me for the day? Before I can ask what he means, he disconnects the call and I slump further in the chair. My confusion has intensified now. I don't even know what he wants me to do now. I haven't started the work yet and I was just about to when his call came in. Should I leave it till tomorrow as he said? Can I still come back tomorrow? My phone begins to ring and I pick up quickly, thinking it is my boss again. When I see Juliet's name on the screen and not my boss's name, I heave a sigh of relief and something clicks in me. My boss was supposed to have an appointment by 4 pm and this is past 5 pm already. I totally forgot to go back to him so we could go for the appointment. Maybe he went there alone or with his secretary. Our boss has me employed as his Personal Assistant and also has a secretary. Since he has called me to go home then it means he isn't back in the office here and I can truly go home. I pick up the call. "Hey, I am on my way to your house, are you back from work?" Her shrill voice booms into the phone. I suddenly remember that Juliet and I planned to go out today. This will be a great opportunity to tell her about my boss and what he is offering me. I want to know her take on the issue. If she is in my shoes, will she take it or turn it down as I did? "I will be there soon", I only say, surprised at the sound of my voice. I just hope grandma won't detect anything. I drop the call and sit still without attempting to stand up and go as the boss has instructed. I open the laptop and see his image still there just the way I left it earlier this morning before he called me into his office. He looks gorgeous. Handsome. Hot and Sexy. The more I stare at him, the more his eyes pierce deep into me, making me conscious of what I am doing and making me think this is not just an image. Quickly, I scroll down. His age, background and every other thing about the man I call my boss is there on the internet. There is just one thing that baffles people around the office as well as the public. I won't lie that I am not baffled too. I have never heard of him being in a romantic relationship since I started working here and I have never seen a woman come looking for him. Why does he want to get married for just a year? Is this all for business sake? My eyes fall on the networth and I gasp softly. He is my boss and I know he is f*ing rich but I never thought he was this loaded. He is not just a billionaire, he is a f*ing trillionaire with businesses all over the continent. My hands shake rigorously and I stand up abruptly to pack my things. I need to see Juliet. I need to tell her what happened in the office today. And I need to tell her all about my boss. I need her advice, then I can make a decision. Whatever decision I make, I hope it will favor me and I won't have any regrets at the end of the day.

Chapter 4 CHAPTER 4

Jayden's POV Loud music blasts into my ears the moment I step into the club. The last time I came here was long before Helena died. I usually frequent this place just to have fun with my friends and with new business partners and clients. This is where we come for relaxation after days of hard work. But I stopped coming, just like I stopped every other thing that interested me since Helena died. I stopped being friends with almost all the guys that made up the Billionaire's Club and the Private Member's Club. I pushed all of them away but Gabriel wouldn't budge. Coming back here after several years of being away, a wave of nostalgia hits me hard as I remember all that we shared in this same club with different business-minded men who have come from different backgrounds with one sole aim; success. I love being a part of the club because of their thirst for more wealth, power and more success. Every one of us wanted to keep topping the rankings of the billionaire members in New York. I blow out a sigh and look down for a while, wondering why the thought of Helena is back now. Exhaling deeply, I look up as I venture further into the club, glancing around for Gabriel. We planned to meet her so he can find me a girl to talk to about the contract and the conditions. I just hope it will go well and I won't have to deal with a bitch. I remember Isabella's rejection and to be honest, I was hurt a bit. I was tempted to fire her but I can't go through the process of looking for another Personal Assistant with this heavy workload. Besides, Isabella is hardworking and she is good at what she does. She would have been the best girl for the job. But I don't want to be paranoid. I will look for another girl to do the job for me and after a year, that will be all. I spot Gabriel in the same VIP section we used to sit in and discuss before moving upstairs where the members of the Private Members meet, discuss, have fun, play games, and go home with ladies to warm their bed. I was not the type to go home with a lady because Helen was always at home waiting for me to come back home. She is anti-social and she hates it when I attend the meeting every weekend. Most of the members of our club are into the Mafia and that was why she hated the idea of going with me or even meeting any of them. I sigh as I approach Gabriel's table. I notice there are two women beside him, laughing and drinking with him. I recognize the first woman as his wife, Sabrina but the other woman is not someone I know. Gabriel looks up and he beams in happiness. He waves at me, making the girls turn to see me close by. I walk faster, ignoring the irritation in my stomach at the large crowd and the loud music. I want to get done with all of this and be out of here. Gabriel stands up to shake my hand and we hug briefly. I nod at his wife and the other lady in greeting before sitting opposite them. "You came late", Grabriel shouts so he can be heard above the loud music. I nod, flashing him an apologetic smile. He points towards the girl beside Sabrina who is eyeing me from head to toe, examining my looks and flashing me a seductive smile. "This is Eunice, Sabrina's friend. She is interested in your offer." Really? I arch my brows at her, surprised that Gabriel has gotten to work so fast. I never thought he would find someone for me before I came, I was thinking we would sit together and watch out for someone of interest amongst the ladies in the club. "Have you told her the conditions?" I say, loud enough for him to hear. Fortunately, the music is changed to a soft one and I heave a sigh of relief. I don't have to shout now. I am pretty exhausted already and I would love to go home, take a bath and go to bed. Gabriel shrugs. "You can do that now." I face the lady who is shaking her body slowly to the music. "The marriage is going to be for just a year, hope you know that?" She looks surprised but nods anyway. I lean forward so she can listen to the conditions carefully. "There will be no sex and no…""What?" She exclaims loudly before laughing. "No sex? How is that even possible when we are married?" This is the problem. I need someone who will understand and not someone ready to kick against my conditions or interrogate me on why I want this. This is what I want, isn't this clear enough? "That is what I want", I answer her with gritted teeth as she watches me with wide eyes. "No strings attached." She turns to her friend for an explanation and I wonder what they told her. Gabriel is silent. "Gabriel, you didn't tell me this is what I came here for. How can I be married to a sexy, hot man like this and not have sex? Is he impotent?" She says loudly, pointing towards me and staring at me in awe. I squeeze my eyes shut. Sabrina and Gabriel begins to laugh like two crazy teenagers and anger course through me. What the hell is this? Where did he get this stupid woman from? "Because I don't want us to have sex doesn't mean I don't have a manhood", I glare at her harshly. I don't know why I am even defending myself. I look stupid right now. "Really? Then let's have sex right now." She suggests. "What?!" Is this girl crazy? What sort of high-class whore is this? I don't want a woman who will go about f***ing every single man that comes her way just because we are married and not having sex. This is definitely not the type of woman I want. Sabrina is still laughing while Gabriel is trying so hard to contain his laughter. This is bullshit! I stand up abruptly and take a last look at the couple before shifting my gaze to the lady whose cleavage is on display in an attempt to seduce me. Even if I want to make do with this lady, she is going to seduce me to do what I don't want. I don't want to have sex with any woman again. Helena is my woman and I am going to remain faithful to her even in death. This is because of what I did to her by cheating on her when she was alive. I didn't mean to cheat but I did. She found out and we had a big fight, coupled with her desire for me to leave the Mafia business I am into. I told her no and she slapped me and then ran out. I never knew I would never see her again until I got the news that my woman and child were dead. How can I have sex again knowing fully well that cheating on her was what lead to her death? I twirl back abruptly and begin to walk away from them, ignoring Grabriel's shout for me to come back. I don't need his help anymore. Henceforth, I will do this my way. I will find the woman I want for just a year all by myself. Seeking help from him and his crazy wife was a bad idea. Suddenly, someone bumps into me, making me halt in my tracks and grab her before she can stumble to the ground. I feel like a hero when I get a hold of her, stopping her from falling because of me but when I see her face, I drop her quickly in shock. "Isabella?" I call, with furrowed brows. "What the hell are you doing here?!"

Chapter 5 CHAPTER 5

Isabella's POV A lump of dread gets stuck in my throat when our eyes interlock and I look away quickly as guilt and embarrassment sip through me. I can't believe my boss and I are meeting in a club and I don't know why he is this pissed at me for being in a club. Eventually, I swallow the lump, gulping loudly and nodding my head at him. The music has started already and I scan my eyes to look for Juliet where I left her. She isn't there. I left her there because I wanted to use the restroom. We haven't talked about the reason why I am here because she is ranting about some stuff that I haven't been paying attention to. My mind was miles away. Thinking. Debating. Wondering. And wishing. "Isabella, I said what are you doing here?" He grabs me again, speaking in a low tone but with gritted teeth. I want to talk but I can't find my voice. How can I tell him I am here to talk to my friend about his offer? Or I am here to take away my sorrows by having a good dance and drinking all night long? "I…I..am..here with my friend", I stammer, avoiding his icy glare as my heart begins to race again. "A friend?" He demands with disbelief. "A guy?" I raise a brow and look up at him because of the tone he is using to ask me if the friend I am here with is a guy. Why does he sound possessive? "No", I shake my head vigorously. "My friend, Juliet'', I point towards where Juliet and I were sitting earlier. Fortunately, she is back on the seat. He turns slowly and watches Juliet who is shaking her body to the music slowly and drinking while waiting for me to show up so we can dance together. I see a flash of relief washing through his expression as he heaves a deep sigh before turning back to me. "Good night", he mutters, like someone tired of seeing my face or probably tired of being here. What is he doing here too? Jayden is not one to go to clubs and parties. Is he here for a business meeting? Before I can realize what he means by good night, he walks past me. "Wait", I say before I can stop myself from blurting out. "Wait, sir", I rephrase. He halts in his tracks without turning back. When he finally turns to face me squarely, I lean my head down again. "I'm sorry for what I did earlier. I didn't…" "Isabella", he cuts me short. I raise my head and see him glancing around, making it obvious to me that we are in a club, somewhere not convenient for this type of conversation. "See you tomorrow." With that, he twirls back and within minutes, he is gone. Did he just say see you tomorrow? Does that mean I still have my job? Why is he this calm and soft on me? Has he forgiven me? Unconsciously, a smile teases my lips and I jog over to where Juliet is sitting. Suddenly, I remember I haven't gotten a solution to my problem yet. My grandmother is still at home, bedridden. I still need to look for a way to get the money required for her surgery. Not getting fired from my job isn't the only problem I have. I have others of which my grandmother's surgery is the most important. Others can follow afterward. "Hey", she looks up when I get close. "What took you so long?" "Nothing", I plop onto the sofa beside her. She picks up a glass cup of wine and stretches it to me. I take it and gulp everything down. I blow out a sigh. "Juliet", I call before she can continue with her rantings. She stares at me, wriggling her body in a slow-motion dance. "There is something I need to tell you." I lean forward to drop the cup and she refills but I am not picking it up or drinking it. I only lean backward and wait for her to ask me what it is. She isn't saying anything. "Juliet", I shout above the music, wondering if she didn't hear me. She gazes at me again. "I have something to tell you." She nods. "What is it?" I puff out air and look away, raking my fingers into my hair and biting my lower lip, thinking about how to begin. Her touch jerks me out of my reverie. "What happened?" "I asked my boss to help me with the money for grandmother's surgery just like you suggested", I begin, demonstrating with my hands to hide my nervousness. "Really?" Her face lit up in excitement. "Did he agree?" "Yes, he did", I say firmly, sticking my teeth together and adding. "But with a condition." Confusion spreads across her face and she tilts her head towards me. "What's the catch?" I roll my eyes and answer. "He wants me to marry him." Silence falls as her eyes grew wide in shock. This was how shocked I was too when he told me but the shock multiplied when he told me it was just for a year. A year? "Marry him?" She ask again as if to be sure I am not lying against my billionaire boss whom she hadn't seen physically but always on TVs. Juliet has a huge crush on my boss but I never told her that I once had a crush on him too. She wouldn't even believe me if I told her. She always teases me about men, she calls me too serious and even mocks me sometimes that I might end up dying a virgin. "Yes. He said he wants me to marry him for just a year and the idea sounds ridiculous", I frown, expressing my thoughts about the whole thing. She looks thoughtful for a short while before asking. "What do you gain from this marriage?" I shrug nonchalantly. "He promised to pay me $50000 aside from the other expenses like shopping, allowances, and the rest…" "Did he tell you why he wants to be married for just a year?" She cuts me short with a serious look on her face. I shrug again. "No. Probably business." "Really?" I nod. "Are you in?" She questions with a sly smile. My frown deepens. "Are you stupid? The idea is ridiculous. I can't marry him for just a year…" "You can't marry him for just a year or you can't marry him?" She interrupts me, making me realize what I just said. This was the same thing I said to my boss when he asked me to marry him in his office. "Wait", she adjusts, thereby facing me squarely. "You can't marry or you don't want to marry him or you won't marry him?" I don't even understand the point she is driving at. I wave my hands in the air. "All of the above." She burst into laughter, making me arch a brow in confusion. Is this funny? When she sobered up, she brings out her mobile phone and hold it out for me to take. "Give me his number. I am interested in getting married to him for a year or two years or even one day." "You are not serious, are you?" I peer down at her in disbelief and doubt. Juliet can be playful and sometimes I don't even know when she is serious and when she is unserious. "I am serious", stress the 'serious'. "I am dead serious. I am fucking serious. What the hell is wrong with you? Don't you know that this is a lifetime opportunity? It is coming from a man you know so well. He is your boss and you have known him for over a year, tell me what exactly stops you from jumping at the offer like a frog, then?" I can't believe she is asking me to take the offer. What was I expecting? "Don't be a fool, Bella. You are not doing this for yourself. I have always known you to be a selfless human. You are doing this for your grandmother's survival. Isn't this better than becoming that pig's slut? Don't be daft", she glares at me angrily before turning to grab her refilled glass cup. I blink. I blink again, trying to absorb it all. Should I give in? "I am not going to say anything about this anymore. I won't even advise you to take the offer. The least I can do to help you both is to steal his number from your phone, call him and tell him I am interested in becoming his wife. I don't even care if I will have to have sex with him every night…." "He mentioned that there will be no strings attached", I inform her and she gasps softly. "No sex for a year?" Her mouth drops open in surprise and I nod. "What a waste! How can I possibly be under his roof without fantasizing about having him take me, make love to me, kiss me…." She trails off with a dreamy look on her face. Juliet had always wanted to meet with my boss but she hadn't had an opportunity and I guess the crush is beginning to fade away. She doesn't visit me at the office because it isn't allowed. No one can come into the office without proper identification, except for my boss's business partners from overseas. "Take it", she comes out of her daydream and hits my legs, making me wince in pain. "What the hell was that for?" I move away thinking she will hit me again. She looks drunk already. She chuckles and flashes me her white teeth. "Take the offer. You are a virgin anyway." I roll my eyes again. "But this is such a missed opportunity you know? I would have been the best person for the job if only he was going to want us to have sex and do sort of bad things to each other. I can't imagine what it will feel like for him to eat…" "Juliet", I call out for her to stop with her raw words and she laughs then stands up, dragging her hair backward. "Let's dance. Let's dance it out. Let's dance for the offer and the hope of a better future", she hauls me up forcefully. I stand upright, careful not to let her make me fall and she drags me to the dance floor. As she rocks her body on me, she yelps in excitement. "Bella is going to be a billionaire's wife. Yayyyyy!!!"