Chapter 8 Marriage Contract With The Billionaire

• Cece’s POV
• The moment I stepped into the sleek office, a rush of hope filled me, like the first rays of sunlight on spring grass. The sense of optimism surged through me, soothing my nerves. I had a sense of purpose now, and it felt good. I was here in Sebastian's world, about to sign the marriage contract that bound us together—a marriage of convenience. He needed a transactional bride to fuel his business status, and I was that bridge.
• I smoothed my black blazer, which reached just above my thighs, as I entered his office. The view from the windows was nothing short of magnificent, overlooking the city’s towering skyscrapers. This was where it would all start—the place where I would sign my new life away.
• "Thank you for doing this," I whispered to myself, grateful for his patience.
• Sebastian greeted me with a warm smile, holding the door open. "Cecelia, it's great to see you."
• His suit was impeccable—tailored perfectly to his frame, crisp and sleek. I couldn’t deny that he looked every bit the powerful businessman. The cologne and aftershave mixed in the air, and I inhaled deeply, trying to commit it to memory.
• He gestured toward a chair, and I smiled. "Thank you, Sebastian."
• He stood there, his presence filling the room, the aura of authority surrounding him. "Welcome to my little space," he said, settling in the chair across from me.
• The office was spacious—nothing too flashy, but there was a quiet elegance to it, with its mahogany desk and a sleek MacBook. The pens and markers were arranged neatly in a container, and everything about it screamed ‘business’—the kind I was beginning to get used to.
• "Thanks for the compliments," I said, admiring the view from the window. "Trust me, this place isn't small at all."
• He chuckled, fumbling with a file. "I’ve prepared the paperwork already. Let me know if you want to add anything before we sign."
• I took the file from him and flipped through the pages carefully, reading every detail. It was everything we’d discussed before. “It’s perfect,” I said, grabbing the pen and signing with a flourish. “No objections here.”
• Sebastian cracked his knuckles and smiled. "Thank you so much for agreeing to do this. It means a lot to me."
• He eyed the document, signed his name, and handed it back to me. "I guess it’s official, then. We’re getting married tomorrow," he said with a smile, but his eyes held a glimmer of something else, like a shared secret.
• I returned his grin. “I suppose so.”
• Sebastian shifted in his seat. "Honestly, I should be thanking you for agreeing to something as crazy as this. But there’s one thing you should know—we need to get our stories straight. My mom is... well, she’s a tough nut to crack."
• I nodded, fully aware of the challenge ahead. “I was about to mention that. It’s going to be awkward explaining how we met, especially with your family. They’ll want to know everything.”
• Just as he opened his mouth to respond, the door swung open with a loud screech, and a woman in a perfectly tailored burgundy business suit stormed in, her heels clicking against the floor with each step.
• "What the hell is going on here, son?" she demanded, her voice shrill and sharp.
• Sebastian muttered under his breath, his expression tightening. “Speak of the devil.”
• The woman stood there, staring at us with a look that could melt steel. Her platinum blonde hair was curled to perfection, and her outfit—so flawless it might as well have been designed for a runway—screamed high-end luxury. She was stunning, but the venom in her eyes spoke volumes.
• "Mom, this is Cecelia channing," Sebastian said, standing up quickly. I did the same, though I could feel the tension in the air. "Cecelia, meet my mother."
• Her eyes narrowed as she studied me, and I could feel the judgment radiating from her. “Cecelia?” she repeated slowly, as if tasting the name on her tongue. “So you’re the woman my son has decided to marry?”
• I felt a prickle of unease. The venom in her gaze burned. "I am," I said, forcing a smile, trying to keep my composure.
• She sniffed, her lips curling into a disdainful smile. “When I said I wanted you married, Sebastian, I didn’t mean you should engage the first tramp you stumbled upon.”
• My stomach dropped. Did she really just call me that?
• Sebastian immediately jumped to my defense, his voice tense. "Mom, please—"
• But I wasn’t about to let her degrade me in front of him. "I think you have the wrong girl here, with all due respect," I said, my tone unwavering as I gave her a polite smile.
• Her lips pursed, her eyes scanning me from head to toe. “Aren’t you one of those leeches trying to make money off my gullible son?” she hissed.
• I forced myself to keep my voice calm, even as the insult hit me like a slap. “I’m afraid not, ma’am. I’m with him because we love each other.”
• The silence was thick, and I could feel Sebastian’s discomfort radiating from him as he shifted on his feet. But his mother wasn’t backing down.
• “I don’t see an engagement ring,” she said, eyeing my fingers with disdain. “How do you explain that?”
• “We’re going ring shopping later today,” Sebastian replied quickly, his voice sharp, “but they didn’t have the exact diamond cut I wanted.”
• Her eyes flicked over to Sebastian with a raised brow, clearly not satisfied with his answer. "I expected better from you, Sebastian."
• His frustration was palpable, but he stood his ground. “She’s the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with, Mom. The sooner you accept that, the better.”
• I watched the exchange closely, surprised by the palpable tension between them. Sebastian was standing up for me, but his mother wasn’t backing down either.
• “Fine,” she said, her voice still cold. “But I’ll be watching. I want to see how long this lasts.”
• I felt the coldness of her words, but I stayed quiet. She obviously wasn’t going to warm up to me anytime soon.
• A knock on the door interrupted the stand-off, and Sebastian’s assistant peeked in. “Mr. Carnall, the board is ready for the meeting. I’m sorry to interrupt.”
• Sebastian sighed in relief, his posture relaxing. “I’ll be right there,” he said, grabbing his briefcase. He gave me an apologetic look before leaning in to kiss me on the cheek. “Please, tolerate her, Cece. Play along.”
• I nodded, trying to hide the frustration that had started to build in my chest. "Okay, babe. I’ll see you after the meeting."
• He winked at me before heading out the door, leaving me alone with his mother. I had no idea what to expect next, but I knew it wasn’t going to be easy.
• The moment Sebastian stepped out, I turned to face his mother, who was now glaring at me like I was the source of all her problems. She didn’t even try to hide her disgust.
• "Have you heard of the comic tale called Aladdin?" she asked, her heels clicking dangerously as she moved toward me, her eyes sharp and cold.
• "Indeed, I have," I said, squaring my shoulders, refusing to back down. "Is that supposed to be an insult?"
• She stepped closer, her voice dripping with venom. “Spoiled thief enters a kingdom pretending to be something he’s not, only in this version, I’m afraid you’re the slutty thief who’s running out of wishes.”
• The slap of her words stung, but I wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of seeing me falter. I crossed my arms over my chest and raised a brow, standing tall despite the venom in her eyes. “Yet, I’m still here, ma’am.”
• “For now,” she spat, her laugh hollow. “And don’t address me as ‘ma’am.’ It makes me feel old.”
• “Guess I’ll enjoy it while I can, right?” I offered her a fake smile. “What would you rather have me call you?”
• “Amelia,” she replied quickly, her eyes narrowing. “Although, you might be surprised to hear this... I see something of my younger self in you.”
• I tilted my head, feigning confusion. “Now you’re just contradicting yourself. One minute, you’re young, the next, old. Honestly, Amelia, I’m getting really confused.”
• Her lips curved into a small, almost imperceptible smile. “Picking things out of context? Acting so smart, I see.”
• I leaned in closer, my eyes meeting hers with a challenge. “What can I say? After all, I do remind you of your younger self. And now that you mention it, I’m wondering if it’s my perky boobs or my wrinkle-free face that takes you on a trip down memory lane.”
• Her face reddened with fury, and she shot back, “Your aimlessness, your irrelevance. You think you deserve something for nothing. You think you deserve an advantage because life has been hard.”
• I leaned in closer, my voice cool and steady. “You do know there’s nothing wrong with taking something if it’s offered to you, right? Especially when it’s on a silver platter?”
• “I don't know what my son sees in you but I will help him cast you out.” she sneered bitterly.
• I was boiling from within, I wanted to yank her hair backward and tell her off because she was just being a bitch but I knew better than to ruin my contract.
• "Do you just distrust my abilities or do you doubt your son's abilities?" I yelled at her just as she almost left the office.
• "Two good questions." She shrugged her shoulders. "If I knew the answers to the first then I wouldn't doubt the second." She placed her sunshade on.
• "Then allow me to prove both." My hands were balled into fists. If I wanted my one-year contract to go well, I needed her on my side, so I tried to negotiate because the pleas of Sebastian rang in my ears.
• “We will see about that." She clicked her tongue before slamming the door hard.
• I thought getting married to a billionaire would be all rosy and beautiful. Well, turns out I just spotted the first thorn in my path, and hopefully, I would be able to tolerate her long enough just right before the contract expires.