Chapter 3

• Scarlett's POV
• Brrrrrrrrr! brrrrrrrrr! brrrrrrr!. My phone alarm wouldn't stop ringing. I woke up lazily turning it off. The sudden knock startled me. Wearing my flaps, I reluctantly walked to get to the door.
• “Wear this and for once look like the lady you are". My dad said, handing over a bag.
• I took a glimpse inside and realized there was a dress and shoe with earrings. “Thank you ". I murmured.
• This was the first time my dad has ever given me a present since my mom's death.
• “Hurry up and change. Lateness will cost me a great deal".
• With that, he walked downstairs not giving a care in the world. I was all happy yesterday until my life was just reduced to this. It's better to accept my fate the way it is now. I sometimes wonder whether the heavens are even on my side. I ran into the washroom for a cold shower since that's what would calm my nerves. Wrapping my towel around me, I walked reluctantly into my room and sat in front of the vanity. I've never applied makeup on my face before but I wanted to try it today. I don't know who in their right senses would want to look good when they are being sold? I guess it's only me. I looked at my reflection in the mirror and smiled. We've got this Scarlett. Turning on the hair dryer, I started drying my hair to avoid getting a cold. Once done, I did a faint eyeliner and applied lip balm to my lips. Quickly applying a blush to my cheeks, I applied a little makeup. It was now time for my hair. I decided to let it fall down in waves below my shoulders with its natural shine.
• I walked towards my bed and changed into the dress my dad gave me this morning, making sure not to smear the dress with make-up. I wore the diamond earrings and its pairing necklace and a bracelet. Finally done with my look by wearing high heels, I stood in front of my vanity not recognizing myself. ‘Wow, I didn't know I looked so beautiful '. I smiled and walked out to avoid my father's wrath.
• Taking my time not to fall on high heels, I carefully held the barrister walking downstairs gently.
• “You look just like your mom when we first married. " My dad commented and held my hand, taking me outside. Halting a cab, we boarded and left for God knows where.
• Ryan's POV
• “It's all set Ryan, the contract is ready. Are you sure you don't want to make any changes to it?"
• “I'm sure, James. There's no need to worry. I've got this"
• “Then I will be taking my leave ". I nodded in response, checking the time. It's ten minutes to the time I gave him. If he is late, he will bear the consequences.
• Scarlett's POV
• The ride was a nice one. It seems where we are going it's in a secluded area but I liked the view. Along the way, I found a nice luxurious building which I gasped out loud and the driver, who happened to know around, said this was the least attractive house on this route. I was shocked. What kind of people lived in this neighborhood? Probably rich men in the city with their families.
• Taking a sharp turn, we drove through nice flowerbeds designed along the way with their flowers glistening in the sun. The car came to a halt in front of the tallest and most luxurious building I've ever seen.
• Wow! I gasped in admiration
• “You like the view?”, my dad asked.
• “Yeah it's nice". I said, following my dad into the building.
• “Hi Sir, I'm the butler, Mr. Chu. -to the right please ", Chu led us to the man whom I was desperate to meet. We stopped in front of the elevator. The man now identified as Mr. Chu directed us to enter the elevator.
• “Won't you go with us?”, my dad asked, when the man had no intentions of joining us in the elevator.
• “Sir, he is on the 3rd floor. The room with the blue door on your right. My work here is done ". Mr. Chu left for his work.
• That's weird. How can one person live in this big house all alone by himself? He must be really lonely, I thought. I tapped my forehead. What's even wrong with me and why am I thinking about someone responsible for my doom?
• The sound from the elevator after it stopped alerted me that we had reached the floor. Sucking in a deep breath, I braced myself for my fate. I know after this; everything is definitely going to change. My dad lightly knocked on the door.
• Ryan's POV
• It was two minutes more to the set time when I heard a knock. This man is very lucky.
• “Come in", I ordered. I looked up and saw only John in his faded suit. ‘Where was the girl? ‘I thought. Did he defy my orders? I reasoned until I looked down and saw a female shoe right behind him. She must be a petite, shy girl to hide behind her dad this way. My secretary excused us, paving the way for them to sit. It was then I noticed the beauty. Did I say beauty? What's gotten into me? She looked so innocent and beautiful. This idiot must be a coward for maltreating her.
• “I brought her along with me but you must promise not to harm her ". I nodded in response.
• “Can you excuse us?" I spoke, giving no room for interruptions. “But”, John spoke looking confused. He must be joking if he thinks I would be discussing terms of the contract in his presence.
• “I will be standing right outside the door". He spoke, leaving his daughter alone with me.
• Scarlett's POV
• Being scared will be an understatement of what I felt while we entered the room. I had to hide behind my dad to avoid the eyes of whoever I was meeting today. Once his secretary left the room, we were told to sit. That's when I noticed the man sitting in the chair. His beauty took my breath away. How could one be so handsome? No wonder he avoids public gatherings because he would by now be having girls swooning all over him, but there was something about him, his cold demeanor. His cold demeanor made me feel goosebumps despite the place being hot.
• “Can you excuse us", he spoke for the first time while we took our seats.
• He wanted my dad to leave, but why? I hope he doesn't have any bad intentions because I learned taekwondo in high school and I know a lot of martial arts to defend myself. But who am I kidding?
• Alright, my dad said with a stern face, and left the room for me and the stranger.
• “May I ask why you told my dad to leave us alone ". I asked, boldly looking him in the eye. I didn't know where I got the sudden boldness from.
• Ryan's POV
• “May I ask why you told my dad to leave us alone", the young girl asked after her good for nothing father left us alone in the room. I just laughed.
• “Well, I'm sure your dad briefed you on why you were asked to be brought here. But let me go over just in case you might have forgotten. Your dad owes me money. A huge amount of money, but the money has lost its value. I want you in return to reach a consensus".
• I looked at the confusion on her face and smiled.
• “I guess you don't understand, so let me break it down. I want you to marry me in place of your dad's debt."
• “But why me when you have a lot of girls who will swoon all over you? Besides, I don't even know you. And why do you think I will agree"? She must be a bit stubborn but I always have my way. “Don't get me wrong. I don't love you and I'm not looking for love. I just want to marry, for my dad to know I'm responsible, so it's going to be a contract marriage with no love attached. The contract is already prepared.”
• “But won't your dad find out about you deceiving him and why would you think I will marry a man I don't love”.
• “It's very simple. We will act like a couple in love in front of my family. Don't worry, I will pay you if I go overboard”.
• Scarlett's POV
• “Well, I'm sure your dad briefed you on why you were asked to be brought here. But let me go over just in case you might have forgotten. Your dad owes me money. A huge amount of money, but the money has lost its value so I want you in return as simply as that". This man must be kidding.
• “I guess you don't understand, so let me break it down. I want you to marry me in place of your dad's debt", he tried to reason.
• “But why me when you have a lot of girls who will swoon all over you. Besides, I don't even know you. And why do you think I will agree"? I asked, totally confused, “Don't get me wrong, I don't love you and I'm not looking for love. I just want to marry, for my dad to know I'm responsible, so it's going to be a contract marriage with no love attached. The contract is already prepared. " He must be kidding thinking I will fall for him.
• “But won't your dad find out about you deceiving him and why would you think I would marry a man I don't love". I reasoned
• “It's very simple. We will act like a couple in love in front of my family. Don't worry, I will pay you if I go overboard."
• Thinking about this, it seems like a good offer but a total disgrace to me. My friends will think I married for money and they will be disappointed in me. I thought things like this happen only in movies. But I needed to make a decision fast because my dad's life was on the line. “I agree...", I said shamefully
• “..but I have a rule. I want to pay you back the money my dad owes. Once I pay you back the money, I'm free to leave this loveless marriage and you are not allowed to touch me"
• “I agree”, that was fast. I wasn't expecting a fast reply from him.
• “This is the contract; you need to review it carefully and sign now." He said, passing over the file to me.
• Ryan's POV
• The confusion on her face tells it all that she doesn't like the idea but I don't care.
• “I agree", she spoke after a while. “.. but I have a rule". I wasn't expecting that, but who cares.
• “I want to pay you back the money my dad owes. Once I pay you back the money, I'm free to leave this loveless marriage and you are not allowed to touch me."
• Who says I find her attractive, in her dreams? “I agree". The shock plastered on her face said it all that she wasn't expecting me to agree that easily but I meant business.
• “This is the contract; you need to review it carefully and sign now." I watched her expression as she began to read through. I know she will definitely get to question me when she reaches the part containing the rules. She's the chatty type and I am not the type to be questioned.