009

Khloe's POV

Peering at him, I didn't say a word but right in my head I had initiated several conversations already.

To be honest, I wasn't expecting to even get an audience since I didn't reach out to him after he had helped me only to return a year later asking for another favor.

"What's the condition?" I asked and almost immediately, a smile appeared on his lips, making me raise my brow at him.

"I'm in a very tight corner right now and only you can help me." He took a pause only to pick up the pace almost immediately, "You will be my contracted wife for a year."

"What?" I asked with widened eyes as I pulled myself to my feet.

Staring at him with my lips apart, I tried to speak but words refused to form. Marriage was the last on my list at the moment, not to talk of a contract marriage.

"I fooled my father for a year that I'm married so I wouldn't be forced to get married to someone else." He said, his tone was low.

From his expression, I knew he wasn't making this up and though I honestly wanted to help him, I couldn't.

"You can ask me if something else I will do promptly." I broke the silence in the room.

"That is the only need I have, Khloe. You have to help me before I can help you." He slurred in his speech, causing my heartbeat to increase.

First it was a real marriage where I was made a fool of and now, a contract marriage to fool someone.

Shaking my head, I muttered, "I'm sorry I can't."

With a mild tone, I itched towards him, hoping he would understand me, "I don't want to get committed to a man anytime soon. I have my career to build, so I don't want to get distracted." I rapped.

"It's a contract marriage and my terms are not life threatening." He clicked his tongue. "You benefit from it, I benefit from it too… you see… it's a win-win situation."

"I'm still not interested in a contract marriage. Like I said, I'm willing to do any other thing but commitment to a man, I don't want to do that."

"Then I'm sorry, I can't help you." After gulping down the remaining content of his cup down his throat, he wiped his mouth with the back of his palm as he rose.

"You have just six hours to return with a response." He said with his back turned on me.

Checking my wrist watch, I discovered I had just three hours left to sign the agreement Lance had sent to my office and now another six hours to make a life threatening decision.

Grabbing my purse, I rose and with a loud and firm voice, I said, "I'm sorry, I will have to seek help somewhere else." I didn't wait for him to say a word before I made my way towards the door.

Now outside his office, I stared at the closed door for a while before I began to head towards the elevator.

An hour later, I was in my living room, pacing about with a worried look on my face. I couldn't return to the office since I didn't want to bother Tiara with my troubles.

"Who am I going to solicit help from?" I pondered.

Apart from Nevian, I hadn't come in contact with any businessman or even developed a relationship that would give me the boldness to ask for a favor.

Plopping on the couch, I pushed my hand into my hair and then began to tug on it, not minding my aching scalp.

Unable to think straight anymore, I grabbed my purse and armed with my car keys, I made my way towards the door.

On my return to Nevian's office, I didn't step in immediately, instead, I remained in the corridor, constructing my words before I would go in to face him.

When I finally got a hang of my words, I cleared my throat and then connected my fists against the door.

Instead of a response coming from inside of the office, I heard a voice right behind me and immediately I swirled around only to see Nevain staring at me.

"Have you made up your mind?" He asked, pulling his hand out of his pocket.

"I will only make that decision when I see the content of the contract." I said with a straight face, avoiding his eyes.

"Come in." He pushed the door in, ushering me inside his office before he stepped in after me.

Now seated across from him on his mahogany table, he opened his cabinet and then retrieved a file, tossing it in my direction.

"Don't tell me you have this already typed out." I shrieked, alternating my gaze from the document to him.

"You don't have to blame me." He pushed his hand into his hair, saying, "The only way I can get married is through a contract and so I had to prepare myself for it." He shrugged while I huffed in response.

The first part of the contract made a bit of sense until I got to the part where it stated we were going to live together as couples.

"You will have to adjust this."

"No! I'm the one in charge here and so I make all the decisions. All you have to do is to follow since you are the second party."

"Come on Nevian, don't you think this is uncalled for? I mean, it's just a marriage contract, there is no need to be formal with it or even go to the extent of acting like real couples." I groaned.

"To make it real, we have to act like it's real."

"I'm sorry, I won't be able to sign this as it is against my principles and conduct." I said, pulling myself to my feet.

Immediately I stepped into the elevator, my phone began to buzz, revealing Lance's secretary contact on my screen.