Contract Negotiations

"What's this?" Adriana asked as she read the details of the marriage contract she was about to sign.

"That's the contract we drew up. We just need your signature to complete this whole process" Hunter replied her like she was daft.

"No, I know what the paper is. What the hell is this saying I'll be married to him for at least a year and then I can divorce him but still have no claim to his money or property?" She asked with literal flames in her eyes.

"It's a prenuptial agreement ma'am, Master Hayden would like to safeguard his position in the case you want to end the marriage in no less than a year" the lawyer replied her.

"One year huh? It I remember correctly, the next election for mayor is in a year. So you're planning on holding out until you can put one of your pawns in power and then even if I report to the authorities nothing can happen to you" Adriana growled at Hunter from across the table and the eldest brother only smiled back. He was smiling but the darkness still remained in his eyes, it felt like she was staring at the devil himself.

"Adriana, as always you never cease to impress me with how much you can read the situation. I thought you'll be easy to work into an agreement but it seems you're tougher than you look" He tilted his head to the side and stared back at her.

"I want compensation for the one year I'll be married to your brother. One million for every day I spend married to him"

"What? That's stupidly outrageous. $365 million? It'll cost even lesser to kill you and bribe the whole town for a cover-up" Hunter exclaimed in surprise.

"Yeah, that's my terms. Besides your calculations are wrong. It's a leap year coming up so we'll have one extra day, it's $366 million for the signature. You're all multi billionaires, it's going to cost you but it's not like you can't recover the money easily" She argued as she reclined in her seat. She felt like the seams of her dress were going to burst as she did that.

"You want $366 million? Then you have it but there are other things we would like to add to the contract in that case" the speaker was Hayden which surprised Adriana because she assumed Hunter was the spokesperson of the brothers.

"What do you want then?"

"You will have no outside contact during the duration of our time together, you will also sign a Non-disclosure agreement forbidding you from appearing on media to talk about the Friedman Family. Your family will be informed of our wedding but they won't be allowed to see you until you terminate our marriage"

"You'll really ban me from seeing my brothers for a whole year?" She asked Hayden with her brow raises in curiosity.

"You keep saying one year like that's how long you expect us to remain together" Hayden replied her question with a question of his own.

"We'll be lucky if we even manage to make it to the one year minimum" She scoffed as she picked the pen up to sign the contract but she froze in the middle of her action.

"Right and one more thing. I've taken a liking to Betty and to convince her that her elder brother is not a murderous bastard we'll be required to share rooms" Adriana added with a smirk and Hayden shrugged in agreement.

"Also, you can't have sex with me" She added quickly before signing the paper with her initials.

"That won't be a problem, I assure you I have lovers who you look basic compared to" Hayden scoffed at her condition and she smiled before handing the contract over to him to sign.

"Congratulations, you're now Mrs. Adriana Friedman" Jeremy added in a light-hearted tone to ease us the atmosphere and Adriana gave him a polite smile in return.

"Jeremy, go call the priest in and tell Becky and Grandma to prepare for wedding picture" Hayden ordered his brother before getting up and offering Adriana a hand which she ignored and got up by herself.

"Congratulations brother, you have just gotten yourself married." Hunter teased his twin and Hayden glared at him with everyone knowing the marriage was his idea in the first place.

'Hayden is the richest out of the three brothers but Hunter still controls all the affairs of the family. I wonder if there is a hidden reason for why Hunter- who's net worth isn't up to half of Hayden's own, still is the head of the family' Adriana thought as they all proceeded to living room where the priest was waiting for them with the wedding rings.

"Adriana, we might not have much love for each other but I hope you at least pretend this whole fiasco is real when we are in front of my grandmother or little sister" Hayden whispered into her ear before they entered the living room and Adriana ignored him as she made to sit on the couch.

In a few minutes, Jeremy and Betty returned to the room but Jeremy was pushing a wheelchair with an elderly woman sitting in it.

"Jeremy, take me close to her let me see my grand daughter-in-law" The woman's frail voice was the only sound in the room as everyone was silent when she spoke.

Jeremy pushed the wheelchair over to Adriana and the old lady grabbed hold of her hand.

"She is very pretty, even prettier than that rude prostitute you used to bring home. What is your name my child?"

"Adriana"

"Tell me Adriana, why hasn't Hayden mentioned you before?" The old lady asked her in a low tone while tightening her grip on her hand.

"I don't really know ma, he was always reluctant to show me his family until after we got married probably because I'm not from a prestigious family"

"Mmhmm, well he shouldn't have been afraid. I'm glad that at least he found someone to settle with not after-"

"-Grandma, that's enough now. Let's not bore her with your stories. Come and sit let's get on with the wedding" Hayden interrupted his grandmother by pushing her wheelchair towards her seat.

'What did he stop her from telling me?' Adriana wondered as she rose to meet her new husband with the priest