CHAPTER ONE

"Hey make sure you read those documents properly before signing." He said authoritatively, his slender fingers tapping at the strategic points of the contract paper.

"Okay, done." Emily's lips trembled as she finished signing off the contract. It was going to be an open marriage, but in the face of the society, they would present as the most sweet and loving couple.

There were seated at an open space coffee bar, far away from where she worked. 

"Don't get any funny ideas into your head." Taylor said.

"What ideas?" Emily looked away from the mug before her, and stared into his icy blue eyes.

The billionaire scoffed, "I know women like you. The less privileged always want to rip the rich off their money."

"Well, it's a contract. We're supposed to be married for just a few months." Emily hated his cockiness. 

"I'm only doing this because I need the money to clear off my mother's debts. I don't need anything else from you." She added.

"That's what your kind always says, then they proceed to seduce me and hope that I can ever fall in love with them. Unthinkable!" Taylor scoffed, running his eyes disdainfully at the bartender.

"You know the truth. I don't fancy you. Why are you even here?" Emily asked, pointing at the contract papers.

"Well, I need someone that has something to lose. You need this money, just as badly as I need to prove to my family." Taylor paused, running his fingers through his hair.

"Prove to your family that what?" Emily arched a brow. 

"I need to get a wife before I turn thirty three. That's the only way I'm getting the inheritance."

"Oh…" She bit her lip.

"So I need this contract marriage to sell! And you need it before your debtors come knocking at your door." He winked, feeling happy that he had her at a tight corner.

"Why did you choose me? I'm not the only bartender at Sunder." Emily could remember vividly the first day that she had seen him. To her, Taylor Rainer was the most attractive men she had ever seen. But she had brushed that aside, remembering that she was once in love with a man that left town without telling her.

"You're hot. Don't get me wrong, I can't be attracted to you. But my family and everyone else need to understand that I made a good choice." 

"I can't be attracted to you too." Emily blurted out, starting to get irritated by his sharp tongue.

"For your own good, I hope not. Women like you always want men like me." Taylor continued. 

Just in time, Emily looked around and realized that half of the ladies at the open space restaurant were ogling the handsome billionaire.

"I'm not interested in you. And I'll never be." She inhaled a deep breath.

"That's perfect. So get prepared, we're getting married at the soonest time possible." With these words, he pulled back his chair and walked away without looking back.

"Shit!" Emily scoffed. 

Quickly she pulled out her phone.

"May? There's something I need to share with you." 

"Honey, can't it wait? And where are you? Quite noisy in the background."

"I'm at the open space coffee shop. Please come over."

"Great! Now I have to stop reading my book. I'll be there in five."

"That's what your kind always says, then they proceed to seduce me and hope that I can ever fall in love with them. Unthinkable!" 

Emily's cheeks reddened in embarrassment as his words played back. 

"Hey, what happened to you?" May walked towards her table.

"Sit down May." Emily whispered.

"First of all, is this good news or bad news?" May's forehead was already soaked in sweat. 

"Depends on how you see it." Emily picked up the mug and drank from it.

"What does that even mean?" May wondered.

"Did you get fired? I hope that's it, because working at Sunder was the worst decision I ever made." May replied.

"That's funny. It wasn't so bad." Emily and May had worked together as bartenders at Sunder, before May quit some weeks earlier.

"Tell me, why did you call me?"

"I'm…I'm getting married."

"Sorry?" May grinned, not believing a word.

"I'm serious. I'm getting married to Taylor Rainer."

"Now I could really use a drink. He is a beast Emily! What are you doing?"

"I know May. Do you think I have a choice here?" Emily whispered.

"Is he blackmailing you with something? Trust me, we could work something out." May couldn't believe her friend was considering that arrogant son-of-a gun!

"It's a contract. It's not a love relationship. He pays me for being his wife on paper, and I play my role as the perfect spouse." Emily explained.

"Why are you doing this? Taylor is a horrible person." May bit her lip, wondering what had gotten into her friend.

"He's not so bad…" Again, Emily made an excuse.

"Really? How about that time that he splashed his drink on Jasmine's face because she mistakenly spilled it on his suit?" 

"Well, Jasmine is clumsy sometimes." 

"And what about the many reports from his employees about his rocky attitude? Surely, everyone cannot be lying Emily!"

"I get that you don't like him. But he pays his workers quite well…"

"And lacks in empathy and respect! Don't sign those papers. Get away from Taylor, and let some other dumb lady do the dirty work."

"I understand May that you don't like him. Trust me; I have reservations about his person. But I have to this. I must do this and I need your help." Emily wished that May would see reasons with her.

"I see you got your mind set on this. Good luck, and stay far away from me. I won't stand by you, and let you make the worst mistake of your life!" May quickly walked away.

"May? Please don't walk away. It's not that serious!"

Emily was still staring at her friend when her phone suddenly rang. It was Taylor.

"Hey," Emily held her breath. 

"Change of plans." Taylor said.

"What?"

"The contract has to be modified. No longer six months of marriage, but two full years after."

"Okay?" Emily held her breath.

"And we have to get married before this week runs out!"