Facts of the contract

  Instead of her being taken to the company, she was taken to a mansion. The gate was opened by a gateman, the car was opened for her. Joana was sceptical about this, she didn't know what was happening, but since they have the contract she signed, she had to trust them, it was a stupid thing to do but what can she do? Even if her life was in danger, she is already here and there's no way she would be able to run away when she is already in the lion's den.

  She was ushered into the house, she took her time to examine the living room, the entire living room was painted white, there were four white sofas in the living room, and brown wool carpet lay on the floor. The windows were big and made of glass, there were blue side chairs at the end of every sofa and two at the ends of a glass table standing in the middle of the room. The house was warm, she realized that there was a fireplace.

  "Miss Anderson please follow me," one of the guys from earlier said, she followed him. They climb up the staircase, he took her to the room, it looked like an office, she was offered a seat and was instructed to wait there.

  She didn't understand what was happening but decided to follow their instructions. She was scared but at the same time excited. After sitting there for almost forty-five minutes, the door opened, revealing someone she didn't expect to see here, it was...

  The famous business tycoon Ace Mayor. Ace Mayor is a young billionaire, he is famous. How did she know about this? Because he is a well-known man, always on the news, the only son of the Mayor family. 

  She stood up immediately, "Good morning sir," she bowed her head and waited for him to order her to raise her head and sit down. Ace took the seat opposite hers, and without a word, he pointed at the seat in front of him. She sat down, she didn't know what to say or do, and at one point, she forgot to breathe.

  She knew that the company she applied to was his but she wasn't expecting to see him so soon, so she applied to work in the digital research department. 

  "Mr Anderson, I was informed by my PA that you've already signed the contract, I hope it is clear what your job description is about?" Ace asked.

  "I don't understand sir Mayor but I applied to be part of the digital research department but I wasn't questioned, I was given a contract to sign which I did and I was ordered to go home and that I'll be called but I didn't receive any call not until today and instead of a call I was picked up by your men, I don't understand what this is all about. Am I working here or at the company?" She asked.

  Ace frowned, his jaw clenched. Joana became frightened, she didn't know what she had done to make him this angry, her heart was pounding in her chest, and the look on her face caused her to lower her head. She fidgeted with her fingers.

  "What kind of a human being signs a contract without reading it?" He roared. Joana gulped, she grabbed the hem of her dress.

  "I..I.." she was too scared to talk, her head couldn't form a proper sentence.

  "The contract you signed stated that you are going to be my wife for a short period of one to two years until I fully become the CEO of the company and after that, the both of us have to separate. You are not supposed to look me in the eyes, answer me when I call you, act like my wife when we are in public especially when we are before my family." He summarized what was in the contract to her.

  Joana's jaw dropped, she didn't know what she signed. Her eyes popped out, "Wa..wa..wait, I thought, I..what?" She had a lot of ques Joana to ask

"I can't give my consent to this, and I can't agree to that!" she protested, her voice partly raised. She didn't intend to yell at him, but the shock was overwhelming.

"There's nothing you can do now. You've already signed the contract, making you my wife. And with that contract, you're bound to me," he retorted, his tone and words cutting through her. Joanna's tears fell freely now, her nose red and runny.

"Please, I never wanted this. All I wanted was a job in your company, not to become your wife," she pleaded. 

Fed up with her tears, Ace abruptly stood up.

"The maid will guide you to your room. Tomorrow, we will be meeting my parents, and you have to play the role of my wife according to the terms of the contract. If you fail to do so, you'll be facing charges for breaching the contract. And don't try to make it seem like I forced you to sign it. You were perfectly capable of making decisions at the time. It's not my fault that you're incapable of comprehending things," he snapped, he left after saying those words.

  Joana cried hard in the office, she fell from the chair, and the pain she felt from the fall didn't match the one she felt in her heart. Just like she thought, the job interview changed her life but not for the best, it shattered her to pieces.

  "What do I do? If I run away I'll face charges, I didn't sign the contract under duress, I am so stupid.' she gave herself slaps across the face. 

  A maid came in, she looked like she was in her fifties, and she was old enough to be her mother. She helped her to her feet and cleaned her tears. "I may not know what you two talked about but you shouldn't cry like this, it's not the end of the world, it's going to be alright." The maid said, she hugged her and stroked her hair.

  She was able to calm her down, she took her to the room. She is supposed to share the same room with Ace, the maid took her to the bathroom to clean herself.

  "Take a bath, it's going to help you, I'll pick you something free to wear. Don't worry, Ace has already filled the Waldrop with clothes for you." She said.

  Joana nodded, she mustered the courage to smile but it was not bright enough to cover the sadness she felt inside. After taking a bath, she wore the dress the maid had picked for her.

  "Where is he?" Joana asked if she is referring to Ace.

  "Ace has assembled all the maids, he wants to talk to them, let's go down he has requested for you to be there." The maid replied.

  "I didn't even introduce myself to you, I'm Joana." She smiled, this time it was bright.

  "I'm Martha, I've been taking care of Ace since he was five, I'm like his second mother." She gathered Joana's hair and tied it into a loose ponytail.

  "Thank you." She mumbled.