Theodore glanced down at his wristwatch. The sleek silver hands showed 1:45 PM. He was right on time. As he stepped through the grand revolving doors of the hotel lounge, the luxurious atmosphere wrapped around him—the soft hum of classical music, the quiet chatter of guests, the clinking of fine china. Yet, none of it registered with him. His focus was solely on one thing—her.

He scanned the room, looking for a particular silhouette. It didn’t take long. There, seated near the floor-to-ceiling windows, was Amaira. Her figure was unmistakable. She sat quietly, her back straight, her hands resting nervously on the table. Even from behind, Theodore could sense her uncertainty.

For a moment, he paused, standing behind her, his thoughts racing back to the phone call from earlier. She called. She actually called. His lips curled into a subtle, triumphant smirk as he remembered the sound of her voice on the other end of the line.

Rewind to an hour ago.

Amaira stood frozen in her small, cluttered apartment, holding the phone tightly in her hand. The air in the room seemed to grow heavier after the heated phone call with her uncle. His words still rang in her ears, harsh and demanding.

“I need the money, Amaira! No more excuses. Pay me back everything! You owe me. I’m not running a charity here!” His voice had been furious, filled with frustration and desperation.

“I just need a little more time—” she had tried to reason with him, but he cut her off with a shout.

I don’t have time! Either you pay up, or I’m coming after you. Do you understand?” With that, the line went dead, leaving Amaira trembling with anxiety.

Her eyes darted around the room, feeling overwhelmed by the reality of her situation. The job hunt, the debt, the constant pressure—it was suffocating. She slumped down onto the couch, her heart racing, her mind clouded with panic. She couldn’t escape this anymore. Her uncle had been patient up until now, but his patience had run out.

Her gaze fell to the small black card Theodore had given her earlier. It lay on the table, almost taunting her. She could barely believe it was real. The thought of his crazy offer had haunted her ever since she’d left his office.

A contract wife.

She laughed bitterly at the absurdity of it. But as the minutes ticked by and the weight of her debt pressed harder on her shoulders, something inside her shifted. What other choice did she have? This might be her only way out.

With a deep breath, Amaira picked up the card, her hands trembling slightly. Staring at the number scrawled on the back, she hesitated. Could she really do this? Could she agree to something so insane? She knew it wasn’t what she wanted, but it might be what she needed.

Before she could talk herself out of it, she pressed the number into her phone and waited. It rang once, twice, and then she heard his voice.

“I accept your offer,” she blurted out before she could second-guess herself.

There was a pause on the other end, a brief silence that felt like an eternity.

“See you at 2 PM, then,” Theodore’s calm voice came through, unbothered, as if he had expected her call all along. He hung up without another word.

Amaira stared at her phone, the silence in the room even louder than before. She had made her choice. There was no turning back now.

Back to the present.

Theodore cleared his throat as he stood behind Amaira, snapping her out of her thoughts. She flinched slightly, startled, before turning around to face him.

“Mr.Theodore,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. She had been so deep in thought she hadn’t noticed his approach.

He gave her a small, polite smile, though his eyes were as sharp as ever. “Amaira,” he greeted her, his voice smooth and controlled. “I’m glad you decided to come.”

She nodded, her hands still resting nervously on the table. Her mind was spinning, trying to make sense of the decision she had just made. The reality of it was starting to sink in, and for a moment, she wondered if she had made a terrible mistake.

“Have you ordered anything?” Theodore asked as he took a seat across from her.

Amaira shook her head. “No, I... I’ve been waiting for you.”

Theodore leaned back in his chair, observing her carefully. He could see the conflict in her eyes, the way she fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve. It was obvious she was still uncertain about the deal.

“You’re nervous,” he stated, his voice calm.

Amaira let out a shaky breath, trying to regain some composure. “Of course I’m nervous. This whole situation is... I don’t even know what to say.”

Theodore didn’t seem phased. Instead, he leaned forward slightly, his eyes locking onto hers. “You made a choice, Amaira. And I’m not going to pretend this is normal. But I promise you, it’s a simple arrangement. You fulfill your end, and I’ll fulfill mine.”

She looked at him, still trying to grasp the enormity of the decision she had made. “I just... I don’t understand why. Why me? Out of all the people you could have asked, why would you want me to—”

“Because I trust you,” Theodore interrupted, his voice firm but not unkind. “You’re not like the others. You won’t try to manipulate me, and I know you need something from this arrangement as much as I do.”

Amaira swallowed hard. Trust? That wasn’t the word she would have used to describe their strange relationship. She still couldn’t fully wrap her head around why he wanted a fake wife in the first place. But, deep down, she knew Theodore was right. She did need this—at least, financially.

“So, what now?” she asked, her voice softer now, resigned to the path she had chosen.

Theodore smiled slightly, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Now, we go over the terms of our agreement. You’ll live with me, and we’ll present ourselves as a married couple for one year. In return, I’ll pay off your debts and ensure you’re financially secure for the future. It’s as simple as that.”

As simple as that. Amaira couldn’t help but feel a shiver of unease at how easily he laid it all out. But at the same time, it was the clarity she needed. Her decision was made.

She nodded slowly, accepting the reality of what was about to happen. Theodore leaned back in his chair, watching her carefully.

“Welcome to your new life, Mrs. Theodore,” he said, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.