The door to Theodore’s office swung open as Tom entered with a leather folder in hand. He shot a curious glance at Amaira, his eyes lingering a bit too long for her comfort. Feeling her tense up beside him, Theodore quickly took charge of the situation.

“Tom,” Theodore called, his voice sharp enough to snap Tom’s attention away from Amaira. “Let’s keep things moving. You have the contract?”

Tom blinked, momentarily flustered, then quickly regained his composure. “Yes, sir,” he said, handing the folder to Theodore.

Theodore took the folder, flipping it open and skimming through the documents. Without missing a beat, he handed a copy to Amaira, who took it with trembling fingers. She had no idea what to expect from this arrangement, and now that the contract was in front of her, the reality of the situation hit her all over again.

“Go ahead and read through it,” Theodore said, his voice surprisingly calm. “If you have any questions, feel free to ask.”

Amaira glanced down at the stack of papers, her eyes scanning the first few lines. The formal language made her head spin, but as she read further, a few key points stood out.

First, the contract clearly outlined her role as Theodore’s “contract wife” for the duration of one year. It specified that she would attend social events, family gatherings, and anything else that would be required to maintain the facade of their relationship.

Second, there was the job offer. Personal Assistant to Theodore himself, with the option to continue working for his company after the contract ended. And if she didn’t want to stay, Theodore would personally recommend her to other top firms. The security of that promise made her feel slightly less nervous.

Then there was the money.

A generous monthly stipend for her services as Theodore’s wife, with a significant bonus at the end of the year. It was more than enough to cover her debts and give her a fresh start.

“Any questions?” Theodore’s voice pulled her out of her thoughts. He had been watching her closely as she read, his intense gaze making her more flustered by the second.

Amaira hesitated, biting her lip as her eyes darted between Theodore and Tom, who was still lingering near the door, glancing in her direction every so often.

“I—uh—” Amaira stammered, trying to form her words, but she kept catching Tom’s gaze, making her even more uncomfortable.

Theodore noticed and, with a hint of annoyance, turned to Tom. “Could you bring us some coffee, Tom?” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Tom blinked, clearly realizing that he had overstayed his welcome. “Of course, sir. Right away,” he said before hastily leaving the room.

As soon as the door closed behind him, the atmosphere in the office shifted. It was just Amaira and Theodore now, and the silence between them was heavy. Theodore leaned back in his chair, his eyes fixed on Amaira, waiting for her to speak.

Amaira swallowed hard, knowing that she couldn’t avoid the question any longer. She took a deep breath and finally asked, “About the payment... Could I get an advance?”

The words were barely out of her mouth when she saw the flicker of surprise in Theodore’s eyes. He didn’t say anything at first, just studied her for a moment, making her heart race with anxiety. She rushed to explain herself before he could respond.

“I—I mean, it’s not like I’m trying to get something for nothing,” she blurted out, her hands nervously fiddling with the edge of the contract. “It’s just that I have some... personal debts. To my uncle, actually. He’s been asking for the money, and I—”

She trailed off, feeling embarrassed by how desperate she must sound. Theodore remained silent, watching her with an unreadable expression that made her even more nervous.

After what felt like an eternity, Theodore spoke. “How much?”

Amaira blinked, not expecting that question. She hadn’t even fully calculated the total sum yet. “I... I’m not exactly sure, but it’s a lot. He’s been pressuring me, and I just—”

Theodore raised a hand, cutting her off. “Get me the amount after this meeting,” he said, his tone firm but not unkind. “I’ll make sure it’s transferred to you.”

Amaira’s breath hitched in her throat. She hadn’t expected him to agree so easily, and the weight of her debt suddenly felt lighter, like a burden that had been lifted. She nodded quickly, her eyes wide with relief.

“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Theodore leaned forward, his gaze softening slightly. “You don’t need to thank me. We’re entering a contract, and I expect both sides to benefit.”

Amaira’s heart pounded in her chest. She was still trying to process how everything had changed so quickly. She had gone from almost losing everything to now having a way out, all because of this absurd, surreal arrangement with Theodore.

Before she could think of what to say next, the door opened, and Tom returned with two cups of coffee on a tray. He set them down on the table, still stealing glances at Amaira as he did so. Theodore cleared his throat, and Tom quickly excused himself from the room again.

Amaira stared at the steaming cup of coffee in front of her, her mind racing. This was all happening so fast, and she wasn’t sure how to feel about any of it.

“You should take some time to think it over,” Theodore said, interrupting her thoughts. “About the contract, I mean. I don’t want you to feel pressured.”

Amaira looked up at him, surprised by the sudden concern in his voice. For someone who had proposed such a bizarre arrangement, he was being unexpectedly considerate.

“I— I’ve already thought about it,” she admitted, feeling the weight of the contract in her hands. “It’s not like I have a lot of other options right now.”

Theodore didn’t say anything, but the look on his face told her he understood. He had always seemed so cold and calculating, but there was something about the way he was looking at her now that made her think there was more to him than that.

After a moment of silence, Theodore leaned back in his chair again. “Well, in that case, I’ll have the paperwork ready by tomorrow.”

Amaira nodded, feeling the tension in the room finally begin to ease. She wasn’t sure what she had gotten herself into, but at least now there was a way forward. Even if it meant pretending to be Theodore’s wife for a year, it was better than being stuck under the thumb of her uncle forever.

As they finished their coffee, Theodore glanced at her, his expression softening just a fraction. “You did the right thing, Amaira,” he said, his voice surprisingly gentle.

Amaira didn’t know how to respond to that, so she just smiled weakly and looked down at her cup.

Theodore stood up, walking around his desk, and stood next to her. “I’ll arrange everything. Tomorrow morning, we’ll finalize the details.”

“Right,” Amaira said, standing up herself, feeling a little awkward under his gaze.

She had no idea what the next year was going to bring, but at least for now, she had a plan. Even if it was a little crazy. Well, a lot crazy.

As she left the office, her mind buzzed with thoughts of what her new life might be like. The line between absurd and reality was already starting to blur, but one thing was certain—life was never going to be the same again.

And deep down, she wasn’t sure if she was ready for that.