The CEO's Obsession With His Contract Wife

Kimberly.

My world tilts on its axis as Eric drones on about why the 'boss' should take me. I never saw this coming. Never imagined he could have the guts to give me away as though I were nothing more than a puppet he could hand over to another man.

My stomach churns as each word leaves his mouth, each one making the betrayal feel more real.

"Eric," I call cautiously, hoping the pain in my voice will bring him back to his senses, but bloodshot eyes blink up at me.

"It's the only way, Kimmie. They're going to kill me if I don't pay back." He hisses, ignoring the tears pouring down my face.

"What has that got to do with me?"

"Everything. Do you want me to be arrested, Kim? You've got..."

"What makes you think I'm going to take her?" The boss's voice cut through our whispered discussion.

"She's...good. Kimberly will do whatever you want." He gives me a brisk look. "Please, boss."

"Don't do this, Eric." I grind out, shaking my head vehemently. He gives me that pathetic look that clenches my heart. "I won't follow through with this plan."

I jerk to my feet tersely, prepared to run out of the place.

"It wouldn't be wise to leave, you know?" The boss's deep voice ratchets down my spine, making me pause.

When I glance over my shoulder, I see him rising to his feet. The man's height is staggering. He must be at least six feet four, maybe more. He reeks of wealth and carries a quiet charm that's almost as dangerous as it is captivating.

Then he removes his sunglasses.

His eyes are a molten shade of hazel, fixed on me with an intensity that makes my breath hitch. They travel over me, lingering on the rise and fall of my chest like a predator studying its prey. My pulse kicks harder.

"I don't appreciate it when someone walks out on me, especially during an important meeting such as this." He takes a step forward, and my heart lurches with fear.

Eric tenses, cowering on the floor as he looms over him like an overlord. "I'll take you up on your offer and keep her until..."

I bolt while they're still talking, adrenaline filling my blood as I alight the flight of stairs like my tail is on fire.

Just before I reach the end, someone catches me and throws me over their shoulder like a fireman.

I kick and thrash my legs for him to put me down. Gosh, I don't even know who's carrying me like I weigh nothing. Only the sharp leather and spicy cologne fill my senses.

"Put me down! I'm not letting you take me!" I screech, battering the muscled back rippling with every step the man takes.

My heart gallops the further we walk away from the dance floor into a narrow hallway. It's too dark to see. My mind is too fogged and aching from Eric's betrayal.

He just gave me up like I mean absolute nothing to him.

Earlier, I was basking in his kiss, unaware that it was Judas's kiss. A kiss of betrayal.

My captor sets me down as we enter another unfamiliar room, the harsh glow of fluorescent lights washing over everything.

Then my eyes land on the man as he removes his suit, running a hand through his hair, and my blood runs cold.

I know him.

Nolan Wellington.

The notorious ex-military heir to the Wellington empire. The man whose name is whispered throughout Chicago's most powerful circles.

Shit!

"I'm not going to do it!" I snap, planting my feet despite the tremor running through my legs. "I'm not some cheap commodity you can trade around!"

"I'd argue that, seeing the way your boyfriend sold you out. What a pity." He says coldly.

I wince at the sting of his words, fighting the avalanche of tears threatening to rush to the surface.

I watch my tall, magnificently handsome captor walk straight to the mahogany desk at the end of the room and pour himself a glass of amber liquid from a decanter.

"I have no part in your business whatsoever," I insist, keeping my voice high above the clog of pain in my vocals.

"Are you sure? He's never given you a gift from all that money?"

"What money?" I choke, hating the dress on me all of a sudden. Hating this evening. This stupid dress and shoes are the only reasonable gifts Eric has given me in two years.

"He's gambling money..." He pauses when he notices my ghastly pale face and blinks rapidly. "You know about his gambling habits, right?"

Eric gambles and I never knew?

When I remain quiet, he chortles. "Interesting, I mean your relationship." He gestures to me. "How long have you both been together? A day?" I don't respond, and he seems to be having a field day with my lack of answer. "I'm quite stunned you don't know the guy you've been dating well. He's an alcoholic, a gambler, and a debtor. Borrowed money from my organization to gamble, with promises to pay back once his game clicks. Turns out he failed with his two legs in the air. What a shame."

He slugs his drink. "Turns out I'm not very patient when it comes to being owed."

"It doesn't give you the right to take me." I hiss, hands clenched as anger for him and Eric courses through me.

"Exactly. It doesn't." I'm stunned that he's actually admitting it. "So I'm giving you the opportunity to leave." A sinister smirk curves his lips when I gasp.

For one fleeting second, I taste freedom on the tip of my tongue, desperate to cling to it. Then his next words shatter it.

"But if you leave and Eric ends up missing, or dead, depending on the situation, do you know who's going to take the fall?"

Cold hatred coils through my spine.

He's blackmailing me.

How could Eric be stupid enough to borrow money from the devil? How could he have been so selfish, dragging me into this mess without a second thought?

The tears escape before I can hold them back.

He steps forward until he's in my space. His heat envelopes me. That delicious scent of his filling my nostrils. My body trembles when he raises a hand to my cheek and brushes the tear away with his thumb.

First, I wasn't expecting him to wipe my tears. I wasn't expecting him to touch me at all. And now that he has, chills skitter across my skin.

His touch is hot against my cheek, sending a strange shiver through me.

Second, I thought he'd wipe the tear onto his shirt.

Instead, he brings his thumb to his mouth and slowly licks away my tears.

I stare at him in shock.

"Tastes spectacular," he announces. "Your tears are quite the turn-on."

"You're evil."

He beams, utterly unashamed.

"Much more than you can imagine, little rabbit." His alcohol-scented breath wafts across my face. "I'd suggest you stop crying so we can discuss this like adults."

"You call blackmailing me an adult discussion?"

"I was merely making an offer, little rabbit. It's what I'm good at. And seeing how wobbly and scared you are, you wouldn't want anything to happen to your boyfriend, do you?"

I might be mad at Eric, but I wouldn't want him to get hurt. He's been good to me since we started dating. I mean, unlike the other guys I've been with who were nothing but abusive.

"Ah, just like I thought." He chirps, reading the answer from my silence. "You do love him, I see."

"I don't want to discuss my love life with you. Someone as cold as you wouldn't know what love means, I guess."

Something flickers in his eyes, but it disappears before I can make sense of it.

"Right. So back to business." He walks back to his desk and brings out a document. With two lengthy strides back, he places the document in my hand. "Read it."

Cautiously, I scan the document as his expensive shoes clack over the floor on his way back to his desk.

A contract marriage with him?

The Wellington family practically owns Chicago, but their empire stretches across several states. Their airline, Wellington Air, is one of the largest in the country, connecting major cities across the United States and beyond.

I gape at him in awe. Why would he want a wife?

"A contract marriage?" My voice comes out small now.

"Yeah. For 365 days. We'll pretend to be real husband and wife before my family and anyone else out there, and after one year, I'll be merciful enough to let you go even if your douche of a boyfriend doesn't pay me."

This offer sounds too good to be true. The fact that I'll buy my freedom by pretending to be his wife for one year is crazy.

And I hate him for making this the only way I can free myself from him. The only way I can save Eric's life.

"Well? What's your choice? To walk away now and lose your precious boyfriend whose disappearance will be pinned on you or be my wife for one year?"

Wheels turn in my head as I run through the options. There aren't many.

With a dry swallow, I look down at the contract and grit out. "Fine. I'll do it." When he squeezes his brows in confusion, I clarify. "I'll be your one-year contract wife."

A dark smirk curls his lips as he jerks to his feet and hums. "That settles it then, little wife. Sign the contract."