Chapter 3 3

"Accepting the Monster"

After my conversation with Harry, I arrived home very late. I wanted to avoid talking to my father; I simply wished to sleep, as I hadn't had good nights of sleep lately. The next day, I would have to face my problems.

That night, for some reason, I was able to fall asleep in one breath. I woke up early, dressed in my best clothes, and decided to confront the situation by going to Jordan's mansion. I hadn't mentioned anything to my father; the sooner I finished this, the better.

I rang the doorbell at Jordan's house, my hands were sweating, and I hesitated twice before they opened the door. However, a part of the contract was already signed, and it seemed like my father had vanished with the money. Minutes later, Rose, one of the service employees, welcomed me.

"Sweetie, you've arrived early. The sir is in his office and is waiting for you."

"Thank you, Rose. I arrived early despite myself," I replied. I had the feeling that the news of the contract marriage had reached the ears of most people in the house, as Rose spoke as if they were aware of my arrival. When I entered Jordan's impressive office, he was behind a large computer screen, looking impeccable as if he were going to work in a corporate office, even though he was staying at home.

"Good morning, Megan. I hope you slept well. Are you ready to sign?" he asked without taking his eyes off the screen.

"Good morning, sir. I'm not ready because your lawyer hasn't contacted me, but it seems like I don't have another option, right?"

"Of course, you have other options, Miss Parker. But it seems you're not a fan of emails and haven't read the contract. If you wish, you can come back in a couple of hours after reviewing it."

I was paralyzed by his way of speaking; he was the most calculating man I had ever met in my life, and it gave me a certain fear. Despite his spectacular appearance, his personality seemed to be the reason why they called him "the monster" in whispers.

"It won't be necessary, Mr. Frederick. I trust that you won't play any tricks on me. I just want to make it clear that the money must be delivered directly to me since I'm the one who will be marrying you. Understood?"

Jordan stood up from his chair, adjusted his jacket, and walked towards me. He was much taller and looked down at me, making me feel vulnerable. There was no turning back.

"That's perfectly fine that you want to assert your authority, Miss Parker. Of course, the money will be handed directly to you. However, you must understand that I have some rules that you must strictly follow. From this moment on, you will stop working in the garden."

My eyes widened, and I interrupted him.

"No, that can't be. The garden is in its current state thanks to me, and I can't allow it to deteriorate. I will be your contract wife, don't I have any rights? And my choice is to continue working in the garden."

"No, you don't have those rights, you're mistaken. Your contract clearly states that your only right is the agreed-upon payment, which will be made in two parts: half when we marry and the other half when we divorce. That's the only thing you'll get from me. If you agree, perfect; let's sign. If not, return the two million I paid in advance, or your father will end up in jail."

I stamped my foot on the ground like a little girl, grumbling about Jordan's absurd conditions. My father had set a trap for me, and now I was trapped. I swallowed the lump in my throat to avoid crying and looked at him with determination.

"All right, Jordan, we'll do it your way. I'll go read the contract, and please keep me informed about the wedding date. I'll do my best to be present on that day."

I was about to leave when Jordan called me back.

"It's not that easy, my dear gardener. We must start with your transformation. If you're going to be my contract wife for two years, you need to change your appearance and certain bad habits, like your tardiness. I don't tolerate people who arrive late every day."

"Do I have a schedule?" I asked, surprised.

"Yes, if you had read your contract, I wouldn't have to tell you. Although it will only be during these days leading up to the wedding, there will be a wedding party. You must look perfect for the occasion."

I shook my head in disbelief at his words. I bit my lower lip to avoid a string of expletives, but I had already accepted his offer. I nodded and waved my hands in a sign of surrender.

"All right, sir. I'll do as you say. Money is money. I'll read the contract right now, and we'll do what's necessary to make this work."

Jordan looked at me in an intimidating manner. It was as if he exerted a strange control over me, which made me nervous. Although I didn't like him remotely, his face seemed strangely familiar, as if I had seen it somewhere before. But that couldn't be possible; I must be going crazy because of the situation.

"And one more thing, you have two days to move in here. I want you close and safe. I don't want you causing a scene outside the mansion."

"What? No, I don't want to live here. Look at how this place is. I won't get married if this is what it involves," I said, crossing my arms.

"It's not your decision, Megan, but if you wish to annul the contract, you know what to do. You have 24 hours to decide. Oh, by the way, an envelope with a blue card arrived at your house. You'll need to change your style and appearance; your hair looks terrible. You'll also have to take some glamour classes. For the wedding day, you must be nearly perfect."

My cheeks flushed with embarrassment at his criticisms. He made me feel like a complete mess, and even though I was far from being the opposite, I was bothered that he judged me based on my appearance.

"Why are you doing this, sir?" I asked, confused. Everyone had a reason for this marriage of convenience, except me.

"You don't care why I'm forced to marry you. You just need to know that I didn't choose you, and I don't agree with this either. Now go; I have things to do."

I pressed my lips together and left his office. I wanted to say goodbye, but Jordan didn't give me the chance. I ended up in a large room in his mansion, all dark and cold, without a hint of light. It was the destiny my father had decided for me.

I obeyed Jordan's orders and returned to my house. I wanted to talk to my father, but I only found a note.

"Dear, I hope you forgive me, but I had no other choice. I've paid off the mortgage on the house and taken the rest of the money. Please be patient and think that this is for your own good. I don't know when I'll be back; I'm on a spiritual retreat. I'll call you when I can. I love you more than you can imagine. -Dad"

I shattered my father's note, wondering why he had left if he supposedly loved me. I slumped into my old armchair, desperate tears streaming from my eyes. My world was falling apart; it wasn't a matter of whether I wanted to accept the contract marriage, but I was forced to do so. My father had already spent the money, and working a lifetime wouldn't come close to that sum.

After shedding all my tears in a torrent of grief, I headed to the mailbox, where I found an envelope and a card with detailed instructions. There were countless appointments at hair salons, boutiques, and other places to kickstart my transformation. I sighed deeply; my father had abandoned me without a single explanation. I thought he truly loved me, but it seemed like he only used me to get money from Jordan before disappearing who knows where.

I served myself a bowl of oatmeal and quickly consumed it, feeling completely lost. I was destined to marry that eccentric man, and worst of all, my boyfriend had also asked me to do it. At that moment, I didn't know whom to trust, as the men who claimed to love me had betrayed me in the worst way.

The next day, with puffy eyes from crying so much, I left home determined to fulfill all the appointments Jordan had scheduled for me. The first stop was the hair salon, where a renowned stylist began working on my hair. The change was drastic; my dull color was replaced with lighter and healthier tones, and the damaged ends disappeared. I felt like a completely different person when I walked out of there.

Then, I visited a boutique and purchased an impressive wardrobe. My ripped jeans and short tops were a thing of the past, replaced by beautiful pastel suits and figure-enhancing tops. I continued with two more appointments, where I transformed into a completely different woman in terms of physical appearance. Although it was only an external change, my heart still belonged to a rebellious girl in love with a rogue, but I was willing to do whatever it took for him.

Finally, Dorian picked me up in the city center and took me back to the mansion. From that moment on, I would live with "the monster" as per his request. Perhaps a contract marriage wouldn't be such a bad idea after all.

When we arrived, I found Jordan in his living room, enjoying a glass of wine. When I introduced myself to him, his eyes lit up in surprise, as if he were seeing a completely different woman. He seemed impressed by my transformation.

"You look spectacular, Megan. I like your new look," he commented.

"Thank you, sir. Although it's not my style, I followed your orders, and I'm adapting. I'm grateful for the card and the appointments you scheduled. I felt really good," I replied.

"It's the least I can do. Come, I'll show you to your room."

When I heard that, I don't know why I felt a profound relief; for a moment, I thought I would have to sleep with him, and that wasn't in my plans.

Little did I know that this would be the beginning of the true hell that the contract marriage with Jordan Frederick would bring.