Chapter 6 Signing the contract

Vivian sat in the sleek chair, her fingers grazing the armrests as she took in the room. Nicholas's office was just as she imagined modern, expensive, and utterly intimidating. The cool gray walls, sharp lines of the furniture, and panoramic city view screamed power. She wasn't sure if it was the office itself or Nicholas's presence that made the air feel heavier.

"You like it?" Nicholas asked, leaning back in his chair with that familiar smirk. He watched her carefully, his eyes gleaming with amusement.

Vivian set her jaw. "It's very... you."

Nicholas let out a low chuckle. "I'll take that as a compliment."

Before she could respond, Nicholas pressed a button on his desk. "Williams, bring us some coffee," he ordered, then turned his full attention back to her. "You'll want to stay awake for this."

Moments later, Williams appeared, carrying a tray with two cups of coffee. He set them down silently and left as quickly as he came. Vivian reached for the cup, grateful for something to occupy her hands. The coffee was strong, perfect no surprise there. Everything about Nicholas's life was carefully curated, right down to his caffeine.

Nicholas tapped a neat stack of papers on his desk, his expression shifting to one of business. "Let's get to it." He slid the contract toward her. "These are the terms. Everything we talked about. I suggest you read it carefully."

Vivian took the papers, her fingers brushing the cool surface. The weight of what she was about to do settled over her. Nicholas was watching her, waiting to see if she'd hesitate. He was always waiting for people to fold under his gaze, and Vivian was determined not to be one of them.

She flipped through the pages. The words were all formal, legal, locking her into this arrangement , their arrangement. But she didn't flinch. She knew what this meant. This was her way out, her way to regain what was taken from her. Her inheritance, her future.

"If you've changed your mind," Nicholas said casually, "now would be the time to walk away. Once you sign, there's no undoing it. You'll be mine." His eyes flicked toward her, daring her to reconsider.

Vivian met his gaze, her grip tightening on the pen. "I'm not leaving."

Nicholas's mouth curled into a smile as he watched her scribble her name across the bottom of the contract. When she pushed the papers back toward him, his smirk deepened. He took the contract, leaning back in his chair like he'd won some silent battle.

"Good," he said softly, tucking the papers into a folder. "You've made the right choice."

Vivian didn't respond, sipping her coffee instead, trying to ignore the knot of tension in her stomach. It wasn't that she regretted her decision this was the only way forward. But the finality of it, the way Nicholas held all the cards now, weighed on her.

Nicholas looked over his shoulder as the door opened again. Bryan stepped inside. His expression was calm, professional.

"Vivian, this is Bryan. He's my attorney, and the one who drafted the contract," Nicholas explained. "He's the only person who knows about this arrangement. You can trust him."

Vivian looked at Bryan and nodded at him politely. "Thank you for your work," she said, though it felt strange thanking the man who had effectively bound her to Nicholas.

Bryan simply nodded back. "It's a pleasure, Miss Moore," he said, before excusing himself and leaving the two of them alone once again.

"No one is to know about this contract, Bryan knows as he's my attorney, but no one else", Nicholas said.

"Don't worry about that, I don'thave anyone to tell", Vivian said, which made Nicholas wonder what she has gone through to make do this.

Nicholas shifted in his chair, his demeanor suddenly serious. "Tonight, I'm making our engagement public."

Vivian blinked. "Tonight?"

"Yes," Nicholas replied. "I've arranged a formal announcement. The press will be there. From now on, you'll be seen with me in public, and people will know who you are. Do not say anything to the press. I'll handle all of that. You can just stay calm."

Vivian exhaled slowly. She hadn't expected the engagement to go public so soon, but it wasn't her decision, was it? Nicholas controlled the timeline now, just like everything else.

"Understood," she said, her voice steady. There was no use in questioning it. She'd agreed to this, and now she had to live with it.

Nicholas stood up calmly, reaching into his pocket. "One more thing." He pulled out a small velvet box, and before Vivian could say a word, he stepped in front of her, opening it to reveal a sparkling diamond ring.

Vivian's heart lurched. She hadn't expected this not now, not like this.

Nicholas took Vivian by the hand, Vivian heart skipped a beat, he gently slid the ring inside her finger, his touch was firm and gentle which made Vivian heart race.

"This is our engagement ring, you will wear this from now on," he said, his voice low and teasing like he wanted Vivian to react to it. "Don't take it off. Not until I replace it with our wedding ring."

Vivian's eyes dropped to the ring on her finger. It gleamed, heavy and beautiful, a symbol of everything she'd agreed to, but it felt like something else, like something more, but what?. She swallowed, trying to push down the mix of surprise and embarrassment flooding her chest.

Nicholas's eyes flicked up to meet hers. He was waiting for her reaction, but Vivian remained composed, slipping her hand from his and standing.

"I won't take it off," she said her voice low, almost as a whisper.

Nicholas gave a smile. " Do you want a public announcement where we would be present or not?", Vivian was surprised that he asked her, she thought he would make the decision himself, she noted not to Judge Nicholas immediately as they are just getting to know each other.

Nicholas saw as Vivian hesitated, "I can send a message to someone from the press about our engagement, so you don't need to worry much about it, if you can't do it".

"No I will do it" Vivian said, sooner or later she will come out to the public, so there's no need to run away from it now. "well then, I will send a driver to pick you up".

Vivian nodded, her mind already spinning with what the night would bring, Public appearances, photographers, questions.

Williams entered as Vivian left, "every thing is ready sir, and this is the information you as for", Nicholas smiled leaning on his chair with his legs crossed, "let's see how things go."