Chapter 3 You're Fired.

Isabella's POV:

Shit- I was late!

I must have been a lot more tired than I thought because looking at the clock, the time read 10:15AM.

Bolting out of bed, I was in the air for a few seconds before landing hard on the floor. Luckily my hands shot out in the nick of time breaking my fall. If not I would have landed on my face, ever the clumsy klutz.

Wincing in pain, I dashed into the bathroom knowing I was so dead.

Frantically, I recalled an incident that happened in the past. A new intern at Logistics- a recently set up branch of the company, had showed up to work five minutes late.

A freaking Five Minutes!

Guess who she ran into upon exiting the elevator? That's right- Xander. He yelled at the poor girl and promptly fired her after transferring her severance package right on the spot.

The news had spread and trended all through the different branches for weeks! The lesson was made abundantly clear:

Mr Velasquez didn't like to be kept waiting. He was a very punctual man and expected the same from every single one of his staff.

Finding myself standing at the entrance of the magnificent Velasquez building, I anxiously walked in.

"The CEO requests your immediate presence in his office." Elna, a co-worker informs me the second I enter the building.

My heart dropped. I was in for it.

The day had come for me to get fired as well. With light tentative steps, my feet shuffling nervously, I soon found myself at his door, Mr Velasquez's.

Breathe in, breathe out. If it comes to it, you'll beg for his forgiveness.

You need this job because Dad's life is on the line.

Don't worry, you'll be fine.

I tried calming myself down as my fingers hovered over the door handle.

With a final breath, turning the door handle, I stepped in.

The sheer beauty therein never seemed to elude me no matter how many times I had been to his office to serve him his morning coffee.

With magnificent floor to ceiling windows giving the best view of the city below, were elegant marble tiles polished to a shine. There was a red expensive looking three seater sofa at the far side, not far from the brown mahogany desk at the center of the room.

Sitting in a king sized leather chair, he was haunched over his desk, looking unbelievably perfect. A stray lock of his golden brown tresses hung suspended in the air over his furrowed brows, deep in thought as as he seemingly reviewed a paperwork.

Standing in the room across from him, I cleared my throat. "Good morning Mr Velasquez. I was told you requeste-"

"First off, I don't request, I command.

Secondly, you're fired." He interjected, not bothering to look up at me.

My countenance fell.

"Please sir, I-I promise it won't happen again. I really need this job. My alarm clock failed to ring and-"

He slammed a fist on the table. Making me flinch as the sound reverberated through the walls.

"I already told you," He began, looking up.

"You're-" He paused suddenly as his eyes landed on me.

He seemed unable to speak as a small, almost imperceptible spark of surprise briefly shone through his eyes.

I wondered why.

"That was you?" He raised a brow. Now I was even more puzzled.

"Uh.. What was me?" I dared to ask.

"Never mind. You said you needed this job. On a scale of one to ten, how much do you need it?" He leaned back in his chair, picking up his phone as he tapped on it.

"Ten. I really need it and I'm willing to do anything." I answered desperately.

Looking up from his phone, he fished a document from his drawer and placed it on his table in front of me.

"In that case, sit and sign that document." He looked straight up at me authoritatively, silently ordering me with his eyes.

"What's it for?" I sat slowly, curiously peeking at it.

"A Marriage Contract."

Hardly believing my ears, I whispered weakly. "What?"

I must have misheard.

"You heard me right the first time."

I laughed.

What else was I supposed to do? Agree to it?

This had to be a joke of some sort.

"In that case, No. I will not sign it. Feel free to fire me instead." I said getting up from my seat. This discussion was over.

Even though I found him really attractive, ain't no way in hell I was gonna get married right off the bat like that! Especially not to him.

He might be my boss, but he was still an egotistical bastard. -Not that I was going to say it out loud.

I spun on my heels, leaving.

"I will pay for your father's surgery as well as any additional costs if you sign this contract.

We wouldn't want poor Daddy to die now, would we?" He questioned, stopping me in my tracks as my blood ran cold.

Huh?

How the hell did he know?!

I mentally smacked my forehead. Of course he was a billionaire and will know how to get info like that. What else did I expect?

"No." I bit my lip, my brows scrunching in frustration. I hated to admit it, but I couldn't afford to be selfish when it involved my father's life. I turned back around.

"Good girl. Now sign those papers so 'Daddy's' treatment can commence." He ordered, and my feet moved slowly towards the table once more, shoulders slumped in defeat.

Sitting down once more in front of the desk, I painstakingly went through the terms of the contract.

The marriage was strictly business related.

There was to be no sex between us or private displays of affection. Any affection shown will be due to the public eye.

No children wether adopted or not will come from the union.

Full confidentiality must be maintained all through the duration of this marriage.

It's not lifelong but for a short period of time.

Satisfied, I signed the contract. I guess I was officially Mrs Velasquez now.

If only I had known, my troubles were just starting..

Perhaps, I never would have signed that contract.