Chapter 2 The Contract

Madia's mind raced as the car made its way through the city streets, her thoughts swirling around the strange man sitting beside her. Lucas Reed, the beggar she had just bargained with. She had been certain that the deal would be simple, straightforward, but now that he was in her car with her.

The silence between them was oppressive. She could feel his gaze on her, even though she didn't dare meet his eyes. It unsettled her, in a way she couldn't explain. He didn't seem desperate. He didn't seem grateful. And he certainly didn't seem like someone who would fall into line so easily. His cold demeanor, the quiet intensity that radiated from him was unsettling. But that was fine. She didn't need him to be anything other than obedient. He had agreed to the terms. That's all that mattered.

Madia's phone buzzed in her purse, pulling her from her thoughts. She glanced at it quickly and then answered without hesitation.

"Mr. Sterling," she said, her tone already clipped. "Yes, I'm on my way. I'll be there shortly."

Her father's voice came through the line, firm and unwavering as always. "Good. Don't waste time. We need this finalized. I'm not getting any younger, Madia. You're running out of time too."

Madia could feel the weight of his expectations bearing down on her, suffocating her. She didn't need his reminders. She was well aware of the urgency. She needed a son. And she had the means to get what she wanted. All she had to do was play the game. And Lucas Reed was just another pawn in her carefully drafted plan.

She ended the call and turned to him, trying to shake off the tension building in her chest. "We're going to my office to draw up the contract. Once it's signed, you'll get everything we agreed on."

Lucas didn't respond right away. He simply stared out the window, his face unreadable.

She wanted to break the silence, to assert her control over the situation, but something about his silence was unnerving. It was like he was waiting for something or perhaps just biding his time.

When the car pulled into the parking garage. She hadn't anticipated this feeling, this unsettling mixture of excitement and fear. She had made the deal. She had him. But now that they were on the verge of solidifying it, the weight of what she was about to do settled heavily on her shoulders.

They entered the sleek glass building, Madia leading the way with Lucas following a few steps behind.

The elevator ride was quiet, the only sound was the soft hum of the elevator as it ascended to the top floor. Madia had always been in control. Always had a plan. But as the elevator doors opened and she led Lucas into her office, she felt a brief moment of doubt.

She brushed it aside. Doubt had no place here.

Her office was pristine, modern, minimalist, and designed to intimidate. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a breathtaking view of the city below, but Madia wasn't concerned with the view. She had her sights set on the contract. The piece of paper that would seal their arrangement.

She motioned for Lucas to sit across from her at the glass table in the center of the room. His eyes flicked briefly to the luxurious surroundings, but he said nothing. She felt a strange discomfort at his lack of reaction. She was used to people being impressed by her wealth, by the power she wielded.

But Lucas wasn't like the others.

Her assistant, Emily, entered the room, carrying the papers she had requested. Madia glanced at her, giving a slight nod before turning her attention back to Lucas. She needed this to be quick and efficient.

"This is the contract," Madia said, sliding the documents toward him. "It's simple. You marry me, give me a child, and once that child is born, you're free to go. No obligations. In exchange, I'll provide you with enough money to live comfortably for the rest of your life. You won't have to worry about a thing. Just sign the paper, and everything will be taken care of."

Lucas didn't immediately reach for the pen. Instead, he studied the contract with an intensity that unsettled her even more. Was he second-guessing the deal?

"Why do you want a child so badly?" Lucas finally asked, his voice low.

Madia froze, her fingers resting on the edge of the table. Why?

Her mind flashed back to the painful memories of her past Daniel, the man she had loved. She had wanted a family with him, but that dream had been torn away in an instant. She had spent months wallowing in grief before finally deciding to take matters into her own hands. She couldn't afford to waste any more time.

"I need an heir," she said coldly, her eyes locking onto his. "Someone to carry on the family name. Someone to take over the business when I'm gone. A son. It's not complicated."

Lucas remained silent, his expression unreadable. Madia's gaze flicked to the contract again, and she felt the need to hurry. The longer this dragged on, the more it felt like the deal might slip away.

"Do you want the money or not?" she asked, her voice sharper than she intended.

"I do," he said simply, his eyes still on the contract. "But I need to know something."

Madia raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"If I'm doing all this for you," he said, his voice still calm, "what's in it for you beyond just a son?"

Madia's heart skipped a beat. She had expected the question, but hearing it out loud, from his lips, made her uneasy. What was in it for her?

"I told you," she said quickly, "a child. A legacy. A future."

Lucas met her gaze again, and this time, she didn't look away. For a moment, it felt like they were locked in some kind of silent battle between two people trying to control the other. It was strange, unsettling. But Madia wouldn't let him win. She wouldn't let him push her off course.

She reached forward, picked up the pen, and signed her name at the bottom of the contract. "There. It's done. All you need to do is sign now, and we can get started."

Lucas didn't move. He didn't reach for the pen. Instead, he studied her for a long, unnerving moment. And then, finally, he signed.

The air in the room shifted as the sound of the pen on paper echoed in her ears. It was done. There was no going back now.

Madia exhaled slowly, trying to suppress the strange feeling of triumph mixed with... something else. Something she couldn't quite name. As Lucas stood up, preparing to leave, she wondered, for just a fleeting second, if she had made the right choice.

But then she shook her head. It didn't matter. She had gotten what she needed. She had control.

Lucas glanced at her one last time, and his lips curled into the faintest of smiles.

"I hope you know what you're doing, Madia," he said, his voice soft but laced with an undertone she couldn't ignore. "Because this isn't just a contract. It's a game. And I don't think you're ready for the rules."

The words hit her like a sudden storm, and for a moment, Madia's confidence wavered. But only for a moment.

"I'll be fine," she said, her voice steady. "I always am."

As he walked out of her office, Madia couldn't shake the feeling that Lucas wasn't just another pawn in her game. He was something far more dangerous.