Chapter 4 The Contract is Signed

Natalie needed to talk to someone and she called her best friend, Linnea Bergström, As soon as Linnea saw Natalie she knew something was wrong as Natalie stirred her drink absently, lost in thought.

"What's wrong dear," Linnea asked as soon as she sat down opposite Natalie at the café.

"You sounded so urgent when you called."

"It's... complicated," Natalie said, her voice low.

"I had an unexpected visitor this afternoon."

Linnea's eyebrows shot up. "A visitor?" she repeated.

"And just what kind of visitor would make you this tense?"

Natalie looked around, as if to make sure nobody was listening to their conversation.

"Rasmus Dahlgren," she said quietly.

Linnea froze for a moment, then blinked.

"Wait, you mean Rasmus Dahlgren? The billionaire businessman?" she asked, her tone incredulous.

"What the hell did he come looking for in your flower shop?"

Natalie exhaled as she replied to her friend.

"He came to make me an offer. A business arrangement of some sorts, He wants me to marry him for one year. In exchange for financial security."

Linnea's eyes widened.

"Marriage? For a year?" She sat back in her chair, clearly shocked.

"That's... insane, Natalie. You can't seriously be considering it."

"But he's offering me enough money to get out of this mess. With the money I could pay off everything, clear all my debts, get Elliot into a better school. The offer is everything I've ever wanted."

"But at what cost?" Linnea said

"You know what he's asking. He's not looking for love. He's looking for a deal. And I'm sure there are things you might have to give up in return."

Natalie knew that her friend was right, a marriage like this can't be simple. But what other choice does she have?.

"Are you sure about this?" Linnea asked her friend in a softer tone.

"I know you need the money, but what if there's more to this than just money."

Natalie sipped her coffee as she thought over all that Linnea just said.

That night as Natalie lay in her bed, she kept thinking of the conversation she had with Linnea and how everything she said made sense but as she looked at Elliot sleeping soundly beside her she knew she owed it to him to make the right choice.

She wondered if she could live with herself if she entered into this marriage of convenience living under the same roof with a man like Rasmus. She picked up the card

This wasn't just about her anymore. It was about Elliot, but could she sacrifice her own happiness for his future?

The next day, Natalie sat stiffly in the leather chair across from Rasmus in his office. She had made up her mind to take up the offer, she was clearly nervous as the classy but simple office made her feel like she wasn't supposed to be there. Meanwhile Rasmus was the exact opposite, he was so calm and her nervousness kind of amused him.

After watching her trying to open her mouth to say something and shit it again, he finally decided to help her out before she loses courage and runs out of his office.

"You being here, tells me that you have thought about it and decided to go ahead with the marriage contract" he said to her.

Natalie nodded her head. Rasmus passed a folder across the table to Natalie.

"The terms of contract" he said

"I'll advise you read through before you sign"

"The terms are simple. Marry me, you live with me for one year, have a child and after that, you can leave. In return, you'll receive a generous amount of money"

Natalie looked down at the folder, she opened it and began to go through. She kept thinking about how she was going to overcome the part of the contract that says she will have a child.

"The marriage is going to be purely for both our personal interests, you move in with me and we live as a married couple for just one year, you have a child and at the end I'll have $10 million dollars transferred into your account and we are both free to go our separate ways. No emotional attachments" Rasmus said as she was going through the terms of the contract.

Natalie couldn't believe she was doing this, but then she wasn't seeing any other choice.

"And the child? Of course he isn't just going to appear from nowhere? she asked.

"Yes, a child," he said, his tone careful.

"That's one of the requirements. You'll need to bear an heir. Hope that won't be a problem for you."

Natalie was hoping that wouldn't be such a big deal as the guilt of knowing she couldn't give him the heir was starting to eat her up. She looked up at him quickly forcing herself to look calm

"I understand the terms," she said, her voice steady despite the storm inside her.

Rasmus nodded, satisfied with her response. He slid a pen across the desk toward her. "Then, we sign."

Natalie picked up the pen and quickly signed before the guilt would make her change her mind.

Rasmus signed his own part of the contract and with that they both sealed their fates for the next one year.

"Welcome to the Dahlgren family, " he said, his voice low but firm.

Natalie didn't respond. She simply nodded, as it just dawned on her that she had just played a song she wasn't sure how she was going to dance to.

As soon as the contract was signed, Natalie didn't understand how everything just moved so fast as if the stage had been set and all that was needed to complete it was her. Before she knew it she was signing the marriage license a few hours from when the contract was signed.

The marriage was a very quiet and low key one. With only herself, Rasmus and Linnea present. The day after, Natalie and Elliot were to move into the Dahlgren mansion.

The big and intimidating mansion,. towered over them when they arrived and Natalie couldn't help staring at it. Her son

Elliot pulled her hand in excitement as he shouted

"Mom, look at the big house! It's like a castle!"

Natalie smiled just to calm her nerves as she felt like a total stranger.

"I know darling, it's beautiful," she said to him as she squeezed his hands.

They walked inside, everything about the place screamed wealth. It was the kind of place people only saw in magazines, she was so overwhelmed that she wanted to turn around, walk out the door, and leave it all behind.

"Are we going to live here? Elliot asked her with so much excitement in his voice.

"Yes, it is."

She didn't even know that Rasmus was watching them, his attention on her the whole time. Suddenly he spoke, causing Natalie to almost jump.

"Maria take them to the room that I asked you to prepare for the boy earlier, as for Mrs Dahlgren, take her things to my room."

"Yes sir," the maid answered.

"Freshen up and come to the dining room, dinner will be served soon" he said to Natalie as the maid was taking them to their rooms.

As soon as they sat down for dinner, Rasmus said.

"This is your house now, so make yourself comfortable. If you need anything Maria will attend to you." Natalie nodded

"Just so we are clear," he said, his tone businesslike.

"This marriage is a transaction. We will maintain the appearance of a married couple, but there will be no emotional involvement. No attachments."

His words stung, but Natalie didn't let it show. She simply nodded, feeling a sense of coldness seeping into the room. It was at this point she realized that the hardest part of this whole arrangement wasn't going to be the lack of love or intimacy, it was going to be Rasmuss coldness.