A Contract for love

James...

I love going out and having a great time. My grandfather has an amazing casino hotel, and I, of course, spend hours in there having fun. Not only with the games but also with various women. My grandfather doesn't come as often anymore due to his old age. After my mom passed away, it's just been me and him. My grandfather tells me I need to get married and start a family, but with the money I have, I can have any woman I want. I'm a confident and charming kind of playboy. No woman can resist my charm. They love my blue eyes and adore my chiseled abs. My grandfather built a true empire. He bet big, and we have one of the largest fortunes in the world. The Black Diamond Hotel is an incredible casino located in Florida, just 40 minutes from Miami in Hollywood Beach. In Florida, here in Miami and Orlando, the law is very strict, and casinos are prohibited. But the Black Diamond Hotel and Casino was strategically built by my grandfather on a Native American reservation called Seminole, because the law can't be enforced on reservations. It's my grandfather's casino! It has a massive structure and offers a miniature experience of being in Las Vegas for a few hours. In fact, our casino in Florida is much more than just a casino. It also offers various types of entertainment, such as shows by famous artists and singers, fight events like the UFC, bars, and many restaurants. The casino is the main attraction, and our customers are greeted with hundreds of slot machines, where people spend hours playing their coins and can win thousands of dollars. There are slot machines of all types and all possible games. At the tables, the most sought-after games are Blackjack, Roulette, and Poker. I know people from various places in Florida, Miami, and Orlando who come here to gamble, play, and stay at the great hotel. The structure of the Black Diamond Hotel and Casino is incredible. There are over 450 rooms, all very comfortable, with queen-size beds, robes, minibars, plasma TVs, and Egyptian cotton sheets. The hotel's leisure area is also excellent and has large pools, perfect for Miami and Florida's scorching weather, just to mention. There are also many shops for shopping and a spa. The Hollywood area has one of the most beautiful beaches in Florida. Dining at the Black Diamond Hotel is also a great choice. There are more than 15 different restaurants with various cuisines. The Diamond Restaurant, for example, is a quieter and fun place located by the pool, with great drinks. It's one of my favorite places because I meet many interesting women there. There are also several other restaurants. In addition to these à la carte restaurants, the Black Diamond has a food court with faster and cheaper options like snacks, pizzas, and Chinese food. There's a Hooters there, the famous American restaurant with beautiful and friendly waitresses, making it a lot of fun.

But as I'm about to reach my favorite spot, Lucas has already called me. He never misses a weekend either. However, one afternoon arrives, and I quickly start getting ready. At that moment, I hear our housekeeper screaming. I decide to go see what happened and find her rushing out of my grandfather's room in total distress. So, I approach her and hold her arms.

"What's wrong, Suzete?" I say, shaking her. She just looks at me with a pained expression, pointing to my grandfather's room. I decide to enter and see my grandfather very serene, with his eyes closed. I go up to him and call out. "Grandpa!" I say, touching his shoulder. "I feel your cold skin."

"Grandpa, talk to me!" He remains motionless, and I scream, falling to my knees beside the bed. "No! My grandfather can't be gone!" I see Lucas enter the room and hug me, saying...

"Calm down, man! Come with me," he says, trying to lift me up as I continue to resist. "My grandfather, Lucas! My only family! He left me all alone," I cry.

"Calm down, dude! I know it hurts, but you need to be strong! He wouldn't want to see you like this," Lucas says. "I'm not leaving here," I tell Lucas, holding my grandfather's hand. I see Lucas leave the room, and a few minutes later, he comes back with a glass of water and a pill, handing it to me. "I'm not going to drink this," I say, not wanting to take that pill. "Oh, you will. You need to calm down. It's just a relaxant, trust me," Lucas tells me, holding out the pill to me. After a lot of insistence, I take the pill. After about 20 minutes, I feel my body heavy, and my eyes keep wanting to close. I try to keep them open, but I can't, and I end up falling asleep.

I wake up startled, look around, and don't see my grandfather. I realize I'm in my room, but why am I here? I get up still feeling groggy, stumbling around the room. I go to the door, holding onto the frame, and see Suzete. "Where's my grandfather? Why am I here?" She looks at me and says, "Mr. James! You slept the whole night. It's already morning, but don't worry! Your lawyer has taken care of everything, and your grandfather's body is being laid to rest in the main hall of the house, as he wished. I can't believe this is really happening." I run my hands through my hair as tears roll down my face. I see Lucas approaching quickly. "Hey, man, are you okay?" He puts his hand on my shoulder. "I'm not, my grandfather is really gone, it's not a bad dream." I hug him, crying. "Calm down, man! I'll always be by your side. You know we're like brothers." That's true. Lucas was raised with me since we were kids. His parents were always close friends of my family. He's the brother I never had.

I go back to the room and dress appropriately for my grandfather's funeral. As soon as I arrive in the hall, our lawyer comes to comfort me. He has been with our family since he was young too. His father was our lawyer, and when he passed away, he passed the work onto him. He has always had our complete trust and was also my grandfather's best friend.

The time has come to bury my grandfather, and at this moment, I feel like the loneliest person on the entire planet. My father didn't want me, my mother passed away young, and now my grandfather. Since he only had my mother and also has only one distant brother, it's just me now.

Dr. Miller tells me he will come to my house for the reading of the will because my grandfather had requested it to be done shortly after his death. We arrive home, and I head to the office. Dr. Miller quickly begins reading the will.

"Your grandfather, as everyone knows, had no heirs, so he left everything to the sole heir, James Leonard King. However, with one condition: that the mentioned heir must marry within 6 months and remain married for a minimum of 3 years, only being allowed to divorce after this pre-established time if there is no love between the couple."

I look at Dr. Miller in disbelief because even after his death, my grandfather managed to play a trick on me. Then Dr. Miller continues speaking:

"If the heir fails to fulfill this clause, he will not receive 100% of the fortune, and it will be divided equally among the individuals mentioned below: 25% for charity, 25% for my friend and lawyer Miller, 25% for the employees mentioned below, and my grandson will only retain 25% of what remains of my estate."

I place both hands over my mouth, arch my eyebrows, and stand there, stunned, for a minute. I can't believe my grandfather did this to me. He knew how much I enjoy my bachelor life, knew I don't believe in love. I know he wanted to take care of me, but this is too much! I ask Dr. Miller if there's no other alternative, and he shakes his head in denial.

He continues speaking:

"If you accept the clause, you will assume and manage the assets, while I will continue to be your executor. It's also mandatory that when you two get married, you sleep in the same room and attend some events together."

"Don't be like that, James. Your grandfather only wanted what's best for you; he didn't want you to be a lonely bachelor," my friend Lucas teases me.

Unfortunately, I have to agree to this crazy clause in the will. I can't forfeit my fortune, so I nod, and Dr. Miller asks me to sign. I sign, my friend Lucas signs, and my housekeeper also signs as a witness. We finish settling some details, and I bid farewell to my lawyer. I ask Lucas to accompany me to the living room.

I'm still trying to process everything that's happening. My friend just looks at me with a concerned expression but doesn't say anything. I enter the main room, head straight to the bar, pour a shot of whiskey, and down it in one go. Lucas keeps watching me.

"Say something, brother. I'm going crazy here. I don't even know where to start to find a bride. I'm not even dating, and the women I enjoy at night are not what I want."

"Calm down, James. As I told you, I'm with you through thick and thin. We'll find a solution, don't worry. Since we left the office, I've been thinking about what we can do, and I have an idea. I'm not sure if you'll like it."

I look at Lucas's face and wait for him to speak to find out what idea he has, because I still don't know what to do.

"Look, brother, I know you're terrified of marriage, and you don't believe in love. So, the traditional way won't work. I know that if you find some woman, she might be interested only in the money you have and might want to scam you. So, I was thinking: how about you make a contract?"

I look at Lucas in disbelief. But what do you mean, a contract? Isn't the will and that darned clause that will change my entire life and plans enough, now a contract too?

Lucas smiles and starts to explain: "Man, you find a woman with whom you've had no prior contact and make her an offer. You have nothing to lose. Offer her a good monthly salary to become your wife. Explain to her that there's no need for any intimate contact with you, that she only needs to pretend in front of others, and that after 3 and a half years, since you need to be married for a minimum of three years, both she and you will be released from the commitment."

I look at Lucas thinking: wow, man, you're a genius. But we still have a lot to discuss because I have no idea where to find this woman. But, as always, Lucas has thought of everything and suggests that we search for the woman at the college we attend, as there we might find the perfect wife for me.

I still don't fully believe this idea will work, but it's worth a try. I have very little time to find this woman who will spend so much time with me. I don't understand why my grandfather gave me such little time to decide something so important for my life. He knew I wasn't dating, so how could I get engaged and married so quickly? But I know he believed in fate. So I head to college, and there I find Lucas, and we begin the hunt.

We start looking for the woman who will be my future wife at the college. In my classroom, I don't see anyone who fits the desired profile. They all seem like shallow socialites who would probably try to scam me. I feel demotivated, but Lucas is enthusiastic, as if he's enjoying the situation. He encourages me to keep searching throughout the college, going from classroom to classroom, and analyzing the girls.

We spent a full two weeks searching and analyzing the girls, but I couldn't find any that interested me. In fact, I'm not even sure myself exactly what I'm looking for. I thought I'd know it when I saw it. Lucas remembers a girl in his finance class. She's about to graduate, in her final semester. He tells me she earned a full scholarship to our college due to her excellent performance in high school. She comes from a humble family and works hard. She's received several dubious offers but has never gotten involved in anything wrong. She studies at night and works during the day at a café in Miami Beach.

I'm tired of searching and starting to think maybe I won't be able to find a woman who suits me. But I decide to meet this girl, as she's one of my last hopes. I've come across several girls who would easily accept my proposal, but I prefer peace since I'll have to put up with this girl for three and a half years of my life. I need to choose carefully.

Lucas points out the girl to me, and I watch her from afar all night at the college. I notice that she doesn't pay much attention to the other guys. During the break, she sits in a distant corner with a book, reading while eating. She's genuinely interesting and very different from the socialites who study here.

The next day, I wake up, shower, and decide to go to the café where she works. I go with Lucas since he's part of this quest. We arrive at the café, and I see her waiting on some tables. I sit at one of them, waiting to be served. She approaches, and I stand there, not knowing what to say. Lucas breaks the ice and places our order for both of us. She barely looks at us, writes down the order, and walks away. I look at Lucas, wondering how to approach her.

"Man, honestly, I'm here thinking about how to approach her. I have no idea where to start. If I go up to her and say I want to marry her and make a contract, she'll think I'm going crazy or slap me and run away in fear."

"Relax, man, let's think of a way. But first, you need to be sure she's the one you want. Deciding on the target will make it easier to find the right approach."

Lucas seems to have it all figured out, but I'm still unsure. She returns with our order, places it on the table, and asks if we need anything else. I decide to start a conversation with her.

"Hi, how are you? I think I know you from somewhere!"

She looks at me, raising an eyebrow, as if trying to remember. Lucas interrupts.

"That's right, James. She goes to our college."

The girl looks at me again, apologizes, and says she doesn't remember me. She looks at Lucas and mentions she has a faint memory of him, as they're in the same class. She smiles shyly, apologizes again, and explains that she can't chat right now because she has a lot of work to do. I reply that it's okay, and she can go. Lucas and I eat, pay the bill, and leave a generous tip for her. Then we head back home."

Lucas knows me very well and already knows I'm quite interested in that girl. He looks at me with a somewhat cynical smile.

"So, buddy! Found the woman of your dreams?"

"Cut it out, man. You know it's just a business matter, nothing more," I reply seriously.

"Don't tell me you didn't notice how she's a total babe, even under those outfits."

Lucas is somewhat superficial and appreciates well-dressed women, "the socialites," to be more specific. For him, any woman who dresses simply is considered poorly dressed.

"Really, man, I won't lie to you and say she's ugly. She has her charm. But I just want to achieve my goals, get my inheritance, and go back to my usual life. Sometimes, I even imagine that when I'm married, maybe I'll need to have a few flings now and then. After all, no man can stand being tied to one person for three and a half years, right?"

Lucas wholeheartedly agrees with me but says that this effort is necessary and for the greater good.

Then we arrive home and head to the main room to think of an approach that could convince this girl to agree to the terms of my contract.

Lucas, as always, is ahead of me, devising a plan to achieve my goal. I look at him, give him a big hug, and say,

"How could I live without you, my friend?"

He just hugs me back and smiles. He really is a great brother.

Lucas takes the opportunity to investigate the poor girl's life and discovers that she lives with her father, who is an alcoholic and a gambling addict, accumulating several debts. It would be easy to convince her, or even her father, to marry in exchange for a good monthly sum. Thus, the second part of the plan goes into action."

James...

Lucas already has the girl's address, so we decided to go to her house to propose a good deal to her father. We arrived, knocked on the door, and a disheveled man looked at us curiously. "Hi! Who are you guys?" he asked. "We're from the same college as your daughter! And we have a proposal to make." I can tell he's looking at us suspiciously, but he still invites us in. The house is simple but tidy. He asks us to sit on the tiny living room couch and offers us a glass of water. We thank him but prefer to get straight to the point. "Well, my name is James King, owner of the Black Diamond Casino..." I'm interrupted by the man, who widens his eyes and says, "I'll pay, I swear," looking scared. I glance at Lucas, surprised. I didn't know he also owed money to the casino. "No! It's not about that," I reassure him. I see him breathe a sigh of relief. "So, what is it about?" he asks, curious. "It's about your daughter. I need a wife, and I realized that your daughter is the right person." "What do you mean? I don't understand..." he says, confused, scratching his head. "I need a wife, and I would like to propose a favorable agreement for all of us." "Please speak more clearly so I can understand," he requests. "Well, I would like to make a contract with you and your daughter, offering a substantial monthly sum of money. She doesn't need to have any intimate contact with me; she just needs to pretend, in society's eyes, that she is my wife. We'll need to stay married for three and a half years. After that time, she will be free to do whatever she wants with her life. I will pay off all her debts, in addition to the monthly amount that you and she will receive. While she is married to me, she won't need to work or spend the money I provide. She can save it in her personal account. I will also provide an unlimited credit card so she can buy whatever she needs, both for herself and for you." I stop talking and await a response. I see a gleam in the old man's eyes, and he quickly asks me, "Is everything you said true, young man?" "Yes, I guarantee it." "Then we have a deal!" he says, extending his hand toward me. "But what about your daughter? Don't you need to talk to her first?" I ask, curious. "No, young man. I am her father, and I know what is best for our family. She obeys me, and that's that," he says firmly. "Alright! Then I will ask my lawyer to draft the document for you and your daughter to sign. But first, I need to know your name and her name." "Ah, I apologize for the distraction. My name is Mario Solano Bitencourt, and my daughter's name is Lara Suzan Bitencourt." "Thank you!" I say, extending my hand to shake his. We say our goodbyes and leave. I get in the car, and Lucas congratulates me. "Man, you did great! Congratulations on the negotiation," he says with a smile. "Yeah, man, but I'm afraid she won't agree."

So Lucas tells me, "Man, did you see what her father said? He commands and she obeys."

I agree with Lucas, and we head to Dr. Miller's office. We are greeted, and I explain everything to him. He informs me that the document will be ready the next day, and we can take it to be signed. I provide all the correct information, including the monthly payment amounts. We let him know that the other amounts related to the debts incurred by Mr. Mario will be settled with him.

With everything settled, I go home. Lucas suggests going out at night to celebrate the victory, although I don't think it's a victory. It will be my imprisonment for the next three and a half years. My grandfather really got me this time.

I spend the rest of the day taking care of some matters, and when night comes, I get ready to go to my hotel casino. I'm still not very excited, but Lucas insisted so much, saying that I need to have some fun, that my grandfather didn't want to see me down, so I decided to go.

I put on one of my best outfits, get in the car, and head to the casino. Lucas will meet me there. As I drive, I think about how my life will change. Even without having any intimate contact, we will spend a lot of time together, something I have never done and don't like. I'm not the type who likes to share my life with anyone. I'm more of a "I'm not anyone's, I'm everyone's, and everyone is mine too" kind of person. I love having my freedom, and that will be taken away from me soon.

Before I know it, I'm already in front of the casino. The valet takes the keys and parks the car while I look around for Lucas, who is waiting for me in front of the main entrance.

"Hey, man, how's it going?" Lucas asks me.

"As good as it can be. You know I wouldn't be here if it were up to me."

"You need to distract yourself, man, and tonight is just the beginning!" he says, hugging me.

We enter together and immediately catch the attention of some girls, but I'm not in the mood. I reach the bar and order a drink. I look around and see a blonde, about 5'9" tall, with a curvaceous body and piercing green eyes. I can say that just looking at her takes my breath away. She's wearing a red dress with a slit that goes up to the thigh, and she has fair skin. She's a traffic stopper. Before I know it, she's already next to me, looking at me and saying,

"Aren't you going to buy me a drink?"

Lucas nudges me, and I realize I have my mouth open. I compose myself and nod.

"Get the lady a drink... I'll wait for her to tell me her name."

"Lopes! Beatrice Lopes..." she says, exuding sensuality.