Contracted To My Ex Husband's Rival.

Harper.

My eyes zoned in on my laptop screen as I searched for a hall to celebrate my fourth anniversary with my husband, Adam. Next, tomorrow was the set date. I had already hired the best caterer in the state and one of the most famous bartenders. It was guaranteed to be spot on.

"Perfect," I muttered, saving a picture of the hall for reference later. Adam and I always celebrated our marriage anniversary with a huge banquet, and this year, it was no different. Every single social elite in town would attend, so I had to make sure everything was prim and proper.

The unmistakable perch of Louisa's heels on the tiles drew closer as she approached the dining room with her mom sauntering behind. The smug look on their face was seen beneath the white chandelier.

"Sign it bitch." Louisa slammed the brown envelope on the white marble table, the thud snapping my thoughts out of my head.

My neck craned and my eyes flickered between the envelope, Louisa, and Tracy. "What's this?"

Louisa was my sister-in-law and Tracy was my mother-in-law. But they both despised and treated me like I was filth. I probably was to them, since I came from their own words

"wretched background."

Louisa snickered. "They're your divorce papers. Time's up, you gold-digging slut." She folded her arms as she cocked her hip.

Tracy stood behind like some sort of bodyguard. She crinkled her nose. Oh, she always crinkled her nose when I was close by. She had told me I smelt like poverty.

"What?" I snatched the envelope; its roughness grazed against my fingertip. Opening it I pulled out the white paper. My eyes dragged to the bottom of the paper, where Adam's signature was unmistakably seen. My eyes fluttered. The blood drained from my face as it turned pale and my heart thudded against my rib cage.

"What is the meaning of this?" I asked, the strain in my voice not going unnoticed.

Louisa stared daggers into my soul. "Divorce as in you should get your sorry ass up, and leave. My brother is fucking done with your slutty nature." She snarled. She went round the table and forced a pen into my hands.

My head became hazy as I attempted to make sense of what was happening. Adam and I saw each other this morning. We were fine this morning. So why so sudden?

"What are you waiting for? Sign it you whore!" Tracy strutted towards me, moving closer to probably slam my face on the desk like she always did.

I slithered out of the chair before she caught up. Tracy growled in annoyance, but my mind was elsewhere.

I shook my head. "It can't be," I muttered, inching backward till I leaned on the dark brown sideboard against the off-white wall.

"Stop being so dramatic and sign these papers," Louisa yelled, tapping her foot against the white marbled floor.

My eyes tore at them. "I'll wait for Adam to get back."

Louisa and Tracy had always hated our union. They had made several attempts over the years to ruin it, introducing their friend and friend's daughter respectively to him. I have been accused of atrocities I couldn't dare to commit. This was probably one of their schemes.

Tracy grimaced as she approached me. The high-pitched smack sliced through the silence as she struck my face. "Are you calling us liars?" Her voice was as cold as ice.

My face turned red and tears pricked at the corner of my eyes. Was it because of the slap or the divorce papers that taunted me from the table? That I didn't know.

Adam loved me. There's no way he would do that. This has to be their doing. Adam always protected me from them. I have to wait for him.

Louisa and Tracy didn't say anything more, just left the room with devilish grins on their faces.

.

.

Two hours of pacing back and forth the living room came to an end when the familiar rev struggled beneath the clatter of the rain as Adam's car pulled into the driveway.

My sore fingers from all the biting clenched tighter on the paper as I stomped toward the front door, anticipation and trepidation flooding my veins. "Adam, what are these?" I held up the papers.

"Divorce papers." A cold expression rested on his face-one that sent chills down my spine-as he shrugged off his partially drenched coat and tossed it on the white sofa. "Your services are no longer needed."

His words punched the air out of my lungs. I thought he....loved me. Although it was a contract marriage, I thought what we had was real. Was it all an act for the cameras? It was just three days to our anniversary.

"Adam...why would..."My words hung in my pain-constrained throat.

"Because he doesn't want you anymore, you witch! What don't you understand?" Louisa yelled from below the stairs, clearly enjoying what was happening.

Ignoring her presence, my reddened eyes stared at Adam. "Please talk to me. I don't understand. Why the sudden change of heart Adam?" My chest burnt, and I knew it was more than just the heartache-I was losing it.

He sighed, and my bones froze.

I hated that sigh.

It meant he wanted to say something bad, as in bad. "It's not a game, Harper. You should sign the papers and leave. I have no use for you anymore."

The air hung, heavy with the cold.

My heart shattered, the tiny cracks pierced deep into my bones, engraving pain. Blood rushed to my ears, and my head felt light and woozy. It felt like I was in a dream...a nightmare.

Tracy ambled into the living room. She tossed the pen at me. "Sign the papers and get out of my son's house."

The terms of the contract slipped in; I act as his wife and he pays my mother's bills.

I swallowed hard as a different kind of chill dashed down my spine. I faced Adam. "What about my mother?"

"She gets nothing. The contract is done. Leave." Adam's tone was cold and ruthless.

My eyes widened and self-honor fled as I collapsed on my knees, holding his leg like he was some sort of god-savior. Tears as hot as hell, dribbled down my cheeks burning the depth of my skin. "Please. Adam, you are all I have." My voice quivered.

Adam pulled his legs away as he groaned in disdain.

"Leave you wretched slut. Adam has found someone befitting for his caliber. Bethany, the daughter of conglomerate tycoon Walter Reed. She would be a much better wife than your filthy self." Louisa grinned

I glanced at Adam, and his expression told me all I needed to know.

Almost immediately, thunder boomed outside and the downpour became heavy.

This was because of another woman. It would never be good enough for me. I could never fit into his world.

Picking my shattered heart, I rose off the floor. "Fine. I'll sign it." I grabbed the pen and wiped the tears off my face. But it only poured out more, as heavy as the rain outside, soaking the divorce papers spread before me on the black coffee table.

With a sharp inhale, I signed the papers. After all, it was my fault-I got too fucking comfortable. I mistook an illusion for reality.

Shunning the happiness that outlined Tracy and Louisa's faces, I handed over the papers to Adam. "I'll pack my things."

Tracy sneered. "What things are you talking about? The things my son got for you? Oh no, no sweetheart. You came here with nothing, so you leave with nothing."

Louisa giggled in agreement.

I turned to Adam, who said nothing. Who did nothing... But when he did, he commanded, "Get her out of here." He turned to the security man who I hadn't noticed standing on opposite sides of the door. I widened my eyes in disbelief. He wouldn't. "Now!"

Within seconds, the man gripped me by my wrist as though I could fly away at any moment. His rough calloused hand bruised my skin. I winced as he pulled me out of the house into the rain with no money, not even a cab fare to get to my house on the other side of the city.

He tossed me outside the gate. I winced as my knees and elbows grazed against the wet, cold tarred ground. The chains clinked as the security man locked the gate.

I remained on the floor before the gate, like a sinner cast out of heaven-for sins I knew not.

After a while I rose to my feet, like a zombie, I trudged beneath the pouring rain. It splattered on my skin as if I was a punching bag for its agony. The blisters formed on my barefoot with each step. The death-freezing cold couldn't cure the haunting heat in my chest.

I hugged myself and my teeth jittered as the coldness devoured any form of warmth in me.

Before long, a black Ferrari pulled out of nowhere beside me. The tinted glass window slid down gracefully, revealing a man with hair as black as a sky with no moon, and a face chiseled to perfection. "What's a damsel doing under the pouring rain? Let me give you a lift?"

How could something cold stir up something warm? Impossible, right?

Yet, his cold blue-hazel eyes brewed a scorching heat, one that burned my cold breath-burned through my skin, my muscles till I felt the warmth in my bones.

I had seen this face before, I recalled through the fog of pain that had clouded my thoughts. I narrowed my eyes at him and gasped lightly.

It was Trevor Edmund, the biggest conglomerate CEO in New York, and Adam's direct business rival.

Harper.

The cold early morning wind brushed lightly against my skin, setting goosebumps in its wake.

"St Peter's Avenue," I muttered to the taxi driver as soon as I got in. I rubbed my palm on my arms, to warm myself up a little as my mind drifted to last night's events.

I refused to follow Trevor home, so he lodged me in a hotel. Not just any hotel, The Chivalry, is the biggest five-star hotel in New York. It could be far-fetched to say he was God sent since he did nothing with me except try everything. But I was still grateful that I found where to sleep. My mind drifted as flashes of our conversation trickled into my brain.

"You're stunningly beautiful. You know that?" His hot breath fanned against my ear as he gripped my waist from behind. Our gazes locked on the dressing mirror I was standing in front of. We were alone in the hotel room, and while I was still in despair from the rapid turn of events that night, something about his stare ignited a flame in me. I wasn't surprised, Trevor was notorious for being flirtatious. But that didn't mean he wasn't mysterious.

"Adam and I just got divorced. So whatever game you're trying to play won't work." I whispered, the recollection hammering into my chest. My already numb heart reawoke with a start and pounded painfully against my ribs.

Trevor's gaze turned cold in the dressing mirror as my words sank in. I was right. Trevor would take any opportunity to see Adam suffer. Even if it meant a scandal.

"Oh. I'm sorry about that." He recoiled from me and left the room without a word.

As hurt as I felt, I was relieved that I had some privacy to brood. Trevor's last marriage ended on a mysterious note, with his wife vanishing without a trace. Since then, no one heard anything about her. And here he was, trying to make a move on me.

Maybe it's best to stay away from him.

The familiar surroundings of my neighborhood pulled me out of my reverie, and my heart clenched as the driver pulled up to my apartment. It was a small bungalow, just in the heart of the street. The roof had sunk so much from all the water collected on it that I feared it would fall anytime soon. The steps that led to the door were covered in trash and filth, and the windows were almost half gone. I doubt inside was any better

My breath caught in my throat as my eyes landed on my sister sitting on the porch with her head in her hands. She was crying.

I dashed towards her, an empty sinking feeling settling into the pit of my stomach. Vivian was only in the university, and the little money I made when I was with Adam was used to sponsor her education.

The only thing that would make her cry was...mom.

"Vivian! What's wrong? Where's mom?" I choked out, fighting back my tears. I crouched down and she threw herself into my arms, sobbing. The empty feeling sank further. "Talk to me, Viv," I said, grabbing her arms and steadying her against me.

She rubbed her eyes, and stared deep into mine, her emotions laid bare for me to see. Her eyes began to glaze over again, and my heart clenched. "She collapsed last night when I was making dinner. I took her to the hospital and the doctor said she had brain swelling. They need surgery to reduce the pressure in her head or she could die. We need $500,000."

What?

A knot formed in my stomach and twisted painfully. My lungs weren't drawing in enough air, making me gasp sharply. "That's a lot of money.." I whispered. Where could I possibly get $500,000? I sat down on the porch with her, afraid that I too would collapse if I stood any longer. My head pounded with pain, in sync with my heart.

Suddenly, Vivian gripped my hands, her eyes wide with desperation. "Harper, beg Adam for us. He can help. He's rich enough, isn't he? 500k is a chicken change for him. Please, beg him, Harper. Mom..." She was panicking.

"Viv...relax." I gripped her hand and tried to calm her down, as sadness loomed at the back of my head.

I have no use for you anymore.

My jaw clenched tightly as his words seeped into my brain. I took a deep breath. "Viv, Adam, and I are divorced."

She stilled under my touch, disbelief, and pain flashing in her eyes. "What do you mean divorced? What happened?"

I sighed, kicking the empty can close to my leg. "He said he has no use for me anymore. He's found another woman, and I'm just discarded trash to him."

As if I could go by anything worse.

Vivian gasped audibly, covering her mouth. She rested her palm on my lap, offering silent comfort. "That's cruel. I never thought Adam could do that. He looked so in love with you."

I thought so too sis, I thought so too.

"What do we do now? Mom would die if things continue like this." Her voice broke, and I pulled her into my arms as if to calm my own raging heart.

"I'll find a way out. I promise."

*********

Two days later....

"It has come to our notice that the wife of a popular business tycoon, Adam Giullio, has left him on accounts of "him not being enough." It's known that Adam has been experiencing financial setbacks, and she left him because he couldn't provide anymore. Women, am I right?"

I scoffed at the news reporter. Adam had made our divorce public, and as usual, the media was all over the news. Adam had played at the victim, making it look like I was the one who left him. I was called all sorts of names, gold digger, slut, ungrateful bitch, you name it.

My grip tightened on the coffee mug.

"Hey, are you okay?" Emily asked, her voice laced with concern as she turned off the TV and joined me on the couch. I sighed, shutting my eyes tightly.

"I'm fine. This is just ridiculous." I said.

She grabbed my hand. "It's expected. You just have to move on and forget about him."

I smiled gratefully and hugged her. Emily was my friend from college, and she let me and Viv stay at her house until we could sort ourselves out.

"Emily, I need a lot of money for mom's surgery. And I'm completely clueless." I said as I released her. She stared at me, as if stunned. Then, her eyebrows creased as she tapped her foot on the wooden floor. "There's an underground club I know where you could work, and make the money in a week or less." She shrugged.

Shocking was an understatement of what I felt. "Really?" I almost jumped on her.

"Yes, just get yourself ready." She giggled, winking at me.

"Wow. That's amazing Em." I was excited, although it sounded too good to be true.

*********

I stepped out of the dressing room, a little worried. This waitress uniform was far different from the ones I knew, and it was short as fuck. I exhaled. I needed to do this.

A lewd woman stood outside, her expression neutral. "Follow me. Let me show you where you'd work."

Okay.

We walked into a secluded section of the underground club, which I immediately recognized as the VIP section. LED lights of different colors shone from ceiling to floor, the colors bouncing off the tiles in a dazzling display of colors. Loud music blared from the stage, making the air vibrate. The faint smell of cocaine and cigarettes filled the air, making me nauseous. When my eyes finally adjusted, I felt the blood drain from my face.

It was an indoor orgy.

Old, rich men were everywhere. On the floor, on the couches, on the stage. And they were fucking the women who were putting on the same dresses as me. The women looked like they were in a haze, probably drugged or injected with something. It was disgusting.

Oh hell no.

My pulse kicked, and my movements became rigid as I prayed not to draw attention from either of the filthy old men. I recognized some of them from the countless meetings Adam had with them.

"Here." I felt cold glass touch the back of my palm. I jerked backward and noticed the woman handing me a small cup. I took it from her, but I dared not drink. She turned around and whispered something to the bartender, then turned back to me.

"You're going to strip over there. And pull your skirt up." She pointed towards a metal pole in the middle of the room.

I cocked my head, certain I didn't hear her well.

"Strip?"

Harper

.

.

My throat bobbed as the horrific sight filled my eyes. I turned to the woman. "I'm sorry. I can't." I shook my head. There's no way I could take part in such a horrible act.

About to move, when the woman blocked the exit, planting her hands on the doorframe. "Where the hell do you think you are going?" A thick frown burnt on her face. "You're going anywhere until your job here is done," she snarled.

"Says who?" I folded my arms, my voice barely thriving beneath the loud music.

"Barley, Alvero," The woman yelled.

Two burly men clad in black polo shirts and trousers began approaching us. The stare in their eyes was as threatening as the tattoo that crawled up their neck.

My heart thudded in my ears, drowning out the loud music and my hands clammed. I shoved the woman aside.

Weaving my way through the crowd, I scurried towards the exit of the club. The men trailed right behind me like a predator marking its prey.

I burst out of the club through the door and into the dark alley. The disgusting smell of throw-up and stale alcohol wafted into my nose brewing nausea in my stomach.

With my heart in my mouth, I sprinted down the road. My barefoot slapped hard against the pavement. The icy rain stung my skin as it washed the earth of its dust and warmth. My drenched auburn wavy hair clung up to my skin as I clung to dear life. Although my life was pitiful, that doesn't mean I should throw it away. My soaked white shirt and black skirt hugged me as though I could save it from being ripped by the two men who chased behind me.

Lightening rumbled, offering a flickering light that brightened the dark alleyway for a second. Aside from the parked cars, there was no one, no living thing in sight, to witness my death if those men caught up to me.

I took the left turn, and it introduced me to the car park at the front of a supermarket. Oh great, one more empty car. I glanced around, searching for where I could hide. Their vile footstep that pierced through the clatter of the rain drew closer with every passing second.

"Oh sh*t," I mumbled.

A red Ferrari on the other end of the car park caught my eye, it's the boot was slightly opened. Without hesitating, I slipped into the narrow booth. My breath and finger trembled as I attempted to close it enough for it to be thought to be closed. But my fingers slipped, and with a metallic clink, I knew I had trapped myself in the dark booth of a stranger's car.

The wails of the rain dwindled as it neared its end, its heavy drops morphing into light ones.

"Find her," one of my chasers said, muffled but discernible. "There's no way she could have gone far. Check beneath the car."

I stifled my mouth, but my heartbeat was still loud.

"What are you doing around my car?" A man's voice filtered into my ears, one That sounded familiar.

The rain I had thought was near its end intensified; its harsh drumming sound muffled the conversation going on outside.

Aside from the rain, I could hear nothing.

Aside from the darkness inside the booth, I could see nothing.

My chest tightened, attempting to constrict my racing heart. The car engine started and it moved.

Every inhale filled my lungs with fear and faint traces of musky scent.

After what felt like an eternity, the car finally came to a halt. I should feel relieved, yet I felt worse as my heart thudded in parts of my body it shouldn't.

Should I bang the car? A part of me wanted to remain hidden in the trunk, but with the little knowledge I knew, I was bound to run out of oxygen and still die. So I took my chances and banged the booth. "Help!" I screamed, straining my poor vocal cords.

Moments later, the door creaked open, flooding the trunk with a sliver of light and fresh air.

I dashed out of the trunk and my eyes fell on Trevor.

"Look who we have here? If this isn't fate, I don't know what it is. " A satisfied grin played on his lips, and his eyes darkened as they trailed my frame.

My hands flew around my chest as my palms itched to slap the smug smile off his face. It just had to be Trevor's trunk I entered

Trevor shielded me from the rain with his umbrella. "It's another late rainy night. You have to spend the night in my house." The smug smile still burning on his lips, like seeing me in this state amused him.

I wanted to reject his offer as I hated his cockiness. But once again I was outside without any cash or means to get back home. So I had no choice but to accept. "Thank you." I clenched the rim of my black skirt, which was torn a bit from all that running.

We headed towards the entrance of his house. Like its owner, the house stood tall majestically, A white three-story building that competed with the towering trees that adorned the compound. Unlike its owner, it was warm, the lights filtering through the floor-to-ceiling windows that melded with the external lights that prevented darkness from enveloping the house. The soothing trickling sound of water struggling beneath the now soft drums of the rain, notified there was a water fountain nearby.

My eyes widened as I entered the living room. It was so huge you could fit fifty of my small, scrawny apartments into it. The white walls, the white sofas, the golden chandeliers that cascade from the towering ceilings, the way they glistened-everything about the man seemed so heavenly.

"A real-life doll." A child's voice drew my attention

My eyes fell on a young girl, her face was as lively as her voice. But, the woman beside her, stood with the most horrible and coldest frown I had ever seen etched across her face.

"Daddy!" The little girl dashed towards Trevor. I never knew he had a daughter.

With his many failed marriages, it was hard to tell who was her mother.

Trevor squatted and scooped the girl into his arms. "It's rude to call people dolls. Don't do that again," he scolded with a soft voice. Trevor turned to me. "Sorry about that, she didn't mean it."

My body tightened as I never expected his apology. He always acted high and arrogant. Our last encounter didn't leave a good impression on me.

His daughter's eyes locked with mine. "I'm sorry. You are so beautiful like a doll." Her eyes rounded.

I nodded.

Trevor turned to the lady. "Please show her to her room." He swung his gaze to me. "After changing, come down for dinner," he said before carrying his daughter upstairs.

I trailed behind the lady and she led me to a large room.

.

.

After dinner, the maid came in and cleared the table. The sweet taste of the food still lingered on my tongue as I leaned in and patted my full stomach.

"How's the meal?" Trevor entered the dining room, his black silk pajamas wrapping his toned frame. His shirt was slightly unbuttoned, exposing a sliver of chest. His slightly wet hair was tousled and a few strands fell across his forehead in the most sultry manner.

"It was nice. Thank you."

Plopping onto the seat across from me, he began. "I'm not a man who likes to beat around the bush, so I'll jump straight to the point." He leaned in and clasped his hand on the table, his muscles teasing my eyes from beneath his pajamas. "I watched Adam's interview and it turns out he is still in love with you."

I rolled my eyes. A subtle metallic tang burnt on my tongue as I remembered how Adam treated me. If only knew Adam just said that to make me the bad guy.

Trevor eased up from the seat, dipped his hand in his pocket, and strutted towards. "Adam and I went way back and he always had eyes for things I love-my position, my friends." His musky scent with a cedarwood undertone wafted into my nose as he stood before me. "My woman."

I had no idea where this was heading, but my stomach twisted and his dominative presence stirred up a feeling in my chest, one I couldn't yet discern.

Those blue hazel eyes locked with mine, burning a scorching heat into me. "I have a score to settle with him. So I'm going for everything he loves." He lowered his head until his face was mere inches away from mine, his warm breath mingling with my shallow breath. "Starting with you."