Contractual Hearts

Hector's POV

My name is Hector Edward and I am 30 years old. I have sandy blond hair that turns a shade of brown in different lightings. Along with this I have blue eyes, a muscular build and stand at 6'1".

Today I finally was able to change offices in Edward Inc. Instead of being stuck on the third floor, I've been upgraded to the 50th. That's where the CEO spends all his time in the office.

My father is the CEO of Edward Inc. now, and soon it will be my turn to take over which is one of the reasons I get to transfer to the top floor. I'll be training with my father to take over the company in the upcoming year.

I have a brother named Jonas who is twenty-six years old and he's a serial bachelor. He associates himself with every kind of woman. It doesn't matter if she's tall, short, thin, fat, black, white or purple; he loves them all.

Speaking of Jonas, he walks into the office with a girl attached to his hip. Jonas smirks at me and points to his girl. "Do you like it?" He mouths.

I give him the thumbs up before he opens the door and walks into Dad's office. I start unpacking my stuff, and put my certificates up on the wall. My favorite is the one I earned from graduating from Harvard with Honors.

My Grandfather and father didn't make it easy for me to get the job at Edward's Inc. They thought it was best that the next CEO studied and graduated at the top of their classes before even getting a job at the company.

I had to start right at the bottom as a mail guy. I had to deliver things to people as well. Things like tea and coffee and photocopying; all the boring jobs.

I sigh and move to my seat. I spin the chair around and stick my hands on the back of my head and look out the window. I can see the entire city from my desk.

Someone behind me clears their throat. "Enjoying the view son?"

I spin the chair around to find my father and grandfather sitting in the chairs opposite my desk. I smile. "Yes," I sit properly in my chair and place my hands on the table. "What can I do for you today?"

The door opens and grandmother walks into the room. She walks to the right of the room and takes a seat on the leather couch.

I didn't do anything.

Grandmother smiles. "We need to talk about you becoming the CEO of Edward Inc."

"Okay,"

Grandfather puts a piece of paper in front of me. "This is your contract for the year before we sign the CEO position to your name. Do look over the list of things you need to do by the end of the year."

Grandmother leans forward on her chair. "Number one is very important on that contract."

I took the paper from my grandfather and began reading.

Name: Hector Edward

CEO PERMANENT POSITION TERMS

1. Needs to give up his bachelor ways and marry someone during the year.

Have they lost their minds? I can't get married within the year.

I skip over the rest of the contract and sign the thing. I give it to them. "I'll find someone to marry within the year, Grandmother. I promise you and you'll love her."

Grandmother nods. "For your sake I hope so."

Grandfather, father, and grandmother rise and exit my office.

I bang my head on the table a couple of times and then...

I know who I'll get to marry me. She'll need to sign A Year Contract to be mine only.

I pull out my phone and look at the picture of the beautiful blonde, blue eyed Goddess I once knew.

Sophie Fredrickson, you will be mine again.

***

It's been a great year, not. I thought, sipping on my coffee in the cafe. I just spent my last twelve dollars.

This year I went through a break-up with an eligible bachelor who couldn't stick to one woman. He went through fifty women from what I've read in a magazine since he dumped me in January.

After I got dumped I went in search of a job and got one as a secretary in a law firm in San Francisco.

I enjoyed working in the law firm. Then one day my boss came to me at a party. When I turned him down he went to the partners and told them that I broke the no dating Co- workers rule.

They fired me on the spot and that happened a week ago. I couldn't afford rent for the gorgeous pad I lived in. So, I left San Francisco right after that and came crawling back to the glitz and glamor of Hollywood.

I finish off my coffee and take a glance around the cafe. People are talking to each other and I'm alone in a corner booth with the newspaper. I flip through the newspaper and I see a picture of my Ex Hector Edward and he's wrapped around some stick thin blonde.

Hector's eyes have lost the light in them.

What has he done to himself?

The heading on the newspaper captures my attention.

Bachelor Gets thrown out of own Party

The eligible Bachelor Hector Edward has been thrown out of his own party after getting into a fight with a contender of the competition. This year Hector was named the most eligible bachelor after he broke up with his long term girlfriend, Sophie Fredrickson.

Sophie Fredrickson hasn't been seen around Los Angeles since they broke up. Rumors were heard the night they broke up was the night he was going to propose to her.

Hector Edward hasn't been seen with a girl worthy of the Edward last name since his Ex. If she shows up in Los Angeles what would her reaction be to finding this out?

I crumple up the paper and throw it under the table.

Why would they use my name in the same sentence as his? We haven't been together in nearly twelve months.

I sigh, rise from the chair and head to the bin. I throw the cup away and exit the cafe.

On the way home I walked past Molly's. There's a sign on the window advertising positions available.

Positions Available

Bar person

Dancer

Bouncers

The sign on the door is flipped to open. I push the door open and enter Molly's. I hear the bells ring from the door and I see the door chimes as the door shuts behind me.

I walk through the building. There are three stages painted red, with a pole in the middle of each.

The lights are flashing black and white. I can't see in front of me with the flashing lights making my eyes hurt.

I close my eyes for a second. When I open them I see the bar and the lights have stopped flashing.

A man stands behind the bar. He is tall at 6.3ft, bulging muscles. I bet I can do pull-ups on this man, toned skin, brown eyes and black hair. He has a piercing in his ear. He smirks. "Did you find something you like?"

I laugh. "You're cute." I blurt, and cover my mouth. I feel my face heat up from embarrassment.

He throws his head back and laughs. "I wouldn't want my misses to find out about you flirting with me."

I roll my eyes. "I want to apply for the position of bartender."

He arches his eyebrows. "I'm surprised."

I frown.

Huh?

He continues. "Most of the girls that have come through those doors want to be a dancer. Why don't you?"

I fold my arms across my body. "I'm not desperate to show my body off to men for money. I show my body off when I'm in the bedroom ready to be treasured by the man with me."

"Rosie," the guy yells.

A brown hair, light blue eyed, tanned skin, 5.9ft girl steps out from a room behind the bar. She wraps her arms around the guy's neck. "Baby, can you take the new girl shopping? She starts work here tonight as the bartender."

"Okay, Harry." She walks over to me and extends her hand. I place mine in hers and she shakes my hand. "I'm Rosie."

"Sophie," I pull my hand out of hers.

Rosie picks up her handbag from behind the bar. She kisses her boyfriend. "I'll see you tonight."

Rosie walks out from behind the bar and holds my hand.

My hand starts to sweat in hers.

I don't feel comfortable holding a girl's hand.

I pull my hand out of hers and wipe the sweat on my pants.

Rosie stops in front of a sleek black BMW. "Get in." She unlocks the door to her car and climbs in.

I open the door and climb in. The cool black leather hits my legs and I scream from the coldness.

Rosie turns to me. "Are you alright?"

I nod. "The seats are a bit too cold for me."

Rosie pulls out of the parking lot and drives towards the closest shopping center.

I have no money to buy these outfits with.

At the store Rosie walks over to the short dresses and pulls them off the rack. She places them in my hands. She turns to me. "Try those on, while I look around for more clothes for you."

I enter the change room and strip out of my black dress. I tried on the short dresses Rosie gave me. My breasts harden as they touch the material. The dress fits me perfectly, showing off my curves in all the right places."

This dress is perfect.

I hear Rosie say. "Soph, I want to see the dress."

It's weird to hear someone else use the nickname my Ex gave me.

I push the curtains across and step out of the change room. I spin around. "What do you think, Rosie?"

She smiles. "That's the dress you're wearing tonight."

I bite my lip and look at the ground. "I can't afford the dresses."

Rosie pulls out her credit card. "You can pay me back."

I enter the change room and gather all the clothes.

Rosie waits outside the room for the dresses and I place them in her hands. She takes them to the cash register.

Inside the change room I take the dress off and put my black one back on. I slip my feet into my shoes and join Rosie at the register. I place the dress on the counter.

Rosie swipes her credit card paying for the clothes. She signs the piece of paper and then we exit the shopping center and head back to Molly's.

***

At Molly's Rosie pulls into the parking lot.

Why did they call it Molly's if his wife's name is Rosie?

Rosie parks in front of the door. "Do you want to know why this place is called Molly's?"

I nod.

She sighs. "Harry and I had a daughter named Molly and she died in a car accident when she was twenty. Her boyfriend lost control of the car and crashed into a pole. The pole split the car in two. Molly died on impact. The boyfriend died on the way to hospital."

Oh, my god. That's so sad.

I see tears fall down her face. I hugged her. "I'm sorry."

She wipes her hand across her face. "It's been ten years since she died and I miss her every day."

I know how she feels.

I look at her. "I had a daughter when I was eighteen. Just after her birth I was told she died and I never got to hold my baby or see her. Recently I found out the life I was living was a lie. The parent's I believed were mine died in a car accident last year. They left nothing in their Will but a letter telling me I was stolen from my Birth Parents. They didn't tell me who they were." Tears fell down my cheeks.

This is the first time I've told anyone about my daughter. I normally keep everything to myself.

Rosie hugs me. "Is that why you came here for a job?"

I nod. "I also don't have any money left." I sob. "I had a great job at the beginning of the year and last week I was fired because of a stupid rule that was broken by someone else."

"What rule?"

"In the lawyer office I worked for there was no in house dating policy. A guy tried to hit on me and I turned him down. He went to the bosses and lied to them about me. He told them I was the one that hit on him and that I stalked him."

Rosie steps out of the car. "There's no policy like that in Molly's. The only advice I'll give you is 'do what makes you comfortable at Molly's. If you don't feel comfortable, don't do it.' I'll see you inside." She enters the building.

I pick up my bags and head toward the door. I stop when I see a familiar limo parked on the road.

What's he doing here? Does he know I'm back in Los Angeles? Has he been keeping tabs on me?

I enter Molly's and look around for the familiar sandy blonde man that I know is somewhere in the club.

Rosie and Harry are behind the bar.

I walk over to them. "Hey, guys. I was wondering where I can get changed?"

Rosie takes me through a double door that leads into a hallway. The hallway has red walls and the carpet is white.

I start to shiver as I walk down the hallway as it reminds me of horror movies.

Why does the hallway have a creepy feel to it?

Rosie stops in front of a door. "This is your room from now on. I know you don't want to be a dancer, but we have a special client that likes the new girls. It's up to you if you want to do it."

I hugged her. "Thanks for today, Rosie."

"You're welcome." She exits the room. As she closes the door she pauses halfway. "While we were out some guy showed up asking about you. He's still here. Do you want me to tell him to leave?"

I shake my head. "Nah, I'll hear him out. Thanks for checking that it's alright for him being here."

Rosie closes the door.

I look in the mirror and my blonde hair cascades down my back, my blue eyes shine in the light.

I put some make-up on and changed into the black dress I bought with Rosie. I spray deodorant and some sweet scented perfume.

I exit the change room and walk down the horror movie styled hallway. I push the door and step out of the club.

Where are you?

I lay my eyes on my target and I approach. The target happens to be my Ex Hector Edward, the eligible bachelor.

Time to play with the Devil.

Hector is sitting in a chair that's facing the stage. He won't see me coming until I'm standing right in front of him.

I look on the stage and see a girl do a split revealing her waxed... Oh. Forget it. You don't want to know that.

I move toward my Ex and fling my hair over my shoulder. I smack my lips together as I move closer to him.

He rubs his jaw and licks his lips at the woman on the stage and she climbs off and grinds on him. He whispers something in her ear and she turns to me. "He's all yours."

I glare at my Ex. "What are you doing here?"