The Billionaire's Temporary Wife

*BENNETT*

"Mr. Bennett, I'm sorry. Mr Da Silva is out of the office, perhaps you might consider coming back another time."

This is the fourth time this week, and of course I know it's just an excuse for Mr Da Silva to avoid me. I had practically dreamt of working with him for years and finally,the opportunity presented itself but it turns out that the man was old school.

His condition to partner with me was only if I was married.He believes he can only trust the judgement of men who are married because that was what stability meant to him.

That was absurd. I thought he was just bluffing.

But he told me with his actions that he was serious...

So I have to do it now...

"No problem, I'm not here to talk to Mr Da Silva about work. I just wanted to tell him that I'm getting married soon. Please pass it on." After I finished, his assistant was obviously a bit shocked; after all, the news was indeed my impromptu decision.

Getting married would not have been a problem for me because I already have someone whom I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.

But my fiancée, Charlotte Watson, is a world-famous singer. Her career is at its best, and I know it's impossible to get her to marry me at this time. I understand her completely.

But I needed a wife. It's needed now. The words have been said, then it must be done.

***

Sighing, I gave my grandmother a call.She was the only one I could trust to handle this.

"Grandma. I need you to find me a woman.Preferably ugly looking,someone who would be unfazed by my wealth and would always know her place."

"Ben,I'm skeptical about this.I mean,is Charlotte really okay with this?"

"She understands. I need this opportunity! I can't let this stupid reason be an obstacle for me!"

I knew she would definitely agree if it meant expanding my business empire.

"Okay then, what kind do you need." Grandma asked me.

Then of course the better the manipulation, the better.

"A girl who can settle with money so she doesn't pester me about the divorce."

***

*MALIYAH*

"Clean there quickly too!" My maid colleague shouted at me. I had to immediately drop the vase in my hand and run to the place she designated to clean it.

I'm new to this job for a week, still on probation, and I have to abide by everything my seniors assign me because I need this job so badly! My mother's surgery can't wait any longer!

"You two! Stop what you're doing! .Madam Valentina wants us at the living room right now." And that was our colleagues,Skylar walking in.

"Okay, okay," we responded in unison.

Once Madam Valentina asks for you,you better be there in a jiffy.

It was the one thing I had learnt since I started working here.

***

All the maids including me stood in front of Madam Valentina.

The old woman stared at us one after the other.

I found it strange because it felt as if she was assessing us in another level,as if she wanted to stare into our souls.

"You!"She suddenly pointed at me and I swallowed.

What did I do?

Did I offend her?

Am I getting fired?

"Follow me."

Blinking minutely,I quietly followed her and we walked into the study.

My head was lowered to the floor as I began to wonder what I had done wrong. Does madam want to fire me?

"Marry my grandson"She announced.

WHAT? My head snapped up to look at her in shock. Was she talking to me? I looked backwards but there was no one behind me.

"Ma'am.I." What's going on here?

"Marry my grandson and you will be awarded 50 million dollars.Part of the payment will be made today and the other half will be paid when you finish the job after one year."

Now I understood, she wanted to give me money. For me to marry her grandson for a year.

But, why me? Shouldn't the heir of such a rich man marry the daughter of a rich family? Why would it be me who has nothing? I'm practically an insignificant figure in her world.

But she didn't give me a chance to ask questions and said to herself "If you do not agree,I could give this offer to Skylar or Hailey."

She wouldn't even tell me more information, and I didn't know what her grandson was like, or if they would make more excessive demands. Like making me have a baby or something. It wasn't asking me, it was merely informing me.

But... 50 million dollars... that much money...

My mother's hospital bills flashed through my head.

That could cover everything.

And I'll be left with lots of money.

Maybe I could finally further my education.

"Do you agree?"She asked,sternly. She sounded like this was the last chance she would give me. I couldn't dwell on it anymore, it might be my only chance to save my mom!

I'm not that noble, I need the money.

My mother adopted me from an orphanage and treated me as well as her own daughter. But my adoptive father died of a myocardial infarction after his company went bankrupt, and soon after, my mother was diagnosed with cancer, and all the burden was on me. But I had to bear it, because I couldn't lose my mother again, and nothing was more important than her!

With that in mind, I nodded firmly.

The old lady nodded in satisfaction and finally explained to me this ridiculous contract "You are not a real married couple. You are not to approach him, only to play his wife when he needs you."

Luckily, I didn't have to have sex with him or have children for him. Yeah, what kind of woman would a man like that want that he wouldn't get, so how would he need a maid like me?

"I understand, I'll just be the maid." I knew she was worried that I was the type of person who would get entangled, and I had to show my determination.

"You are very smart. Now sign the papers if you're okay with this."She placed a document on a table and handed a pen over to me.

After carefully browsing through the contract, I solemnly signed my name.

I swallowed.

It was hard to believe that I was nineteen and married.

"Okay, go to his room now." There was no more time to backtrack, and I was asked to move into the strange husband's room immediately.

I was in awe as we rode into the big gates of the mansion.

I couldn't stop looking out the window. I followed Madam Valentina into the house.

Another maid which I had become friends with,Skylar had come with us.

"Follow me,I will show you to your room."Skylar said to me.

Wordlessly,I followed her up the white stairs and through two hallways before we came to a big door.

She pushed the door opened and I gasped.

The room was so massive.

"This is Master Bennett's room but I was told you are to sleep there."Skylar pointed at a chaise lounge.

I pouted. I had been eyeing the huge bed. Since the man rarely wanted me to be around him,why couldn't he just give me another room to sleep in?

But I know I'm not qualified to ask.

"Skylar, Could you please tell Madam Valentina that I need to go home and get some of my stuff."

Skylar nodded."Sure."

I could see she felt uncomfortable being in my presence now.

I had to let her know that we were still friends.

"This has all happened so suddenly.I'm still coming to terms with it.I mean can you believe it?I'm married to someone I don't know.With how strange this arrangement is,I'm thinking he might be ugly looking,maybe pot-bellied."

Skylar laughed."Trust me when I say that he's far from that.He is the most handsome man I have ever seen."

I could detect an hint of jealousy in Skylar's

"You've met him?Tell me about him."

"You'll see him soon, too."With that,Skylar quickly walked away.

I frowned. This keeps getting more unnerving.

***

Evening

As I laid on the chaise lounge to sleep,I heard the sound of the door opening.

My throat moved,convulsively.

Was that my sudden mysterious husband?

What was I supposed to do?

Should I stand up and say hi to him?

Should I introduce myself to him?

I recalled Madam Valentina wanted me to live like a ghost. I should only speak when I'm spoken to.

But still,I was curious. I slightly opened my eyes to see him taking off his clothes.

His back was to me and his muscles flexed as he took off his shirt.

I stared at his back which had a tattoo on it.

I tilted my head trying to make out what the word was.

As if he noticed me staring,he turned around and I quickly squeezed my eyes shut,covering my face with my palms.

I had no idea how to act invisible.

How does a living person act like a ghost?

***

*BENNETT*

I smirked seeing the little girl on the chaise lounge trying to act all invisible.

I ran my eyes through her thin shape,not my type at all.

I can say grandma did a good job. How could she find such an unattractive woman!

After freshening up,I went downstairs for dinner without glancing at the girl trying to curl into the chaise lounge.

***

"And who's the latest groom in town? Bennett Graham."

I glared at my brother, Mason.

As I had expected,he would make a big deal out of this.

"She is not my wife."I informed him for the umpteenth time.

"Oh sorry." He apologized insincerely.

"Was she quiet and reserved?If she acted otherwise,let me know so I can have her replaced."My Grandmother said.

I smirked."No need to change for now"

"Good."

"Is she beautiful?"Mason asked.

I rolled my eyes."I didn't see her face.It changes nothing for me if she's beautiful or not.I just have to start grooming her to face Mr Da Silva."

*BENNETT*

I was about to start eating when my phone started ringing.

I smiled seeing it was a call from Charlotte.

"And my fiancé got married today.Should I congratulate him?"She began,sarcastically.

"Oh come on,babe.We already went over this."

"Is she someone I should be worried about?"

"We trust each other,Charlotte.That's all that matters.You do not need to worry about anything."

"Put it on speaker,I want to talk to her."Grandma said,excitedly.

As I did just that,Mason let out.

"It's been months,Charlotte.I miss you."

"Awwn.I miss you too.Tell me about the girl,is she beautiful?"

I shut my eyes,briefly.

Again with this.

"She is not and I will make sure she stays ugly."Grandma replied.

Yeah,my grandma has always been like this.She talks down and look down on people from low society.

"Has she eaten?"I asked my grandmother who shook her head.

I blinked,incredulously."She's not completely a slave in here.If we do not treat her right,how do we expect her to cooperate in front of Mr Da Silva."

"Fine,someone would send food to her regularly but she isn't permitted to eat at this dining table.She might be saving your ass for a year but she shouldn't forget her place."

"Hellooo.I'm still here."And that was Charlotte from the other end of the call.

"I'm sorry,baby."Taking my phone with me,I walked out of the dining room to talk to her,privately.

I really wish she was my wife already.

I hate having to put up with another woman for a year.

***

*MALIYAH*

The next day

No one sent me my things.

No one.

I had made lots of requests for my stuff to be sent to me but they were totally ignored.

I've been in this house for two days now.I've not seen my husband since the night that I only caught a glimpse of his back.

It felt frustrating to just be in this room all day.

"How am I supposed to take a shower without my luggage?" I murmured. I had to walk in the direction of the bathroom where perhaps it was already prepared for me.

The bedroom had two bathrooms but I guessed one for meant for him and the other was for me.

Cheekily,I opened both bathrooms to see which one was bigger.It was obviously his.

I could tell which one was his because one had two bathrobes which definitely belonged to him and the other had not a single bathrobe.

There was not even a soap.

"This is too much..." I only dared to whisper my condemnation.

I had to go into the bathroom that belonged to my "husband" and take a nice bath with his shower gel. But since I didn't have a bathrobe or pajamas, I had to dry my clean clothes with a hair dryer and put on some damp clothes again.

After washing up, I walked to the door of my room again. From yesterday until now, I have not been able to get out of this room! This morning they had the good sense to bring me breakfast, but let me eat it in my room. I'm going to go crazy if I keep this up.

"I should be able to get out, right? It only says to keep me away from him, it doesn't say to keep me imprisoned." I stood up and slowly walked up to the door.

The place is even more gorgeous than I imagined, with every tile shining. Everywhere reeked of money...

I was about to walk outside. Suddenly, a hand grabbed me!

"Ah!" I screamed uncontrollably. Looking up,I saw a man smiling at me.

He had a dirty blonde hair but he was so good looking.

Was he perhaps my husband? I can't remember him with a dirty blonde hair that night.

But the room was kinda dark that night so I wasn't too sure what his hair color was.

"And Grandma said you weren't pretty.Does it she even know what that word mean?"

Grandma?

He must be referring to Madam Valentina.

This has to be my husband,right?

"Come,you're not allowed to leave your room yet."He said,softly.

"Are you.em.I don't know if it's in my place to ask but I'm just curious.Are you my husband?"

We got back to the room and he nodded with a grin.

"Yes." I was thinking my mysterious husband would be unapproachable,someone that I would be scared of talking to but right now,he looked so friendly.

"You're beautiful."He said to me and moved closer to me.

I blinked,minutely.

What was this sudden change in his facial expression?

"Get on the bed,my wife!"He ordered.

Madam Valentina had said intimacy wasn't part of this.

I moved away from him,shaking my head in fear.

"No."

"Don't be shy.You'll like this."He cooed.

"Ah..." As I tried to run past him,he held me back and flung me onto the bed.

No! Not like this!