The contracted heart

Then, an attractive girlish voice resonated from the workroom facing the lounge, carrying a polished silver clipboard as she began outlining the terms.

"Auditorium, Stick to the sealed door."

Sofia Anderson's eyes flashed to the end of the lounge, spottinga lady who seemed to be in her mid-twenties, rising from the luxuriously comfortable cream sofa, with her black embroideredhandbag on her elbow and a document case in her clutch. Rapidly, she sashayed through the door, her wedge heels ticking upon the alabaster floor, as she announced her entry. Sofia tried to peep into the Auditorium, but she was too far away to see anything beyond the bench before the door was locked.

Turning her head, she tallied like seven women before her. A warm exhalation ousted from her mouth as she strengthened her body to resolve on the sofa, attempting to cool down her unpredictable, pounding ticker.

This was her first job application, after completing and bagging her degree at Berkeley Academy in Business Management. As a new university graduate with no job experience in her field -most of her work experience was being a cashier at Burger King, a position she got to pay off her student loans. She understood getting a job that pays well wasn't in the context for her.However, the instant she came across an ad for an assistant position at Lexcorp, a successful company with a broad range of business ventures, she decided to give it a try after going through the job description. All that was required for the job as the assistant to the CEO, David Dickson, was primary education. As dumbfounded as it was, the salary was even more shocking. So much so that doubts about the ad being fake also glanced through her mind.

The large enterprise was willing to pay more than a few thousand dollars for the employment role, with such essential minimum requirements. Also, she'd observed the ad explicitly stating that only ladies in their mid-20s were required to apply for the position. The requirement was strange, but Sofia was happy she fit into it flawlessly, at her ripe age of twenty-two. Without thinking further about the strange job ad, she swiftly filled in her data, and happily, she received an email from the firm the following day, inviting her for the job interview. Robbing her hands on her thighs, she tried to align the fold on her black pencil skirt, one of the small quantities of fabric she had that she could wear to a professional event. Indeed, she was daunted by all of the ladies who came for the interview, as they all manifested perfectly dressed in their basic yet pricey dresses. She was able to get a white blouse and this black skirt because of the short notice. She was able to iron it thanks to her neighbors who helped her with the electric iron because her electricity was cut off due to overdue bills that she wasn't able to clear.

While Sofia was struggling with her furious uneasiness and her self-doubt threatening to strangle her, the waiting line kept on moving. For some reason, in her eyes, it moved unusually faster than normal. This made her anxiety skyrocket as she ponderedwhat kind of questions or other hidden qualifications the applicants were meant to carry along, as if the interviewees were immediately dismissed if they didn't possess some undisclosed requirement. The thought lingered in her mind until it was finally her turn.

"Is there anybody else still present?" the same attractive girlish voice she'd heard earlier on called

out, Interrupting Sofia's thoughts.

"Yes," she put herself back immediately, before crashing a palm over her mouth and quickly rising to her feet. Flinging her black bag over her shoulder, she held onto her document and reached out to the door, her pounding heart dropping to her stomach.

"Relax. Relax. It's just an interview."

She restates these words in her head like an affirmation, trying to consume her nerves and heighten unease.

With a minor turn on the knob of the door, it unlocked and she entered to see a man seated at one end of the table, his sharp gray eyes pointed towards her in a chilly deliberate look. Sofia's uneasiness increased tenfold from the heat of his stare, and unexpectedly, her mouth dried up.

"H-hi... I-I mean good morning, Sir," she stammered, still standing by the door, doubtful of what to do, nor what was expected of her.

"Please come and take your seat" the Lady sitting beside the man spoke, without looking at Sofia.

Sofia remembered the voice as it corresponded with the one, she had been hearing. Immediately, she hurriedly made her way toward one of the available chairs, a short distance away from the man and woman.

"Are you the final candidate in line?" the lady asked and Sofia nodded her head in advance. She remained uneasy, sensing the man's unwavering gaze fixed upon her. Privately, she pondered whether the earlier candidates had encountered the same circumstances.

"Brief us about yourself," Swallowing, Sofia initiated; "I'm Sofia Anderson, a Business Management Graduate from Berkeley Academy. I graduated not long ago; therefore, I don't have any work experience, but I saw in the job advert that it is not needed for this role?"

The lady nodded her head slightly.

"Nice to meet you, Sofia Anderson. I'm Adrian Monroe, the secretary to the CEO of Lexcorp."

Sofia's astonishment deepened as she took in the intensity of the man's unwavering gaze, causing a subtle shiver to run down her spine. Genuinely, she never thought of being interviewed by the CEO, and now she stood in the uncharted surroundings, therealization of her oversight weighed heavily on her. Presently in the same room with him, she was unable to explain how she was feeling at the moment, with her heart pounding so fast, she started shivering down her spine as her stare locked onto theman's. In that brief moment, their eyes remained locked, and he sustained this analytical stare, his thin pink lips forming a menacing smirk as if engaging in a silent psychological duel.

From that little time, Sofia had been in his presence, his confident demeanor exuded a magnetic charm, drawing her in with an irresistible allure that went beyond the captivating intensity of his gaze.

"The role you applied for is that of the personal assistant of Mr. Dickson," Andrian words interrupted Sofia's inner thoughts letting her eyes return to the lady. "We've reviewed your resume so far," the woman remarked, her gaze shifting from the files to meet Sofia's eyes with a scrutinizing intensity.

"We appreciate a strong educational foundation, so from your documents, it appears you possess impressive qualifications that align well with our expectations for the role."

"I am grateful, Miss Adrian," Sofia nodded in gratitude, giving her a little smile.

"Your qualifications stand out as exemplary among applicants; nonetheless, it is critical to ensure you understand the specific responsibilities associated with the role you applied for," Miss Monroe stated, her eyes meeting Sofia's before briefly connecting with David Dickson's and then returning to hers. She emphasized the importance of tailoring the assistance to his specific preferences.

"I understand that, Miss Monroe," Sofia answered.

" Your role is exclusively committed to managing the affairs within his residence rather than within the company. And it's Mrs. Monroe," she corrected with a smile, but Sofia's focus was lost on her first words.

"Please explain why I should be working in his home?" Sofia said hoping she misheard

"I'm seeking your service to play the role of my wife for a year, Miss Anderson", David uttered with a casual tone, her name lingering in his drawl. Sofia's head was beaten in his direction, the unexpected surprise, leaving her utterly astonished and speechless.

It was truly astonishing that someone as good-looking and as rich as David would consider such approach in getting a bride.woman. The idea felt unnatural and Sofia couldn't help but wonder the reason for this unconventional proposal.

"Excuse me?" she hissed out before she could ponder the audacity of considering such a transactional approach to finding a life partner.

"You heard me right, Miss Anderson. You'll play the role of my wife publicly, reside in my house, accompany me to social gatherings, adopt my last name, and in exchange, your financial requirements will be fully taken care of throughout the year. After the twelve months, substantial compensation awaits you,and our contract will cease to exist."

"What reason could I possibly want to consider such a thing?"her disbelief lingered as she pondered.

"My schedule cannot accommodate continuous inquiries, Miss Anderson. I urge you to consider the alternatives. I respect your educational background and appreciate your low-key presence compared to the other applicants; if this task isn't within your capabilities, feel free to decline."

Sofia contended with the contradictory emotions stirred by the man's harsh words blurted out with so much seriousness and the tempting prospect of a substantial payment, questioning whether her dire financial situation justified accepting the questionable job offer.

Her thoughts were disrupted by his next words,

"Will you sign the contract?"

Five months have passed since Sofia made the decision to dwell with the CEO David Dickson, willingly signing the contract after thoroughly assessing its advantages. Given her recent graduation and the grim job market, her rejection seemed unlikely as the prospect of securing a well-paying job to cover her monetary commitments was nearly nonexistent. Sheregarded David's offer as a fresh opportunity and a viable solution, so she agreed after careful consideration and signed the contract, officially becoming David Dickson's wife for the next twelve months.

However, despite her willingness to accept the offer, she didn't want to appear too cheap or desperate. So, she hassled out certain conditions upon signing the contract, which included an instant part payment upon resuming the role, the provision of a personal assistant to help her with daily tasks, and also a position in the company that allowed her to work from home.This last condition was done to balance her role as a homemaker with professional aspirations, ensuring she wouldn't be perceived as a traditional housewife in the 21st century, especially given the press attention she would receive after marrying one of the richest bachelors in New York.

Initially, understanding the scenario and adapting to the role was difficult for her. I mean, in the span of a week her life was overturned entirely. A new house, new gadgets, new dresses, new lifestyle, and new relationship status--married. She had to adapt rapidly because, from the script she was handed, they had been living together for a while, and meeting David's parentswas also on the calendar after a week or two, just so she could wrap her head around the whole mansion, the entourage of servants, and, you know, the whole new digs. Adding to the adjustments, she had to trade in "Sofia" for "Sarah" since that was the name David had put forward to his parents.

Living in the same house with a man she knew nothing about felt like sharing a home with a stranger, but in this case, it was a stranger she wanted to stay with. For some reason, she had noticed that her knees went weak each time David spoke; his deep and resonant voice carried an attractive power that made women, including Sofia, feel the need to submit and this drew her further into the intriguing mystery of the man she now shared her life with. With time, David's efforts helped her adapt, and she became more open and comfortable in their shared space. Notwithstanding his tough exterior, she discovered he was a caring man, and their fake marriage gradually blurred into a confusing mix of reality and fantasy.

Sofia knew she was on the wrong path falling for David, but his affection made it uncontrollable. She was confident in their mutual feelings, and he never for once gave her reasons not to believe their connections and she was convinced it surpassed mere signature on paper.

One evening, as Sofia lay in bed awaiting her husband David's arrival after he excused himself to answer a business call in his home office following their dinner. In the quiet hours, as the room was bathed in the soft hues of the evening, Sofia smiledsheepishly as she wrapped in the warm king-sized bed, the memories of the past night kept flashing in her mind as David pampered her into a serene sleep after a thorough love-making session that had left her sated and breathless.

The fierceness between them appears to grow with each passing day, and their zeal becomes a force of its own, consumed by the incontrovertible chemistry they share. As she reminisced, her body began to come to life, her senses responding to the memories as she started feeling her teat fasten into hard sprouts. A groan escaped her mouth as she turned towards her side and the transparent charmeuse of her nightdress grazed her hardened nipples. Squeezing her legs together, with little bits on her lips,she made way for her imagination to take over, David's faceclearly in her head now and she was ready for him to do as he wished.

Just as her fingers began to trace a path to the already wet surface, specifically the middle and index ones, the bedroom door, fortunately, swung open. Has David walked in, his entrance disrupted her daydream, which had been playing vividly in her mind.

"Hi......" She murmured in a smoldering voice, quickly comporting herself, revealing the sensual thoughts in her mind, her lips extending into a smile as she sat up on the bed, casting a glance at him.

Moving towards her direction, David inclined down to her level, resting his head on her shoulders and smiling back at her. Locking his eyes on hers, he brushed his palm on her cheek, his thumb mapping the curve of her sensual lips.

Whispering softly, he asked

"Did I make you wait?" His gentle exhale caressed her lips, while his hand moved down to the nape of her neck, anchoring her that moment".

"Perhaps not", she responded, smiling.

"Well, I'm here now," Inclining towards her, he sealed his lips to hers, savoring the flavor slowly, Sofia tried intensifying the kiss but he moved away.

"Uh-uh...I'm sorry but not now baby",

Moving away from her to the couch beside the bed and taking off his clothes, dropping them on the couch leaving only his underpants. David gazed at her. Sofia met his eyes with in hers as he got on the bed. Immediately, Sofia rolled towards him, wrapping her arms around him and caressing his chest. David turned her over on the bed using his tongue to make moves from her lips down to her belly button and whispered in her ear,

"Damn, you are so beautiful, Sofy." David wrapped her in his arms while they enjoyed the silence descending over them.

Still on the king-sized bed, Sofia looked him in the eyes going into her thoughts once more

"Is something bothering him? He is not the type to be quiet in bed." She wondered as she looked him straight in the eyes.

"Babe, is everything okay?" She asked.

He sighed deeply, looking at her without saying anything. He tried distracting her with a warm kiss on her lips, but she pulled away. She needn't concern herself, but it is obvious that they have passed the level of ignoring each other's problems. David knows everything about her business just the way she does about his. They shared every light detail together.

She leaned into him and rubbed her hair while resting on the headboard, and his head on her chest.

"The allure of your kisses is irresistible, but talk to me about what is going through your mind," her gentle words carried a touch of worry, softly wrapping around the room.

"Do you really want to know?" He said with uncertainty on whether to speak up or not. He was silent for some moments then he spoke.

"The woman who ignites an irresistible desire every time she's near, ever present in my dreams, the one I've passionately cherished and loved for the past fifteen years, is back in town"

Sofia was confused and she tried making sense of it but couldn't.

"Huh...come again please?"

"Her name is Tracy Andre." He said with his voice wavering.

"We met at university years ago and were very close friends"

David paused, lost in memory for a moment.

"Then without warning at the start of the next semester, she was just...gone no text, no call, nothing at all. I didn't even get the chance to tell her how I truly felt. Eventually, through a mutual friend, I heard she had moved back home to Germany. I thought time and distance might erase my feelings, but...they never did. So, when I met you, it was like seeing her all over again. That's why I chose you. And now, out of the blue, Tracy called tonight. She's back in Newyork and wants to meet up."

"And you really want to see her?" Sofia asked quickly, her heart beating fast in fear of him giving the wrong answer.

"I long for her presence while avoiding the sight of her."

He uttered in a strong voice years of buried emotions etched on his face, putting her in a state of fear. Sofia moved away from him, needing distance to process her now swirling emotions. Her heart racing, she struggled to catch her breath, finding it hard to believe that David could be so direct,

uttering these words without a hint of emotion. It was as if she had meant nothing to him all this while, and what they had shared was nothing more than what was contained and signed on the paper.

With the weight of the revelation dawning on her, which had left her in a disoriented mix of disbelief, hurt and a sense of betrayal, she asked

"D..DD..Do..you still love her?" She asked in a very low tone.

"I've always been crazy about her." The room was absolutely silent, her heart thumping loudly, feeling this shape of pain from her heart down to her stomach that she couldn't explain. All this while she thought she meant something to this man, only to find out that she is just a replacement of the woman he couldn't have. A face for his imagination and urge.

How did she end up in such a chaotic predicament?

"You are such an amazing human, Sofia but the only woman that my heart beats for is back, and I believe you understand. Now with Tracy's unexpected return, I see a chance to break free from this charade, to find a genuine partner without the constraints of pretense and family expectations. What we had was only a planned marriage."

His words cut through her like a bitter wind, leaving her shattered and questioning the authenticity of the emotions she believed they shared.

Not minding how much what he said hurt her, David continued.

"Just as it was stated on the contract, you'll be paid, not just for the five months but for the whole year, as agreed. But with a condition that you will seize to exist in this city. I won't be happy if you spoil my relationship that I want to build with Tracy. And I don't want to take the risk of letting my family find out the truth about us. Tomorrow I will make inquiries for a driver to take you to the airport with your full payments being made so u can start a fresh beginning with your life".

Sofia was confused because she didn't see the man she fell in love with. All she was seeing is a cold businessman she met five months ago at Lexcorp auditorium.

"Offering compensation for my relocation seems like an attempt to conceal your unsavory truths." She allowed her anger to get the best of her but David didn't mind.

"Yes, Sofia. I have credibility to safeguard, and I won't lose the woman I love for the second time because of an employee that signed a contract".

Sofia felt a profound ache in her chest as his harsh words sank in, a gasp betraying the deeper hurt she now experienced.

Her voice wavered as she struggled to articulate, a silent battle to retain the remnants of her dignity evident in the tension of her bitten lip.

Given the agreed-upon terms and the contractual arrangement they entered, it seems unfair for her to place blame on him; after all, she willingly played a concealed aspect of his life in exchange for financial support.

Falling in love with him was not part of the contract and she knew better than anyone. Empowered by the pep talk, Sofia stood up, and resolved to cut him off totally.

"I'm okay with it. I'll collect my salary and depart tomorrow."

Despite not anticipating a reply, his silence inflicted deeper wounds as she exited the room, making her way to the living room to speed the night. Suppressing the urge to release the tears that hovered on the brink, she remained herself not to weep for him.