I did not take the ring. But I did take the contract, emailing the soft copy to my lawyer who was none other than my best friend.
"Ada, as your best friend, have you lost your fucking mind?!"
She yelled when she called a few hours later.
I winced at her tone.
"The dating scene can't possibly be that bad. You can't be considering something this crazy!"
Calmly I said; "I take it you've read through the contract. Is it good?"
She calmed down for a bit before flaring up again. "Impeccable actually. But have you lost your mind?! A contract marriage?"
I shrugged. "He needs a wife. And I need a husband. It's a win win."
"Isn't it shady to you that he has to hire a wife? What if he's a psychopath?"
I had thought of that. But he didn't seem like it. Plus the contract stipulated immediately annulment for any form of toxicity and abuse for either parties.
I told Nunu this even when I knew she knew that too.
"Hmm. Okay oh." She scoffed. "You're an adult so you can do whatever you like. My job is to just advise you. But this is extreme Ada."
"It's just for a year. I'd walk away with a good sum."
"Fair enough. But what about the stigma of divorce?"
"In this big 2024, you think I'd be worried about societal sentiments? I'm in the United States for goodness sake!"
"It is this societal sentiments you just discredited that is making you decide to marry a hot Italian billionaire you barely know. I know you, Ada. You want to love and be loved. Properly." Nunu emphasized.
"Who said anything about him being hot?" I deflected smoothly.
She took the bait.
"Girl, I googled him! You better get some good dick before the divorce!"
"Nunu!" I exclaimed, unable to help the laughter that left my throat.
When it died down, my voice became serious.
"Nunu, you know this HAS to be a secret right?"
"Of course. Why else am I your lawyer?"
"I know. But you're also my best friend. No one, and I mean absolutely no one should find out about this."
"I give you my word."
"Thank you." I sighed.
"Now let's talk about my cut in that big ass cheque." She said playfully.
I laughed again.
~
The proposal...
I would be lying if I said I didn't know I was getting proposed to when he asked me on a date after paying for a full glam session for me.
What I didn't know was how he was going all out for it.
Alessandro loved to go big or go home. And I loved that about him.
He sent his chauffeur to come and get me.
It was a sleek Cadillac Escalade. The latest model.
I sat in the back comfortably and let my mind roam aimlessly until it fell on an old patient who needed a hip replacement surgery. I wanted her to be relieved of the pain as soon as possible but her surgery was a week away. I hoped she could hold out until then.
I didn't realize we had gotten to the venue until someone tapped my window. I assumed it was Alessandro but when I opened the door, I was met with a strange face, most likely one of his guards.
I smiled softly at him as he helped me get down but his face remained stoic. As I stepped into the building of this high rise restaurant, I was given a large bouquet of red roses that made a beautiful contrast to my off white ankle-length bandage dress.
I grinned when I walked further into the empty restaurant and find him standing in front of the 'Marry me' sign.
When I reached where he stood, he pulled me into a hug. I wanted to stay in his arms for a really long time.
"You're beautiful." He whispered.
I caught a hint of his Italian accent when he said that.
I blushed as I mouthed a "thank you," while he brushed his lips against my knuckles.
"I'm supposed to be surprised right?" I asked.
He chuckled.
"There's no need to fake anything. Your reaction is perfect."
It was then I noticed the cameras around us.
Someone - most likely the event planner- took the bouquet off my hands.
That was when he went on knee and opened the ring box. I gasped. I swear this wasn't the one he showed me the last time. The diamond was a tad bigger and the cut was no longer an oval but a marquise.
How did he know?
He looked into my eyes and like he just read my mind, he shrugged and said;
"Lucky guess."
I felt my insides flip. Were those butterflies?
"Doctor Adanna Wigwe,"
I giggled at how he pronounced my name so well.
"I am not a man of many words because I believe actions speak best. Will you do me the honor of being my wife?"
I stared straight into his grey orbs for a pretty long minute.
This was absolutely crazy. I was about to marry a man I barely knew based on a contract. He just gave me the proposal I always dreamed of and he was about to give me an even more extravagant wedding.
It was everything I wanted but it was untrue. It was all fake.
We would be lying to everyone else but to ourselves.
I knew I had signed the contract already but was it too late to breach it?
I looked around the room as the cameras flashed.
A deal is a deal, I thought.
Fuck it.
"Yes, Alessandro Ricci, I'll marry you." I said with a grin.
"That's a relief." He sighed, slipping the ring on my finger. It popped against my chocolate brown skin and I couldn't help but admire it.
"You wouldn't mind me kissing you right?" He whispered in my ears as he leaned down to hug me.
My eyes widened.
"For the cameras," he gestured subtly.
"Sure." I let out a shaky breath.
I expected it to be a plain peck on the lips. I didn't expect the deep and passionate kiss that almost made my knees give way.
His lips melded into mine like they were the perfect piece of a puzzle. Like they were meant to remain there.
I lost myself in the lip lock, letting my arms go around his neck as he pulled me closer by my waist, skillfully resting his palm on my ass.
I felt my panties pool. Breathlessly, I pulled back and stared into his eyes wanting to be sure he felt the sexual energy that buzzed between us.
He swallowed and smiled at me. Maybe it was for the cameras or to make light of the moment but...
Then and there, I knew this was going to be a very long ride.