CHAPTER 4: CONTRACT SEALED
1022 Words
Jacob stood in the living room, staring at the unopened gift box.
that shone like a lost piece of gem which sat on his coffee table.
This was insane, so insane.
The assistant delivered it with the utmost care,
like a sacred relic. Something that shouldn't be broken.
Now, it sat there, out of place amidst his simple surroundings.
He opened the card attached to it, reading Celine's neat handwriting: "A small token of gratitude. - Celine."
Small? The gift was worth more than his entire apartment. What was she even thinking?
This was ridiculous.
He picked up his phone and dialed the assistant's number, refusing to let this gesture go unanswered. He should probably return the gift, maybe. And then mind his business from now onwards and probably avoid that café.
"l appreciate the thought" Jacobs said, keeping his voice steady,"But I can't accept this. Tell Ms.
Celine, I helped her out of convenience, not for compensation."
The assistant didn't argue, simply replied, "Understood. I'll let her
know."
The call ended abruptly and he sighed in relief. If he had enough money, he could probably have gotten another apartment to hide from her.
What Jacob didn't know was that the assistant had recorded their conversation and sent the clip to Celine's grandfather.
And he thought it was all over.
The following morning, Jacob was jolted awake by the ringing of his
phone. Groaning, he reached for it, squinting at the screen. The caller ID displaced an unknown number.
He frowned before picking up his phone.
"Hello?" he mumbled, still
half-asleep.
"Jacob Graham?" The voice on the other end was deep and authoritative.
"Yes, speak."
"This is Walter Harrington." Jacob froze. Walter Harrington?
That name sounded so familiar. If he wasn't mistaken, that was the name of —
He sat up straight, suddenly wide awake.
"I'd like you to bring your identification to the city hall this morning, the man continued. "It's urgent."
"City hall?" Jacob asked, confused and surprised, hitting his voice.
"Yes. Don't be late" Mr. Harrington said before abruptly ending the call.
Jacob stared at his phone incredulously, his heart racing, the sound so loud that he could literally hear it.
Why was one of the country's wealthiest and most influential men called him?
What had he done?
When Jacob arrived at city hall, he immediately spotted Celine. She was standing at the entrance, her tailored white suit catching the morning light. She looked calm and composed, but there was a glimmer of mischief in her eyes.
Something was definitely wrong, he thought to himself.
"What's going on?" Jacob asked as he approached her, his voice shaky.
"We're getting married," she said simply.
Jacob blinked, almost reeling back in shock.
"I'm sorry-what?"
"My grandfather admires you greatly," Celine explained. "And I need a marriage partner. You fit
the role perfectly"
This must better be a dream, he thought to himself. Where is all this coming from?
Jacob opened his mouth to protest but stopped himself. In fact, there was nothing to say.
Celine had made her intentions clear, and he couldn't deny the logical nature of her proposal. Still, the whole situation felt surreal.
"Do I have a choice? He asked this?" he asked cautiously.
"Of course" Celine said with a shrug. "You can walk away right now if you want. No hard feelings."
Jacob studied her face, looking for any hint of deceit. All he saw was sincerity-mixed with a touch of impatience.
He needed time to think, but it seemed right now, time was out of the question. It had better be a joke, he said to himself.
"I'm in" he said finally, his voice firm.
Inside the registrar's office, Celine glanced at Jacob several times. Her expression was unreadable. "You
Can back out, you know" she said for the third time as they waited for their turn.
"I've made my decision," Jacob replied.
She nodded, seemingly satisfied.
When it was finally their turn, the ceremony was quick and straight to the point.
They signed the necessary documents, exchanged a perfunctory handshake with the officiant, and just like that, they were married.
Jacob stared at the marriage certificate in his hands, trying to
process the whirlwind of events.
Outside the office, Celine handed him an envelope.
"This is the key to the house," she said. "Consider it a part of the arrangement."
Jacob hesitated. His pride fought with the thought of accepting her offer.
"Take it" Celine insisted, her tone leaving no room for argument.
He reluctantly took the envelope, slipping it into his pocket.
"As for our marriage," Celine continued, her voice businesslike,
"it's purely a formality. I've fulfilled my grandfather's wish, and you've gained a title. Don't take it too seriously. You're free to see other women if you wish."
Jacob frowned, his words stinging more than he cared to admit. "That's generous of you,” he said. His tone was laced with uncertainty.
"Now, let's keep things professional."
"Fair enough," Jacob said, extending his hand.
She shook it, her grip firm." Welcome to the arrangement, Jacob."
As Celine walked away, Jacob couldn't help but feel a strangemix of admiration and frustration.
He had never thought his life would take a different turn.
But nothing about Celine Harrington was predictable.
Later that evening, Jacob stood in the doorway of his new house-a
A sprawling modern mansion in the heart of the city, somewhere for the rich.
He clutched the key Celine had given him, the weight of it heavy in his hand.
"This is my life now" he muttered to himself.
Pushing the door open, he stepped inside. The air smelled faintly of fresh paint and lavender, and the sleek furnishings gleamed under the soft lighting from the chandelier.
For all its luxury, the house felt empty.
Jacob sighed, dropping his bagon on the marble floor.
This wasn't just a house-it was a symbol of everything he'd agreed
to. A marriage of convenience. A life tied to Celine Harrington.
As he wandered through the rooms, he couldn't help but wonder what the future held.
Whatever it was, he had a feeling it wouldn't be boring.
- Writer
