Forcing The Billionaire

Chapter 11

The Contract

Hyko harshly put down the newly printed pile of paper on the center table in front of me. I slightly jump on my seat.

“What’s that?” I raise a brow and stare at the paper.

“Contract.”

“Huh?”

“I told you, I’ll accept your offer. But I need legal documents.”

“Oh, come on. You think I’ll run after I get what I want?” I smirk.

I need him to open his malls so our fast food chain can operate again. A lot of establishments are pulling out our franchisee because its popularity, as well as the customers, are choosing other fast food instead of ours.

“Yes.”

My grin fades from what he answers. I give him my disappointed look and frown. “You can easily kick our fast food restaurants in your mall if I run. Between us two, you are the one who has the upper hand.”

It’s true. All of the resources that we need are from him. If I’ll run, I will be the one to lose.

“That is why I’m offering a contract. This is for the benefit of the two of us.”

I look at the pile of paper in front and the sign pen beside it. Without thinking clearly and without hesitation, I pick up the pen and the paper. I signed them one by one on each page.

“You did not read it.”

“I’ll sign it anyway. Also, I want immediate help. Our company is slowly sinking every minute. Stocks are decreasing and income is stagnant.”

“Are you sure of what you are doing? I have a lot of requests there. I am resenting the paper to you because I want to hear if you want to add anything that can put you at ease.”

My brows furrow. I lift my chin and look at him. We are here in his office. Yes, the very office where I was found keeling by his girlfriend.

“You don’t have to worry about me. I can put up to whatever deal you want with this. After all, I am the one asking for a favor.”

I am no parasite. I know how to give back. Whatever ways he wants this contract marriage to work, I’ll adjust.

“What you have to worry about is your girlfriend… What are your plans?”

I notice how his thick brows flinch and are tempted to arch.

“What do you mean?”

“The girl last time who caught us here. Isn’t she your girlfriend?” I ask while putting my signature on the last paper of the contract.

“I don’t have a girlfriend.”

I glance at him and back to the paper. I’ll read this from the top.

Maybe he had already broken up with her. I shrug. Poor girl. Sorry, my bad. She needs to step aside because I need her boyfriend. She doesn’t have to worry tho, I’ll give him back to her after I’m done.

My eyes widen when I notice what’s written on the first page of the paper. I aggressively flip the page to read everything. As I continue reading the pages, I realize how irresponsible I am.

I am a f*cking business woman yet I harshly put my signature to a contract I did not even read!

I throw a death glare at Hyko.

“5 years? I told you that the marriage will last only for a year and a half!”

“Your timeline I not enough for your company to get back on its feet.”

I raise a brow. I want to argue against him regarding this but I know he is more knowledgeable than me when it comes to this kind of issue. Also, L. Corporation is indeed in a bad shape. If ever we manage to survive this year with his help, it won’t guarantee stable success.

But 5 years is too long! How about 3 years? But I already signed!

“Ari…”

With my problematic face, I look back at him. Confusion crosses over my face when I notice how problematic he looks. Both of his elbows are on the armrest of the single sofa seat. While his fingers from his right hand are all on his temple, massaging it in a circular motion.

What? Am I the one giving him a headache?

“What did you offer to Cujengco?”

I am expecting him to say something. As a successful business owner, I want to hear him teach me any tips on how to save our company aside from my proposed idea. However, what I received was nagging about how ridiculous my idea is and how irresponsible I am.

“Are you aware of how dangerous this is? You did not even spend time reviewing the contract and signed it right away. What if he added something in the contract?”

I bite my lower lip. He’s right. I should be more cautious of my actions.

But then, if I’ll sign a contract with Lowen, I am certain I will review it. He was the one who made the contract. Maybe I am just comfortable so I signed the contract immediately.

“Why? Did you add something I won’t agree to?”

I frown at my own question. When I read the contract right after I signed it, I notice some statements. I pick up the contract from my lap and flip the pages.

“No boyfriends,” I read. I lift my head and look at him. “I am married to you and of course, the media will know it. In front of the people, we are a married couple. But we can still build relationships with others! The true genuine kind of relationship!”

This contract is a 5-year contract. What about the relationship that we want to have for ourselves?

Hyko’s face becomes gloomy. He did not speak for a while, probably contemplating what he’ll say. He then sighs before speaking.

“The media are sneaky. No matter how you try to hide your relationship, they will eventually know…” I nod. I know how true his statement is. Even with the privacy of our family, they still discover the alleged relationship of my mom with other businessmen. I am not sure if it’s true. But if some media outlets already covered it, maybe they notice something. After all, they know how we will react if the allegations aren’t true. We can sue them. Or maybe they know we won’t, given the lawsuits that our company is facing, they probably think we are too busy to even think about the false rumor.

I flip the pages to the page where I notice some unbelievable statements earlier.

“Both parties aren’t allowed to meet other for the purpose of securing the image of their relationship.”

“Uhuh.”

“Ms. Levrinne is obliged to satisfy the desires of Mr. Frantz… She has to be submissive and isn’t allowed to say no to the things that are written and agreed on in this contract… Mr. Frants will be given the right to punish Ms. Levrinne if the latter will refuse to obey him.”

I gulp. I chew my lower lip as I read some of the statements on the contract.

“Any comments?”

“I already signed it.” No matter what I’ll say, it’s done. I know I should be sad because I feel like I am being robbed of my rights. But what’s weird is, I’m totally fine with all of these… aside from one thing.”

“Let me hear your thoughts.” Hyko shifts on his seat and sits comfortably in his place while eyeing me. “What do you want to change?”

My face brightens up. I pout my lips as I browse again the contract. “Well… I’m fine with the last part.” My face reddens when I realize what I said.

What the f*ck Ari? So, you are fine with being a submissive wife?

Well, to be honest, there’s nothing wrong with the contract. Maybe it’s kind of informal since this will only be used if ever I’ll escape—which is way more impossible because I need him for my company. Overall, I think the contract is all filled with double meanings. Why do I feel like all of these statements are talking about s*xual pleasure?

“I want to change something…”

He did not answer but only raise a brow at me, waiting for what I’ll say.

“C-Can I say ‘no’? You know, sometimes, I am not in the mood to make out or do naughty stuff.”

“Sure. We’ll change it.”

Well, that was easy.

“And another one…”

“Go on.”

“Can we revise the no-boyfriend and no-girlfriend thingy? I mean, it’s a 5-year contract. We should not waste the 5 years of our life in this contract marriage. We also need to find someone who will be with us. The genuine type of relationship.”

He frowns. He looks disappointed and his face turns grim.

“No,” he firmly says.

“But why?!” he agreed to my first request!

“You already signed—”

“Then why did you let me change the one earlier? But not this one?”

He sigh. He looks at me, weighing my words. It took him about a minute before speaking.

“Are you that afraid to waste your 5 years with me?”

I am not sure if I’m just overthinking or did I hear a hint of bitterness in his voice?

“What I am pointing out is we should not cage ourselves in this contract marriage. This is just a show and an illusion. What about our reality?”

“This is my reality. I am willing to spend my 5 years genuinely with you…” I was a bit taken aback by what he said. “… in respect to the contract,” he adds.

Yeah, right. Just like what I thought. Just like other good businessmen, he respects the contract and the agreed statements of his business partners. I’m glad that we both treat this as nothing more than business.

“Do you really want to change it?” he asks when he did not hear any answer from me.

“Yes,” I answer.”

He takes a deep sigh. When our eyes lock, I notice how weary his face looks.

“Okay, we’ll change it.”

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Forcing The Billionaire

by: Joanne Cristel

©2022

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Note: Unedited. English is not the author's first language so expect grammatical errors. Thank you!