Love Contract

Chapter 1

Raina’s POV—

Everyone applauds as he climbs the circular stage made at one end of the huge banquet hall and walks to the podium waving his hands to everyone. He is in one word Godly! He is over six feet tall and has a perfectly exercised and toned figure. His blonde medium length hair, green eyes and the slight lopsided naughty grin on the tanned skin, makes him the sexiest man I have ever seen. His blue suit is custom tailored from the costliest Italian fabric and is crisp. The way he walks emanates power and wealth, yet his face and eyes show kindness!

He is a genuine guy with a good heart just the kind I wished to meet in this life. I am told that he is twenty six, just two years older than me!

His smile is faint and reserved and as he takes his position in front of the microphone, his gaze travels to the corner of the room and avoiding hundreds of people gathered here, it settles on mine for a second or two and it makes me blush and my heart skips a beat!

“Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen! As many of you know, I am Chris Hamilton and I am here on behalf of my Company to support….”

His powerful speech captivates each and every person in the room including me! He has that effect on people! The way he stood with his left hand inside his trouser pocket and right hand sometimes placed on the podium and sometimes waving in the air, makes me forget the world and dream about him!

“And I believe it was destiny that brought me here and my heart is elated today meeting such beautiful people like you all!”

I couldn’t help but notice that he was talking in metaphors and his words had dwell meaning! Did he mean his destined meeting with me? I think and look down shyly.

I sigh and get lost in my thoughts! I wish I could be with him! I want him!

“May I have this dance with you?”

A chill runs down my spine hearing his voice! I snap my head up and realise that the speech is long over and already the ball has started.

“Hello? May I be the one to take you to your dreamland?” he says waving his hands in front of my face and I blush and frown.

“I am so….so sorry!” I reply shyly pulling a strand of my hair behind my ears.

“So, may I?” he asks again and I give him a confused look. “Have this dance with you?” he gestures to his extended hand with his eyes and I blush again embarrassed and scoff, “Um..Sure! It will be my honour. I am so..sorry…I.”

He took my hand and led me to the dance floor, holding me close to him and said in a low voice making me shudder with his warm breath on my shoulder, “You say sorry, quite a lot!”

“No! I am sorry but…”

As I say sorry again, he broke into a laughter and I look down to hide my embarrassed face.

“I am….”

“I know….you are sorry!” He said and suddenly pulled me a bit more towards him, holding

my waist with his both hands and bent over my face. His face was so close to mine that with

a slight movement, our nose would touch and I could already feel his intense stare and his

hot breath fanning my face!

“You are beautiful and a beautiful and kind lady like you shouldn’t be so formal with me!” he said in a husky voice making my heart thump and the place between my legs throb already.

“I…” I stuttered.

“Who are you Ms Raina? Who is Mrs Manilla Beachum to you?” he asked swaying with me to the music but I was lost in only his words and couldn’t focus on anything around.

“I am no one important and Mrs Manilla Beachum is just my boss! I work here in this foundation, that’s all!” I reply in whisper because it was getting hard to breath, with him so close, leave alone talk.

“I see! Why do you work here? For earning a living?” he asked and twirled me in a circle and when I ended up face to face with him he held me closer, our chests touching.

“I don’t work for money! I work here because I want to help the poor, the deprived and the needy!” I reply as I keep staring at his eyes.

“I like people who think about others! I like those who share with others! You are a kind soul Raina!” he speaks in a hoarse voice that makes my throat dry. “May I call you Raina?”

“Sure!” I nod briefly and at that moment the music ends.

“Thank you for dancing with me! I should go now, the woman is waiting.” I say nervously and turn around to walk away but I feel a pull on my wrist and I gasp at his electrifying touch.

“Wait!” he walks around and stands in front of me. “When shall I see you again?” he asks giving me a meaningful glance.

“I…I am not …I don’t know!” I try to avoid but he is adamant.

“Please, I just want to know you more and be friends with you!” he speaks in that husky voice, now kissing my knuckles softly as his eyes keep speaking untold words, words those are usually forbidden in such a short meeting.

“It is better not to know me Chris! I am sorry, I mean Mr Chris.” I apologise again as I stand wriggling my fingers nervously and looking everywhere except at him.

“Please, call me Chris! My name never sounded so good before!” he was clearly indicating something to me.

“Ok. Chris, I should really go now!” I try to leave but he blocks my way and says in a pleading tone, “Please Raina, give me a chance to know you!”

“It is better not to be close to me Mr Chris! Everyone who get close, leave eventually! It is heart breaking and I have darkness in me and it is better if you stay away!” I reply and start to walk away.

I could feel him following me.

“I want to know you and I accept your friendship with your darkness Raina! Please! Just let us meet once and if you don’t like the meeting, you have to never see me again! Just one date!” I freeze at my trail hearing him say ‘Just one date’!

Chris’s POV—

I know I have been smiling a lot while returning back from the ball and I was so distracted that I asked Dan voluntarily to drive which gave rise to obvious suspicion.

“I can’t take the suspense anymore! You have to tell me everything and at this instant Chris! You are smiling and laughing all by yourself! You have found a girl and you are falling for her!” Dan expresses his suspicion and I shake my head.

“I won’t believe even if you deny! It is clear on your face man! Who is she?” Dan asks again looking at me and then back to the road.

I scoff and chuckle thinking about my crazy heart which is already missing her! I have known her for a few hours but already I am missing her smell, her touch, warmth, her sweet voice, her kind soul! Am I really falling for her? It is true that I have not been with many girls. I dated twice in the past in my high school and then college but those were very short term and definitely not love!

“That’s it!” Dan suddenly said and the car stopped with a jerk at the side of a road. I looked around and frowned.

“Why did we stop here?” I ask him but he doesn’t reply. He simply gets off the car, walks around to my side, opens the passenger door and pulls me out. “Come out at once.”

“Ok, Ok! But what’s wrong?” I ask him with a serious look since I really have no idea why we stopped here.

He walks a few steps away from the road towards the park which is just beside the road where we have stopped, dragging me along and stops under a tree. He takes out two cigars and gives me one.

“Take it, smoke and spill, now! If you don’t then I have to talk to Mr Senior Hamilton!” he is serious. I know, because he threatens to talk to my father only when he is serious.

“Ok. What are you asking?” I say lighting the cigar. He lights his and then releasing the smoke he nods his head and asks raising an eyebrow, “WHO. IS. SHE??”

“Word to word, huh? So sure?” I c**k my eyebrow and smirk.

“No! Don’t even try to play games with me. I need the truth and now!” he says shaking his head.

“Ok.” I blow the smoke and then reply, “The most beautiful and attractive lady in the world. Hourglass figure, 5 feet 7 inches….no, I think more than 5 feet eight inches tall, soft and porcelain white skin, thin pink lips, black long hair, black eye balls, big doe like eyes with thick eyelashes and sharp nose. Kind, timid and very innocent and has the sweetest voice! Raina Thorne!” I almost narrate poetically and his jaws drop!

“Oh boy! Fu*k! You are doomed man!” Daniel says stretching the sentence. “So, what’s the plan?”

“I asked her for one date but she didn’t want to meet! After a bit of persuasion and my charm dust, she agreed and shared her number!” I tell chuckling like a teen.

“Hmm..but let me warn you Chris! You are every girl’s dream! Be careful!” Daniel warns as a good friend and I nod my head from left to right, grinning,

“Tsk! Tsk! Tsk! …She didn’t know me or even recognise me and she is a very kind lady! You didn’t see how she helped a poor and tortured woman. She tore her own dress and wrapped her wound to stop the blood. She is perfect Daniel. I want her!” I tell him in a dreamy voice sighing with a dreamy look!

“Hmm..so what is your next plan?” Daniel asks. “Are you going to talk to Mr Senior?”

“Nope! Not now! First I will meet her after I come back from the conference and then after I get to know her a little more, I will talk to dad!” I reply as we start walking back to our car.

I get inside and take the passenger seat while Daniel takes the driver’s seat. He says again buckling his seat belt, “That will be at least two months! There is a lot of work before the conference and a lot of travelling!”

“Yeah..I know! I have waited this long and can wait a little more, besides can’t compromise work for anything! I will turn twenty seven in a month but I guess I still have a few years? There is no rush! ” I reply simply and I am being honest! My father and my grandfather before my father have worked very hard to reach at this level. I have joined the business as CEO a year back but have been working hard since last six years! So, I cannot let anything spoil it! Not even my own feelings!