Chapter 2: Meet Me, Your Nightmare

Samantha's POV...

"Are you okay?" he asked, extending his hand toward me.

I hesitated before placing my palm in his. "I'm... fine," I lied, my legs trembling as I stood.

Up close, he was breathtaking. Perfect features. Piercing blue eyes. The kind of man women ruined themselves for without thinking twice.

"You should be careful in places like this," he said calmly, a faint smile curving his lips. "Not everyone here has good intentions."

I smiled weakly, unsure why my heart was suddenly racing.

"I can't believe he's talking to her," a woman whispered nearby. "He never does this."

Her words stung. What did she mean by that? Was I not worth talking to? Or was it because I looked exactly like my misfortune, cheap dress, tired eyes, broken spirit?

Before I could dwell on it, two large men hurried toward us. His bodyguards, obvious even at first glance.

They were dressed in perfectly pressed suits, polished shoes gleaming under the club lights. Nose masks covered their faces, their hair cut low and neat.

"Sir, are you alright?" one asked urgently, rushing toward my savior. "We heard there was trouble."

"I'm fine," Adrian replied.

His tone changed instantly. The calm warmth vanished, replaced by something cold and distant.

"Handle it," he said, turning to the man still lying helplessly on the floor. "And treat him accordingly."

His eyes flickered with an unreadable signal.

I watched as the guards dragged the bleeding man away. Horror, pain, and panic were etched across his face. His eyes begged for mercy, but his lips were too heavy to speak.

What were they going to do to him?

"That's his real personality," someone muttered behind me, snapping me out of my thoughts.

His real personality? The words lodged themselves deep in my mind.

I turned back to Adrian. He was already watching me, his eyes sent deep shivers down my spine.

"I'll be leaving now," he said suddenly, as if I needed to know.

"I'll wait for you in my car. I need to talk to you." His lips curved slightly. "It won't take long."

I glanced around, half-expecting him to be speaking to someone else, despite the fact that his gaze never left mine.

"Sorry... are you talking to me?" I asked in awe.

He didn't answer. He treated my question like a passing breeze, turning away instead. Confidence rolled off him like armor as he walked off.

One of his guards stopped beside me and gestured politely.

"He asked me to escort you, ma'am."

I stood still for a while, unsure of what to do next.

"He's only nice when he wants something" The woman who had warned me earlier was gone, swallowed by the crowd as the music slowly resumed.

I stared after Adrian's retreating figure.

I had nothing to lose anyway. I was a poor, hopeless girl, one bad step away from ending it all, the moment I walked out of this place.

I exhaled slowly and turned to the guard.

"Take me to your boss."

I wasn't sure what I was doing anymore. But I cared less.

The night air felt colder as I followed the bodyguard out of the club. Each step felt like I was walking deeper into something I might never escape.

The crowd behind me blurred into noise, laughter, music, life moving on as if nothing had happened.

The bodyguard stopped in front of a sleek black car.

A black Rolls-Royce Phantom gleamed under the city lights, its silk interior glowing like a midnight sky. The 21-inch wheels looked as though they barely touched the ground, the luxury beast humming with a whisper-quiet V12 engine. It was elegance in motion, the kind that didn't need attention to command it.

"We're here, ma'am," he said, pulling the door open.

My heart skipped as the door swung wide.

Inside the car, Adrian Wolfe sat comfortably, one hand resting on his knee, the other scrolling through his phone. The dim interior light traced his sharp jawline, making him look every bit as powerful as he felt.

He looked up, as though he had been expecting me to follow, and smiled.

But this wasn't the gentle smile from the club. This one was slow, calculated, and dangerous one

"Get in," he said calmly.

My mind screamed you're walking into trouble, but something stronger pulled me forward.

"Relax," he added, as if he could read my thoughts. "If I wanted to hurt you, Samantha, I would've done it already."

My breath hitched. Samantha?

My eyes snapped to his face. "How do you-" He didn't let me finish.

In one swift motion, he pulled me into the car and slammed the door shut. The sound echoed loudly, sealing me inside.

My pulse raced as the car pulled away from the curb.

He leaned closer, studying me like something he already owned.

"Riley," he murmured again, closing the distance until I could feel his breath on my face.

Panic surged through me immediately.

"Who are you?" I demanded, my voice trembling despite my effort to sound strong. "What do you want? You know my name, have you been stalking me?"

"I brought you here because I need something from you," he said calmly, calling my name like it belonged to him.

He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.

"Be my wife for six months... and I'll give you everything you've ever wanted."

I stiffened and my eyes widened in shock.

What exactly was he driving at?

Chapter 3: Caught in a Trap

Samantha's POV...

"Be my wife for six months, and I will give you all you ever wish for."

Again, he dismissed my questions like they were nothing but a passing breeze.

"I know everything about you, Samantha," he changed the topic so quickly it unsettled me. "Everything you don't even know about yourself."

I stared at him, my eyes widening in shock.

"I can rewrite your story and give you a brand-new life if you let me," he added casually.

I sat up, struggling to balance the storm of thoughts racing through my mind.

"I..."

No matter how hard I tried, the words refused to leave my lips.

"Answer me, Samantha," he said firmly. "I need to know where you stand. Once you agree, we sign a contract, and that's it."

His words snapped something loose inside me. I let out a hollow chuckle and slowly turned to him.

"I bet you're nothing but a good-for-nothing stalker," I said bitterly. "Tell me...why do you know so much about me? Do you even know if I'm married? If I have kids?"

I scoffed in disbelief, the thoughts spilling out faster than I could control them.

"I've seen this madness in movies. In novels. But never in real life," I hissed. "I may be poor, but I'm not stupid. Contract bride indeed" I glared at him.

"I want you to open this door so I can get out of this damn car and never come near me again. Because if you do, I'll drench you in acid." Lf looks could kill, he would've been dead already. I was stunned by his audacity.

His sudden chuckle caught me off guard.

"If you truly want to leave, I won't stop you, Samantha ," he said calmly. "But don't come begging when you're about to die of sickness."

He smirked. "And remember, your landlord won't take you back."

I froze at his revelation. The weight of his words sank in slowly.

"You know about that?" I asked after a long moment, disbelief coating my voice.

"You think I'd approach you without knowing everything?" he chuckled. "I told you, I know more about you than you know about yourself." A shiver ran down my spine.

"Samantha, you need me, and I need you," he continued. "That's all that matters right now. The ball is in your court. Will you make this work or not?"

He tapped the driver's seat, and his bodyguard handed him a file.

"To prove I'm not here to play games," he said, passing it to me, "this is the contract."

I shot him a sharp glare before taking the document.

"Go through it and tell me if you're fine with the rules," he said calmly.

"I'm not even agreeing to this yet," I snapped, rolling my eyes.

Still, I opened the document and began to read.

A six-month contract between Samantha Williams and Adrian Wolfe, the first page read.

"You even know my full name?" I muttered.

He said nothing.

I returned my attention to the document.

Contract Terms:

1. This marriage shall last for a period of six (6) months from the date of signing.

2. Both parties agree that no emotional attachment or romantic feelings shall develop during the contract period.

3. Physical intimacy is permitted only by mutual consent and shall not imply emotional involvement.

4. Both parties must present themselves as a loving married couple in public and at all official events.

5. Neither party shall interfere in the other's personal life beyond what is required by this contract.

6. The wife shall reside in the husband's residence for the duration of the marriage.

7. Any form of jealousy, possessiveness, or emotional demands is strictly prohibited.

8. The details of this contract and marriage must remain strictly confidential from the public and media.

9. Violation of any rule will result in immediate termination of the contract and financial penalties.

10. Upon expiration of the contract, both parties shall separate peacefully with no further obligations, unless otherwise stated.

"Who even gives someone these kinds of rules..."

The words died in my throat when my eyes landed on the amount listed below.

Mr. Adrian Drew shall offer Miss Samantha Williams a sum of $500 million for a six-month marriage, along with additional benefits.

I blinked in disbelief, not once, not twice but the figures remained the same.

When that didn't work, I pinched myself. Still, the numbers remained.

I looked up at him, then back at the contract.

Then back at him again. I repeated the motion at least six times.

"This couldn't be real" I finally spluttered.

"You're offering me five hundred million dollars to be your wife?"

It still wasn't adding up, no matter how hard I tried to understand it.

"Yes, Samantha. Five hundred million dollars will be yours once you sign this contract and become my wife," he assured me.

"But what about your family? What do they have to say about this?" I asked, my thoughts racing. "I don't even know much about you. How am I supposed to be sure you'll actually give me the money?"

"That's not an issue, Samantha," he replied calmly. "All you have to do is sign the contract. That's all I want. Don't ask questions. Don't be scared of anything. Just do what needs to be done, and that's it."

I sensed urgency in his tone, and it unsettled me. Why was he the one rushing? Shouldn't I be the one hesitating? And why me out of all the women in the world?

I couldn't hold back anymore. "Why me?" I demanded. "Why did you pick me of all people?"

And for the first time, he was the one freezing. It was as though I had asked the deadliest question in the world.

His gaze dropped instantly, and his lips trembled despite his effort to stay composed. Panic flickered across his face, and in that moment, I sensed there was more to this than he was willing to admit.

Still, I wasn't ready to walk away. I wouldn't turn down this offer for anything in the world.

I have nothing to lose like I have said earlier. Walking out of here is me walking into my own dorm, into greater poverty, into depression and I wasn't ready to do that.

I remembered, I have prayed for a miracle in the club and maybe my prayer has finally come to pass.

"Don't bother answering," I said firmly. "Just transfer the money to my account, and I'll sign the contract, just like you want." I was also shocked at my words.

As my words rolled out, I saw it immediately, his panic on his face melted into relief.

"Why did you argue so much if you were going to agree anyway?" he muttered, sinking back into his seat.

"Enter your details into this phone," he said, handing it to me.

I did as instructed.

Before I could even pull my own phone out of my bag, I heard the familiar notification chime.

"Sent," he said calmly.

I wasn't ready to believe him that easily, but staring at my phone, and my breath caught.

$500,000,000 sat boldly in my account, as if it were nothing.

An amount I had never imagined I would see in my lifetime.

"It's time to do your part," Adrian said, snapping me out of my daze.

I nodded and signed the contract without hesitation.

"Now that's what I'm talking about," he said, a smirk curling his lips. "See? That was simple, Riley."

"Now that the contract is signed and sealed, we move straight into business."

I didn't think much of his words, until he suddenly clapped his hands. Before I could react, the bodyguard seated behind us snatched my phone away.

"That's the first rule, Samantha," Adrian said coldly. "You no longer have the right to communicate with anyone from this moment onward. And that shouldn't be a problem...."

His eyes locked onto mine. "-since you have no family. You're an orphan."

Chapter 4: Follow My Rules

Samantha POV...

"Now that the contract is signed and sealed, we move straight into business."

I didn't think much of his words, until he suddenly clapped his hands. Before I could react, the bodyguard seated behind us snatched my phone away.

"That's the first rule, Samantha," Adrian said coldly. "You no longer have the right to communicate with anyone from this moment onward. And that shouldn't be a problem...."

His eyes locked onto mine. "-since you have no family. You're an orphan."

My ears rang in confusion as soon as his words hit me. I turned to him, my eyes holding the shock of a perfectly confused soul.

"What are you talking about?" the words hammered out of my heavy lips after minutes of thick silence. If it were the early hours of the day, the silence would have been loud enough to hear a needle drop.

"You shouldn't see an issue with it, Samantha. You just have to follow my rules," he drawled, like he hadn't just snatched my entire life away. "If you want to be on the safe end, you just have to follow my rules. Trust me. That's the way to win my heart."

He fastened his seatbelt and hit the front seat.

Win his heart? As if I was interested in that.

"I-"

"You don't get to oppose my rules, Samantha. They stay, okay?" he snapped, cutting me off.

"You don't talk when you're not permitted. You don't argue with me. You don't challenge me." His eyes seethed with provocation. "You just follow my damn rules. You follow me like the obedient dog you are."

A small smile crept onto his lips as his hand found its way to my face.

For the first time, I nodded, terrified. His eyes was doing something to me, and his terrifying smile wasn't helping. I had never seen a man this dangerous. One minute he was angry, the next he was smiling.

"I love it, Samantha. You're a good one," he said, tapping my head before turning away.

He tapped the driver's seat, and immediately the car pulled away from the curb. Within seconds, we were on the road.

"Once we get home, you're getting a makeover done. My wife isn't going to move around the house like a mad woman." He gave me a quick glance and drew a cigarette from his pocket.

I nodded like a scared little fool.

He took a long drag and turned to me again. "If only you knew how long it took me to get you."

Those were his simple words before he faced the window.

I watched him, unsure of what he meant. But deep down, I knew he wasn't a stranger. This man had known me for a long time. He chose me for a reason, but why? To what end did he go so far just to get me?

..........

I felt a soft tap on my shoulder, forcing my sleepy eyes open. I yawned, stretching my arms in different directions.

"Good evening, ma. The Don asked me to get you from the car," a voice said beside me.

That was when I realized I had been woken up.

I rubbed my eyes and looked around. I was still in the car, but how come...? The words seized in my throat as everything came rushing back.

He had been driving for what felt like forever, and when my tired eyes couldn't keep up, I must have fallen asleep. I pinched myself. How was I able to sleep in front of him?

"Are you okay, ma?" the lady asked, smiling gently.

I forced a smile in return. "I'm fine. I'll just get out of the car."

I stepped down carefully.

The young lady wrapped a heavy cloth around my shoulders as soon as I got out. "Welcome to the Don's house," she said, pointing ahead.

Staring at the massive paradise in front of me, it took everything in me not to scream.

My jaw dropped, my eyes widening in disbelief. Staring at the beauty before me, I completely forgot the chaos I was in.

"Is... is this Adrian's house?" I asked, desperate for an answer.

She looked shocked before replying. "It's not Adrian," she whispered in panic. "We don't refer to him as that here. We call him the Don."

I paused, then shrugged slightly. "How many identities does this man have?"

"I'll be in serious trouble if he ever hears that from you, or anyone," she said, her eyes pleading more than her tone.

I nodded, not wanting to escalate things. "Noted. Is this the Don's house?"

"Yes, ma. One of his many houses," she replied calmly.

"One of his many houses?" I wasn't expecting that. I simply nodded and let her lead.

"I'll take you inside, ma. Welcome once again."

I followed her slowly, my eyes resting on each masterpiece as we walked in. Even in movies, I had never seen a house this beautiful. Everything stood tall and perfect.

She pushed open the massive door leading to the sitting room, and my eyes fell on something even more fascinating.

Inside the large sitting room were five stairways, each leading to a different corner of the house.

"Your food is waiting for you in the dining room," one of the many maids who rushed to meet me said with a slight bow.

Embarrassment hit me instantly. She was obviously older than me.

"I'll lead you to the dining room," she added.

We walked for a while before finally arriving. I was definitely going to get lost in this house.

"Dinner, ma," she said, pointing to the food laid out before me, enough to last me a whole week.

"Dinner?" My confusion was obvious. "I'm not eating all this alone, right?"

She gave me a strange look before replying, "It's all yours."

"All mine? You've got to be kidding me. I can't even finish one portion of this."

"Ma! The Don wants to see you in his room now," another maid rushed in, breathless.

She looked like she had escaped hell, her clothes torn in places, bruises faintly covering her face.

Whispers followed as the maids slowly disappeared from sight, leaving only the one who had brought me out of the car.

She gulped, visibly trembling with fear, before turning to me.

"Let me show you to his room."