Proposal

Stirring from sleep, she instantly feels all her aching limbs. She feels battered. Her lids were too heavy, she stops trying to open them. Failing to wake up, she drifted to slumber again.

The second time she stirs from sleep, she took several deep breaths as she tried to recall her last night's activity. She wanted to understand the excruciating pain in her body.

Recalling some bits and pieces of what happened, she groaned and buried her face in the soft pillow. But grimaced from the pain that shoots up from between her legs.

"What have you done, Lexie" she spat on herself.

Remained unmoving from her spot, she tried to recall everything but only got some vague memories of last night. She was so engrossed mulling with her predicament, not realizing someone else's presence inside the room.

"You slept the whole day away" a deep voice interrupted her contemplation.

Slowly, she raised her face and turned towards the direction of the voice. Reaching the spot, her eyes met the same piercing eyes she stared at the whole night.

Silence filled the room as they continue staring at each other. Her mind suddenly went blank, unable to find words to say to him.

"If you are hungry, there is food here" he added casually.

The man was already dressed in a long white shirt rolled before his elbows, black pants, and black loafers. While here she was, still naked. Only a blanket covering her nakedness.

"Ahm, what time...is it?" she found her voice, though hoarse.

"Already seven in the evening" he briefly replies after checking his watch.

Seven in the evening? She groans frustratedly. Indeed, she slept the day away. That is how exhausted she was.

She stayed still, staring at the ceiling. A lot crossing her mind. What now?

"You need to go home?" her mind answered.

Heaving a sigh, she slowly turn towards the bathroom, assessing it's distance from the bed. She needs a warm shower to ease her aching body, but she's still trying to figure out how she can walk towards it with the throbbing pain she has.

Ever so slowly, she tried to sit up. It's been a dreadful undertaking even to just move. She still cannot feel her lower part. The unfortunate fruit of her boldness last night.

Painfully, she dragged herself to the bathroom to take her much-needed shower. Ignoring the man watching her slow movement.

Taking her time to relieve all the aches in her limbs, she stood under the steaming water. The cubicle is fogging but she doesn't seem to mind. She was too lost in her thoughts. Not only the pain she wanted to be relieved but all the confusing emotions burdening her already heavy chest.

She was always been calculated and responsible for her actions. But last night was an exception. She was so irresponsible.

"What is done is done..." she whispers to herself, staring blankly at the wall.

"Let's forget it and move on..." she added, heaving a sigh.

After Coby breaking up with her and what happened last night, she doesn't think she will be interested in having a relationship soon. She had enough mistakes for a day. She needs to focus on raising the ten million or she will lose her inheritance from her parents.

"At least, you had experienced this kind of thing..." she scoffs, mocking herself.

Setting aside all the troubling thoughts behind her mind, she continued to shower. She cannot turn back time and she doesn't want to turn it back. She had a great memory of last night. She unexpectedly enjoyed it.

Stepping out of the bathroom with just a robe, she found the man still seated on the same spot earlier. Their gazes met before she turned away to find her dress, which she found draped on the chair across from him.

If she was embarrassed she tried not to show it upon seeing her black lingerie atop her black dress. Knowing he tidy her things made her blush. She could feel the heat creeping her face.

It's been a while after she slowly step towards the chair to get her discarded clothes.

Ignoring his intense gaze she turns around towards the bathroom door.

"I've seen it all, smelled and tasted your body. Why the shyness now?" his words made her stop midstep.

Not knowing what to reply, she remained nailed on the floor, tightly holding her things. Yes, he was right. No part of her body remains untouched by his hands and lips. What could she be shy about anymore? He had reached the part of her body she haven't even touched. He had scorched her depth while giving her immeasurable pleasure. Dressing in front of him is no big deal.

Slowly, she went towards the bed and place her things. She took her time wearing her undies before taking off her robe to wear her brassiere. Trying to act calm despite the drilling gaze fixed on her, she slipped her dress over her head.

"Eat" his next word made her turn to him.

Food was on the table and as a queue, her stomach rumbles. She was hungry. She hadn't had any food the whole day.

Still, in silence, she took her seat across from him and quietly ate. Hungry is an understatement, she was famished. Not long, she devoured everything on her plate with him watching her in silence.

"Thank you for the food," she said after a while of awkward silence.

"What about my performance last night, won't you thank me too?" he seriously ask, which made her look at him, gauging his mood. She can't tell if it's a joke or he was serious. Does she have to thank him? How would she know he did great? She felt great with what he did though.

"Ahm, well...thank you" she mumbles but avoided his gaze. She could feel the heat creeping her face again. It's absolutely awkward.

"You're welcome" he replied, to her aghast. Her head snapped towards him in time to see his smirk. Clenching her jaw, she sharply looks at him while his eyes reflect his humor. She battles with his penetrating gaze, too stubborn to back down. How dare he, making fun of her.

"Alright, let's get down to business" he announced after a while of their silent duel.

Raising her brows, she stares at him, her eyes questioning. Does she need to pay him?

"Do I need to pay you? How much?" she outright asked.

With her words, his amused face turns grim and dark. His piercing sharp eyes narrowed as he stared directly at her.

"Can you afford me?" he snickers.

"Just tell me how much" she stubbornly retorted. She is getting pissed by his arrogance.

"500 billion dollars" he briefly replies with raised challenging brows. But she was taken aback not by his imposing look or the amount he said, it's the revelation that shock her.

"What?" she mumbles in disbelief.

"My present net worth is more or less 500 billion dollars" he unconcernedly replied.

Too stunned to talk, she continues gaping at him while he waited for her to come around.

"That's why you look familiar..." she frustratedly whispers, facepalming herself. The man she often sees on tv and in newspapers but hasn't met in person.

The only person in the country who has a five hundred billion net worth. A business tycoon.

"CEO Lucien Wright..." she whispers in despair, almost indistinct. She can't believe she messed up big time. Of all the men she would approach, it's the richest man in the country. The cold and ruthless CEO of Wright Group of Companies.

The man across her remained quiet while watching her mentally scolding herself. Her expression divulge everything in her mind and unexpectedly, she was so easy to read.

"You got to be kidding me, Lexie" she mentally whined.

"Of all people..." she continued.

"You could have stopped Coby from leaving you. You could have changed his mind if you offered what he has been asking you for a long time" she groaned in frustration.

"It's just sex, you could have given it to him than to a random man" she massaged her tensed nape.

"It could have been Coby you had sex with if not for your pride!" she clenched her jaw.

"What did I tell you!"

She was too engrossed with her thoughts when she was suddenly startled by the man's hard voice. Looking up to him, her brows knotted seeing his angry face.

Not knowing where his outburst coming from, she continues to stare at him, lost from the sudden change of his mood.

"I forbid you to say any man's name in my presence" he warns angrily, his already sharp eyes glaring coldly at her.

Not understanding what he meant, she remained dumbfounded. She continue to stare at him until she realized something, making her eyes grow wide. Has she spoken her thoughts? He heard her talking about Coby.

Despite realizing what she did, she is still in confusion about how it affects the man's mood. And when did she was prohibited to say any man's name? Did she miss something? Is this what CEO Wright's rule with his one-night stand?

"Pardon me, it was not meant to be heard" she mutters. She sounded confused more than being apologetic.

Still, with his sharp gaze, he turn sideways and took a piece of paper.

Casually, he placed it in front of her.

With furrowed brows, she read the heading before raising her confused eyes to him.

"I need a wife, name your price" he casually announces.

****😳😳****

Closed Deal

"I need a wife, name your price" he casually announced.

The words rang in her ears but she was unable to discern what he meant.

"Pardon Mr. Wright?" she asks. Confusion fills her face.

"I need someone to pose as my wife. Here's the entire agreement" he handed him another document.

Reluctantly, she receives the paper and blankly stares at it.

"I need to be married to make my girlfriend come back and stay for good to marry me. Here is the divorce agreement" he continues casually before handing her another document.

"Once she is back, you will sign the divorce paper and peacefully leave. I will pay you, just name the amount" he added.

She stared at him trying to digest everything he said. Her brain was not cooperating, leaving her empty-minded.

She heard the rumor about a ballerina betrothed to CEO Lucien Wright but left the country to pursue her dream to be the top-tiered ballerina of her time. After her departure, the CEO had been seen several times following her every shows in different countries and maybe to convince her to come back. Who could blame the CEO, Ellen Johnson is an angel.

Staring at the documents in her hands, her ten million burden crosses her mind. It's an easy way out. She could have the money she was dying to raise for more than five years now. All she needs is to fulfill the agreement stated on the contract.

She will act as a wife and fulfill all the obligations of a wife to a husband. Including having sex with him. But no child should be involved in their union and she has to make sure to preempt such occurrence. Just plain sex, they won't have any obligation to each other. In case, they will be involved with anyone other than both of them, it must be done discreetly, unknown to the public. He doesn't want to take chances of Miss Johnson knowing the marriage is just an arrangement.

He was not obliged to introduce her to his parents or bring her to any function as his wife. The marriage is solely for Ellen Johnson, a bait, so she could consider returning to the country earlier to marry Lucien. While in agreement, she will stay at his mansion where Ellen has also stayed when they were still together. A taunting strategy for the ballerina.

Thinking of the benefits she could get from the arrangement, she earnestly stares at him. If she will be honest, she cannot raise the ten million dollars on her own even if she takes all the part-time jobs her agent would arrange for her. She is beautiful, yes she is but it's not enough to land her a multi-million contract in modeling. She was not that famous and she doesn't know anyone who could help her aside from her friend/agent who had helped her land modeling jobs a few times.

"Ten million dollars" she announced, staring straight into his eyes. She has nothing to lose anymore, the man had already taken something precious to her. So, better enjoy it while earning.

"Deal" he readily replied. He stares at her with his unremarkable expression. Whatever he was thinking, she has no interest in knowing.

Grabbing the pen in front of him, she quickly signs the documents except for the divorce paper.

"When can I get my money and when will I start to live in your place?" she casually asks while she finishes affixing her signature.

"Tonight, you will come with me. The money will be transferred to your assigned account, immediately after you provided the information" he mutters, without averting from her gaze.

"Okay," she shrugs. She won't kill herself from work from now on. Starting today, she will enjoy her life while she reclaims the precious place of her childhood.

"Aside from the ten million dollars, you will have this card. You can spend it with anything you want" he pushed a card towards her.

She shrugs before picking it up from the table.

"It's nice to have these perks" she raves with a smile, scrutinizing the card. Tiny dimples on both sides of her mouth appear. A muscle abnormality that brought her a lot of admiration even from fellow women. Only appearing when she smiles or sometimes if she was talking, making her look more charming. The reason why she once modeled teen apparel.

"Though it's specified in the agreement the provision of having other partners, I forbid you of doing so. I don't want to share my woman with anyone else" he seriously added, which made her think.

"That would be fine with me" she shrugs, getting back at the card in her hand. Having another man is out of the question. She doesn't plan on having a relationship while being married to the serious CEO. Even if it's only for convenience. The ten million at stake is more important than any man as of the moment.

Lucien stares at her with earnest interest. He hasn't expected she would readily agree to his proposition. Money indeed has powerful sparkle for people like her. Realizing his line of thoughts, he clenches his jaw.

She was a virgin but she acts cool about losing it to a stranger more so entering an unusual marriage agreement. Is she in desperate need of money? The report only includes, her being dumped by her boyfriend, which he already knew. No matter what her reasons, he needs her.

Aside from her delectable body, enticing him, she was a refreshing change to the monotony of his daily agenda. She looks like a doll with flawless white skin, rosy cheeks, light brown eyes, and tiny dimples at the sides of her pinkish lips. With her slender figure and long legs, she looks like a barbie doll came to life.

Ten million is a penny in exchange for the pleasure he will be getting with her. Her body was the first to entice him after Ellen left.

Knowing his net worth, he expected she will demand more but she did not.

"How do you feel," he ask after the long silence.

She turns to him with questioning eyes before realizing what he meant.

"Still tender..." she replied honestly.

"Do you need some pills?"

"No, I'm fine"

"I want you later" he announced casually to her aghast. He was acting as if it's the most natural thing in the world to say. Yes, she had signed the marriage contract but still, she expected even the slightest inhibition from him. But well, he is the cunning CEO of Wright Group of Companies, his word is like law for all his people and even to the country.

"You're my wife, remember?" he added upon seeing her incredulous look.

"But it doesn't mean you have to ravage me all the time" she retorted, rolling her eyeballs.

"I want you later, you can take a pill if you still feel tender" he dismissingly announced, giving her no room for an argument.

She rolled her eyes as protest while he glares at her.

"You're insatiable. You almost got me crippled with your huge appetite" she sneers.

"You were able to stand, in that case, I still haven't done that much" he counters with a smirk. His arrogance made her more annoyed.

Though exasperated with his arrogance, she allowed him to ravish her. The night, just like the first night they were together, was filled with moans and grunts.

"So this is the honeymoon now?" she was panting while she was being pounded.

"Yes, and the rest of the nights we will be together" he raggedly replied, breathily with his deep voice.

"You might have a surprise of your life, Miss Ellen might be at your doorstep in the morning" she playfully retorted, grasping at the arms holding her. With her back on the wall, they were standing under the shower while she was just hauled into his arms and being pounded. CEO Lucien Wright seems to not able to take his hands off his bait wife. Her long slender legs were wrapped around his narrow hips, promptly moving in a rhythm.

With her teasing, she got no response but a tightening of his hold around her.

"She might be scurrying right now to come back, knowing you had married someone else" she added with a teasing smile but was suddenly covered by his ravishing kisses.

"Hmmm..."

She was out of breath but he was unconcerned, sucking and eating her mouth with pure fervor. She was drowning in his kisses.

"Hahh...!" she gasps for air the moment she was released.

"Arghhh..." loudly, she moaned after her mount was engulfed and suckled by his warm mouth.

"You talk too much..." he grumbled while he showers her two mounts with tiny bites, grazing his teeth around the hardened buds.

"Arghhh..." she gasps as she lewdly moaned.

"I can't imagine how Miss Ellen had endured your insatiable appetite. Can she still do her ballet after you ravished her?" it just crosses her mind and she got curious. Ellen Johnson is a petite woman. Maybe just 5'3" in height and Lucien Wright is more than 6 feet. She will be crippled if he had this kind of appetite.

"I told you to shut up..." he angrily snapped. His voice becomes hard and sharp as he stopped moving.

Opening her eyes, she met his cold chilling one.

"I don't want you to speak of anything about Ellen. Whatever I and Ellen have is none of your business" he grimly muttered before putting her down even without finishing their act.

He turns away from her and continues with his shower while she was left almost stumbling on the floor, watching his rigid back.

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