He was handsome. No questions there.
Probably the most handsome person her eyes ever laid on.
But he was equally forbidden for her.
That was the correct word.
Forbidden.
He was the kind of man she should not think of, dream of. Way out of her league.
And he was dangerous. He had not done anything as such to make her come to this theory but she could feel it deep into her bones.
Not in a way that could be directly harmful to her but his exceptionally calming aura had an underlying tone of alarm; a kind of warning.
"I am ready."
Michael showed no reaction.
Ashley was sure that her voice was loud enough to be audible.
Michael continued signing on the documents while turning the pages swiftly. His fingers danced in a quick but a balanced pace all over the document.
But she knew he heard her.
So Ashley continued, moving her eyes away to the windows. "And as much I don't know what profit you'll be getting from this alliance, I still hope you would treat me with respect. I ain't looking for post-marriage abuse, violence or any other thing you could slap me with."
She did not need more time to think.
Within few days, it will be the fortnight and those money-lenders would again pester her. Just like every other month and not to mention that they had been getting quite violent lately.
If this marriage was the way out, than so be it.
Michael had indeed heard her and knew her answer already. He had predicted it way before he had even approached her.
After all, he never failed at any given task.
Moreover, it was not simply a task.
It held an underlying aim to get at, mystery to resolve and a promise to fulfill.
Ashley sat quietly, lost in her own thoughts while Michael took his sweet time to close the last file that needed his attention.
Dragging the chair back, he walked up to the cabinet that held a locker. He scanned his eyes and took out a thick black file.
Ashley watched his movements and the time he met her eyes, she knew.
She knew it held whatever was required of her from the marriage.
"Look through it and tell if you have any changes to make." Michael sat opposite her, to not miss even the slightest of reaction.
Three years....
Three years was the period till they were to be married. After that, both of them would go separate ways.
Ashley was quite surprised that majority of the conditions were indeed in her favour.
She would work as a Sous Chef in the elite restaurant. For three years, they would pretend to be a happily married couple in front of the media and even his family.
There was even a love story which she had to memorize, in case, she were ever put at spot to tale it.
Right when they would be married, all the debt would be cleared off her. In fact, when the marriage would end, she would get fifty per cent of the wealth of Michael in alimony.
It was too...fruitful to her! All Ashley could see was her profit in the marriage.
What about him?
As she closed the document, her browns clashed with his hazel, and he knew the hidden question underneath those pretty lashes.
Ashley tried to look through them to make out even a bit of what he could probably get.
It was futile. The try.
She would not know. Not now at least.
"Do you have any changes to make?"
Ashley did not answer and kept her gaze fixed at him. She had still not abandoned the thought of the question which ignited a curiosity in her.
What could he possibly get?
Perhaps, this was the answer Ashley could get only after three years. When the alliance would end and they no longer need to pretend.
Slowly, Ashley shook her head. "No."
Leaning back on the couch, Michael reminded what she had finished reading just a few minutes back. "We will get married in a month's time. In two days, we will go and meet my family."
"I know."
"Remember to pretend in front of them." He eyed a warning, "And pretend good." His family was not aware that the marriage was going to be a facade.
It was late afternoon when Ashley unlocked the door of her apartment.
Hanging the keys, she moved past her tiny living room to get to her bedroom. It was a small apartment, almost in the outskirts of the city since getting one in the midst of the city was too expensive.
Anyways, she had been living here for the past three years and surprisingly had a great time until recently.
The building where Ashley was living was rather outdated and in serious need of the renovation.
Despite that, it was her cocoon, her safe heaven.
It was a small apartment with a single bedroom, two washrooms, a cozy living room and a cute balcony. She had bought this apartment from the salary of her first job which were summed up with her savings of previous years.
Although the apartment was not that spacious, Ashley was still happy to have a small space, just of her, in this huge city.
Her blank gaze went to the ceiling as she slumped on her couch.
There was a hope crawling in her for all of this to be a dream. Because Ashley could not understand should she have a positive outlook towards this opportunity at hand or a negative.
Agreed that this could solve her biggest issue of loan but marriage...that too with Michael Clark, she did not know if it was a good idea.
Right at this moment, Ashley could feel how much deeply drained she was. It was as if the past twenty-four hours have entirely exhausted her mental and physical energy.