Contract marriage: My billionaire’s cure

I woke up the next morning to a familiar feeling of warmth.

Slowly I opened my eyes and saw a handsome man sleeping next to me.

My hand was lying on his chest and his wrapped around my waist. Our faces were only inches apart, a slight move and our lips would meet.

I stared at his perfectly carved face for a while untill realisation hit me. Suddenly I jerked away and sat up straight. Due to my sudden movement Marcus stirred and slowly opened his eyes.

His eyes wandered around the room and then they fell upon me. His eyes widened in shock and he quickly got of the bed.

He ran his fingers through his hair and groaned in frustration.

“No” He whispered.

“What? Nothing happened” I said in confusion.

“No” He shook his head looking down.

“Marcus-” I tried getting up but he stopped me.

“Get away from me”

“Marcus”

“I said get away from me” He yelled in fury and left the room, leaving me confused and heart broken.

My heart ached seeing how much he had changed overnight. It was just yesterday that he was laughing and having fun with me. Did I do something?

I quickly showered and went downstairs to talk with Marcus only to see him dressed and leaving the house.

“Marcus I need to talk to you

He glanced back with anger in his eyes.

“There’s nothing to talk about” With that he closed the door and left.

I rushed to the window and saw his car leaving, shattering my heart.

Why does he keep doing this?

Why are were always one step forward two steps backward?

I was pulled out of my grief as my phone rang. I took it out and it was Ally, currently my happy pill. The only person I feel like talking to.

“Hey Camilla wanna hang out?”

“Yes very badly”

Ally was hesitant before she replied.

“Wanna talk about it?”

“Um.. maybe, just come and pick me up” I didn’t feel like driving at the moment. I was afraid my mental breakdown would cause an accident.

I didn’t even feel like having breakfast so I slumped down on the couch and waited for Ally.

I saw her Porsche arriving after several minutes. “Hop in” She yelled and waved her hand, gesturing me to come.

As I got in she began bombarding me with questions. “So tell me. Trouble in paradise?”Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

“First take me somewhere where I can forget everything”

A small smirk appeared on her lips.

“Nope, not the bar. It’s still morning” I made a big cross from my hands and shook my head.

“Fine let’s go shopping” Ally chuckled and started the engine.

“What? Noooo I hate shopping” I started protesting but she didn’t listen.

It was her favorite hobby and one of the things that I hated the most. Ironically, even though I run a fashion designing company I don’t like to go shopping.

My company designs my own clothes so I don’t need to go shopping and select clothes from other brands.

“Please, pretty please”

“Fine then, let’s go to one of my shops” I suggested, earning a glare from her.

“You are so boring. What’s wrong with other brands?”

“I don’t want to shop in my rival companies”

“Damn you are so annoying. Fine fine let’s go to one of your shops. Show me where the biggest one is”

I told her the directions and after finally reaching it she parked her car right in front of the building.

I got out of the car and walked in. The security saw me and their eyes became big like bowling balls. Ally giggled and hooked her arm with mine. “I like when they do this. You are shit scary when you are in your empire”

She dragged me inside and one of my staff turned to greet us but seeing me her entire face paled.

She quickly ran to the reception and brought a tabloid. “Ma’am here is today’s sales-”

But I held my hand stopping her. “I didn’t come to check on the sales. I came here to shop”

The girl looked baffled by what I said. “You shop?”

“I can’t?”

She quickly looked down and pursed her lips, frightened. “I-i’m- sorry ma’am. I didn’t mean it”

Ally chuckled and wrapped her arm around my shoulder.”Big bad boss in town. Let’s go now or the poor girl would faint” She pushed me further into the store where the expensive dresses would be.

She tried out different dresses and asked for my opinion. I was bored to death but still continued to help her. I have seen all these dresses before it was put into the stores and now seeing them again made me loose interest in them.

As we went on shopping for more things I saw a group of girls giggling, trying out different scarfs. But specially one girl caught my eye.

It was Marcus’s half sister.

I stared at her for a while until her eyes met mine. She looked quite shocked but then she told something to her friends and came sprinting towards me.

“Hi” she waved her hand shyly.

“Um- hi” I waved my hand awkwardly.

“I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you that day. I even told you that I’m going on a date with Marcus. I’m really sorry and I hope you didn’t misunderstand” She gave me a small smile as if she was asking for my forgiveness.

She held her hand out for me to shake. I was surprised by her formalities but pleased nonetheless.

“I’m Clara, Marcus’s-” I cut her off before she could continue

“I know. His sister” Her eyes brightened as I said it.

“He told you that?” Her eyes were gleaming with happiness, much like mine whenever I see an ice cream truck.

“No. Madeline told me” I said awkwardly.

She looked down as if she was hurt. Suddenly I felt guilty for hurting her feelings. She seemed like a nice person and the only thing I dislike was her name because she shared it with my rival Clara Bolton. But nevertheless I shook the thought off.

“Anyways i’m so happy to see you. Hope we can me friends” A huge grin appeared on her face.

“Of course” I mirrored her reaction.

“Who’s this beauty?” Ally interrupted us as she came running down with a handful of dresses.

“This is Clara and she’s Marcus’s sister”

“Sister? That’s cool!” She clapped her hands. “Wanna hangout with us?”

“Sure”

We walked around my shop and much like Ally, Clara was also a shopping maniac. But I couldn’t enjoy the shopping since all my staff were looking at me as if a I was the devil.

To get their frightened looks out of my mind I decided to talk with Clara.

“So who are you living with? Marcus’s mom?”

Her eyes widened in shock but she quickly composed herself to a straight face.

“No- with my grandparents” she cleared her throat several times.

“What about your mom?” This was the only chance I had to get to know Marcus and I wasn’t going to back down easily.

“I don’t know her much. I moved in with my grandparents when I was just one year old.”

My brows furrowed in confusion.

“What about Marcus?”

Clara looked at me and her eyes begged me to stop asking any further. Even though I felt guilty, I kept going. If I wanted to understand him this was my only chance.

“He lived with our mom till he was eight. After she disappeared he went to live with his dad and I went to our mom’s parents”

“She disappeared?”

“Yeah, I don’t really know anything about it since I was very young. And my grandparents never really talk about her at home ” She fidgeted with her hands, feeling uncomfortable.

“So you have a good relationship with Marcus?” I asked, trying to lighten her mood

As expected she let out a huge breath in relief.

“Yes he comes to see me whenever he has time. He gives money to my grandparents since they are too old to work. He is a great brother” Her eyes were shinning with happiness as she talked about her brother.

It only made my heart ache more. Was it only me that he was treating this way? Why can’t he show me his caring side?

As I was questioning myself I saw a pair of angry eyes staring at me through the window.

Before I had a chance to react Marcus strode towards me, his body shaking with anger. His eyes never left mine until he stood directly in front of me.

He turned to Clara and even through his anger I saw his eyes softening.

“Clara! What are you doing with this woman?” He pointed at me.

“She’s your wif-”

” Fake wife, fake” he corrected her only worsening my heart ache.

Then without another glance he dragged Clara out of the store.