Asha
Today is my sister's wedding day and the day her husband will ditch her on the altar and run into my arms instead.
I stood at the back of the large hall, packed to the brim with socialites and influencers. Even paparazzi were here to witness her public humiliation. Good.
“I’m sorry, Amaya, but I cannot take you as my lawfully wedded wife.”
The silence that fell over the grand hall was palpable as he strode away from the altar, leaving Amaya, his bride, the sister I so much hated dumbfounded.
“Eduardo! What’s going on?” she demanded, tears brimming her eyes.
Hushed, confused whispers spread throughout the hall.
“You can’t leave me here, Eduaro!” She picked up her gown and followed him. “Eduardo!”
He turned back, his gaze deadpan.
“It’s not personal, Amaya,” he said coldly. “This is just necessary.”
“Necessary?! What do you mean—?”
Then her eyes caught me standing at the back of the hall, poised, a mocking smile on my lips.
The wedding was strictly by invitation, and she sure as hell hadn’t invited me.
“What are you doing here?” she hissed at me, her tone a low growl, making everyone instinctively turn to look.
Eduardo walked to my side and we linked arms. Her eyes blazed.
“He was mine, before you came in and took him away from me.” I declared.
I saw the harsh questioning stares from his brothers and the board of directors who were the ones who originally reinstated Amaya to be his wife.
It was his reputation versus a wedding to a woman he didn’t even like, and he chose the former.
The night before this sham of a wedding, me and Eduardo had “closure” sex and unknowingly to him I had it all taped.
I sent it to him early this morning.
Eduardo Carbone is the big shot CEO of the rising Carbone Industries. I blackmailed him with the video. Either I send it to the worst online gossip blogs which would create a scandal that would shatter his reputation or he humiliates her on the altar.
“You bitch!” she screeched.
A blur of white whizzed towards me. I I gave her a demeaning smirk.
“I’m sorry, Amaya. Truly, I am. It for sure doesn’t feel nice to be jilted at your wedding.”
But my tone wasn’t meant to comfort, it was meant to scorn.
Amaya made to slap me, but Eduardo caught her hand and threw it back.
“Get over yourself,” I mocked as shock rippled through her face. “I’m the woman he chose. The one you lost to.”
The fear that settled on her face satisfied me.
Eduardo was my five year boyfriend before Amaya seduced him away from me. She was always the kind to be hungry for power, so when she learned he was a CEO of one of the top organizations in Italy she's been conniving to get into his pants.
She managed a bitter laugh.
“You really think he’s going to settle with a pauper like you? That he’s gonna stay with a church rat like you?”
A devilish smile crossed my lips.
“He’s already with me. And indeed, he dumped an elegant lady like you for a church rat.”
Amaya was about to reply with a bitter remark when Eduardo finally decided that he had heard enough.
“You think that—”
“All right, Amaya.” He cut in harshly and grabbed my hand firmly. “We are done here.”
As he walked outside with me in tow, and Amaya's mouth hung open in disbelief, the crowd broke into an uproar.
— States Courthouse
His handsome features contorted into a stony glare that burned through me when I hesitated to sign the document.
“I’ve done my part of the deal,” he said emotionlessly. “It’s time for you to do yours.”
I told Eduardo to humiliate Amaya if not the sex tape would leak, but then I had troubles of my own.
Things took a drastic turn for the worst in my life when he left me 5 years ago. Now my mom was in the hospital and with the amount of debts she's racked up in my name and my own mounting bills,I was drowning and I needed a way out.
He was my way out.
“Asha!” His harsh voice snapped out of my reverie. “If you don't sign those papers I will go back and marry Amaya.”
“I will sign.” My hands shook across the paper. Eduardo was not all glitter. Years ago, he was cold, possessive and had all the toxic masculinity mom warned me about in men.
“The arrangement will be for three years, and after that, we both walk away.
I—as the newly installed CEO of Elysian Bank—and you, with all your accumulated debts paid in full.
During those three years, the marriage will remain platonic with no physical or romantic involvement.
We will both have separate living quarters.
There will be no need for you to work, as everything you need will be provided.
And most importantly, you will not have any romantic involvement outside the union.
I do not intend to share my wife with anyone.”
I felt the rules were too oppressive, but I signed the contract marriage anyway.
Three years was enough time to wreak havoc on the empire—his empire—that crushed my successful business and reduced me to a pauper.
I already had my plan laid out.
I stilled as Eduardo suddenly took my arm while we walked outside the courthouse.
“We have to make this look and feel real,” he whispered to me. “We have to pretend to love each other in front of my brothers and the board.”
Five years down the line we have both lost the feelings we had for each other. Now we were both caught in this power play. I didn't know what his reasons for deciding I should be a contract wife were, but I knew there were reasons.
As they stepped into the light, he kissed my forehead, and I looked up at him lovingly.
There was scattered applause from his other billionaire brothers and the board.
My phone buzzed in my bag. It was a message from Bryan, Amaya’s ex. We had both connived to make this happen.
Thank you. Was his simple message.
I smiled.
The pleasure is all mine.
