Accepting the offer

The sound of the unfamiliar voice bristled Natasha's ire, causing her to turn around in annoyance. There stood a tall man, exuding masculinity, with dark hair neatly styled and wearing a tailored suit. His features displayed a sense of maturity.

The man took the seat next to her with a faint smile. "Who are you and why are you interrupting my drink?", Natasha snapped, fixing her gaze on him with razor-sharp intensity.

"You're clearly already drunk, Young lady," the man retorted.

"I'm not drunk. And I'd appreciate it if you'd stay out of my business," Natasha replied, taking a sip from her glass.

"I'd like to make you an offer", the man persisted.

"Oh, fantastic! You want to make an offer to a drunk person? please I'm not interested," Natasha bluntly rejected, growing increasingly irritated by his unwelcome intrusion.

The man smirked, fueling Natasha's frustration and anger. "And what's so amusing, Mr...?" Natasha asked with curiousity.

"I want to give you an opportunity that will change your life and take you away from this miserable state you're in," the man continued, his tone tinged with arrogance.

The man's words stung Natasha, feeling like a personal insult. "What makes you think you can change my life?" Natasha shot back.

"I have no doubt that I can. All you have to do is accept my proposal," the man retorted.

Exasperated, Natasha let out a sigh, growing tired of the conversation. "What offer is this that could magically change my life?" she asked, feeling a sense of scorn towards the man.

The man's smirk returned and he took a sip from his glass of whiskey. "Marry me, give me a son, and I'll give you anything you desire, including financial stability," he offered.

As his words hung in the air, Natasha burst into laughter, finding his proposition utterly ridiculous.

"Marry you? That has to be the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard," Natasha scoffed, unable to believe his audacity.

The man responded, exuding confidence as every word that left his lips dripped with arrogance and sophistication. "A contract marriage," he stated. "One that will benefit us both".

Natasha, taken aback by the proposition, questioned, "Wait, are you serious? How can you just walk up to a stranger and propose marriage?"

Despite the proposal for financial stability, Natasha remained hesitant. Even if she wanted to accept his proposal, she knew she couldn't bear a child.

As she stared blankly at him, her phone suddenly rang, interrupting the tense moment. It was her aunt. Natasha hastily excused herself to the restroom to take the call.

"Tasha, your mother! She had another seizure!" her aunt panted on the phone. "She's at the hospital, and they're demanding money before they can perform the operation"

Natasha's heart sank as she heard the news. How would she come up with the money at such short notice? Who could she turn to for help, especially since they were already in debt?

After hanging up with her aunt, Natasha's mood significantly worsened. She couldn't bring herself to call Mervick, the cheating scumbag.

With trembling hands, she made her way back to her seat. She paused in her tracks seeing the man from behind still seated and in that moment of desperation she considered accepting his proposal. She knew it would be fraud, as she wouldn't be able to give him what he wanted. But she was desperate for help, and this opportunity could not be wasted.

With resolve, she returned to her seat and grabbed her bag. "I accept," she forced herself to say. "I will marry you."

"Excellent. Come to my office tomorrow to sign the documents and receive your first payment. Here's my card," the man replied with a smirk, handing her his card.

Peering through his card, Natasha discovered that he was a formidable personality, the CEO of the most eminent corporation in the metropolis - Kensington Holdings.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Mr. Aiden Kensington," Natasha uttered, tucking the card into her handbag as she hastily departed for the hospital.

The following morning, Natasha rose early, making her way to Kensington Holdings to sign the contract and acquire the funds promptly for her mother's surgery. She had managed to make a modest deposit at the hospital the previous night, ensuring they would administer the necessary medications to quell her mother's seizures promising to gather the remaining funds today.

Ever since her mother's kidney stone diagnosis, Natasha's life had been thrown into disarray. With her father's passing when she was only ten, her mother was left to shoulder the responsibilities of caring for both of them. Natasha was determined to do whatever it takes to ensure her mother's recovery, even if that means resorting to deception.

Upon entering the sprawling office building, Natasha was promptly steered to Aiden's office by his secretary. As she entered, she glimpsed the man impeccably well-suited on glasses engrossed in perusing various documents at his desk.

"Welcome, Ms..." he hesitated before she interjected, "Natasha... Natasha Kings."

"Please, have a seat. I'll join you shortly," Aiden replied, gesturing towards the luxurious sofa.

With little time to spare, Natasha anxiously checked the clock and tapped her foot in anticipation.

Taking note of her restlessness, Aiden asked, "Do you have somewhere to be, Miss Kings?"

Taken aback, Natasha answered, "No...no."

Sensing her agitation, Aiden moved closer and took a seat on the sofa beside her, placing a document on the table for her to peruse and gain a better understanding of the contract.

Picking up the document, Natasha quickly scanned through it. The agreement was direct and to the point, evidently a marriage of convenience. After several minutes, she requested a pen.

"Wait a moment, to Miss Kings," Aiden interjected. "Are you satisfied with the terms? Have you thoroughly assessed the clauses?"

"Yes, I am to receive the remaining payment upon bearing an heir, and I must remain with the child for two years after the contract concludes," Natasha replied, swiftly scanning through the document once more.

Aiden smirked, passing her the pen. In a matter of seconds, Natasha signed the document and returned it to Aiden, who perused it and nodded in approval.

"Very well then, meet with my secretary and provide your account details. The funds will be immediately wired to you," Aiden instructed, taking the document from the table and returning to his seat.

As Natasha made her way out of Aiden's office, he halted her in her tracks.

"Oh, and one more thing. You are to move into my home within the next two days. We are, after all, married now," Aiden stated without glancing at her.

In a fit of frustration, Natasha flung open his door and stormed towards the secretary's office.

As she walked out of the secretary's office after the money had been wired to her, she locked eyes with a familiar figure walking towards her in the hallway.

Her heart skipped a beat as she recognized who it was - Mervick.