Contract marriage: My billionaire’s cure

“What is this?” I asked as Sarah distributed envelopes to everyone.

I leaned against the table and drank coffee while Sarah hopped around the office confusing everyone.

“Well okay people now open it” Sarah clapped her hands in excitement. I kept the coffee on the table and took a card out of the envelope.

I heard several gasps around me as my employees saw what I saw.

It was Sarah’s wedding invitation.

I gaped at Sarah in shock “Are you serious? When did Steve propose to you?”Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

“When you were in Brazil”

“It’s been months since I came back from Brazil. You hid it all along?” I kept my hands on my hips and asked with narrowed eyes.

“I wanted to surprise you all with my wedding card. The wedding will be held next month and all of you are invited to come with your families” Sarah stood on her heels and spun like a ballerina.

Several people clapped and cheered her. Sarah blushed like a tomato in embarrassment earning chuckles from us.

Anne nudged my shoulder and pointed at Sarah, realising what she was saying I nodded my head and we both sprinted towards Sarah. I engulfed her in a huge hug making her stumble back a few steps back.

“CONGRATS” We both shouted out loud and Sarah closed her ears with her hands and groaned.

“Oh my god my ears will bleed. Stop” Sarah chuckled and hugged us back. “Wait. I brought you all cake. Made by my honey”

“Steve bake cakes?” I asked surprised.

“No he doesn’t but your hubby helped him with it” Sarah winked at me and my jaw hung wide open in shock. “Marcus bake cake?”

Before I could go into fits of shock my phone started ringing. I check the caller ID and seeing it was Jake I quickly excused myself and walked over to the balcony.

“Guess what happened” Jake beamed through the phone, already warning me of something suspicious.

“I don’t know how to guess. Now tell me”

“I KISSED BLAIR” I had to take the phone away from my ears because he shouted so loud. I snorted loudly and started laughing like a maniac. He really loves to prove that he was better at relationship although he never dated before. So I didn’t believe a word he said at the moment.

“Don’t lie. I’m not gonna believe you. And if you actually kissed her, did she slap you?” I asked with a smirk on my lips.

“I’m not lying. Believe me in this. She kissed me back and why would she slap a handsome man like me?”

“As far as I remember she hit you with a helmet when you met for the first time” I chuckled and Jake huffed in annoyance.

“Nevermind. I’ll pick you up. Let’s go for a drink and celebrate”

“Nope. I got work to do and I rather spend my time with my husband than you”

“Ahh I totally forgot. You got beds to break” Jake snickered evilly, well knowing what happened in Brazil because the staff told him.

“Well you don’t even know how to do that. You are INEXPERIENCED” I shouted the last word and cut the call.

Jake tried calling me again but I blocked him. I had so much work to do today I decided to go home late. I texted Marcus saying I would be late and he sent me many crying emojis. I chuckled at his childishness and turned off the phone.

For the past few months we often shared intimate nights and that lead to Marcus naming his favourite book as kama sutra. I always teased him for it but wouldn’t deny the fact that I enjoyed every single part of it.

I was always excited to go home and cuddle in his arms. He was the most sweetest and the kindest person making it hard to believe that such a man existed in real life.

…

I checked the time and it was already 9 pm. Everyone left at 5 and I was the only one left in the building.

I took my hand bag and wore my trench coat before going out. I turned all the lights off and took the elevator down to the lobby.

I decided to text Marcus and say that I was coming home. As soon as I sent the text Marcus called me.

“I’ll come to pick you up”

“You don’t need to. I came in my car. It’s not that far so don’t worry”

“But-” Before he could say any further I cut him off.

“You told me that you would cook dinner tonight. Are you ditching it?” I said in an innocent tone trying to sound sad.

“What? No I already prepared dinner. Come home quickly. Drive safe”

“I will, now bye”

I walked out the entrance and greeted the two security men guarding the building. I took the steep lane following to the underground parking lot which now only has my car and the company’s cars.

My footsteps echoed through the empty floor, flickering lights left on the pathway just enough to see by. The walls shifted and creaked, looming an emptiness that never occurred before. Water droplets dripped from the ceiling in a rhythm, generating a melancholic melody.

The stillness of the parking lot sent shivers down my spine. I quickened my pace towards my car but all of a sudden I felt eyes on me. I came to a halt and looked around but it was dark to see anything.

A cold breeze brushed past me creating a hiss sound in my ear. I turned to my left and squinted my eyes but no one was there. I couldn’t help but feel that someone was watching me.

I took another step towards my car but then I saw a dark silhouette standing behind the pillar, staring at me through it’s white pupils. I gripped my hand bag and took a few steps back. But my legs gave out and I fell to the floor.

Tears started welling up as the figure walked from pillar to pillar, dragging a metal batten with him. My fingers trembled as his white teeth gleamed in the darkness showing no mercy. I scrambled back as I was too shocked to even scream.

I looked around for something but all of a sudden I felt a hand on my arm. I screamed and screamed, closing my eyes, refusing to see the stranger. Tears pooled down my cheeks fearing for what comes next.

“Camilla calm down. It’s Clara. Marcus’s sister”

I blinked my eyes to clear my vision and saw a pair of familiar green eyes. I quickly jumped into Clara’s arms and dragged her out of the parking lot.

“Camilla what’s wrong?”

I ran to the security and told them to check the parking lot. I quickly sprinted out into the light as waves of shock overlapped me.

“Camilla?” Clara asked in a more worried tone seeing my unusual behaviour.

“Please let’s go from here” I started sobbing as memories of the night in the penthouse came rushing back.

“Okay okay my car is over there”

Clara opened the passenger door and I quickly got in. She drove away from my office before starting to pester me with questions.

“What happened?”

“I don’t know umm… There was someone in the parking lot. Someone… dangerous”

“You should tell the police and Marcus-” I snapped my head at her and held her shoulder.

“No no please don’t tell him. I don’t want him to worry. I will inform the police but please don’t tell Marcus” I looked at her pleadingly and after thinking for some time she nodded her head hesitantly.

I released a sigh in relief and leaned back on the seat. “How did you find me?”

“I was passing by and saw you coming out of the building. So I got down and ran after you but then I saw you on the ground looking like you saw a ghost”

“Thank you for coming. I don’t know what I would do if you hadn’t come” I know if Clara wasn’t there I wouldn’t have been very much alive and talking like now.

Clara drove me to our house and I invited her in. I opened the door and Marcus was in the kitchen boiling something. As soon as he saw me his face beamed into a smile.

He dusted his hands on his pants and removed the apron from his neck.

“Hey Camilla-” He suddenly stopped as his eyes fell on Clara who walked behind me “Clara what are you doing here?” Marcus asked more in shock.

“We met and she gave me a ride” I said instead of Clara.

“What about your car?” Marcus asked me in confusion.

“Well I thought taking a ride from her because we haven’t talked in such a long time” Marcus looked at me hesitantly but decided to brush it off.

“Well then it’s great. Clara, come have dinner with us” Marcus pulled two chairs and we sat on it.

“So Clara how’s work?” I decided to bring up a normal conversation because I didn’t want my sister in law to think that I was a freak.

“It’s hard but I’m adapting” Clara said, giving me a small smile.

Marcus kept the dishes on the table and sat beside me. He first served us food and then served for himself.

“By the way I was gonna ask you, Marcus told me earlier that your second name is Rebecca. I really love that name so can I call you Rebecca?” I asked hopefully.

Clara smiled and nodded her head. “To be honest I like Rebecca better than Clara”

“Okay Rebecca” We both laughed and I glanced at Marcus but his eyes were covered with a strange emotion. I narrowed my eyes in confusion, asking him what it was but he shook his head and kissed my head.

“Well you know who’s the hottest among men?” Rebecca asked me teasingly.

“Who?”

“A man who cooks” She said pointing to Marcus and he held his chin up proudly.

I patted his arm and decided to bring down his pride. “Marcus if you keep cooking like this I’ll make you my personal slave”

But Marcus turned it into his own joke and leaned into my ear. “A sex slave?”

I gaped at him in horror and Rebecca started choking on her food. “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that”

After we ate dinner Rebecca left and I walked into the room to change. The emptiness of the room started taking a troll on me. What if the man comes here? Marcus was downstairs washing the dishes and I didn’t want to worry him by telling him to accompany me every where I go.

I was too immersed in my thoughts that I didn’t even realize two arms circling around my waist. I quickly jumped out of it’s embrace in shock and fell to the floor.

“Camilla?” Marcus knelt to the floor beside me looking equally shocked.

I looked up and realised the arms had belonged to Marcus. I was too shaken up that my mind refused to distinguish anything sane.

“What’s wrong?”

“N-nothing”

“It’s not nothing. You haven’t been the usual since you came home. Tell me what’s wrong” Marcus helped me stand up and sat me on the bed.

“Nothing-”

“Camilla” Marcus said in a more warning tone.

“It’s just that umm… I wasn’t feeling well these days”

“How so?”

“Just a few headaches because of all the stress” I lied because that was the best possible lie I could come up with.

Marcus knelt to the floor and started removing my heels. “Marcus what are you doing?”

“You are trembling”

“What?” I asked more to myself.

“I know you are lying”

“I’m not-” Marcus gave me a glare, warning me not to lie again. I gulped loudly as his eyes showed pure rage. “You can see through me?” Marcus nodded his head and kept my heels neatly against the wall.

“Will you tell me?”

“Will you tell me about your past?”

Marcus looked taken back as he stared at me through his piercing green eyes, pestering holes in my skull with his menacing glance.

He then stood up and walked to the closet and threw me a towel. “Go and take a wash now”

“You are avoiding my question” I asked him, unable to contain my curiosity.

“It’s sometimes better to avoid things”

I looked at him but he avoided my eyes. Sighing loudly I got up but suddenly stopped as I felt the real sickness I was having day and night.

Nauseousness.