Chapter 4 The Contract Wife
Alexander's POV
I stared through the floor to ceiling window of my office. Kyoto glittered beneath the afternoon sun, yet my thoughts remained on one person. Jessica Addams. The woman had walked into a restaurant, proposed a contract marriage, mentioned a name almost no one knew, and walked away as if she had already won. A knock interrupted my thoughts. “Come in.”
Derek entered carrying a tablet. “You asked me to investigate Jessica Addams.”
I turned around. “What did you find?”
“I found out she is twenty three years old, jewelry designer. Recently promoted to head of jewelry design and technology,” He said.
I nodded. “Continue.”
“Only child of the late Mr and Mrs Addams,” Derek added.
“And what else?,” I asked.
“Two years in a relationship with Jerry Lawson.” I remained silent. “But yesterday, Mr Lawson ended the relationship after obtaining control of her late parents inheritance.”
“So she wasn't lying,” I muttered. Derek shook his head. “What about Lumiere?”
Derek hesitated. “Nothing.”
I frowned. “Nothing?”
“Yes, there isn't a single connection between Jessica Addams and Lumiere,” he replied.
“That is impossible,” I said, not convinced.
“I thought the same.”
I walked back to my desk. “ So what else did you find?”
Then Derek placed another file before me.”There are missing records.”
Immediately i looked up. “Missing?”
“Yes. Five years ago.” He said, as his eyes narrowed. “For almost eleven months, there is no employment history, no public activity, competition or even interviews. It's as if…she disappeared.”
Silence filled the office.
I tapped the file thoughtfully. “People don't disappear without a reason.” Derek nodded in agreement. “Exactly.”
I closed the file. “Call her.”
Jessica's POV
I was reviewing a necklace sketch when my phone vibrated. I checked, an unfamiliar number. I answered cautiously. “Hello?”
“This is Alexander Knight.”
I straightened immediately. “Mr Knight.”
“I have considered your proposal,” he said.
“And?,” I asked quickly.
“Meet me in one hour's time.”
“Where?” I asked again.
“I will send the address,” he said and the line disconnected.
I stared at the phone before a small smile appeared on my lips. “I knew you'd call.”
One hour later
I stepped into the private lounge of the Knight Group headquarters. Alexander was already waiting. He gestured toward the chair opposite him. “Sit.”
I obeyed. Without a word, he slid a document across the table. I glanced at the title, contract marriage agreement. I looked up. “So…you have decided.”
“I have decided to negotiate,” he said.
The corner of my lips lifted slightly. “I expected nothing less.”
Alexander folded his hands. “One year, no interference in each other's professional lives.”
I nodded.” I agree.”
“Also, no unnecessary media exposure. And if either party develops personal feeling…” I raised an eyebrow. “...they do not affect the contract,” he added.
I almost laughed. “That's very confident of you.”
“No, it's called being practical,” he said, voice low and lethal.
“I can be practical too,” I said.
He watched me carefully. “You will move into the Knight Estate.”
I paused. “Is that even necessary?”
“Yes, it is. Because people will surely investigate,” he said.
“Alright then,” I agreed.
“My family will believe this marriage is real,” he whispered.
Silence stretched between us, before Alexander finally asked the question that has been bothering him. “Why did you mention Lumiere?”
I smiled faintly.” Like i told you before, I know something.”
“That is not an answer,” he muttered.
“It isn't supposed to be.”
He studied me for several seconds before standing. “We are done.”
I blinked in surprise. “That is it?”
“For now, yes,” he answered, picking up his car keys.
“We still need rings,” I said, following him outside.
Fifteen minutes later…
His black Rolls-Royce stopped before one of Kyoto's most luxurious jewelry boutiques. A manager hurried outside. “Welcome, Mr Knight.”
Alexander nodded. “Wedding rings.”
“Right this way, sir,” the manager said, leading the way.
I quietly followed. A velvet tray was placed before us, which contained diamonds, gold, platinum. Each one probably worth more than everything i currently owned.
Alexander barely glanced at them. “You choose.”
I shook my head. “Something simple is fine.”
“I don't do simple.”
“That's not necessary __”
“It is,” he cut in. His tone wasn't loud, But it wasn't negotiable either. I went silent.
Then my eyes settled on a simple platinum ring, before I could speak, another design caught my attention. My breathing stopped.
It was one of my creations, one I had sketched years ago. Displayed under another designer's name. Alexander noticed my expression. “You don't like it?”
I forced myself to smile. “No…” As i gently picked up the ring. “It just feels…familiar.”
“Try it,”he said. I slipped it onto my finger.
“Perfect fit, price?”, he asked.
“Three point five million yuan, sir.”
I moved to remove it immediately. “I.. this is too__”
“Leave it,” he said. Then he handed over a black card. Just like that, paid. No hesitation. No reaction.
We stepped outside, I stared at the ring. “...Do i pay you back?” I asked quietly.
“No,” he replied.
“But it's too expensive.”
“And so?”
“I don't want to owe you.” Then he looked at me properly, “You already do.”
I froze.
Back in the car, I kept staring at my hand, at the ring. But little did Alexander know…I wasn't admiring someone else's masterpiece. I was looking at my own.
