The game begins
Sofie’s POV
“Is there something on my face?” Roman’s voice caught me off guard, and yanked me out of my shameless daydream.
I hadn’t even realized that I was shamelessly ogling him.
What the fuck was wrong with me?
Crimson colored my cheeks in embarrassment as I shook my head, and looked away from him, “N-No.”
I felt his amused stare beside me as a chuckle exited his lips, “Okay, then. I will take your word for it.”He muttered.
I groaned inwardly as I scuffled further away from him, almost molding myself into the door.
Our arrangement hadn’t even started, and here I was about to blow our cover.
I could only hope I didn’t get too carried away by my lewd thoughts, so I wouldn’t ruin everything for Roman.
He’d definitely never forgive me if I did.
Sofie, you just have to zip your damn mouth shut and only talk when he asks you to, okay? I inwardly admonished myself as I climbed out of the car moments later.
“We will be back in about thirty minutes,” Roman said to Nathan who nodded curtly, “Yes, sir.”
I watched Roman walk in all his suave glory, and I had to force my gaze away from him to suppress the weird thoughts creeping into my mind.
And no, they weren’t lustful thoughts this time around, they were ridiculous thoughts.
Ridiculous thoughts about Roman falling for me, and making me his wife for real and not just for a goddamn contract.
Stop it, Sofie. Just fucking stop this because you are not the female lead in some mills and boon novel, this is your reality.
You are doing this to get enough money to go back to college, and get your own apartment not for love.
Sure, you may have had great sex with Roman that blew your mind but that was it.
He’s never going to love you, so you should just stop being delusional, I chastised myself inwardly.
I cleared my throat with the firm resolve to act professionally etched into my mind as we walked into an office.
A tall, formally dressed man who looked like he was the same age as Roman or maybe a little older was at the door with a smile curving his lips.
“Roman, my man.” He laughed heartily as he smacked Roman’s back.
Roman smiled.
The man fucking smiled! And it didn’t look forced, he looked like he was genuinely happy to see him.
“Damien, how has work been?”
“Well, like work. Come in properly, so you can introduce her to me.” Damien smiled in my direction which I returned as I felt my face heat up.
“Damien, this is Sofie and Sofie, meet Damien, a good friend of mine.” Roman said as we sat down on the sofa at the center of the large office
“It’s nice to meet you, Miss Sofie.” Damien smiled warmly at me.Original from NôvelDrama.Org.
I smiled back, “Same here, Mr Damien.”
“Actually, Damien. I am here for what I told you about over the phone yesterday.” Roman started.
Damen’s brows furrowed as he glanced at me, “I didn’t know you were being serious about it.”
“Well, I am.”
“You found one so soon. How did you do it?”
I fiddled with my fingers at the question as the memories of last night rushed into my head.
My cheeks flamed up when Roman threw a glance at me before he cleared his throat, “That’s a topic for another day. So, is the draft ready?”
“Yeah, it is. One second,” Damien rummaged through the files on his desk, “Aha! Here it is.” He handed Roman a piece of paperwork.
Without glancing through it, Roman gave it to me and I swallowed as I collected it and read through the terms which went thus;
Miss Sofie Diaz will be paid a sum of ten million dollars in total by Mr Roman Giovanni. Half of the money would be wired to her immediately the contract is signed and the remainder will be paid after the contract becomes null and void.
I paused to digest the first paragraph.
Ten million dollars? Just to lie about being his fiancée for three months?
That was some people’s net worth!
Roman had to be filthy rich.
Throughout the duration of the contract, Miss Sofie Diaz must stay faithful to Mr Roman Giovanni. She is not expected to have other men as that would tarnish Mr Giovanni’s reputation and the same thing also applies to Mr Giovanni.
Hmm. That was acceptable.
I didn’t even have a man to begin with.
As soon as this contract is signed, Miss Diaz is expected to move in with Mr Giovanni until the contract ends.
Passable. It wasn’t as if I had anywhere to go.
Now on to the last item,
There shall be little affectionate touches when needed between Mr Giovanni and Miss Diaz but there shall be no sexual relationship between them throughout the duration of the contract. The moment that happens, the contract will be declared null and void.
This was going to be so easy. I grinned from ear to ear.
I could keep my sexual urges to myself for three months.
I was sure of myself. After all, I had been a virgin for twenty three years.
Tsk.
Living with a sexy Greek god like Roman wasn’t going to tempt me one bit.
Or was it?
“I’m cool with the terms.” I said, handing the paperwork back to Roman who nodded and gave it back to Damien.
“That’s great. Now, you just have to sign here and here to make it legal.” Damien explained, sliding a binded copy of the contract and a pen toward me.
I nodded, my eyes scanning the contract again before I inscribed my signature on the allocated box.
Roman also did the same before Damien collected it and got up to place it in a drawer.
“Okay, so that is out of the way. Would you like some tea?” Damien offered, plopping down on the sofa.
Roman got up and I followed suit, “We still have some errands to run, man. I will see you soon. Thanks for everything.”
Damien stood up and they both shook hands and side hugged, “Alright then. Take care, Miss Sofie.” He beamed.
I mirrored his expression, “You too, thanks.”
Afterward, Roman and I silently headed back to the car.
I didn’t know what to say to fill the silence, so the car ride was also quiet but tense.
“We are heading home. I will have Nathan deliver some stuff you may need later.” Roman broke the silence.
“Okay.” I nodded as Nathan drove us into the sprawling expanse of an estate.
When Roman said home, I didn’t expect it to be a magnificent mansion.
I mean, I knew he was quite wealthy based on everything that had transpired between us but I was still shocked as I climbed out of the car.
It was a ginormous three storey building with huge door to ceiling windows. The mansion looked like a palace, and a villa at the same time.
A water fountain was situated upront the vast driveway coupled with aesthetically-cut landscape.
The mansion looked like it was straight out of a Harlequin novel.
I shook my head, amazed as we walked into the main house.
The mansion was luxury itself.
A formally dressed middle-aged man with two women who were also clad in corporate wears coupled with three younger women, and two men in identical uniforms flanking him.
They stared at me briefly before their gazes rested on Roman as they bowed to him.
“You came back early today, sir. Is there a problem?” The man asked.
“No. I came to drop her off.” Roman wrapped a strong arm around my waist which made me flush.
“I want you to meet my Fiancée, Sofie. From today onward, she is the madam of this household and anything she needs and wants should be provided to her, am I clear?” Roman said, to which the trio nodded obediently.
“Yes, sir.” They said in unison.
“Baby, I have to head over to the company now. Take care.” Roman said before pressing a kiss to my lips.
I flustered and nodded as he detached from me, “Okay. I will see you soon.”
He smiled before he motioned to Nathan, and they left.
“You are welcome, Miss Sofie. I am Antonio, the young master’s butler and this is Natalie.” The elder man gestured to the taller woman between the two suited-up women.
“I’m Melissa.” The other woman quipped, which got her a reproachful stare from Natalie.
I could taste the tension in the air.
“It’s nice to meet you all.” I quickly said and Natalie beamed at me.
“Melissa, set the table. Natalie will make some food for you and I will take you to the young master’s bedroom. I mean, your new room.” The butler said, to which I nodded as he led the way.
The interior of Roman’s house was like heaven on earth. From the exquisite parquetry on the floor down to the gold finishings of the furniture, everything looked opulent and fragile.
I moved carefully so as not to trip on anything and break it in the process as I followed Antonio down the long hall which had vintage photos plastered to its walls.
“Here we are.” The elderly man opened a door, and I gasped.
The room was huge.
It was probably the size of my parent’s entire house and it was minimally designed with grey, taupe and white furniture.
It really reflected Roman’s coldness.
“Thanks.” I said, to which he bowed and left.
I sat down gently on the bed with my hands placed on my laps as I looked around.
My phone then vibrated in my pocket which made my heart lurch.
With a hand cradling my chest, I swiped it open, and smiled.
My bank account had been credited with five million dollars just like Roman had promised, and now, the game of pretense had officially begun.