CHAPTER 6

Sarah exited Daniel's office, her head spinning with the weight of the proposal he had just offered her. A contract marriage, a deal with the devil himself. She had always known that her job as an investigative journalist would take her down some dark paths, but this was different. This was personal.

As she stepped out into the warm afternoon sun, she took a deep breath and tried to clear her mind. She knew that she had to give Daniel an answer within the next 24 hours, but she also knew that she couldn't just jump into this blindly. She needed time to think, to weigh the pros and cons of such an arrangement.

As she walked down the bustling New York City street, Sarah couldn't help but think about the potential implications of this deal. If she agreed to marry Daniel, she would gain access to all of his wealth and assets, which would be a huge boon for her upcoming article. But at what cost?

She knew that a contract marriage was not a real marriage, and that she would be essentially selling her soul to the devil in exchange for information. But the more she thought about it, the more she realized that she might not have any other choice.

As a journalist, Sarah had always struggled to make ends meet. She had taken on more than her fair share of underpaid gigs and had always lived paycheck to paycheck. But this story was different. This story had the potential to make her career, to launch her into the upper echelons of journalism.

As she walked back into her house, she couldn't help but feel that her life was about to change forever. 

Sarah knew that she needed to talk to someone about this, and the first person that came to mind was her best friend, Emily.

Without wasting any time, Sarah grabbed her phone and dialed Emily's number. 

She sat on her bed with her phone pressed against her ear, listening to the voice of her best friend Emily on the other end of the line. 

"You're joking, right? A marriage contract offer from the ruthless billionaire you're writing a story on? That sounds like something straight out of a cheesy romance novel," Emily exclaimed.

Sarah let out a deep sigh, "I wish I was joking. I couldn't believe it either when I first read the email. But it's real, Emily. He wants me to marry him for a year, and in return, he'll give me exclusive access to his life and his story."

Emily listened carefully, her eyes widening in surprise as Sarah recounted the details of the marriage proposal. "Wow," she said, "That's quite an offer. But what do you think you should do?"

Emily's voice was laced with concern as she asked, "Have you talked to anyone else about this? What does your editor think?"

"I haven't told my editor yet. I wanted to talk to you first. I don't know what to do, Emily. It's such a crazy proposition. But at the same time, this could be the biggest break of my career. And let's face it, the money he's offering is nothing to sneeze at," Sarah replied, her voice wavering.

Emily let out a long breath. "Okay, let's break this down. Do you want to marry this guy? Even for just a year?"

Sarah hesitated. "I don't know. I mean, he's not exactly the type of guy I've always dreamed of marrying. Considering my few times with him, he seems really rude and arrogant but there's something about him.

Sarah paused and then continued "And the idea of getting to know him better and writing his story is incredibly tempting."

Emily replied. "I see. And how do you feel about that?"

It's frustrating," Sarah said. "I mean, I understand that he's a billionaire and all, but that doesn't give him the right to treat people like they're beneath him. He talks down to the staff at his hotels, he interrupts people when they're speaking, and he's always bragging about his money."

That does sound pretty unpleasant," Emily said. "And do you think you could handle being around that all the time? Even for just a year?"

Sarah sighed, "I don't know. On the one hand, it could be the opportunity of a lifetime, but on the other hand, I'm not sure if I'm ready for something like this. And I only have 24 hours to make a decision."

Emily interrupted, "But what about your life, Sarah? What about your dreams and your goals? You can't just put everything on hold for a year and become someone's trophy wife. That's not who you are."

Sarah's heart sank as Emily spoke the truth. "I know you're right. But at the same time, I don't want to miss this opportunity. I still get to write my story and I don't want to regret not taking this chance. Besides, if I don't say yes, he'll just find someone else."

Emily sighed. "You have 24 hours to decide, right? Why don't you take some time to think about it, and then talk to your editor and see what he thinks. And most importantly, listen to your gut, Sarah. You'll make the right decision. I know you will."

Sarah nodded, feeling a sense of relief. "Thanks, Emily. I really needed to talk this out with someone. I'll let you know what I decide."

As she hung up the phone, Sarah felt a wave of uncertainty wash over her. She knew she needed to think long and hard about this decision, but deep down, she already knew what her answer was going to be.

She lay in bed, tossing and turning as she thought about the offer of the contract marriage. The idea was outrageous, but the thought of being with him, even if it was just for show, was tempting. She couldn't help but imagine what it would be like to be with him intimately. 

Her sexual fantasies ran wild as she imagined Daniel, tall and muscular, standing before her. He would sweep her off her feet and carry her to the bed, where they would make love passionately. She would feel his strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer, as she moaned with pleasure. 

As she thought about her sexual fantasies with Daniel, she realized she couldn't sleep. She was too excited, too aroused by the idea of being with him. She decided to get up and take a walk outside, hoping the fresh air would clear her head.

As she walked down the street, she couldn't help but think about the offer of the contract marriage. Was it worth it? Was the fantasy of being with Daniel enough to make her go through with it? She knew she had to make a decision soon, but for now, she was content to enjoy the warm summer breeze on her skin and let her mind wander.

Eventually, she made her way back home, feeling more relaxed than she had in days. She climbed back into bed, her thoughts still focused on him and their potential contract marriage. 

As she drifted off to sleep, she knew that she would have to make a decision soon, but for now, she was content to dream of the sexual fantasies that had been occupying her mind all night.