My contract love story

“I feel we should talk about the living arrangements. After you left the office with your aunt yesterday I made some arrangements” he started the conversation, and Ashleigh looked at him keenly.

“Aunt I have arranged for a penthouse for you, it is not too far from where we will stay so she can come and visit you at any time” Ashleigh frowned, looking to her aunt who looked pleased at the arrangements but was hesitant.

“Adrian I feel this is not necessary, I am supposed to give you both a gift instead” she refused gently but Adrian was firm in his stance.

“Aunt I feel this is very trivial compared to the gift you have given me. Besides, I will be assured of your well-being if you stay in the place I have arranged for you. It is much more safer” Mrs Smith knew she eventually had to give in so she nodded calmly, thanking him.

Ashleigh on the other hand was petrified at the thought of staying with him and immediately raised her objection.

“I do not wish to stay with you in the same living space. You have acquired a penthouse for my aunt and I feel that will be okay for both of us. Moreover the contract does not state that we have to live with each other in the period that this marriage stands” she stated sourly, causing the edge of his lips to curl up slightly.

He had been facing her aunt for the time being but feeling her glare on him he turned to see her deep frown, she was already making things difficult for him at the start of their relationship.

“You see Mrs Cagliari, I don’t want to run around the whole city looking for you every once in a while for the next few months, so it’s best you are where my sight is for close supervision. Also, part of the many terms that my lawyer didn’t read is that living arrangements will be decided by me and are non- negotiable. Any further questions?” He finished, leaving no room for objection and Ashleigh was crestfallen.

Mrs Smith who couldn’t see her niece so upset spoke up in her favour.

“Of course you’re right Adrian, she has to stay with you so you can be aware of her whereabouts at all times but Ashleigh is a bit hesitant at the moment as the only person she has lived so closely with is myself. I would like to ask that she stays for a week with me at the penthouse, she will be ready to move in by the weekend” she pleaded and Ashleigh stared at him furtively, doubtful of whether he would agree.

“Mrs Smith, I am only doing this for you. Ashleigh will stay with you for the week but early Saturday morning she will be picked up with her things. We will be having dinner in the middle of the week also, details will be relayed to her. One more thing Ashleigh” he directed his cold gaze to her.

“No matter what the circumstances have been, I believe you are a mature adult who has willingly undergone this agreement, for whatever reasons compelled you to. This is not a romantic relationship in any way but for the mutual benefit of both of us, you more than I. For this reason, you need to grow up and stop whining and bickering, it will only make things worse for you as I am your benefactor….. you don’t want to anger me” he had a very grim look on his face, standing up to leave the room.

“Enjoy your meal, I have other things to attend to” Adrian paid no regard to both of them anymore, closing the door behind him.

Ashleigh’s eyes were fixed to the door, burning holes in them as that was the only thing she could do.

The meal eventually came and was delectable, with a wide variety of dishes to choose from, but each one she ate was just as an obligation to fill her stomach and left a sour taste in her mouth. The words he said echoed again and again in her ears, the frosty look in his fox-shaped eyes, the slight stubble framing his chiselled jaw as he uttered the words that stabbed at her ego. She had developed a strong dislike for Mr Adrian and had tried to dissuade herself from it before, but now it was settled in her heart.

In the following days Ashleigh and her aunt settled down in the penthouse arranged by Mr Cagliari and were getting used to the changes around them.

For one, the penthouse he arranged was five times larger than where they stayed, it was a beautifully schemed place that was already furnished by Mr Cagliari’s interior designers with orders to do as they directed if there was any changes they wanted to make. Of course there was nothing they wanted to change, there was more things that they had to learn how to use from the butler.

Yes, a butler. He was already here on the day of Ashleigh and Adrian’s marriage arranging the apartment and sorting out the things that were brought from their former apartment. Mr. Atkinson is Mr Cagliari’s butler who is in charge of overseeing his affairs in the United States, he selected despite his family’s various attempts of sending butlers to him from Italy for the sole reason of keeping them out his private matters.

He wanted someone with no connections whatsoever to his family in Italy and the selection process was rigorous, till he met Atkinson. Atkinson has been his butler for seven years now and so far Adrian has no complaints. He was an elderly man who looked healthy for his age ; he was of average height with a round body making him look chubby, his face is quite aged, his head has a bald spot in the centre with grey hairs framing the places around it, and was professionally dressed at all times.

Atkinson has been kind enough to let them know how things worked in the house, ensure the hired staff work accordingly and maintain the house effectively. This left Mrs Smith and Ashleigh with not much to do but relax and discuss.

There was also an assigned car and drivers to each of them. Ashleigh’s car was more luxurious than her aunt’s, it made her slightly uncomfortable for her to go to work, as they would want to park up front and each time she would have to direct them to drive to the underground parking lot. There was also a change in her wardrobe, most of her clothes were taken out and replaced by various luxurious items from designer brands by a personal shopping assistant assigned to her.