Serena’s POV:

“I do,” I muttered, my face expressionless. I found it difficult to look at the face of my boss who was now my husband.

The request for the impromptu wedding came to me as a shock, but I loved the benefits that came with it.

I had made up my mind to do anything to save my sick father who had sacrificed so much for me. He was my only family and the only parent I knew as my mum left us after we lost our only property in a fire accident when I was five.

I also needed an upgrade in my life, my income could barely sustain myself, and my father neither could it bring me out of debt. Things had been very rough for me as an adult and I often wondered what good opportunities could come my way as a college dropout.

Soon I would be referred to as Serena Hayes and would have to pretend to be happy and in love until this contract expired. This is not the kind of life I planned for myself, but they say desperate times call for desperate measures, right?

I only hoped to be able to find love after the expiration of the contract, at least by then I would no longer be tagged poor, and my dad would be in better health.

Adrian’s height covered my whole length. No doubt he was the tall, handsome, and very wealthy CEO every woman dreamt of having by their side. His grey oceanic eyes shone as he raised my veil and planted a soft kiss on my lips. Strangely, that sent shivers down my spine.

Could that be love?

Well, not the kind of love I dreamt of as a teenager. True love I believe is more than beautiful looks and appearances and is not built on contracts and lies.

Having worked for Mr. Adrian Hayes for a while now, I was certain he wasn’t the kind of man I could fall in love with. He was the rudest man I had ever met, with zero regard for anyone. He was very stubborn and had a mind of his own. I wondered how he related with his staff at the office because he brought hell on me every day I was present to work at his mansion.

I quickly broke out of my thoughts and gazed at the men and women seated on the chairs in the gathering. Smiles were plastered on their faces, but not mine.

Soon enough, we were at the entrance of the church with our friends and well-wishers who struggled for a spot and picture with the latest couple in town. Adrian’s family and colleagues from his workplace were present to support him, and Laura my best friend was also present to support me.

My beloved father, who had been battling with Coronary Heart Disease could not attend as he was already receiving treatment in one of the best hospitals. The very moment the contract was signed, Adrian transferred a huge sum of money to cater for my Dad’s treatment. The thought of that made me wear a little smile.

We headed to the reception venue which was not far from the church, and a few hours later the event came to an end. Nathan, Adrian's driver pulled up in the large compound and we hopped in the backseat as he drove out, guests and well-wishers waved happily at us.

After a while of driving, he pulled up at the front of the big, beautiful compound. The gate was locked, but the honk of the car's horn caused the gardener who worked from inside to open up.

Nathan parked in the lot and headed to the back door to help the CEO out like he always did. Somehow, I expected him to also assist me with the door but he didn't. Well, what was I even thinking, he still saw me as the maid of the house, but soon he would realize I was now his boss’s wife.

Adrian walked ahead of me, while I followed him behind. Before I could get inside the living room, the door was shut in my face.

“What?” I exclaimed quietly. Was it not too early for him to resume this crazy attitude of his?

I opened the door and quietly walked in, hiding the dissatisfaction I felt. As I headed to my room, I heard my name.

“Serena !”

“Get your stuff out of my room,” Adrian commanded and I nodded as I rushed into the master bedroom to retrieve a few of my clothes. It was his idea that I got dressed in his room earlier that day, while the photographer took pictures of me in my wedding attire.

“Pack your bags from the room you occupy and meet me here.”

I didn’t know his plans but I dared not question him. I quickly changed into my maid uniform, packed my bags, and met him in the living room.

He was already in his nightwear. With the water dripping from his head, I knew he had taken a bath.

“Sir, I have done as you asked me to,” I said, with my hands behind me.

“Good, I see you’re back in your uniform. It shows you understand your position whenever we’re in this house. “Come with me.” He instructed, headed to the door of one of the rooms in the house.

“This will be your new room.”

“Okay Sir, thank you, I don't take this for granted,” I said to him as he turned to walk away.

“You may take it for granted if you deem it fit,” Adrian, with a straight face, declared. “I’m only trying to keep to my part of the contract by making you more comfortable. You have done something to get this in return, haven't you?”

“I have,” I said, nodding my head.

I kept my bags inside and rushed out to meet him.

“Would you love to have anything before going to bed Sir?”

“A mug of black tea would do.”

I served him for a short while and headed back to my new room.

The space of the room was better than the one I always stayed in whenever I slept over at Adrian’s house.

As my eyes scanned the room, I remembered the night I pleaded with Mr. Adrian to pay me my salary upfront as I needed to urgently buy some medications for my sick dad. I had summoned so much courage to make that request even though I wasn’t expecting a positive response. He looked very worried a few days before that day, but I couldn’t ask him what the problem was as I wasn’t expected to know more than he told me when it came to his personal affairs.

He dismissed me angrily, saying he didn’t run a charity organization, but to my surprise, he came back from work the next day and offered to take care of my father and pay me a huge sum of money if I could also be of help to him.

He wanted to save his seat in his father’s finance company as CEO, and to do that he needed to be married with a child at least within three years of occupying that position.

I wasn’t cool with the fact that I had to get pregnant and bear a child for him while married on contract, but he managed to convince me we could get a divorce when the child was three years old and I could go back to being single again. The money he offered was huge, and I sure needed my dad to receive urgent medical attention, as well as save up enough money to go back to college and also change my life completely for good. I quickly accepted the offer before he changed his mind. After all, it was an honor for a poor girl like me to have a child for one of the wealthiest men in the City, or so I thought.

As I lay down to have some rest, I imagined how my life would turn out for the next three years. I had signed the contract and received part of the money I was promised, I had to play my part religiously.