Thea Garcia’s POV

The wedding was done. Everyone already went home. And here I am in my husband’s mansion unpacking my things alone in my bedroom.

Tonight is not going to be the usual wedding night every couple was excited about. Nothing special. Nothing extraordinary. As in nothing will ever happen. It will only just be me alone in my bed.

I already saw this coming. Because my husband and I weren’t married out of love. It was far from that.

We married each other not because we’re so madly in love that we can’t live without one another. No, it wasn’t that typical kind of story.

But it was a business purpose marriage. We married each other because both of our companies will benefit from this union.

In the business world, marriage is viewed as a business proposal. A deal. They used it as an instrument to get what they want –money and power.

And in our case, it was also the same. Both of our families needed this union so that, the two companies will get bigger. Which for them means more money and stronger power.

The Hidalgo’s and the Garcia’s were known to be some of the most influential household names in the business industry. Now that the two companies emerged, they became the most powerful alliance in the business world.

That’s why this union is very important to them. More important that they didn’t even consider thinking what damage it will do to the people inside of this marriage–especially to me, the only one who’s hoping for this marriage to work.

Even if there’s a zero possibility that it will.

I was lost in reverie and didn’t realize that someone is knocking slightly at my door until that someone spoke out of nowhere.

“Good evening, lady Thea, young Mr. Hidalgo wishes to see you in his office.” Rosetta, the head maid of the Hidalgo household said while peeking at the door.

“Okay, tell him I’ll be there. Thank you.” I answered her then she went out of the room.

After finishing unpacking my things, I went out of the room and headed to his office. Good thing that I found it immediately because if not, I’ll probably be lost in this huge mansion.

Once I’m standing in front of his door, I knocked twice and when no one answered, I decided to open the door and went inside.

His office is quite spacious. It looks more like an office inside a company building rather than an office at home.

The interior design of his office was simple yet classic. It has a color theme of black and navy blue on which it exudes a manly vibe.

Looks like he wasn’t here yet. Because I noticed that no one is inside of this room except me.

While waiting for him, I decided to roam my eyes around his office for further inspection. The stock of files was in perfect arrangement on his table, an open laptop with a desktop wallpaper of him and my sister lovingly staring at each other, and walls decorated with different pictures in frames and some nicely done paintings.

“Good thing, you’re already here.” Someone said from behind me. Not looking back, I already knew exactly who it was.

“Yeah, Rosetta said you’re looking for me. So, what is this about?” I asked and decided to turn around to look at him properly.

And there he is, standing a few feet away from me looking like a greek god straight out from Olympus.

Seriously? How can someone look so strikingly beautiful without even trying?

And I hate it. I hate that he’s causing my heart to double its beat so effortlessly by just standing there. Making it even harder for me to accept the fact that I will never give him the same effect because his heart is already beating a thousand times for someone else.

“Hey, are you even listening?” He asked with eyebrows creased.

“I’m sorry. What was it again?” I asked back. Forgetting to pay attention to what he was saying.

“I said take a sit so we could start talking.” And I did take a seat in front of him. So that we could start talking and get this over with.

“Well, I won’t make this any longer since we’re both tired from today’s event. But regarding our setup, I want us to be clear. I want you to know that I have made certain terms and conditions regarding our arrangement. And in this file, is where you’ll find all of it.” He said then placed a folder in front of me.

Opening the folder, I started reading its content. While doing so, I realized something. And that is he already thought all of this through. He made sure that what we have is purely business and nothing else.

‘He’s not a multi-billionaire businessman for nothing, huh?’ I said to myself.

Maybe this is the reason why he became the youngest multi-billionaire businessman. Because he’s exceptionally intelligent. The same reason why he’s sought-after by every businessman around the world.

“So, you’re serious about introducing my sister to the public instead of me.” I said as I read the last statement of the terms and conditions.

“Yeah. Because that’s the price I want you to pay for marrying me. I have told you before, you may have my surname but you can never replace your sister in my life. And I intend to keep it that way even if I have to keep you hidden and away from the public eyes.”

“Sure. I’m fine with it. Is there anything else you might want to add?”

Acting tough now, are we? But until when? Until when are you going to endure all of this, Thea?’ I asked myself.

‘Seriously, I don’t know. Maybe, until this heart of mine stops beating for him.’ I answered back to myself.

“Yeah. And one more thing, a week from now, your sister will be living with us, as well. She’ll act as my real wife. We’ll do the things married couples usually does. While you would remain only as my wife in papers.”

“Okay, I understand. Since we’re married for a business purpose, I think it’s only good that we’ll do this marriage in a business setting as well.”

“Are you sure you understand my set of terms and conditions? Remember, Ms. Garcia, once you signed, you’re no longer allowed to back out. And once you broke any of those terms and conditions, our marriage will become null and void and Hidalgo Group of Companies will pull out its investments in Garcia Industries. You wouldn’t want that to happen right?” He said it with a smirk.

Looks like he’s liking this arrangement. He’s enjoying the power he has over me. Well, since I’m already stuck in this arranged marriage, I might as well do my best not to give him the satisfaction to win this thing.

“Yeah, I know. So, it’s a deal, then. It was nice doing business with you, Mr. Xavier Pierce Hidalgo.” I said as I signed the contract on the last page of the file.

“It was also nice doing business with you, Ms. Althea Angeline Garcia.” He said while also doing the same thing as I did.

In the end, we shook each other’s hands as a sign of closing the deal.

And right then and there, I knew exactly that I would be living my life in complete misery as ‘The Billionaire’s Hidden Legal Wife.’