**Nicole's POV**
I stared at him, eyes widened in shock and legs trembling that could barely keep me standing. I almost fell, but he held me by the waist and made me sit down.
“You need to be careful, sweetie. I don't want my wife to get hurt.” He winked and I blinked.
Was it too late to turn back the hands of time? My heart ached that I had proposed to a whole Easton, Ferdinand. The ruthless and wealthiest CEO to ever scale high in the fashion and modeling industry.
His company, E. F Entertainment, was the home of fashion and modeling. It was a big industry and many models dreamed of being there. Even though I had wished to be there one day, getting there was hard because he was a tough nut to crack. I heard he gives jobs based on performances, and it has to be live, and he's watching.
I looked at him again and our eyes met, causing me to quickly lower my gaze in embarrassment. “I'm sorry, Mr. Easton. I had no idea…” I trailed off and heard him snicker.
I turned to face mum and she stood speechless. She still hadn't recovered from the shock.
“I have no problems with you, Miss. Nicole. All I want you to do is take responsibility for your actions.” He crossed his legs.
“I'm sorry. We could go to the court and get a divorce—”
“No,” He cut me off, and I stared at him. If he doesn't want a divorce, then how do I escape from this hell hole I've put myself? “I don't want a divorce. It wouldn't be good for my name, Miss Nicole. What do you want people to say? That I got married today and divorced tomorrow? Do you know who I am? Do you know how much that can affect me?” He asked and I sighed.
“I'm sorry. I didn't think of that. What do you want us to do then? You don't want a divorce because you want to protect your image. I would rather not get married to you because I was drunk when I made that stupid mistake, so what do you want me to do to fix this mess?” I asked.
He stood from where he sat and walked to me, then bent to my level. His lips curved upwards, and I could see a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. Ignoring my mother's presence, he used his index finger to lift my chin, then smiled. “Be my wife.”
“What!” I exclaimed, and he went back to where he was seated.
“Why are you surprised? You were the one that proposed to me, Wifey. Take responsibility,” He smiled and pushed the contract to me. “Go through it and tell me what you think.” He ordered.
With shaky hands, I took the contract papers and stared at mum. Mum urged me to check and when I did, my eyes widened.
“50 million dollars!” I exclaimed. “What's the meaning of this? This isn't the contract you dropped yesterday.” I snapped.
“I changed my mind.” He answered nonchalantly.
“Just because you call the shots here doesn't mean you do what you like. What are you talking about here? I should act like your wife for as long as you want, then you'll pay me 50 million dollars? Did I tell you I needed money?” I yelled and Mum cleared her throat.
He sat there unfazed by my outbursts. He sipped his wine casually, dropped the glass cup and looked at me. “I don't like when people work for free, Miss. Nicole. You proposed to me, and I'm offering you freedom after I've achieved what I married you for. Where did I go wrong? Haven't you read the terms and conditions? Or are you ready to pay the rejection fee?” He asked and I sighed.
The rejection fee was three times the amount he's going to pay me. Where the heck would I get such a huge amount of money from?
I didn't answer him and went to where mum stood. “Mum, I don't want to do this.” I whined.
“We have no choice, sweetie. We can't afford the money and since he has mentioned not to touch you and the fact that you can visit me whenever you feel like it, I think it's fine. Also, it's a confidential thing, so you can still pursue your career and get revenge on those scumbags!” She snapped.
I sat for a while as I thought of what she said. I might also need that 50 million dollars to get back on my feet after the expiration of the contract. After much contemplation, I walked back to where I sat.
“Fine. I'll do it, but we must respect the terms and conditions. Disobeying attracts additional charges.” I explained.
“I can afford that. You should be worried about yourself because you might go bankrupt.” He blurted out.
“So arrogant!” I muttered to myself.
He signed the contract, and shifted it to me. I did the same, and tears rolled down my cheeks. He saw my tears but said nothing and stood up.
“Pack your things. I'm taking you with me.” He ordered and my eyes widened.
“Now? Aren't you at least going to give me a chance to tell my mom goodbye? Besides, I haven't gotten my stuff ready.” I complained.
“Do you think I'd allow you to bring any of your things to my house?” He scoffed. “Those things are old-fashioned. What you should know is that from today, you're Mrs. Nicole Ferdinand. A Ferdinand does not dress in outdated clothes.” He looked at me, his face contorted into a frown.
“But I have some important clothes I just can't throw away.” I argued.
“Was there food in my mouth when I told you not to take anything?” He asked and I pursed my lips. He smiled at my mother. “It's nice to see you, mother-in-law. I'll give you a few minutes to spend some time with your daughter. Use it wisely.” He clicked his tongue and walked out.
I burst into tears and my mother rushed to me. She engulfed me in a hug and cried too. “I'm sorry, Nicole. I'm sorry you have to experience this.” She patted my back.
I said nothing and cried on her shoulder. When we were done, she placed her hands on my shoulders. “You have to be careful, okay? Don't let him take advantage of you. He might be an overbearing person, but you have to be strong, like the daughter I know. It'll be over before you know it.” Mother hugged me and I nodded.
“I'm sorry, mum.” I whispered and she kissed my hair.
“Times up!” We heard him yell from outside, and I hugged mum once more.
“I'll miss you.” I forced a smile.
“I'll miss you more, sweetie.” She held my hand and led me out.
After our final hug, the car door opened for me and I entered. The chauffeur started driving and tears rolled down my cheeks as I pictured the new life ahead of me.
The life of Easton Ferdinand's wife.
A life as Mrs. Ferdinand.
**Nicole's POV**The drive to his house was taking too long, and it was becoming boring staying inside the car and doing nothing. I turned to look at Easton, but he had a straight expression as he looked ahead.I sighed and tucked a strand of hair behind my ears. This wasn't how I pictured my life to be at all. I was supposed to be on my own, planning my revenge against those dimwits, but here I am, going to live in someone else's house as his wife. No one needs to tell me what can happen if this goes into the news.They'd probably say I seduced him and wanted to use his money to make a comeback.“Aren't we there yet?” I asked him.All I wanted right now was a place to rest my head and get rid of all these thoughts twirling in my head.Easton turned to look at me, his gaze softening. “What? Are you that excited to see where I live, wifey?” He asked and I became annoyed.“Stop calling me your wife, Mr. Easton.” I replied formally, but he shrugged and looked away from me.“You're my wif
**Easton's POV**“Is she comfortable?” I asked Steve after he returned from Nicole's room.“She doesn't look happy, Easton. She keeps screaming and saying she wants out of here,” He replied, and I sighed, running my hands through my hair. “Can you tell me how you got the famous Nicole Brennan to become your wife?” He asked.“Let's just say we met coincidentally. She was drunk, I was in search of a bride, she proposed to me, I accepted and… here we are.” I narrated to him, and he chuckled, causing me to smile.Apart from Maven, Steve was the only person I could really open up to. He took care of me right from when I was a teenager. He has been my butler from when I was a kid, and whenever I went through a lot and asked him to find his way out of my life, so he wouldn't get hurt, he would always choose to stick with me. We've been through a lot together, and he knew my pains and how to help me manage them. He was like a father figure to me because he did things which my father refused t
THE NEXT MORNING **Nicole's POV**I was all dressed up and stepped out of my room, looked left and right and was about to alight the stairs.“Going somewhere?” I stopped in my tracks and turned to see the annoying jerk leaning on his door frame and looking at me with a bemused expression on his face. I cleared my throat.“Yes. Is something wrong with that?” I frowned with my arms folded.He sighed and walked to where I stood. “Last time I checked, we're married and etiquette demands that you greet your husband when you wake up in the morning, serve him breakfast, give him a peck on the cheek before going to wherever you want to go.” He uttered, his gaze on me intimidating like a mother who had just caught her child stealing candy.I composed myself and looked into his eyes. “I don't remember getting married to you to become your maid or a wife material. Besides, none of what you just mentioned is stated in the contract, so please allow me do my thing. Mind your business and I'll gla
9.**Easton's POV**Immediately those words left my mouth, she puffed up her face and glared at me angrily. I have to admit, she looked cute whenever she was frowning like that.“What did you just say?” She asked, daring me to say it again. Before my mother died, she always told me that, never tell a woman she didn't know how to cook. According to her, it makes them furious, but how can one resist doing it when a certain woman is fun to watch when angry?“I said your food isn't tasty. You don't know how to cook. You need to go back to culinary school because I have no idea what you just made for me.” I scoffed, scrunching my face in disgust.She looked at me with that anger still evident in her brown eyes. She heaved a deep sigh and bent to my level, looking straight into my eyes. This lady had some nerves. No one dares to look into my eyes like this.“I'll act as if I didn't hear what you said because I know what I cooked.” She folded her arms.“Are you that confident in yourself? I
10.**Nicole's POV**I was uninterested as he showed me around the house. My mind was elsewhere, and where could it be besides my crumbling career and the mess I just put myself in?The more I thought about everything, the more heartbroken I became. I suffered to get to the top on my own and just because I didn't fulfill one stupid man's sexual fantasy, he made me lose everything. He didn't even leave a crumb behind. He crushed and destroyed everything I labored for. And yet, some people would open their mouths to say, there's human conscience?Pfft! Fuck conscience! There was nothing like that in the entertainment industry.I tightened my fists as I thought about how massive my revenge was going to be.“Nicole!” I gasped and stopped in my tracks. I looked up at him, and he gave me an annoyed look.“What's your problem? I feel like I'm wasting my time showing all these to you because you're not even listening to me.” He frowned at me and I sighed.“I got lost for a moment.” I wasn't
11.**Nicole's POV**“There is no way I'm spending the night in your room.” I shook my head frantically and sat down on the couch.“Why? Is something wrong with that? You're my wife, after all.” He smirked.I was about to yell at him, but I calmed myself down. “You know what? I'll sleep in the living room.” I folded my arms.“What do you want people to say when they see my wife sleeping on the couch in the living room, and I'm on the bed in my room? Do you want to ruin my reputation?” He asked and I scoffed.Reputation indeed.What is wrong with this man? How can he tell me to spend a night in his room? I placed my hand on my forehead and glared at him. “Look, let's settle this. I'll sleep in the living room. And if you badly don't want me to sleep on the couch, then I'll sleep in any of the guest rooms.”“I won't allow that. You're not a guest.” He frowned at me. I was already frustrated, and this man right here was adding more to my plate. I rested my head on the couch and closed my
12.**Easton's POV**She looked at me, surprised etched in her features because of what I said. I could see her cheeks turning red, and I wasn't ready to let her go without teasing her about it.“Oh my! I'm seeing someone turning red already.” I folded my arms and she covered her face.“Shut up!” She screamed, ran to the bed and took her nightgown before rushing into the bathroom again. I shook my head with a chuckle and made my way to the couch where I sat and took my laptop.She stepped out of the bathroom with her nightgown on and I couldn't help but stare at her again. I knew models were hot but not this hot. And what was that effect she was having on me?“Stop staring like a pervert!” She snapped at me and I scoffed.“I wasn't staring at you. You have nothing for someone to stare at.” I huffed.“Oh really?” She hummed and walked to stand in front of me, forgetting she was putting on a nightgown that was a little but transparent. I didn't want to look at her anymore because I have
13.**Nicole's POV**I stood up from the bed and stretched to put my body in check. I wasn't able to get a good sleep until this morning.Who would sleep soundly knowing that her career was at the edge of the cliff? Since all these happened, I haven't been able to sleep well and I think it was starting to affect my body system.I kept turning and tossing in bed all night while Mr. Annoying slept like a baby. Speaking of which, where is he?I looked around the room but couldn't find him. The only thing that wafted past my nostrils was a scent of a male cologne.I got down and stepped out to go check out my room. I wouldn't want what happened last night to repeat itself.“That pervert! How can he look at me like he wanted to eat me whole and then tell me I'm not his type?” I scoffed and snorted. “Well, he's not my type too!”“Are you talking to yourself?”I turned to see Joan walking beside me. “Good morning.” She greeted and I nodded.“Did you sleep well?” I asked and she nodded.“How