The Contract Marriage Series

Ten?years?later...

Victoria inhaled the sweet morning breeze as she stepped out on the pouch.

Waving at the taxi heading towards her drive way she immediately buttoned up her jacket before the taxi pulled up in front of her.

"Good morning" she greeted after getting settled in the car.

"Morning madam, you look beautiful this morning" the driver said, looking at her through the rear view mirror.

"Thanks sir" Victoria said, blushing as always whenever she was complemented.

The drive to the office was a long one, but it was always worth it at the end of the month.

Victoria was working at the Xavier cooperation, her aunt Elizabeth was nothing, but an angel God sent to her and her sister after the death of their parents. Victoria couldn't wish for more, after the death of their parents, Elizabeth her late mother's younger sister took them in, she didn't have children of her own, and had no plans of getting married; So she took Victoria and Ella as her children, loving them the way any mother would her child.

Didn't mean it was all a bed of roses for them, Elizabeth didn't have a stable income, neither was whatever their late parents left big enough, or even though Elizabeth had kicked against Victoria working at a young age, eventually she had to. Cause Ella's treatments became More expensive as she stayed longer in the hospital.

Fortunately, for Victoria she met who most people would call a fairy God mother, who helped in furthering Victoria's education, and also helped in getting Victoria a job at the Xavier cooperation.

"Thank you, sir" Victoria said, and paid the taxi driver when the cab pulled up in front of the Xavier building.

She did her morning routing as always signing in when she came in, and going through the security checkup, which she found silly since she has been working here for two years now.

When she was through, she went upstairs to her office where she started the day's work, Victoria was the assistant director of the marketing department a promotion she got few months back.

After a whole four hours of running from one end of her department to the other, Victoria finally got a little time for herself, groaning at the noise her stomach was making. Due to the fact that she hadn't taken anything the whole day, she decided she pay a visit to the only coffee shop close by.

"Hello angel!" Tony said barging into Victoria's office, which caused Victoria to roll her eyes at him.

"Tony! Must you always make a dramatic entry?" Victoria said, shaking her head at him.

Tony and Alexa are Victoria's best friend for ten years now, ever since she was in high school, and fortunately for the three, they all got jobs at the Xavier cooperation. Alexa was the crazy one, Tony was the craziest and Victoria was the quite level headed one out of the three, making people wonder how the three have managed to be friends for so long.

"Why wouldn't I? The world itself is dramatic!" Tony said seating on Victoria's desk.

"Keep giving silly excuses for being stupid" Alexa said, barging in the office and immediately throwing herself on the seat in front of Victoria's desk. Causing Victoria to roll her eyes again.

"Hey! What on earth are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to be at the bosses office, isn't he arriving today?" Tony asked Alexa, who was Mr Eric Xavier's personal assistant.

"Yes but he wouldn't be here until after lunch, and I am starving, so can we get going? I am sure poor Vi here hasn't eaten for days" Alexa said, playing with Victoria's pen case.

"Yeah right, Alexa cares about me, let's just get going. I still have tons of work to do" Victoria said, taking the pen case from Alexa, and placing it back on the table.

They all left Victoria's office to the coffee shop where they ordered their favourites, Alexa and Tony of course ordered for sweet things, while Victoria order for something not too sweet and neither too plane.

They all ate their lunch in a comfortable silence, which was unusual for the three. They never were quiet during meals, except if they all had things bothering them. But this time nobody bothered to break the silence. This time whatever it was, that they were thinking about was surely important. Victoria wanted to say something to get everyone talking, but changed her mind. If the crazies weren't talking, then who was she to change that.

When they were done eating, Tony offered to foot the bills, which Alexa objected to as always, causing Victoria to wonder if they find pleasure in arguing. After all said and done, Tony did foot the bills and they headed back to the office.

"Victoria, Sir Xavier said he wants to see you in his office right now" John, the head of the marketing department told Victoria immediately, he layed eyes on her while she was about entering her office.

"Me? Did he say why?" Victoria asked surprised.

"Really? You think I'd risk my job by questioning him when he gives an order?" John said like Victoria was the craziest person he had met.

"Okay. I would go see him right away"

"You better do, doesn't look like he's in a good mood"

After retouching her makeup, Victoria took the elevator to the last floor of the building, where the CEO's office was. She had never been called up there by Mr Xavier, ever since she has been working here. She had never really seen her boss at close range either, so right now she was terrified, and him not being in a good mood only makes things more scary. Cause she has heard rumors of the boss sacking anyone or anything when he was angry.

When the elevator signalled she had reached her destinations. Victoria said a silent prayer before stepping out into the hallway. The bosses office was the only office on this floor, and this was the only floor in this building that looked like a mini palace with its red and golden interior decoration.

Victoria looked at Alexa, who was talking to the secretary about something, but stopped immediately when she saw her.

"My department head said Sir Xavier wanted to see me?" Victoria asked, not hiding the fear in her Voice.

"Yes, and he is really pissed, oh heavens, I pray he doesn't fire you or something, then our three won't be complete any more" Alexa said, panicking which made Victoria shake her head at her bestie disapprovingly.

"Really? Alexa? Out of all the things that could happen you say that? I better go in and see what he has to say" Victoria said leaving her nervous bestie.

She entered into the office since the doors opened automatically, If under a different circumstance Victoria would have taken time admire the beautiful interior decoration, as it was a mixture of black and grey and a little golden hints here and there, the office was a sight to behold.

"Sir you called for me" Victoria said, gaining the attention of the boss, he whirled his chair Around to face her.

"Yes I did, sit" he said, gesturing to the chair opposite his.

"Victoria Valeria Christopher, right? " He asked.

"Yes sir" Victoria said, trying to hide her nervousness.

"I have a proposal for you, are you interested?"

"Ermm, what kind of proposals, Sir?"

"A contract marriage, I need you to marry me in two weeks' time"

"You need what?" Victoria said surprised and startled

"Yes Valeria I need you to marry me and you would"

"What?"