Six months contract

Alana Woke up to the sound of her alarm clock. Like always, Mrs. Marks was already arranging her things. Alana sat upright. Rubbing her eyes a little while trying to get out of bed

“Good morning, madam, I hope you slept well,” Mrs. Marks said with a smile which Alana returned

“You don't have to… I'll arrange my clothes once I get back,” Alana said and got out of bed.

“It's my job, don't worry madam, I'll make sure you are comfortable" Mrs. Marks smiled and finished up what she was doing…she was a happy lady. I wondered why Ricardo was hiring that nurse. Especially when she said Santiago was mute

“Mrs. Marks, about Santiago…well, I want to meet him but…” I started saying, I was hesitant. Afraid I might say something inappropriate, but I feared talking to Santiago. The idea of being labeled a stepmom scared me. What if he didn't like me

“He's a sweet boy, actually you can go and see him now… he just woke up,” Mrs. Marks said and took the laundry basket and left the room.

“Oh gosh,” of course, it was best I met him. Maybe I could talk to his father about what happened yesterday. After a while, I was already out of my room which was to the other side down the passageway,

I decided to have my room away from Ricardo for a reason. I reached Santiago's room, the door was open; hence I slipped in. I didn't even mind waiting when I found a servant girl arranging things around

“Good morning madam,” the girl greeted me with a smile and continued her work, glancing around. I was impressed by the decoration of the room. Indeed, it was for a rich kid. The walls were painted a light blue color giving a bright mesmerizing scenery. So many things and toys around.

“Is Santi here?” I wondered why he wasn't around. The girl smiled and placed a few books on the table

“Well, he's in sir's room…”

“And is your boss," I asked, just in case I went there and ran into Ricardo

“No ma'am, sir has guests downstairs… Santi is there alone,” the girl replied, and I nodded and left the room. When I pushed the door open to Ricardo's room. I found Santiago sitting on the bed looking at a book

I guessed he loved drawing just like Mrs. Marks said, "Umm, hey Santi,” I said nervously once I reached where he was. He didn't even look at me but ignored me completely.

“How are you, do you need help,” I asked and sat on the bed. I didn't understand why he wasn't responding… could it be that he didn't like me? A surge of fear rushed through me. I didn't know what to do apart from try my luck in asking him what he was drawing

I spent a few minutes trying to talk to him. But to no avail, I was about to get his drawing book when

“Don't touch him,” came a deep angry voice startling me so that I rose from the bed nearly falling when I balanced and looked up only to find Ricardo angrily gawking at me

“G-good morning. I was just”

“Out!” He made a low yell as if he would rather not scare Santiago. I didn't do anything for him to yell so much, I only came to meet his son, and nothing else. Seeing his angry face. I stormed away and ran out of the room.

I didn't stop until I got to my room. I sat on the bed to think. He threw me out of his room, was he that angry? I just wanted to talk to Santiago and get to know him better

A few minutes later, my bedroom door opened, and glancing up, it was Ricardo who walked in. He closed the door and walked up to me, he had some sort of black file in his hand

“Mr. Romero, you didn't have to do that…it's not like I came to hurt him”, I said before he could blame me. Whatever he was thinking, wasn't it?

***

Ricardo stared at the woman before him, he hated anyone getting close to Santiago. He could tolerate workers because they attended to him, but the woman before him was not allowed

“Did they tell you why you are here?” Ricardo asked coldly, his eyes filled with rage. Although he was trying to conceal it. Alana did get his question. Did he mean why he married her

“What do you mean?” She wasn't a child, at least he could come clean and say it to her face

“My family married you not me… you are only a wife by name and to them not me or my son,” Ricardo muttered disdainfully, just the furry behind his voice had Alana wondering whether he had a heart or not.

“I didn't want this marriage either… I don't think I want to be tied down to a man I don't love… Mr Romero think before you speak,” Alana countered back, he was a man yes. But he had no right to say such things. If she was given a chance to talk to him before the wedding. Then she was certain both of them would have backed out of it

“I'm glad, starting from today… you are not allowed near my son, keep away from him and me…your job is to work as my secretary and nothing else” Ricardo said coldly and tossed the black file on the bed. Alana's gaze shifted to the file then back to Ricardo

“Six months… this is a six month contract…read it and sign it…while you are here just know…we don't need you… you are free to do whatever you want,” Ricardo remarked and shoved his hands in his pockets. Alana was caught surprised. What was he saying to her

“I don't get it,”

“We are not husband and wife, only in public and in front of the family… from now on, don't use my last name… I'll have my lawyers prepare the divorce papers…we'll live and fake as husband and wife but after six months…we'll go our separate ways," the man added, not like Alana wasn't happy. But the way he was saying it made it sound as if she wanted to be his wife

“I don't wish to be your wife Mr. Romero… and thank you for this… and if you don't mind…even at work I'll be Alana Mendoza…” Alana said calmly and picked up the file. She was happy to sign whatever he had written down. She waited for his reply, but the man's gaze turned dark, and he stormed away… She watched as he left her room and slammed the door shut.

“I'm free to do as I want,” Alana smiled, she was worried about acting like a wife when she had no idea. But now. She was free to do as she pleased

When Alana read the first page, she felt cold liquid dripping down her forehead. her face was coated in ice crytals making her feel cold all over. Who the hell told Ricardo that she was interested in getting intimate with him, he even stated that she was not allowed to touch him, or go near him or do anything sexual

"Is he a fool, I'm the woman... I'm supposed to be putting these ridiculous restrictions on him," Alana spat out refusing to believe he wrote such rubbish for her. flipping a few pages, Alana was even more angered. The man thought so loose of her. He stated that she was not allowed to bring men to his house, that if she wanted to get involved with men then she had to do it outside, and she was not supposed to ruin his reputation. Alana was angry that she threw the file away, and it landed on the floor making a sound.

“T-that jerk!”