Hired Wife

Chapter 6. The Agreement

Dominic

The morning arrives rapidly, faster than I wanted it to. I know there is no backing out of this, so I have accepted my fate that involves my soon to be wife and the life I will soon be sharing with her. Given what I do for a living and the many unexpected twists and turns my life goes through. I just never took into consideration that I would have to arrange a marriage of convenience. Not once did I ever expect that I would literally hire someone to become my wife just to please other people, but here I am convincing myself this is what needs to happen.

"This is now the reality my life has come to. Me marrying someone I'm not in love with just to ensure my security in this business and planning the exact right time to ensure me becoming the leader.  This is something I refuse to let slip through my fingers," I whisper as I finish putting my tux on. 

"Hey big bro," she says walking up behind me.

"Darlene, so happy you made it to my wedding," I smile as she straightens my tie. 

"My apologies I was unable to make it to your engagement party yesterday evening. I just met your beautiful bride. Are you sure you're ready for this, Dominic?"

"Ready or not, I have to see this through. And I'm going to," I insist.

" If you're sure about marrying her, you have my blessing," she smiles softly.

"Darlene, I am counting on you getting along with Addison. I don't need nor do I want any family drama between you and Addison. I already have enough to worry about without my sister and my wife not getting along."

"I will make an effort to get along with my new sister-in-law, Dom. Will she make an effort to get along with me?" 

"It's not Addison I'm worried about, she isn't moody or grumpy like someone I know," I glare at her.

" Dom. I give you my word I will try my very best to get along with your new wife," she assures me.

"Think you, Darlene. I'm guessing it's getting close to that time?"

" It's now or never," she says before opening the bedroom door. 

"Damn it."

"What is it, Dom?"

"Darlene, I need you to go tell our guests and Adddison and I will be a few minutes late," I usher her towards the steps.

"Dominic, what is wrong?" 

"Darlene, go inform our guests we will be a few minutes late. Make something up those sounds believable," I command her.

"Martha, is it time to start yet?" I hear Addison shouting from her room. My hand clutches the doorknob and I swing the door open.

"Dominic, go away. You can't see me in my wedding dress, its bad luck," she snaps as she runs into the bathroom.

"Addison, please come back here. We forgot to go over the agreement. Besides, this isn't going to be a real traditional marriage, so it's ok that I see you in your wedding dress," I remind her. The bathroom door slowly opens, and I inhale deeply once I see her in the off-white dress with small sparking silver beads. Her hair is in lose soft curls and her blue eyes are brightly shining from the sparkling diamond necklace around her neck.  As much as I thought she looked incredibly beautiful last night, she looks just as beautiful now. 

"Oh, ok. We need to hurry through this, Dom." 

"Um, yes, we do, Addison," I say unable to peel my eyes off of her.

"Where is the agreement, Dom?" She asks and I grab her soft hand and lead us to my bedroom.

"Here, this is everything I feel needs to be agreed to," I hand the agreement to her. She looks down and reads through it. She then glares up at me and I have a feeling I know why she's looking so angry.

"Nice try Dom, but there is no way in hell I'm agreeing to number four. Take it out," she commands.

"Alright," I say not wanting this to turn into an argument and quickly put a red x next to it.

"Anything else, dear?" I sarcastically ask. She looks up at me with that same glare.

"Public sex, Dom? No way. I will not agree to this." 

"Have you ever allowed yourself to be open enough to at least give it a try, Addison?"

"What, no, and I don't ever plan on trying it either, Dom," she snarls.

"So, you're a boring miss fuddy duddy, Addison?" I tease. 

"Calling me names won't get you what you want from me, Dominic."

"I'm not so willing to agree on removing number eight, Addison. How do you know you won't enjoy it if you have never tried it?" I ask and watch her roll her eyes.

"Ok fine. I will agree to try it but if I don't like it or don't want to continue our public intimacy, you have to agree to exclude number eight."

"Fair enough. Anything else you're wanting to exclude?"

"I guess not. A threesome is where I draw the line and thank you for removing that from our agreement. And I am willing to try that horrendous public thing. This pretty much makes me your prostitute along with being your wife." 

"No, Addison, this makes you a survivor."

"Forgive me for not sharing your views on what this makes me, Dominic."

"Am I assuming correctly you're willing to agree to the other expectations in our agreement, Addison?" 

"I still can't believe I'm agreeing to any of this, but yes, I agree to everything else you have placed in our agreement, Dominic. I will do my best to play the dutiful and committed wife."

"Excellent. I guess we should get this over with. We can't keep our guests waiting any longer. And by the way, you do look beautiful, Addison." 


"Thank you, Dominic. You're looking very handsome. I just hope we can pull this off and convince all of these people we are madly in love. By the way, why is this so important to you, Dom?"

"I have my reasons for doing this, Addison. And I do not care to go into details why this is so important, just keep reminding yourself you are being paid more money than you could ever dream of making working any other job." 

"So, this really is just a job to you, Dom?"

"It's simply business, Addison. I have never hidden that fact from you."

"No, you haven't. Ok, let's do this. Let's say I do."