Signed To Be His Wife - Chapter 1: Chapter 1

Amara
The city smelled like money and power, and I had neither.
My name is Amara Cole, a law graduate with top grades, a broken wallet, and a sick mother. For weeks, I had searched for a job that would match my skills, but all I could find was a position as a cleaner at a law firm.
It wasn’t what I dreamed of, but when your mother needs surgery and you haven’t eaten a proper meal in two days, dreams don’t matter—only survival does.
I wore a faded blazer, held my bag tightly, and pushed open the glass doors of Hart & Ashford Legal Group. The air inside smelled of leather, perfume, and power. I walked fast toward the cleaner’s room before anyone noticed me.
As I turned a corner, a tall woman in a sharp black suit nearly ran into me.
“Watch it,” she snapped, then looked me over with cold eyes. “Oh. The cleaner.”
She shoved a file into my hands. “Take this to Mr. Hart’s office. Now. And don’t touch anything in there.”
Before I could speak, she was gone.
I looked at the folder. DOMINIC HART – CONTRACT PAPERS
My hands shook. Mr. Hart—the owner of the firm. The billionaire CEO. The one nobody ever saw. Rumors said he had no heart, no smile, and no patience for mistakes.
I took the elevator to the top floor. Every step I took echoed like I was walking toward danger. I finally reached a large door with DOMINIC HART in silver letters. I knocked gently.
No answer.
I pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The office was huge, all glass and steel. It was cold and quiet. I walked to the desk and placed the folder carefully on top. As I turned to leave, my eyes caught something—a pen and a set of documents already opened.
Curious, I leaned closer. The first page read:
> Marriage Agreement Between Dominic Alexander Hart and…
My breath caught. My name was on it.
Amara Cole.
What?
Was this a joke?
I looked again. My full name, address, ID number—everything was correct.
“Amara Cole,” a deep voice said behind me.
I jumped and turned. A man in a dark suit stood by the glass wall, tall and calm, like he’d been watching me the whole time.
Dominic Hart.
Sharp cheekbones. Cold blue eyes. Lips pressed like he never smiled.
“I—I was just—”
“You signed already?” he asked, walking toward me.
“What? No! I was just—”
He picked up a second page and showed it to me. My signature was on the bottom.
I froze.
That wasn’t possible. I hadn’t signed anything.
But then I remembered. A few days ago, someone gave me a form to sign for a cleaning contract. I had signed it quickly—no questions, no reading. I had been desperate.
“You tricked me,” I whispered.
“I didn’t trick you,” he said calmly. “You signed a contract. It’s legal.”
“But—but I didn’t know it was a marriage agreement!”
He stared at me, eyes hard as ice. “Then next time, read what you sign.”
My heart pounded. “Why me? Why do you even need a wife?”
His jaw tightened. “You’ll find out soon.”
“This is crazy. I want out!”
Dominic walked closer until we were just inches apart. He didn’t touch me, but his presence was like fire—hot and cold at the same time.
“I need a wife. You fit the requirements. You signed. You’re mine now.”
I took a step back, shaking my head. “You can’t force me.”
“I can. And I will,” he said quietly. “Unless you want your mother to be kicked out of that hospital tonight.”
I stopped breathing.
“How do you—”
“I know everything about you, Miss Cole. I know about the hospital bills. The unpaid rent. The threats from the landlord. The man who tried to scam you last week. I fixed all of it. I gave you the cleaner job. I gave you the contract. And now, I’m giving you a choice.”
He leaned in.
“Stay married to me. Be quiet. Do what I say. And your mother will live.”
Tears filled my eyes. “You’re a monster.”
“No,” he said. “I’m a businessman.”
He walked to his desk and pressed a button. The doors opened and the woman in the black suit came in.
“Take Mrs. Hart to the private car,” he said. “Send her to the penthouse. Prepare everything for the wedding announcement tonight.”
“Yes, sir.”
Mrs. Hart.
I wanted to scream.
Instead, I followed the woman out, like a prisoner walking to her cage.
That night, I sat in a silent luxury car, looking out at the bright city lights that mocked me. I was wearing a designer dress someone had placed on my bed. The penthouse was bigger than any house I’d ever seen, but I felt smaller than ever.
My phone rang. It was the hospital.
“Hello?” I answered.
“Miss Cole? Just calling to inform you that the full payment for your mother’s surgery has been made today. She’ll be taken in first thing tomorrow.”
I covered my mouth.
“Who paid it?” I asked, even though I already knew.
“Dominic Hart.”
I hung up slowly.
So he really meant it.
He was serious.
I was really... married to him.
Later that night, Dominic walked into the penthouse. He didn’t knock.
He wore a black suit. His tie was off. He looked tired, but dangerous.
“I don’t care what you think of me,” he said. “But we made a deal. In public, you’re my wife. Behind closed doors, you stay out of my way.”
“And after that?” I asked.
He looked at me for a long time. “After six months, you’ll disappear. You’ll get a new name, new life, and enough money to never clean a toilet again.”
“And the catch?” I asked.
“There’s always a catch,” I whispered.
His voice was low. “Don’t fall in love with me.”
I laughed bitterly. “Don’t worry. I’d rather fall in love with poison.”
He smirked. “Good.”
But deep inside, I knew something wasn’t right.
Why did he need a wife this badly?
Why me?
And why... was my signature already on that paper?
There were too many secrets, and I had just married the man holdi
ng all of them.
I went to bed that night thinking this was just a fake marriage.
But I didn’t know yet...
That everything about my life was about to change.
Forever.