"What sacrifice are you willing to make, Mila Thompson?"
Mila's eyes remained wide open, mouth shaking like she was caught off guard.
She grabbed the chair arms hard trying to stop it from shaking. Her knuckles became white from the pressure.
Adrian Cole leaned backward in his leather chair and studied her like she was a puzzle he already solved.
"What are you willing to sacrifice?" he asked for the third time with more seriousness.
Mila swallowed. "E…..everything I have left, sir."
"Everything?" He raised one eye brow and looked at her.
"Yes." She looked at his eyes. "My grandmother raised me after my parents died. She's all I have. The chemo, the heart pills they keep her alive. The bill is two weeks late. If I don't pay soon, they'll stop treatment."
Adrian tapped a finger on the desk. Once. Twice.
"You applied for a personal assistant job. Not a charity organization, I believe you are aware of this."
"I know Sir." Mila's voice shook a little. "But the salary in the ad… it's enough to cover everything. I can work for an entire day without any complaints. Please, I just need the chance."
He collected her resume from the desk. Scanned it again.
"Two part-time jobs. Waitressing. Cleaning. Caregiving is listed as 'medical coordination.' Clever way to spin it."
"Mr Cole, I am being truthful."
"Most people in your spot would beg. Cry. Promise the moon. You haven't."
Mila raised her head proudly. "Crying won't pay the bills."
Adrian smiled for just a second.
"Honest. No games. I see, good you know."
He stood up, walked around the desk and stopped in front of her.
Mila remained on the seat. Her heart was beating so fast and loud that she thought he could hear the sound.
"The job is simple on paper, schedule meetings. Answer emails. Handle travel. Keep my life organized." Adrian said without delay.
He paused.
"But there is one more thing. A requirement nobody else knows about yet."
"Huhhhhh?"
Mila frowned. "Sir?"
Adrian crossed his arms. "My grandfather's will. It states that the company and every other thing goes to me only if I marry within one year of his death, otherwise I lose everything I've worked for. He died 3 months ago"
"Ma.. marry?" Mila blinked.
"Hahahahaha… I believe this is part of your tests."
Adrian kept looking at her without saying a word.
"Are you being serious?" She asked, staring at him.
"Yes. Legal marriage. Real papers. Not a fake one."
"You must get a trusted wife that will serve as your PA in order to keep the Cole Enterprise safe. If you fail to do so, the entire property, company will be handed over to your cousin."
He put it in writing to 'force me to settle down.' his words, not mine."
He looked out the huge window behind his desk. The city skyline sparkled far below.
"The deadline is three months from now. I've ignored it. I thought I could fight it in court. Lawyers say there is no way out of this."
Mila's mouth went dry. "So… you need a wife."
"I need someone who understands the deal," he corrected. "Someone discreet. Someone who won't talk. Someone who needs this as much as I do."
"You can quietly lose everything, I cannot be part of this. Getting married to a total stranger."
On second thought, she realised what was at stake if she declined.
He turned back to her. Eyes sharp.
"Remeber, you need money for your grandmother. I need a wife on paper. We help each other."
"Mr Cole, you're asking me to marry you?"
He pulled a folder from his drawer. Kept it in front of her.
"Exactly, no romance, just a contract marriage."
"Six months of marriage. Public appearances when needed. Private life stays private. After that, a quiet divorce. You get one million dollars. Paid in full the day the papers are signed."
Mila's breath caught. One million. Nana's treatments. A real home. No more late bills.
"And if I say no?"
Adrian hesitated. "You walk out. I find someone else. You go back to waitressing and pray the hospital waits another week."
He leaned closer. "But you won't find another offer like this. Not today. Not tomorrow."
Mila looked at the folder. Plain white. No label.
Her fingers trembled as she opened it.
Pages of legal text. Marriage agreement. Non-disclosure clause. Payment schedule.
She read the first line. Then the next.
Adrian watched her. Silent.
"Why me? You don't even know me."
"You passed every test downstairs. Fast. Accurate. Calm under pressure. You didn't flirt or fawn like the others. You didn't waste my time with fake smiles."
He stepped back. "And you're desperate. Desperate people keep secrets better than greedy ones."
Mila closed the folder, looked at him.
"My name is Mila Hart. Not Thompson. I used my mother's maiden name on the resume. Didn't want anyone checking too deep."
Adrian nodded once. "I already knew that. Background check ran the second your application hit my system."
She let out a short laugh "Of course you did."
He held out a pen. Black. Expensive.
"Sign now. We start tomorrow. You move into the company apartment tonight. Full medical coverage for your grandmother starts immediately. Bills paid by morning."
Mila stared at the pen.
Her mind raced. Nana's tired smile this morning. The nurse's warning yesterday. The empty bank account.
"If this is the only sacrifice I have left to pay to save you Nana, then I will."
She took the pen. Her hand was shaking.
She signed her real name. Mila Hart.
Adrian took the folder back. Signed below her name.
"Vivian. Come in."
The door opened. Vivian stepped inside. No surprise on her face.
"Prepare the transfer, hospital bills first. Full coverage under Hart, Nana's name."
Vivian nodded and left without a word.
Adrian looked at Mila again.
"Welcome to Cole Enterprises, Mrs. Cole."
Mila stood up slowly. Her legs were weak.
He offered his hand.
She placed her hand in his.
His grip was firm. Warm.
"Three months," he said quietly. "We keep it professional. No feelings. No mess."
Mila nodded. "No feelings. No mess."
He released her hand.
"Go pack what you need. A car will pick you up in two hours."
Mila turned toward the door.
She paused.
"Mr. Cole?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you, for Nana."
He didn't smile. Just nodded once.
"Don't thank me yet. This isn't charity. It's a deal."
Mila walked out.
Her new life started the moment the double doors closed behind her.