I Married A Stranger To Escape My Mother

Laura was halfway through breakfast when someone knocked on the door. Evelyn looked up.

“Are you expecting someone?”

“No.”

Another knock sounded. Laura stood, walked over, and opened the door. A man in a dark suit stood outside.

“Laura?”

“Yes?”

“My name is Daniel. I work for Mr. Fred Smith.”

Laura immediately became suspicious. “Why?”

“He asked me to give you this.” Daniel handed her an envelope.

Laura didn't take it. “What is it?”

“A letter.”

“From Fred?”

“Yes.”

She finally accepted it.

Daniel nodded politely. “Mr. Smith would like to meet you this evening.”

Laura frowned. “Why?”

“He didn't tell me.”

“Then I'm not going.”

Daniel smiled slightly. “You may want to read the letter first.”

He turned and left.

Evelyn came rushing over from the kitchen. “Who was that?”

“Someone from Fred's office.”

“Fred?”

Laura handed her the envelope. Evelyn slid the note out and opened it. Inside was a single message: Meet me at 6 p.m. We need to discuss something important. — Fred

Evelyn looked at Laura. “You're going.”

“I haven't agreed.”

“You're going.”

“Why?”

“Because rich-looking men don't send mysterious letters unless something interesting is about to happen.”

Laura laughed. “I don't even know if he's rich.”

Evelyn pointed at the envelope. “He sent a man in a suit.”

“That proves nothing.”

“It proves enough for me.”

Laura shook her head, but she kept the letter.

At six o'clock, Laura arrived at the restaurant Fred had chosen. She had expected something extravagant; instead, he had reserved a quiet, private room.

Fred stood when she walked in. “You came.”

“You said it was important.”

“It is.”

Laura pulled out a chair and sat down. “I hope this isn't about my job.”

“It isn't.”

“Then what?”

Fred sat across from her. “I need your help.”

Laura stared at him. “My help?”

“Yes.”

“With what?”

Fred took a breath. “Marriage.”

Laura almost laughed out loud. “Marriage?”

“My family wants me married.”

“That sounds like your problem.”

“It is.”

“Then solve it.”

“I intend to.” He looked directly into her eyes. “With you.”

Laura's smile vanished. “Excuse me?”

“I want you to marry me.”

Silence filled the room. Laura stared at him in disbelief. “You barely know me.”

“I know enough.”

“No, you don't.”

“I know you don't want anyone controlling your life.”

Laura went completely still. “How do you know that?”

“I saw what happened when your mother called.”

Her expression hardened. “You were watching?”

“I wasn't trying to.”

Laura stood up. “I think I should leave.”

Fred didn't move to stop her. “Your mother wants you to marry Frank.”

Laura froze. “How do you know his name?”

“I had someone look into the situation.”

“You investigated me?”

“I needed to know what I was asking.”

Laura slowly sat back down. “That doesn't make this normal.”

“I know.” Fred pushed a document across the table.

Laura looked down at it. “What is this?”

“A contract.”

She looked back up at him. “You're serious. You want a fake marriage?”

“A legal marriage with an agreement between us.”

“For how long?”

“One year.”

Laura looked at him in total disbelief. “And after one year?”

“We divorce.”

She pushed the document straight back toward him. “This is insane.”

“Probably.”

“Why me?”

Fred leaned back. “Because you don't want my money.”

Laura frowned. “What?”

“Most people who approach me want something. You don't.”

“You don't know that.”

“I offered you money yesterday. You refused.”

“You didn't actually offer me money.”

“You thought I was going to.”

Laura crossed her arms. “So what?”

“I need someone who won't use my name, my position, or my money to control me.”

“And you think I won't?”

“No.” Fred looked at her steadily. “I think you value your freedom too much.”

Laura didn't know what to say to that.

Fred continued, “My family has tied my marriage to my future as CEO. If I don't marry, my appointment can be challenged.”

“So you're being forced too.”

“Yes.”

Laura looked down at the contract between them.

Fred's voice softened slightly. “You need freedom from Frank.”

Laura looked up. “And you need freedom from your family.”

“Exactly.”

“So you want us to use each other.”

“No.” Fred paused. “I want us to help each other.”

Laura studied him closely. “What happens if one of us falls in love?”

Fred's expression shifted slightly. “That's not part of the agreement.”

“That wasn't my question.”

He fell silent. Finally, he spoke: “Then we deal with it when it happens.”

Laura shook her head. “You're very confident.”

“I have to be.”

“And what exactly do I get?”

“Protection from your mother and Frank.” Laura remained quiet, so Fred added, “A place to live. Financial security while you build your own career. And when the contract ends, you walk away with enough money to start your life independently.”

Laura immediately shook her head. “I don't want your money.”

“I know.”

“Then don't put it in the contract.”

Fred studied her face. “What do you want?”

Laura thought about it for a second. “I want freedom.”

He nodded. “Then that's what you get.”

That night, Laura returned to the apartment. Evelyn was sitting at the kitchen table, waiting.

“Well?”

Laura dropped the contract on the surface. Evelyn picked it up, reading through the first page, then the second. Her mouth slowly fell open.

“He proposed?”

“Yes.”

“To you?”

“Yes.”

“A contract marriage?”

“Yes.”

Evelyn stared at her. “This man is completely crazy.”

“I know.”

“And you said yes?”

Laura shook her head. “Not yet.”

Evelyn sat down. “Then don't.”

Laura looked at her. “I don't know.”

“You don't know?”

Laura stared back down at the legal pages. “If I go home, Margaret will force me toward Frank.”

“Then don't go home.”

“I need somewhere to stay.”

“You have me.”

“I can't depend on you forever.”

Evelyn reached across the table and touched her arm. “You don't have to solve your whole life tonight.”

Laura looked down. Her father's voice returned to her mind: Your life is yours.

She picked up the contract. “I won't marry Frank.”

“I know.”

“And I won't let Margaret decide my future.”

“I know.”

Laura took a deep breath. “But maybe…”

Evelyn stared at her. “Maybe what?”

Laura looked at the contract again. “Maybe I can decide for myself who I marry.”

The next morning, Laura returned to Fred's office. He was sitting behind his desk, waiting.

She walked in and placed the contract before him.

Fred looked up at her. “Have you made your decision?”

“Yes.”

“And?”

Laura sat across from him. “I'll marry you.”

Fred's expression barely changed.

“But I have conditions,” she said.

“I expected that.”

“No control over my life.”

“Agreed.”

“No treating me like your property.”

“Agreed.”

“I continue working.”

“Of course.”

“And when the contract ends, you let me leave without making things difficult.”

Fred nodded. “Agreed.”

Laura looked at him carefully. “And one more thing.”

“What?”

“No lies.”

Fred went still.

Laura held his gaze firmly. “If we're going to do this, I want honesty between us.”

For a moment, something unreadable crossed Fred's face. Then he nodded. “Agreed.”

Laura reached for the pen. Fred watched her sign her name across the bottom line: Laura.

A simple signature. One decision. One contract. One stranger.

Laura put down the pen. She had no idea that the man sitting across from her was about to become the most important person in her life. And Fred had no idea that the woman he had chosen for a temporary marriage would eventually become the one person he would never want to lose.