Chapter 2 - The Contract Offer
“Stop calling me your girlfriend!” Clare demanded, her firm voice echoing through the warm bakery. “My dignity isn’t for sale! I don't care how many real estate developers you buy out in this city, you can't buy my shop, and you can't buy me!”
For three straight weeks, Roman Duca—the city’s most formidable corporate restructuring mogul—had shown up at Honey & Rye Bakery every single afternoon. He had offered her astronomical sums of money to sign a temporary fake relationship contract, claiming he needed a respectable, grounded fiancé to impress an overseas investment board.
Clare had refused every single offer, suspecting him of trying to manipulate her into selling her family's bakery building.
Roman reached inside his flour-dusted jacket, pulling out a sleek dark business card. He leaned forward and placed it directly onto the bakery glass counter with total, unshakeable confidence.
“Three weeks,” Roman stated in a steady, persuasive tone. “Name your price. I’ll double it and pay off your bakery’s commercial property tax for the next five years.”
Aunt Sophia stepped forward, adjusting her pearl earrings with a quiet sigh. “Clare, dear... he isn't trying to ruin you. You're refusing the offer of a lifetime over misdirected pride.”
“It’s not pride, Ms. Duca,” Clare replied coldly, wiping flour off her apron. “It’s self-respect. Now get out of my bakery before I call the police.”
May you like
Roman looked at her for a long, silent moment, his dark eyes assessing her with strange, unreadable intensity. He didn't argue further. He simply turned and walked out the front door, leaving his business card on the glass counter.
👉 Clare thought she had ended the nightmare once and for all, but when the bakery doors swung open the very next morning, everything changed.
