Chapter 3
8:00 AM. My phone buzzed. Unknown number.
M: My office. 8:30. You’re my PA for the next 2 weeks. Don’t be late.
I stared at the text. Punishment. That’s what this was. When I walked into Thorne Holdings, the receptionist whispered.
“Mr. Thorne asked for you specifically.”
His office door was open. Michael was on a call, shirt sleeves rolled up, tie loose. He looked... human. He hung up when he saw me.
“Sit.” He pointed to the desk outside his office. My desk.
“From now on you handle my schedule, my coffee, and my emails. You will be here 7AM to 7PM. You will not leave early. You will not talk back.”
“That’s not in the contract.”
His eyes lifted. Cold.
“Clause 7b. ‘Attend company functions as required.’ This is required. Problem?”
I sat.
“No, Mr. Thorne.”
“Good.”
Hour 1-6: Hell
He called me in every 15 minutes.
“Coffee. Black. No sugar.”
“Reschedule the 2PM meeting.”
“Why was this report late?”
“Stand up straight.”
By lunch I was exhausted. He hadn’t eaten. Hadn’t looked at me once except to give orders. At 1PM his secretary brought him lunch. He didn’t touch it.
“Aren’t you going to eat?” I blurted.
He looked up. Surprised I spoke.
“I’m not hungry.”
“You’ll get an ulcer.”
The room went silent. Did I just... scold the CEO?
Michael leaned back. Studied me.
“You care if I get an ulcer, Mrs. Thorne?”
Heat rushed to my face.
“No. I care if you collapse and I have to do your job too.”
A ghost of a smile.
“Fair.”
He ate.
Hour 7: The Crack
At 6PM he called me in. No one else was in the office.
“Close the door.”
I did. My hands were shaking.
“Why did you really say yes? A girl like you who could get any man she wants in this world wouldn’t just agree to a marriage contract if not for a very essential reason. So spill it out.” he asked. No cold CEO voice. Just... Michael.
“The money.”
“I know it was the money. Why did you need it so fast?”
I shouldn’t have told him. But I was tired.
“My mom’s dialysis. I needed R347,000 in 7 days.”
His face didn’t change. But his hand stopped tapping the pen.
“You should’ve said something.”
“You said no questions.”
He stood and walked to the window. Same view as our first day.
“My mother died when I was 16. She had cancer. We didn’t have money for the good doctors.”
My chest hurt.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” He turned.
“Finish the month. Do your job. And Tebello doesn’t get near you again. That’s the only rule I care about right now.”
“Why do you care?”
He didn’t answer. He just picked up his jacket.
“Let’s go. I’m driving you home.”
The Car
We didn’t talk.
At the mansion he walked me to my door.
“7AM tomorrow,” he said.
“Michael?”
“What.”
“Thank you. For the money. For my mom.”
He looked at me for a long time. Like he was deciding something.
“Don’t make me regret it, Palesa.”
He walked away.
I slept that night with his last sentence in my head.
Don’t make me regret it.
Like he already did. Like he was scared he might.
The email hit my inbox at 6:47AM.
Subject: EMERGENCY BOARD MEETING. 9AM. PROOF OF MARRIAGE REQUIRED.
From: Khabo, Board Chairman
I forwarded it to Michael immediately.
His reply came 2 minutes later.
M: My car in 5 minutes. Dress appropriately.
Appropriately. Right.
By 8:55AM we were in the 40th floor boardroom. 14 men. All staring.
Michael sat at the head of the table. I sat one chair down. Not next to him. He didn’t touch me. Didn’t look at me.
“Mr. Thorne,” Khabo started.
“There are... rumors. That this marriage is a contract for the company.”
Michael didn’t blink.
