"Marry me!" 

"—what?" Aera uttered, embarrassed. 

Aera is a natural beauty, just as what you would expect from a CEO of a cosmetics and fashion company. 

And the man in front of her is Orson, her million-dollar investor. Unlike Aera—well, Orson is a playboy known for his ugly looks. 

Aera tried to be as calm as she can. She cannot afford to lose face—not in front of an investor. "Mr. Orson, you know I can't do that-" 

"Why?! If you marry me, I'll increase my investment in your company." 

Aera sighed. "Thank you for the offer but-" 

"Ugh, this is so annoying! What else do you want?! I already told you I'll increase my investment." 

"Mr. Orson, our relationship is solely based on business. I have no intention to mix up relationships between business and private life." 

Mr. Orson raised his hand, ready to slap Aera's face. "You bitch-" 

"Besides, I am already married." 

Halt. Mr. Orson was frozen like ice. He thought, "a woman so dignified, colder than ice, is actually married?" 

He bitterly chuckled. "Ha! This is not the time for jokes, Ms. Carmiona. We all know you are not married. Not a woman like you.

Aera calmly sips her coffee. "You can believe what you want, Mr. Orson. But I can't marry you. My husband is sort of a possessive type." 

She lied. Aera Carmiona is a single woman. 

Frustrated and disbelieved, Orson stood up and loosened his necktie. "If you really have a husband, then bring him here, or else, I will not invest in your company." He threatens and leaves. 

As soon as Orson left, Aera heaved a deep sigh as she tirelessly lean on the chair. At the same time, she pressed the small button on her watch. 

*beeep*

Swift and fast, Anne, Aera's secretary and personal maid enters the cafe. 

It was a good thing that Anne can read the room as she was quick to calm her stressed mistress down. 

Aera sighed as she placed her palm on her forehead. "Anne, find me a husband. Real quick."

Anne stopped for a moment and sighed. "I'm guessing that the talk with Mr. Orson did not go well."

Aera rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "Don't say anything. Just find me a husband."

"My lady, finding a guy who can put up with you is hard. I doubt there will be men willing to marry you."

Aera glared at Anne. "What? Why?"

Anne sighed. "My lady doesn't like to be submissive towards men. A lot of guys don't want that."

Aera furrowed her eyebrows and heaved a deep sigh. "Then what do we do? I told Orson that I am married. That annoying man just can't stop bothering me." She clenched her fist. 

"My lady, if you are that desperate tofind a husband, then why don't you try this site?" Anne gives out a tablet with a site opened. 

"The Professional Husband"

A husband straight out of your dreams 

Aera's eyes widen. "W-What is this unethical site?!" 

"My lady, it's the best site for single women. My friend used this before, she can't get enough of it until now." Anne raised her thumb as if saying, "It's really good. Try it." 

Anne clicked a button that says, "Husbands for Hire"

"How about this one, My Lady?" Anne asked. Aera placed her attention on the profile. 

Kaizer 

32, Male

Business graduate 

Smokes, drinks occasionally

Has kids 

"Next." Aera sternly said. Of all men, she hates the ones who smokes and drinks. 

Eliseo 

67- 

"Pass. Are you trying to set me up with a man with the same age as my grandfather, Anne?" Aera uttered to which Anne scratched her head with.

"Then, how about this one, my lady?" 

Caspian 

25 

Non smoker, non drinker 

Cooks, sings, a good listener 

Husband type: The naive and submissive one 

Feedback rating: 0 

"Set me up with this one, Anne." Aera says as her eyes glow. 

"M-My lady, he's been on this site for months but no one hired him. Please think-"

"Just shut up and hire him." Aera says as she points Caspian's profile. There's something about it that tells Aera to go and hire him. 

"I just hired him, My Lady." 

"Then, set up a meeting between us two." 

Sweating and fast beating, Caspian tried as hard as he can to avoid the gazes of the woman in front of him.

He can't believe someone actually tried to hire him. The site was only recommended to him by a friend since he badly needs money. The rates are high so he tried it but after straight 6 months, no one tried to hire him even once.

Since this is his first time to be of service, he can't help but be nervous—especially when the woman in front of him is glaring at him like a prey!

"U-Um, are we not gonna discuss anything?" Caspian whispered, but loud enough to hear.

The woman placed down her coffee and leaned on the chair. "Right. Let's start with introductions."

"My name is Aera Carmiona, Heiress and CEO of Carmiona group of companies."

Caspian's eyes widen. Of all women, A CEO hired him? A billionairess???

"How about you? State your name."

Caspian flinched. "Oh. M-My name is Caspian Lee."

"That's it?" Aera's right eye went up.

Caspian flinched again. His heart is beating fast that he didn't know what to do.

"Um.."

Aera face palmed and signalled him to stop. "It's fine. You can stop."

"Oh, o-okay-"

"And you don't have to stutter in front of me. It's not like I'm going to bite you. It's annoying me." Aera gritted her teeth and furrowed her eyebrows.

Caspian gripped his knees tightly as he look at the ground. He had never felt intimidated in his life.

He tried to steal a glance towards Aera but when he saw her cold gaze, he diverted it back towards the ground.

Meanwhile, Aera is enjoying this. She loves the sight of a man shivering down her feet. Rather, she loves Caspian's reactions. His brown hair, lean but slightly muscular body, slightly tanned skin, and blushing face, Aera belives he is fit for the job.

"My Lady, here's the contract." Anne gave out a folder with almost 5 pages.

Aera gave the contract to Caspian to which he read it immediately.

"To summarize the contract, first, you will be given an advance fee of 10,000 dollars. All you have to do is stand by me during special occasions. The marriage will last for 6 months. After that, you will be given a fee of 1 hundred thousand dollars-"

"I-I'm sorry but I have to refuse."

"Okay-wait, what?!" Aera shouted.

"Why?"

"J-Just because..."

"I'll give you an additional fee of 100,000 dollars."

"I'm really sorry, Ms, Carmiona-"

"100,000 dollars every week." Aera insisted.

"M-May I ask something first?" Caspian shyly raised his hand.

"Sure. Go ahead." Aera crossed her legs and arms.

"W-why would you choose to hire me? There are other men you can hire from the site."

Aera sighed. "It's just because I think you're fit for the job-"

"...."

"-and you're cute."

Caspian's eyes widen. "What?"

"I said you're cute. I love your reactions." Aera smirked.

Caspian blushed as he stare on the ground.

Right, that's the reaction Aera wants to see

"Um..T-Thank you but, I have to refuse-"

*SLAM!*

Capsian flinched as Aera slammed her hands on the table. "Why?! I can adjust the contract as you like so-"

"I'm-I'm really sorry, Ms. Caspian! Please do consider other men on the site. I don't think I'm fit for this job." Caspian stood up and hurriedly left the cafe.

Aera heaved deep breaths. "Please calm down, My Lady."

Aera glanced over Anne behind her. "Did he just deny me?"

"It seems like it, My lady." Anne answered.

Aera sighed and took her phone.

[Hello? Yes, Mr. Yoon. I want you to investigate someone for me.]

[It's a man named Caspian. Thank you.]

As soon as the call ended, Anne spoke, "it's rare for you to get someone investigated, My Lady. You are someone who doesn't want to waste time on someone."

"You must've taken a liking to him."

Aera sighed. "Quit it, Anne. I just need him to get rid of that bastard Orson."

Aera heaved a deep sigh and leaned on the chair. She then closed her eyes. Getting married can be beneficial to her. Not only will she get rid of Orson, but her other investors would be interested once they find out she's married.

Besides, she wants to see more of his reactions.

Caspian tirelessly opened the door and sat towards the seat near the bed. "Mom, I'm back."

He greeted his unconscious mother on the hospital bed. It's been 3 months since his mother fainted.

She got hit by a car after work. The driver of the car even ran to avoid punishments.

"Caspian."

Dressed in a uniform, long black hair almost down to her waist, slim body and skin as white as milk, it was Noelle, Caspian's younger sister.

"Where have you been?" Noelle asked.

Caspian avoided her gaze. "Um...I just met a friend."

Noelle knew he was lying. She knows that. Her brother is a bad liar but it's probably something big that even her honest brother doesn't want to say it.

Noelle sighed. "Anyways, the bill for mom's hospital fees are out. They are asking us when will we pay."

Caspian took the bill from Noelle's hand. "It's more than 80,000 dollars..."

"If we can't pay it by next month, they'll probably kick us out."

Noelle sat over the seat next to Caspian. "So we won't be able to pay for my school fees again?"

Noelle is in highschool. It should be the time his sister gets to have fun without worrying such things, Caspian thought.

Caspian pitifully looked at his sister. "I'm sorry.."

They have a lot to deal with. The debt their father left off, their mother's hospital fees, the rent for their house, and Noelle's school fees. It's not something two people can manage most likely since Noelle is 18 and Caspian is 25.

"It's fine. If only our bastard father never trusted that guy from the Carmiona company, we would never be this poor."

Caspian looked down. He remembered Aera Carmiona, the new CEO of Carmiona group of companies. There's a reason why he turned down such offer despite the good contract. Caspian just could never make himself trust the Carmiona Company after the previous CEO tricked their father and made them poor.

"I'll find a way." Caspian says.

Hopefully, he can.