The Contract Said No Strings Attached (Charlotte) novel Chapter 169

The butler produced another flyer, this one even more outrageous than the last. In bold, garish letters, it read:

**WANTED: YOUNG MAN FOR HIRE – HUGE REWARD!**

Sophisticated, elegant lady in her fifties—charming and beautiful, with fortune and status to match—seeks a fit, handsome man in his twenties, preferably with abs. If you can help me have a child, your reward will be one million dollars!

Don’t hesitate, don’t be shy! A wealthy woman’s embrace awaits!

Daredevils wanted—come captain the ship of love!

Mrs. Austin’s face reddened with fury as she finished reading. “Who would do such a thing?” she shrieked.

Her sharp voice echoed through the living room. Clutching the offensive flyers in her fist, she crumpled them and threw them to the floor.

The butler bowed his head, his voice timid. “Ma’am, I’ve already sent people to investigate, but so far we have no leads.”

Mrs. Austin paced furiously across the carpet, her heels clicking in agitation. “If this gets out, how am I supposed to show my face in public?”

“Please, ma’am, try not to worry,” the butler said hastily. “We’ll get to the bottom of this as soon as possible.”

Jacob, drawn by the commotion, strode in, frowning. “What’s going on? Why all the shouting?”

The butler rushed to explain, picking the crumpled flyer off the floor and handing it to him. “Sir, Mrs. Austin found these slanderous flyers. She’s terribly upset.”

Jacob scanned the flyer. As his eyes moved over the words, his expression darkened. A vein throbbed at his temple.

“What the hell is this?” he demanded, turning toward his wife.

Mrs. Austin glared back at him. “How should I know? Are you seriously questioning me right now?”

Jacob’s brows knitted together. “Something like this happens and you take no responsibility?”

“I’m not sure, sir. But the villa’s surrounded—there are crowds outside, and we can’t get out.”

Mrs. Austin and Jacob hurried to the front door. Peering out, they were stunned by the scene: the driveway was packed with people of all shapes and ages—young, old, good-looking, plain, every type of man imaginable—all lured by the scandalous flyer.

The crowd was a chaotic jumble, voices overlapping in a discordant chorus.

“Mrs. Austin, I’m here for the job!”

“Ma’am, pick me! I’m perfect for you!”

“I’m strong as an ox, I’ll make you happy, I promise!”

“Ma’am, choose me! Over here, over here!”