CHAPTER 4
1698 Words
Nathaniel and Anastasia set up themselves on opposing sides of a very quiet office. This was the concluding part of the meeting which was an interview by the Managing Director.
"Your presentation was perfect, Ana, how did you even come up with these strategies?" Nathaniel said in a very official tone taking a look at her CV which didn't have much information needed for this role she was aiming at getting.
"Thank you Nathaniel. I actually know a lot about advertising and digital marketing."
"Yeah, I can see. There's a little challenge though. You don't have the required qualifications and I'm sure you know that already. We can't accept this. I'm sorry Ana."
"Nathan, you know I can do this." She said, almost like a plea.
"Of course I do, but Ana, it's the standard here at T&A and I have to be the one to break it to you. With your current qualification, we can't work with you Ana, you need to get an upgrade and that's something you can do in six months or less."
"I know Nathan. It's so freaking expensive to get that certification." Ana said, shaking her head like she wasn't going to accept her hopes crashing before her eyes.
"I'm really sorry Ana." Nathaniel said in all honesty. He wished there was more he could do.
"I really need this. You may not understand Nathan, but, I'm freaking broke and in debt and It's even shameful for me to ask this, but with your level here, can't you do anything about it. I really really need this Nathaniel, please!" Ana swallowed her pride and begged Nathan. She wasn't sure how she was able to tell him all these.
He hated to see her this way. But the only thing he could could offer was going to sound crazy to Ana, but this could actually benefit both of them if she was crazy enough to agree.
"Maybe there's something I can do." Nathaniel said looking at Ana in her pitiful state then got up and walk back to his seat.
With hopes rising, she looked up at Nathaniel and asked. "Maybe?" She has heard this response from tons of employers before. All they wanted was just to get in between her legs. If Nathaniel was going to be like the rest of them, then she'd be damned. She can't possibly take this route, not even with Nathaniel.
"You'll have to marry me." He said firmly, leaning back in his chair and placing his feet on the desk.
"Are you trying to mock me or take advantage of my current situation?" Ana asked as she folded her hands in her lap.
"On the contrary I'm trying to help you." He let out a harsh breath as he knew he had to explain the details to her.
"Help me? What has marriage got to do with you helping me? You know what? You're just like the rest of them." Her tears finally dropped.
"Anastasia, you are wrong about me, again and I really do not care, not anymore. I'm not asking you to marry me because I want to be married to you. It's simply transactional."
Ana scoffed.
" Transactional?"
"Yeah. People do not get married only for love. The reasons are numerous. So I'm not asking you to marry me because I particularly love you? It's just a means to an end that could benefit the both of us. Plus, you need it more than I do." He stood up again and walked towards her offering her his handkerchief to wipe her tears.
'Ana could tell that he wasn't joking. She'd do anything right now to get out of her rather shameful situation and if Nathaniel was proposing a way out, then it might be worth considering.' She thought.
"Why would you want us to be married Nathan? How would this benefit me?"
"Because, I can help you and I'm also in a situation. Our marriage can help both of us." He said coldly without an iota of emotions.
Ana gave a look to show she needed more details and so he continued.
"I'm sorry. I need to digress a little bit. You know what? Let's drop the official bullshit and talk for real. What happened to us Ana?"
Ana scoffed. "Really? Five years later, you're still playing dumb." She replied maliciously.
He was beginning to lose his temper and Ana just sat across calmly making him feel so little.
"Since I'm so dumb, why not enlighten me Anastasia, because I honestly do not get you. What did I ever do to you to treat me the way you did and still do?" He asked, trying not to raise his voice.
"Sure, I'll spell it out for you Nathan. You hurt me. You called a one night stand and gold digger. Is that clear enough for you Mr Tate?" Ana said, trying not to raise her voice either.
Nathaniel scoffed in unbelief. "So, this is what the whole thing was about? I got accused, slapped and embarrassed for what I have no idea about."
This wasn't the response she was hoping to get.
"I have proof Nathan. All I wanted was for you to just come clean and tell me why you would do that to me. I really thought we had a connection."
Nathaniel was quiet. He scrolled through this phone and opened his messages from five years ago. He stood up and walked towards her.
"This must be the proof you have right?" He leaned toward her, showing her the same message she got. "Now, I want you to take a really good look at this. This was sent via my laptop and deleted."
Ana was about to speak when he interrupted her.
"Let me finish please. These messages were sent and whoever did this knew my devices were linked. What the person didn't expect was the possibility of recovering old messages. I had to go through tough lengths to discover it was all a set up."
"You expect me to believe this?" Ana asked feeling irritated.
"As a matter of fact, I don't. I actually wanted to tell you myself. I discovered this like three months after. This message was sent the night we were both lost in ecstacy and if you remember clearly, I wasn't on my phone. But I guess you never trusted me to begin with which was why it was easy for you to be deceived.” He sounded so hurt and cold.
Ana couldn't believe this, he was actually saying the truth. “Oh my goodness… I thought you …” she stammered when he interrupted her.
“You know, I came back to tell you, but I saw you curled up in Daniel's arms. Remember how you walked me out when I tried to talk to you that morning. You were the one who hurt me Ana. There was no way you'd believe me even if I had told you who was behind all of this."
Ana was shocked. How could she have been so stupid? “If what you say is true, then tell me who's behind it."
He scoffed. "It's not important at the moment. We have something more pressing before us.” He pointed to the contract.
“You're right. The present is more important than the past." She finally said after a moment of silence. She felt so stupid, but then, she was going to dig deeper to find out the truth for herself.
Anastasia still couldn't believe Nathan's desperation as he presented his offer of helping her if only she agreed to marry him and stay married as a dutiful wife for a whole year, not caring whether or not she can feel anything for him, ever.
They were both desperate people in a desperate situation. He needed a wife, especially if he was going to claim his inheritance and she damn well needs the money as this could change her entire life.
“The moment you agree to become my wife, you'll get a cheque of one million dollars to help you settle in. Other benefits are stated in the contract.” Nathaniel said, watching Anastasia's reaction.
As unbelievable as it sounded, she knew they were rich, but why does she feel as though she's selling her soul to the devil? How can she possibly marry a man who had betrayed her in the past and left her heart shattered and referred to her as a one night stand? Suddenly he claims to be innocent, this was just too much to take in, she thought to herself.
“You disappeared for five years and now you want me to be your wife. I hate your irritating guts Nathaniels.” She said maliciously pushing the documented contract back to him.
In the past Ana thought she and Nathaniel had something going, only for him to disappear after what she considered to be a blissful night together as he was the first man she had ever been with.
Can she let the past be in the past and carry on with this as she damn well needs the money. Was he even telling the truth by claiming his innocence? What if he was really innocent?
What would Nathan do when he finds out she is no longer the 'good and innocent Anastasia' he knew five years ago? Would he be furious when he finds out about the messy situation she was in with Daniel?
There was an awkward moment of long silence and she finally let out a sigh. “Can I at least think this through?”
“Sure, you can, you have about 48 hours to give me your response.” He said coldly. He was still hurt that she chose Daniel over him. "Also, you can't tell anyone about this, not even Daniel. You can't take a soul.”
"Whatever Nathaniel. I don't have your number, how do I contact you?" She asked irritably, avoiding his eyes even though she could feel his eyes all over her.
“I'll call you. Think about this well enough Anastasia.” He stood and offered to walk her to the elevator.
- Writer
