Chapter Three
1315 Words
"Why can't you use the office's database computer?" Ryan asks
Ryne has been using his computer for a while, distracting him from work.
"And make everyone know that I'm looking for an employee named Isla Taylor? Well, she might be your little doll, who knows? Ryne answers with a grin.
"An employee? Have you gone nuts? Why would you want me to marry an employee? What will the other employees think? Their boss is a p*****t or something? I just knew it was ridiculous giving you this job." Ryan grunts in frustration.
Ryne acts oblivious to Ryan's growing frustrations, calls his secretary and asks her to call Isla Taylor from the research team.
"Are you crazy?" Ryan asks immediately when the call ends. "What if..."
"There are no 'what ifs' bro. Just relax and trust me." Ryne assures his brother, and immediately, Isla enters the office.
"I didn't know you were the boss of this company. I always avoid you anytime I see you. I'll send in my resignation letter soon..." Isla says immediately after she enters Ryan's office.
The shock on the twins' faces was unexplainable. "No! You can't be kidding me, Ryne. Seriously? This doll?" Ryan asks his brother sceptically.
"I swear, I didn't know she was the one. It was late in the night and I just overheard her name from her friend." Ryne answers him.
"Well, I think she's stalking me now. What makes you think she is not one of those desperate women around? I can bet your ass that she needs a wad of cash right now."
"Excuse me? Who exactly do you think you are? I know you are the boss of this company, so what? You can't just boss me around like I'm your slave or something." Isla tells Ryan with annoyance.
Isla's response makes Ryne grin at his brother. "I told you, man. She hates you"
"No!" Ryan fires.
"Yes! Ryan, common, don't you see? You have no other options."
Ryan puffs off a huge breath. "Fine." He said with a grim face.
"I'm sorry, what's going on here?" Isla asks with curiosity.
"Well, Isla Taylor? I need you to marry me." Ryan says with a solemn face.
Isla laughs her heart out. She stops when she sees the serious look on the siblings' faces.
"You're not serious are you?"
"I am Isla" Ryan answers with a cold voice.
"I refuse. I mean, this is crazy. It's just like Bill Gates flagging me down and proposing to me." Isla says almost immediately.
"You wish. You heard the doll, Ryne, she refused. Now, go get me a real wife."
"Wait a minute, Isla. I need you to get married to my brother. It's urgent, and you are the only one to help him secure this company." Ryne pleads with Isla.
"Are you serious man? You're telling her about the deal?" Ryan asks with surprise.
"She needs to know everything about this to accept your offer."
"What offer?" Isla asks.
"This is it. Ryan needs to get married to a woman in five months to secure this company. It's very obvious that you hate him, and that's exactly the person he needs for this marriage." Ryne answers.
"What makes you think that I'll accept this proposal?"
"500 billion dollars?" Ryne asks hopefully.
"What?" Isla and Ryan ask immediately.
"You and I know that's little compared to what you earn. Allow me to help your ass here." Ryne tells his brother. His eyes darted back to Isla.
"So, Miss Taylor. What do you say?"
"Double the price and I'll accept," Isla says with a smirk.
"Fine," Ryne says with a shrug.
"Are you seriously giving her a hundred billion just to get married to me?" Ryan asks. Ryne ignores him.
"Let's get this over with."
Ryne picks up a paper and drafts out Ryan's criteria. Isla signs the paper in agreement.
"If this would work, I'll have my criteria. He should not fall in love with me. He will not have any physical contact with me except in public. I will be paid after our divorce." Isla says with a pointed look.
Ryan sighs and reluctantly signs it.
"Just don't forget that I hate you, jerk," Isla tells Ryan.
"The feeling is incredibly mutual, doll."
The next day, Isla is called into Ryan's office again. "What's with you and the Boss these days, huh?" Sarah asks suspiciously as Isla walks towards Ryan's office. Isla offered her a small smile and said nothing.
"Right on time doll," Ryan says with an eye roll.
"I forgot to add one more thing to the terms. He should quit calling me a doll. What does that even mean?" Isla asks Ryne.
"Let's just go ahead with today's meeting. You guys can fight later. I was just explaining to Ryan about a surprise proposal and an engagement party."
"And how do you plan on doing that?" Ryan asks.
"I was thinking of balloons and cakes and diamond rings..."
"Quit the fantasy man," Ryan says.
"Okay. Here's the idea. Why don't you propose to her at work? In the presence of everyone? With a diamond ring?" Ryne's eyes glitter as he says this.
"No way." Isla and Ryan shout together.
"You guys need to stop doing that. It's a beautiful idea. That way, no one will be suspicious of your relationship. You have to convince the lawyer, remember?" Ryne points out.
"It's a no for me. I can't do that." Ryan answers.
"Then what else? What is your fancy idea, bro?
"What if we jump that part and go for the wedding?" Ryan answers dumbly.
"And how do you plan on convincing your lawyer? Huh?"
"I think we should just do it. I mean it won't harm anyone, would it? I'm tired of this sibling play fight." Isla answer.
"See? Even Isla agrees."
"Fine. But don't blame me if no one is convinced." Ryan says with a sneer.
"Tomorrow at lunch, you'll have to get down on your knees and propose romantically to her." Ignoring his brother's eye roll, he continues.
"And you, Isla. You have to feign ignorance. Not too ignorant to provoke suspicion though. As for the decorations, I'll handle it." Ryne adds with finality.
"I hope it ends already," Isla mutters and leaves.
The next day, during lunch at the Cafè, Isla holds a tray of food and walks towards a table where she sees Ryan on his knees with a ring.
"Dear Isla Taylor, will you marry me?" Ryan asks forcefully with a grunt. Isla's tray of food crashes down on Ryan's head as she feigns shocked. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." She says as she muffles a laughter. She accepts the ring and Ryan stands up squeezing her hands. Everyone at the office is shocked and manages to applause. "You're all invited to our official engagement party on Friday. Enjoy your lunch." Ryan says forcefully and drags Isla to his office.
"What is this supposed to mean?" Ryan asks pointing to his suit covered in food.
"Did you miss the point where I should have feigned surprise?" Isla asks him.
"You should have come with a warning label. I should reconsider the deal if you're this clumsy." Ryan says.
Isla laughs. "And how does that affect me? It's your company, not mine." She says and walks out.
She enters her office as everyone stops to look at her.
"Isla, didn't you say you hated the boss? You could have said something to me at least." Elvis asks her inquisitively.
"Pretenders do the worst," Nora says snidely and walks out, bumping her shoulder into her's as she leaves.
Isla wiggles her hands out of Elvis' and sits down. She blocks her ears with an airpod and concentrates on her computer screen.
She avoids Ryan and his twin for the rest of the day and goes home rethinking her deal and choice.
- Writer
