Love in the cafeteria

An Uncertain Decision

"What the f*ck are you doing in the boss's office?! You've been there for ages and I need you to-" Chef Red burst out angrily the moment he stepped his foot into the office.

"I won't have you talk to my fiancé in that way!" Casca slammed his hands on the table as he stood up and approached the stunned Chef Red.

Chef Red stumbled backwards in shock of the events unfolding before him and what he had just heard.

"ER-I'm really sorry sir. I-I-never knew you-u-u-u guys-er-er- were in there" Chef Red tried apologizing, his face whiter than snow.

Kaia was too embarrassed to make any sound or comment. She wondered why Casca stood up for him in that manner, even when she never gave him feedback concerning the contract marriage he proposed. Casca's voice jolted her to reality from her thoughts.

"Oh really? Even if someone had gossiped to you about her being in her boss's office, shouldn't you have knocked and waited for a response before barging in like you own the office?! Zero regards for the office nor the power the occupant possessed, huh?" Casca asked as he approached Chef Red.

"I apologize for my incompetence sir, forgive me" Chef Red apologized again, his head bowed in shame and at that point, if not that Kaia had a lot to think about, she would have burst out laughing due to how frightened Chef Red looked at that point.

She had never in her entire life believed that Chef Red could be scared of a man like him. Well, serves him right. At least he now had a piece of his own medicine. She thought silently as she tried to avoid his gaze.

"You know what? Kaia would only work with me in the office henceforth! I won't have you insult and disrespect my wife again! Now scrap!" Casca barked, and Chef Red scurried away like a frightened kitten.

Kaia's mind was racing as she sat, trying to process the proposal he had just made and how he had just threatened Chef Red in her presence. A contract marriage? Wife? Work with him in his office? Everything was moving way too fast. It sounded like a joke. But Casca's expression was dead serious.

"Now let's continue with our conversation" he said, and dusted off invisible dirt off his tuxedo as he sat down opposite Kaia, trying to read every expression that crossed her face.

"Why me?" Kaia asked, trying to sound calm.

Casca leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers together. "You're suitable," he said. "You're not looking for love or romance, and you're desperate. I can offer you a good life, and in return, you'll play the part of my wife."

Kaia felt a surge of anger at his words. Suitable? Desperate? But she knew she couldn't afford to show her emotions. She needed to think about her mother's health, and the medical bills that were piling up.

"What exactly does this contract entail?" Kaia asked, trying to sound businesslike.

Casca smiled, "We'll get married, and you'll play the part of my wife. You'll accompany me to social events, and you'll be a good hostess. In return, I'll pay off your mother's medical bills, and you'll receive a generous allowance.

Kaia's eyes narrowed. "And what about our living arrangements?"

"We'll live together, but separately," Casca said. "I value my privacy, and I expect you to respect that."

Kaia felt a shiver run down her spine at his words. This was a business arrangement, nothing more. She was just a means to an end, a way for Casca to fulfill his mother's demands.

"And what about love?" Kaia asked, trying to sound casual.

Casca's expression didn't change. "I don't do love," he said. "And I expect you to do the same. This is a business arrangement, nothing more."

Kaia felt a pang of disappointment, but she knew she couldn't afford to feel anything. She needed to focus on her mother's health, and the benefits this marriage could bring.

"Er-wha-what about s*x?" she blurted out immediately before she could control herself.

"Oh that. Time will tell and I won't force you. But I need an heir before the end of our 3-year contract marriage as that's the main reason I initiated the marriage in the first place. We could also go for IVF if you don't want to conceive naturally. End of story" he said and smirked, enjoying my flustered reaction.

"Okay," Kaia said finally, trying to sound confident. "I'll do it."

Casca's expression didn't change, but Kaia could sense a hint of satisfaction in his voice. "Good," he said. "I'll have my lawyer draw up the contract. We'll sign it tomorrow."

As Kaia stood up to leave, she felt a sense of unease. What had she just gotten herself into?

Just as she was about to leave the office, Casca's phone rang. He answered, his expression darkening as he listened to the person on the other end.

"I don't care," he said finally, his voice cold. "I'll take care of it."

Kaia felt a shiver run down her spine as she watched Casca's face. What was going on? Who was on the phone?

As she turned to leave, she heard Casca's voice behind her. "Kaia."

"Yes?" she turned to face him.

"Don't think about backing out," he said, his eyes glinting in the light. "I'll make sure you regret it if you do."

Kaia felt a chill run down her spine as she met his gaze. She knew she had just made a deal with a man who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. And she wondered if she had just made a huge mistake...

As she left the office, Kaia couldn't shake off the feeling that she was walking into a trap. And then, just as she was about to step out of the building, she heard a voice behind her.

"Kaia Wells," the voice said. "I never thought I'd see you again."

Kaia's heart skipped a beat as she turned to face the speaker. It was a woman, tall and elegant, with a look of hatred in her eyes.

"Who are you?" Kaia asked, trying to sound calm.

The woman smiled, a cold, calculating smile. "You'll find out soon enough," she said. "But for now, let's just say that you're in for a surprise."

And with that, the woman turned and walked away, leaving Kaia feeling shaken and confused. What did she mean? What surprise was she talking about? Kaia's mind was racing with questions as she watched the woman disappear into the crowd. And then, just as she was about to turn away, she saw something that made her blood run cold...

A figure that looked exactly like her ailing mother, dressed in an all-black outfit gently and breezily walked to her side, smiled briefly and walked away almost as quickly as she had come. Kaia paused, forgetting all her experience with the other strange woman in a second and quickly ran after the figure in a panic.

"Mom?! Mom!!" she frantically called out as she ran towards the corner she had seen the figure passed But she didn't see anyone.

"Please, did anyone see a chubby woman, average height, fair woman dressed in all black walking by here just now?" Kaia asked the corridor cleaners around, but they all nodded their heads in the negative while looking at Kaia suspiciously, like she had lost her mind.

Frustrated and having a bad feeling about her sick mother, Kaia took permission from the operations manager and ran out of the cafeteria as different bad thoughts sailed through her mind. Could it be that her mother was dead or something? What could be going on with her at the moment? Kaia wished she could just appear at her home already.

Just as she approached her home, she saw people gathering in twos and threes gisting, but as soon as each group saw her, they would quickly stop talking and disperse in different directions, leaving Kaia confused.

This continued until she got home. A few people were outside of her home whispering among themselves. As Kaia approached her home, the whispering group fell silent, their eyes fixed on her with a mix of curiosity and concern. She felt a shiver run down her spine as they parted ways, allowing her to pass. Kaia's heart sank as she pushed open the door, calling out, "Mom?”