Chapter3
1801 Words
Love is a condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.
- Robert A. Heinlein
Laila was stood shell shocked, staring at him. Jake stared back at her, with a smile on his face she could only classify as predatory. Funny enough, it only stood to make him more handsome, dark, mysterious. He was dressed in a dark grey suit and she had only one word for him. Powerful.
“How do you know my name? How did you find me?” she asked.
“You seem nervous. Relax. Have a seat.” he said.
She slid into the opposite booth. He put his hand into his suit and held out something to her. Taking it, she realized it was her driver’s license. She didn’t even realize she didn’t have it anymore. So much for a sweet escape.
“Thanks” she said.
“You’re welcome” he replied, gazing at her in a calculating way, as if he were trying to figure something out. She felt a tad bit uncomfortable.
“Do you want a reward for this? I can get you a free burger or ……………” she said, her words trailing off as she waved her driver’s license around. He gave a chuckle.
“I can buy this place over sweetheart. No thank you” he said.
“Right. Thanks anyway.” she said, making a move to get up.
“I have a proposition for you. Sit.” he said. She sat back down.
“I know you’re broke.” he said.
“Excuse me?” she cried indignantly. “Who do you think you are to come here and throw that in my face?”
“Calm down. Now is not the time to throw a pride fit. I also know you owe over eight hundred and fifty thousand dollars in mortgage debt, among others.”
She stared at him in shock. “How do you know that?” she asked.
“I am a man of many means Miss Shepherd. I have the solution to all your problems.” he said.
“Which is? You have a gold mine somewhere?” she scoffed.
“Actually, I do” he said, straight faced. Somehow she had the sense that he wasn’t joking.
“So, what is the answer to all my problems?” she asked.
“Marry me” he said. She looked for signs of madness or intoxication. She found none. He was dead serious.
“You can’t possibly be serious. Are you insane?” she cried. Her voice rising above it’s normal tempo. She could see she was garnering a few curious looks from some diners and lowered her voice to reduce the attention.
“What do you mean by I should marry you? Is this some kind of sick joke?” she hissed at him over the table.
“No it isn’t. As I told you, I need to find a wife in the next six months. You’re a suitable candidate.” he said.
“Suitable candidate? You don’t even know me. What is this?" she asked.
“I know enough. I need to save my company. You marrying me would grant me just that.” Jake said.
“Your company? What does your company have to do with me?” she asked incredulously.
“Your marrying me will help me save it.”
“I have no business whatsoever with you and your company. And so far, all I’ve heard is you. What about me? How would me marrying you help me?” she asked, crossing her hands over chest and leaning into the booth.
“Ah.” he said, leaning into the booth as well. “Well, I clear your debts. All of them. And in addition to that, I give you the sum of five million dollars.” he said.
If she had a drink she would have choked on it. Five million dollars? That was a kings ransom. She stared at him in shock, trying to process the information she just heard.
“Five million dollars?” Laila croaked out.
“Yes Princess. Five million dollars. But if we add your debt we’re talking six or seven. But who’s really counting?”
“And where would you get that amount of money? You’re not a criminal are you?”
He c****d his head to the side. “You have no idea who I am, do you?”
Slowly, she shook her head. He sighed.
“You must be living under a rock Princess.”
“I have other pressing priorities.”
“Right.” he said. He looked like he knew her internet bill is just one of the many bills due she hasn’t been able to pay.
“Why me? You don’t know anything about me. You just met me.” Laila asked.
He furrowed his brows, like he was still trying to figure out the answer to that question himself. “You’re the only woman I’ve met in recent times that doesn’t piss me off, besides I know everything there is to know about you.”
“No you don’t.”
“Yes I do Princess.”
“Don’t call me that.”
He raised his hands in surrender.
“So, what do you say? It’s not like its for the rest of your life. It would only be for a year, after which you’re free to chase Prince Charming.” he asked.
“I don’t know.” she replied, still stunned.
Jake sighed. “Think about. But remember, I don’t have the luxury of time, then again neither do you.”
….………………………………………………………………………………….
Laila’s alarm went off promptly at six AM. She quickly shut it off and rolled over onto her back. Not that she had much sleep. She couldn’t stop thinking about the conversation with Jake Nelson last night, after which he offered to drop her off. He apparently wasn’t joking when he said he knew everything about her, because he took her home and delivered her to her doorstep without asking for her address. The man obviously had reach. She didn’t realize how much until she managed to pay her internet bill and ran a search on him upon getting home. He was the Jake Nelson, the CEO of the Nelson Group. It was one of the most successful companies in the world with businesses cutting across almost all fields and industries like agriculture, communications, manufacturing and technology. Laila’s head was spinning. The man was a billionaire. Five million dollars obviously meant nothing to him.
She stared at her ceiling, unseeing. This is literally the answer to her prayers. But, this is not the direction she wished her life would go. She’d hoped to meet the man of her dreams, fall in love and get married. Getting married to a practically a total stranger to clear her debts was nowhere near the plan.
Laila tried to think of the advantages of the situation. She could finally be debt free. She could start all over again, maybe go to college or become a pastry chef liked she’d always dreamed. This was almost too much to take in.
Deciding it’s best to keep her hands busy, Laila rolled out of bed and made her way towards the kitchen. Deciding to make croissants for breakfast, she put the coffee on and got to work. Whisking and kneading, she thought about the conversation once more. She knew that life doesn’t always go in the direction you expect it to. But a contract marriage? She couldn’t even tell Becca about it because Laila knew Becca would freak out. She would keep it to herself. It’s probably better that way.
She had just brought out the croissants from the oven when her doorbell went off. She frowned. She wasn’t expecting anyone. She walked to the door, fervently hoping it wasn’t another overdue bill. She looked through her peephole. This was the Bronx, one can never be too sure. She was surprised to see the side profile of a man she quickly recognized as Jake Nelson. She opened the door. He was dressed in another powerful suit, this time in dark blue. He brushed past her into the house. He turned to her with a scowl.
“You need to reinforce that door. Anybody could bring it down with one kick. I almost did.” he said.
“Thank you for showing restraint then.” she quipped sarcastically.
His scowl turned darker. She returned his scowl with a deliberately blank face. The energy between them was electrifying, she could feel the cackle in the air. He broke off eye contact to survey his surroundings, looking around her modest living room with the worn furniture and walls covered with family pictures and amateur artworks.
“Cozy.” he said. Laila rolled her eyes and walked into the kitchen, Jake at her heels. He took a seat at the counter.
“Have you given any thought to our conversation?” he asked.
Leaning against the sink, she sighed and crossed her hands over her chest. “Yeah.”
“And what do you say?”
She took her time, going over everything in her head. At the end, only one answer seemed plausible. “Yes.” she said, softly. He smiled at her.
“Knew you were a smart girl. And I hope you do know that this would remain between us.” Jake said. She rolled her eyes at him.
“Of course. I get five million dollars?” she asked.
“In addition to settling your debts, yes.”
“It’s only for a year?”
“Yes.”
“I want you to make a donation to a charity of my choosing.”
“Done.”
“And the marriage wouldn’t be consummated?” her face reddening as she uttered the words.
He leaned into his chair. “You do drive a hard bargain. Done.”
Laila sucked in a breath.
“I’m going to be introducing you to a world you are most unfamiliar with. I don’t expect you to be fully ready for it, but I expect you try. Of course you would have all the help you need at your disposal.” he said.
“Sure.” she said quietly.
“Hey.” he said while reaching for her hand. Strangely enough, she felt the rising panic attack in her chest quell and her breath ease. “You’ll be fine. I’ll be here with you.” She nodded.
“Okay. I take it we have a deal?” he said, holding out his hand.
Laila hesitated. Finally she took his hand, his grip strong and firm.
“Deal.”
I might just have made a deal with the devil, she thought to herself.
- Writer
