A Fiance For The Holiday

Chapter 004: The Contract

~OLIVIA~

I clench my fist as I stare at the last person I had expected to see. How did he find my home, and what could he possibly want?

"What the hell are you doing here?!" I yell but he seems unfazed as he tucks his hands into his pocket.

"Is this how you treat your savior?" He asks as he tilts his head to the side.

"Savior? Is that what you think you are?" I ask as I roll my eyes.

"I sent off those loan sharks, did I not?"

"You just stood there while this man did all the work!" I snap my fingers at the man standing next to him who had a much more appeasing charisma and seems to be enjoying the exchange between me and Mr. monkey face.

"Well sorry to disappoint you, Cinderella, but your prince charming does not like getting his hands dirty."

"If you're done talking, then get out of my house." I say and turn to mom who still seems shocked by what had happened.

"I'm okay, mom. Don't worry." I say to her with a reassuring smile.

"Who is this man, Liv?" Mom asks with a weary expression.

"He's no one important, and he was just leaving. Right?" I turn to the annoying stranger who was yet to move from his position.

"Believe me, Cinderella, I'd rather be elsewhere but unfortunately for both of us, I can't leave this place empty handed." I furrow my brows at his words.

Can't leave empty handed? What is that supposed to mean?

"What do you want?" I ask with a frown.

"You." He answers firmly, his gaze not leaving my face and my heart skips a beat at his response.

"What?" My voice comes out as a whisper.

"I did not have water in my mouth when I responded the first time." He says as he stretches his hand to the man standing next to him and the man hands him a folder. "I believe we could both be of help to each other, Cinderella."

"My name is NOT Cinderella!" I snap but he doesn't say anything else, and simply stretches the folder towards me.

I stare at it without making a move, and a frown appears on his face.

"Would you take the damn thing already?! My arm is beginning to ache."

"What is that?" I ask, glaring at him.

"It is a contract agreement, Ms. Olivia." The other man responds and I widen my eyes.

"How did you know my name?"

"It's nothing special, stop acting like a kid." Mr. monkey face replies and again I'm fighting the urge to slap him hard on his face.

Could this man be any less annoying?

"A contract agreement for what?" I ignore his remark and turn back to the man beside him.

"I think it would be best if you read the document, Ms." The man responds politely.

I hesitate at first but then I slowly take the folder from Mr. monkey face, open it and read out the heading.

"Marriage Contract?!" I exclaim as I snap my head up, staring at both men with a perplex expression.

"What the hell is this?!"

"Don't act too surprised. Wasn't this what you had hoped for when you threw yourself at me two weeks ago?"

The room echoes with the sound of a hard slap and I gasp as I stare at mom who is now in front of me. I did not even notice when she had moved but from the rising and falling motion of her chest, I could tell she is angry.

"I have had enough! I won't just stand here and let you disrespect my daughter!" Mom yells, and there is a look of horror on both men's faces.

"Mrs. Denovan, please try to understand that we're not here to cause any trouble." The nice looking man says with an apologetic gaze while Mr. monkey face stylishly rubs his cheek before adjusting his suit.

"It seems slapping men runs in the family." He says as he tucks his hand into his pockets.

"Xavier, you're not helping matters."

So that's his name...

"Shut up, Emmanuel!" Xavier snaps at the man next to him.

Emmanuel... I have a feeling I would get along more with him than this arrogant monkey named Xavier.

"If you want something from us then get to the point without disrespecting me or my daughter in any way!" Mom snaps and Xavier bobs his head.

"Very well then. I know that your family is struggling financially lately, and I'm willing to pay every penny and more, if your daughter signs that contract." Xavier explains and I read the document again.

Indeed it states that he would pay all outstanding debts and extra, if I agree to pretend to be his fiance for two months. There are other terms listed on the document but I don't read them as I raise my head up to him.

"Why me? You seem well off, why not give this to someone else?" I ask curiously.

"Because, Cinderella, it wasn't someone else who walked out of that room that day. Believe me when I say that this brings me no pleasure but I have no other choice. It has to be you." He responds.

"What do you mean you have no other choice?" I ask and he slams his pam on his forehead.

"I think you should read that contract again. Clause 2 to be precise." He responds while letting out a low grumbling sound.

I open the folder and search for clause 2.

"Party A is not obliged to answer questions from Party B if found intrusive or irrelevant." I read out loud.

"And your question is just that." He responds.

"So what, I'm just supposed to sign this without knowing what I'm getting myself into?" I ask with a frown.

"Everything you need to know is attached to that document. Any other question is either irrelevant or intrusive." Xavier responds dryly and I turn to mom with a questionable gaze.

"Don't do it, Liv. You don't know these people." She says with a pleading gaze.

"I can't let those tugs come back to harass you, mom. Even if I take several part time jobs, it won't be enough to pay them off on time." I explain but she shakes her head.

"We will find a way. I won't let you sell yourself to these people."

"I'm not selling myself, mom. It's a simple arrangement, like being in a movie. And I'll be back before you know it—"

"No. I don't want you to leave." Mom's eyes are teary now, and I can't stop myself from tearing up too.

This isn't how I had intended on spending my holiday but what can I do? It seems like the only way out of the mess Lucas had put us in.

"You promise to pay up the loan?" I ask as I turn back to the men.

"The loan and more—"

"I don't need anymore from you. Just pay up the loan, that's it." I cut him off and he nods.

"Olivia, please reconsider. There has to be another way." Mom holds my hand and I feel her hands trembling. I can understand her worry but she has nothing to worry about. I won't leave her like dad did, I'll definitely come back to her.

"Don't worry about me, mom. I can take care of myself." I say to her with a reassuring smile even though my heart is thudding violently against my chest.

"She's right, mother in-law. I wouldn't be worried if I were you." Xavier says with a smirk but it vanishes the moment mom turns to him, her expression cold and unwelcoming.

"I am not your mother-in-law, and until this contract is over, you better not hurt my daughter or I'll make sure you regret it." Mom threatens and even I feel goosebumps all over my body.

I never knew she had that side to her and I love it!

"If she behaves, then we both won't have anything to worry about." Xavier responds with a shrug and mom balls her fists in anger.

"I can assure you, Mrs. Denovan, no harm will come to your daughter." Emmanuel steps in and mom seems to relax a bit.

I let out a sigh and flip to the last page of the document which has the signature space.

"Here you go." Emmanuel says this as he hands me a pen even before I ask.

I smile faintly at him as I take the pen, exhaling deeply before signing the document.

"Perfect then, let's go." Xavier says the moment I close the folder.

"Right now?" I ask with a frown.

"Didn't you hear when I said I won't be leaving empty handed? We leave tonight, Cinderella. Manuel will take care of your mother."

"What do you mean take care of my mother?!" I snap as I yank my hand away when he tries to grab it.

"I can't have my mother-in-law stay in a place like this. Manuel will move her to a better apartment and you'll be sent the address."

"That wasn't part of our agreement!" I yell as I glare hard at him.

"Does it matter? It's for your own good, now stop being stubborn and come with me." Xavier says as he tries to grab my hand again but I step back.

"Don't touch me, I'll walk on my own." He smirks as he walks closer to me and leans down, his lips close to my ear and I can feel his hot breath on my neck which sends shivers down my spine.

"Now you don't want me to touch you? I clearly remember you screaming at the top of your voice that night as you begged me to go faster, harder—" I push him off immediately and I feel my cheeks burn, the feeling of embarrassment washing over me.

"You're shameless!" I glare at him, my heart beating so fast, that I feared it might explode.

Xavier lets out a throaty chuckle as he turns around and walks out of the living room.

"Come along now, Cinderella." I hear him call out and I clench my fists.

"Go on then, Ms. Olivia. I'll take good care of your mother." Emmanuel says with a reassuring smile and I turn to mom, who forces a smile on her face.

"Go on, sweetheart. I'll be fine." She says but her voice breaks at the end, giving her away.

"I haven't even packed yet."

"That won't be necessary, Ms. Everything has already been taken care of." Emmanuel replies and I bob my head slightly.

I hug mom tightly and for a moment, I didn't want to let go.

"I'll call you as soon as I can, mom, okay?" I say as I finally force myself to let go.

Mom nods her response and I walk away, taking one final glance at her before leaving the house.

I'm barely half way away when I hear mom's heartbreaking sobs.

She's crushed.

I force my tears back as I make my way to where the car is parked. I get in and shut the door, not wanting to hear mom's sobs else I won't be able to hold mine anymore.

"Are you ready?" I hear Xavier's soft tone that takes me by surprise.

I turn to him and his gaze is surprisingly calm as well.

Where is Mr. monkey face and what has he done with him?

"Yes." I respond before turning to the window, and Xavier starts the car and drives off without saying another word.

It is snowing lightly outside and the streets are decorated with star shaped lights and multicolored lightbulbs, lighting up every pathway. Some shops had Christmas trees mounted at the entrance while others were simply decorated with red roses.

Everyone seems ecstatic about the holiday seasons as it brings along with it joy, laughter, love and happiness, thus, the Christmas spirit. I was excited to spend it with my family after being away for so long, but now I'm leaving once more, and doing the exact opposite.

I turn to Xavier whose gaze remains focused on the steering wheel, and a sigh escapes my lips.

I just hope I don't regret this.