The Arrangement

8

Joy adjusted the strap of her handbag as she glanced around her bedroom for what felt like the hundredth time.

Her suitcase stood neatly beside the door, zipped shut and ready to go. It wasn't particularly large, just enough to hold the essentials she thought she'd need for the next few days. If she'd forgotten anything, she could always come back for it later.

Her phone buzzed in her hand, it was her mother calling.

"Joy?" Her mother's voice immediately eased some of the tension in her chest.

"Hi, mum. How are you doing?"

"I've been thinking..." Florence hesitated before continuing. "Can't you wait a little longer? I'll be back in a few hours. At least let me see you off before you leave."

Joy smiled despite herself. "Mum, honestly, it's not necessary."

"But…" Joy cut her off as she rolled her eyes.

"Mum, calm down. It's not like I'm travelling abroad, I'm just moving to another part of the city."

"Well, it sure feels like you're travelling overseas."

Joy's smiled softly. "I'm only moving across the city."

"I know. It just feels… never mind.”

Joy forced herself to laugh. "It's just a house, I can come and go whenever I want to"

Florence sighed on the other end. "I still wish I were there."

"Stop, you don’t have to. I'm fine." Joy sighed with annoyance as she massaged the back of her neck.

"I don't like the thought of you going alone."

Joy rolled her eyes. Wasn't she going to stop? Her mother worried too much.

"I'm fine."

There was silence. "You sound nervous." Florence said over the phone and Joy couldn't help but groan loudly.

"I didn’t even say anything! Aren't you going to stop?"

"You've always been a terrible liar."

Joy rolled her eyes even though her mother couldn't see it.

"I'm hanging up."

"I know you're frightened."

"I'm not frightened. Goodbye mum. Love you." Joy replied automatically as she hung up. She threw her phone onto her bed as she glared at it.

She wasn’t afraid, just uncertain.

Liam belonged to a world she had only ever seen in magazines and television dramas. She, on the other hand, had spent the last month worrying about unpaid bills. How was she supposed to fit into that world?

She felt like a fraud, like someone pretending to belong somewhere she had no business being.

Then again… That was exactly what this arrangement was. A carefully crafted lie.

She released a quiet breath and the room suddenly felt far too quiet.

Joy stood and lightly patted the suitcase. “I hope I'm not forgetting anything important."

She looked around once more to make sure any necessary thing had already been placed inside the suitcase. Everything seemed to be there.

Satisfied enough, she sat back down on the edge of the bed.Within seconds, her right leg began bouncing. She stopped it, only for it to start again two seconds later.

She sighed.

"This is ridiculous." Unable to stay still, she stood once more and walked towards the window.

She peered through the curtains, looking first to the left, then to the right, looking for luxury cars that screamed wealth, that was one way to know it was Liam. Luxury that didn't belong in her part of the city.

She saw nothing. No sign that Liam Owen's driver had arrived.

She stepped away from the window and stopped in front of the full-length mirror as she stared at her reflection.

Her long hair had been tied neatly into a ponytail.

A peach satin blouse complemented the fitted black palazzo trousers she wore, while a pair of black heels added just enough height without looking excessive. Her makeup was light, giving off a simple and elegant look.

She nodded once. "I look... presentable." Hopefully.

Before she could overthink it any further, her bedroom door swung open.

Joy gasped, pressing a hand against her chest.

Richard paused in the doorway.

"You nearly gave me a heart attack!"

He frowned. "I walked in normally."

"No, you didn't."

"I literally opened the door how you always tell me to. I didn’t slam it"

"You scared me." She glared at him as she sat on the bed again.

He folded his arms. "That's because you're already worked up."

"I'm not."

"Yes you are, don't even bother arguing with me." He said as he fully walked in.

"I'm perfectly calm."

Richard looked at her bouncing foot. "Your leg disagrees."

Joy immediately stopped moving. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Richard smiled bitterly. "This whole fake marriage thing has you completely out of sorts. Just cancel the whole thing."

"You are wrong, Richard."

He decided not to argue. Instead, his gaze drifted towards the suitcase.

"Is that everything?"

"Yes."

He walked over and nudged it lightly with his foot.

"This thing's huge."

"It isn't."

"It looks like you're moving in with him, did you take all your stuff?" He asked playfully, as he opened her closet to check.

Joy rolled her eyes. "It's just my necessities."

She gestured towards it. "And I am moving in with Liam, obviously. It was in the contract."

Richard's expression darkened.

"That's literally what's happening." She met his eyes as she continued. "You need to come to terms with it, and please support me."

He looked away. There were a dozen things he wanted to say. That there had to be another way.

That she didn't need to sacrifice three years of her life pretending to be married to a wealthy scumbag that she hadn’t even met before now, there was literally a lot of red flags waving at her to stop.

That she was choosing the quickest solution instead of the right one. But every argument had already been made and neither of them had changed their minds.

He wasn't about to ruin her last few minutes at home with another fight. Instead, he asked quietly,

"You sure?"

"I'm not changing my mind, the contract's already signed." She looked down at her hands.

"And... we should probably be receiving the first payment soon."

Richard hated the word in this situation. We. As though he had agreed to any of this.

"I don't need that douchebag's money."

Joy opened her mouth. Before she could respond, Richard bent down, grabbed the suitcase with both hands and lifted it. It was heavier than he'd expected.

Without looking back, he hurried towards the door.

He already knew whatever Joy was about to say would only make him angrier and he wasn't in the mood to hear it.

Liam Owen sat behind his desk, reviewing the latest financial report. The steady rhythm of his pen against the paper came to a stop when his office door opened.

John Owen entered without knocking. His commanding presence filled the room before he spoke a single word.

Liam removed his glasses and leaned back in his chair. He almost sighed.Almost, but his father noticed.

"The disappointment on your face," he said evenly, "had better not be because you've failed to find yourself a bride."

A quiet chuckle escaped Liam. "I told you I had."

He folded his hands on the desk. "My fiancée is moving into my house today." He said as he looked at his watch. "She should be on her way already."

John regarded him carefully. Suspicion lingered in his eyes.

Liam smiled at the look. "You didn't think I was serious? You know me. If I say I'll do something, I do it."

John remained silent for a long moment.

"I'm not interested in arguing.” He said finally. “But you'd better not be joking about something this important."

He turned towards the door. "Get your jacket."

Liam blinked. "Why?"

"We're going to welcome your fiancée."

A crease appeared between Liam's brows. "Is that really necessary? I'm sure she already knows she's welcome, and I doubt she'd expect anyone to…" John cut him off.

"There's much you still have to learn." He looked directly at his son. "Never assume what your wife wants, a husband who assumes quickly becomes a poor husband."

The word wife made Liam cough discreetly into his fist. He recovered almost immediately. Before either of them could continue, the office door opened again.

Cameron walked in with Sophie beside him. His grin was impossible to miss.

"I heard we're welcoming our future sister-in-law!"

Liam pinched the bridge of his nose. "You have an incredible talent for appearing where you aren't wanted."

"I've worked very hard to develop it."

John shook his head in disappointment. "The pair of you are fools."

He walked over to Sophie. "How have you been?"

"I've been well, Mr Owen." She smiled softly as they hugged.

"You should come by for tea sometime. Try to make time for it."

"I'd love to." She answered with a sweet laugh.

John gave a brief nod before looking towards Cameron.

"And when exactly are you planning to marry this young woman? Are you going to stay engaged forever."

Cameron laughed. "I was actually…"

"I don't want to hear your excuses."

Sophie couldn't help but laugh as Liam groaned.

"Could you guys take this conversation somewhere else?"

He stood and offered Sophie a polite smile. "Sorry I didn't greet you earlier."

She waved it away. "I've known you long enough."

John spoke again. "Tell your driver to prepare the car, we're leaving."

Liam shot Cameron a look that clearly asked for help to get out of the situation of going to welcome his ‘bride-to-be’. Cameron only smiled wider, he walked over, gave Liam a firm slap on the shoulder and reached for the jacket hanging nearby.

"Come on." He handed it over. "This is a wonderful idea." He lowered his voice dramatically. "Women love thoughtful gestures."

He wiggled his eyebrows. "She's going to fall in love with you all over again."

Liam stared at him as though he'd lost his mind. Then he slapped Cameron's hand away.

"Stop talking."

Cameron chuckled. Still smiling, he discreetly squeezed Liam's shoulder, the silent warning was obvious. Behave.

Too much depended on this arrangement for either of them to make a mistake now and get caught. And they had barely begun.