Chapter 7
2008 Words
"What do you want?" he says rudely when we were at a red light.
"Huh?" I ask, rudely taken aback.
"Why do you keep on trying to talk to me? Just shut up and sit there," he snarls.
Okay now I was mad, "I'm sorry if I annoyed you Mr Xavier King, but as you can tell I really don't give a crap about how you feel." I retort, his jaw clenches with anger but at this point I really didn't care how he felt.
"You act like it's killing you to keep a conversation with me, how is anyone going to believe that we are engaged when you can't even talk to me?" I sass, he stays quiet for a moment.
"I suppose you are right about that..." he admits.
"Damn straight I'm right," I mutter.
"Okay so tell me about yourself," he says, keeping his eyes on the road as he drives.
"Umm well..." i stop to think "The only reason I took this job was for experience because i would like to have my own business one day."
"Well you're certainly taking steps in the right direction," he says and continues to advise me. I smile at the small progress.
Our discussion was cut short when we arrived at the restaurant. I entered the place whilst Xavier went to park the car. I see Mr. Walker sitting at a table and go to join him.
"Ah, Hello Miss Amelia." he shakes my hand.
"Good afternoon Mr Walker, shall we begin?" I say. We begin to discuss the deal but I keep on getting distracted by the fact that he is constantly touching my arm or brushing his arm against mine. I kept on wondering where Xavier was.
As if on cue, Xavier enters the restaurant. He winks at me as he walks to our table again.
Mr Walker's face is priceless.
He came and sat down next to me and greets Mr Walker as he places his hand on my leg. They discuss the deal over lunch.
I ordered ravioli, whilst Xavier and Mr Walker didn't order anything, they just talked. I didn't understand how you could be in a restaurant and not eat.
Xavier had signed the deal and we were getting ready to leave when Mr Walker said something that filled me with anxiety.
"I look forward to attending your wedding Mr King."
Chapter 9
XAVIER POV
As we get into the car I see that Amelia was looking distressed but I decided not to address it. She was silent for the entire ride and I was beginning to suspect that it was something from the meeting.
As soon as I park the car back at the office she jumps out and rushes off. I want to follow her and find out but I restrain myself.
She intrigued me.
She wasn't afraid to be honest with me, she would talk back to me and insult me without even giving it a second of a thought.
She didn't care if she offended me and that's what made her the perfect person to be my 'fiancé'. If I had asked someone else she would have probably tried to seduce me or get feelings involved.
But the other night when she kissed me at the party I felt something weird stir inside me. I shake it off, it was nothing major and I didn't need to treat it like it was.
She doesn't look stressed anymore as she was talking to the receptionist and I'm glad that I didn't have to even ask her. A small smile radiated off her face, she looked calm and pure.
I get to my office and get some work done when I see an email from Mr Russo. I open it to see he's requested a meeting.
I reply and we schedule a meeting at my office in an hour.
When he arrives Amelia escorts him to my office and gives me a thumbs up and mouths good luck before closing the door.
I smile internally, not showing it on the outside.
Her continual positive comments, her small smiles here and there went something went her way - I was starting to get habituated to it all.
"So Mr King," the meeting begins "I would like to make a different type of business deal with you."
"Go on," I say.
"I would like you to control my business in America. I'm getting old now, I want to stay in Italy peacefully with my family. These constant trips to the USA is bad for my health."
Mr Russo was a friend of my dad's and often visited us when I was young. My father was more interested in his business than his family, unlike Mr Russo who knew family came first.
I sat there dumbstruck for a moment, "Of course Mr Russo, it would be a pleasure."
"I know you child, you can show your excitement to me," he smiles and pats my back. I relax and let a small smile escape.
"This is an amazing opportunity, thank you." I admit.
"But I do have one condition." He says, holding his finger up as if to pause the happiness of the moment.
"Anything." I reply
"I will sign the contract at your wedding."
Oh f**k.
"Are you sure? We can sign it today, I'll still invite you to the wedding," I joke and try to change his mind.
"I was originally going to ask you to marry my daughter, Sofia, but I can see how much in love you are with Amelia." He smiles.
"That I am..." I sat through clenched teeth.
"Is something wrong?" He asks. I have to think of something that would make him let me sign it now.
"It's just we weren't going to rush, we were actually planning to get married next year, around Christmas." I lie.
"Son why are you waiting so long?" he asked, exasperated "You both love each other so much, why delay?"
I stayed silent.
"You're like a son to me and I want to see you settled down before I retire in Italy. If this contract is what makes you marry her quicker then that's what it'll take." he says, ending the discussion.
I couldn't blame him, he was only looking out for me since he thought the engagement was real.
Nodding in understanding, I shake his hand before he leaves my office. I try to drown myself into my work but can't stop thinking about what he said, and how I might have to marry Amelia.
I couldn't get any work done so I just end up sitting at my desk for some time, thinking. Finally, I decide what I need to do, for my business.
I'm going to marry Amelia Davis.
It was a crazy decision but business is business. I knew it would only be a temporary marriage and knowing Amelia, no feelings would get involved.
I call up my lawyers "I need a marriage contract," I tell him.
I hear him cough, probably choking on a drink when he heard what I said.I wasn't surprised, this would have come as a shock to anyone. He composes himself and we discuss the contract.
Apart from Amelia the only person who knew this engagement was fake was my lawyer, so he knew that I needed to fake the marriage.
A few hours later, I hear a gentle knock on my door. I get up and open it to see that Amelia is standing on the other side.
"Do you need me to do anything before I leave sir?" her soft voice asks. I could tell she was exhausted so I decided to tell her the news tomorrow instead.
"No you can leave, in fact I'm leaving as well." I say as I walk to the elevator with her. We stand there in silence the only sound the bell when the elevator reaches the ground floor.
As we exit the building I see that she's walking to the bus stop, it was quite dark and I didn't want her to go alone. "I can give you a ride home, if you want?" I ask awkwardly.
"You're being nice to me." she smiled lazily, more to herself. Without saying a word we both sit in my car and I drive her home. The car ride was silent, except the buzzing hum of the radio.
When we arrived at her door I walked her to her door. "Thanks for dropping me," she said, tiredly. And then she did something I did not expect.
She hugged me.
Her arms wrapped around my torso and her head rested on my chest. I stiffened for a moment before relaxing myself. Seconds later, as if she realised what she had just done she retracts herself from me.
"I'm sorry, I don't know why I did that I just-" she began babbling.
"Don't worry," I tell her which silences her.
"Good night Mr King." she smiled, before closing the door.
Any other day, that was a sure fire way for her to get fired but considering that tomorrow I would ask her to marry me, I let it slide.
The next morning I woke up extra early and got ready. I put on a black Armani suit and looked as if I was about to attend a funeral, but depending on Amelia's reaction when I tell her the news, there might be one.
I drive to her house, deciding I want her to accompany me to work. I'm trying to be nice to her so that she'll be more likely to accept my proposal. I end up waiting for about half an hour when I see her leave her house with her friend.
I honk my horn to catch her attention and her head turns to my direction. She and Jasmine walk to my window.
"Um...good morning sir?" she looks confused, as to why I'm there.
"I was driving to work and I saw you leave your house, would you like to drive with me?" I ask.
"Um, okay sure," she replies "Let me just put my walking shoes back inside then." she walks back into her house.
"What do you want Xavier?" Jasmine asks bluntly, the second Amelia leaves.
"I'm sorry?" I say.
"I saw your car standing here for the past half an hour," she says.
"You must have me confused with someone else." '
"Yeah because everyone drives a f*****g Ferrari and parks in front of my house." she says sarcastically.
"It's a Porsche. How do you not know that?" I groan.
"Maybe because I drive a f*****g Toyota!" she says, pointing at her car.
I just roll my eyes. "Anyway," Jasmine whispers "I see what's happening here, please don't hurt Amelia's feelings," she warns me concernedly.
"There are no feelings to hurt," I clarify. She just brushes off my comment before walking to her car. I turn to see Amelia standing, watching us argue, amusement dancing in her eyes.
"Gotta love Jasmine," she mutters as she sits in the car and I drive off.
When we get there I tell her to follow me into my office, intending to tell her the news. As we walk to the elevator together, I see dirty looks from envious women follow her.
After we've both sat down, I pour a glass of water, knowing she'll need it for what's coming. She gratefully takes it and sips on it slowly,
"So what did you need to tell me, sir?" she asks.
"I need you to marry me." I say.
Chapter 10
AMELIA POV
"I need you to marry me."
Bam.
The glass in my hand smashes onto the ground. Water and fragments of glass fly everywhere. Xavier is unaffected by my reaction and simply just calls the cleaner lady.
We sit in uncomfortable silence as she comes in and picks up the glass. I mumble her a quiet 'thank you' and she gives me a small smile.
"That was quite the overreaction." Xavier mutters, more to himself.
- Writer
