Chapter 5: The Fiancée
432 Words
Her name was Vanessa.
She didn’t walk into the office. She floated.
Tall. Blonde. Designer suit. A smile that cost $10,000.
And on her finger, a diamond ring that made my fake wedding band look like plastic.
“Baby!” Her voice echoed through the whole floor.
Everyone stopped typing.
She ran straight to Aiden’s office and threw her arms around his neck.
He didn’t stop her.
My chest caved in.
Contract or not, that still hurt.
“Meeting in 5,” Aiden said to his secretary. His voice was normal. Cold. Professional.
Then he glanced at me.
For half a second his eyes met mine.
Was that guilt? Regret?
Before I could tell, he turned back to Vanessa and laughed at something she said.
I sat at my desk. Head down. Fingers shaking on the keyboard.
I wasn’t typing anything.
Mrs. Cross.
That’s what the housekeeper called me this morning.
But in here, I was nobody.
The secretary whispered to me, “Don’t take it personally. He’s been with Vanessa for 3 years. It’s for the company merger.”
So it was business. Just like ours.
Why did mine feel worse?
An hour later my phone buzzed. Unknown number.
`Meet me at the cafe downstairs. 1pm. -V`
Vanessa.
My stomach dropped.
What could she possibly want with me?
1pm came fast.
She was already there. Latte. No sugar. Sunglasses inside.
“Zuri, right?” She smiled. It didn’t reach her eyes.
“Sit.”
I sat.
“I know about the contract.” She stirred her coffee. Clink. Clink.
“My lawyer sent me photos. You and Aiden. Signing papers.”
I couldn’t breathe. “It’s not what you think.”
“Save it.” She leaned forward. “Look, I don’t care how you got the wife title.
But I’m going to be Mrs. Cross. For real. The wedding is in 3 months. The merger depends on it.”
She slid an envelope across the table.
Inside: a check. 8 zeros.
“This is for you to disappear. After the press conference. Take the money and go.”
My hands shook. That was more money than my mom’s surgery. More than 10 years of rent.
“I…” I started.
“You have 24 hours to decide.” She stood up. “Don’t make me ruin you, Zuri. I’m warning you as a woman to woman.”
She walked out.
I sat there holding a check that could save my family.
And a wedding ring hidden under my sleeve that said I was already family.
What do I do now?
- Writer
