FATE SEALED IN INK

Episode 3

Adeline’s POV

I like my job. I need My job. I have bills to pay. I can’t sleep on the street.

This has been my chant since I came in today. Last night got worse after the sexy stranger left. More rude and arrogant rich men came up with their impatience and drunk selves. I even had to clean up after some spoiled boy that threw up on the counter.

It’s a lot calmer during the daytime though. Said business men are out in their companies making decisions and cheques. I like to think of it as the calm before the storm.

Since the bar isn’t as full, I go to clean the table after a customer leaves. Any period of inactivity would cause me to begin to think about my life and misfortunes, so I jump at every open task.

I sense him before I see him. I know he sees me.

My hair covers the look of confusion on my face as to why he’s here while I keep cleaning the already clean table. I look back to see him walking towards Mr. Gomez’s office and my heart sinks to my stomach at the thought of our encounter last night.

“Mr. Gomez is asking for you Adeline,” some girl comes to tell me a few minutes later and the panic fully settles in.

Well s**t.

I take a deep breath and smoothen my skirt before heading towards the office. After knocking, I step inside and freeze as I am greeted with yet another intense gaze from him. Maintaining eye contact, my body refuses to move as everything around me disappears and it’s just us both. He slowly lets his gaze travel up and down, subtly checking me out until Mr. Gomez clears his throat. My brain finally remembers to function and commands my legs to move towards the chair.

“Adeline, this is Mr. Roderick Faye.” Mr. Gomez says. “He has come here with an offer for you,” he says and I narrow my eyes in confusion.

“An offer?” I ask and he nods.

"If we could go out, Miss Adeline," Roderick says in a baritone voice that sends a thrill through me, making me feel like a lovestruck teenager.

“Umm, sh-sure,” I stutter. My legs once again give up on me and begin to wobble as I stand. I glance at Roderick to see he is already looking at me, concern etched on his face, and I smile.

“Are you okay Adeline?” he asks with a light chuckle and I nod.

No Mr. Faye. I most certainly am not okay.

He gestures toward the door, letting me go first, either out of chivalry or so he can catch me if my legs give up on me again.

“I’m not going to lie Miss Adeline, you’re the first girl to have ever treated me that way,” he says, and I cover my face in embarrassment.

“I’m so sorry Mr. Faye. It was my first day and all my co-workers and customers I had come across made things so unbearable for me.”

“I’m not offended don’t worry. I found it amusing actually” he says, and I laugh a little.

“I’m sorry Mr. Faye,” I say and calm down when he smiles. “So… the offer?” I ask, my impatience getting to me.

“Oh yes. And please… call me Rick,” he starts, and I nod. “Judging through the state of your job and well your looks I can say you’re not in the best financial position,” he says, and I glare at him.

“Just because you’re rich doesn’t give you the right to say that to me,” I retort, and he sighs.

“Do you want to hear what I have to say or not?” he asks in a tone that matches mine. I nod, resentment for him slowly growing.

“I want you to marry me,” he says, and I choke on my saliva. I begin to cough aggressively, and he motions for a glass of water. I take it and drink it quickly, his face full of worry.

“Are you okay Adeline?” he asks, and I stare at him like he had grown ten silver heads.

“Stop asking me that like I’m a goddamn child,” I yell, calming myself down when I see the glances the others shoot at me. “Of course I’m not okay Mr. Faye. Why would you even ask me that kind of question?”

“It’s Rick,” he corrects, and I glare at him.

“What do you mean can I marry you? I made you a martini yesterday and all of a sudden you want us to spend the rest of our lives together,” I reply, and he rolls his eyes at my outburst.

“It wouldn’t be for the rest of our lives Adeline. A year at most,” he starts and sighs at the look on my face. “Listen, all we need to do is convince my father that we are in love, get married, I get the company for good and then we get a divorce months later months later,” he explains casually as if we were having a conversation about the weather.

“What do I get out of all this?”

“A million dollars,” he says, and my eyes shoot open in surprise. “Five hundred thousand at the signing of the contract and the rest at the end. You would also have additional money to improve your wardrobe, hair, and the rest,” he says, and I hold my hands up to stop him.

“If I look as bad as you continuously point out, why are you here?”

“Because… the girls I hook up with wouldn’t do enough convincing as someone like you would.”

“And what is someone like me?” I ask, my anger getting harder to suppress.

“Do you want the money or not Adeline,” he starts, his voice sounding like he’d be anywhere but here. “I have my assistant drawing up a contract and I can get it delivered to you by tomorrow.”

I have seen different types and levels of delusion, but never have I seen it this bad.

“I’m not some w***e that you can make do your bidding for a million dollars Mr. Faye. I have a lot more dignity than you give me credit for, and I work hard for my money. Thank you for your consideration but it’s a no from me,” I reply after some time, maintaining a straight face despite the look on his face.

“But you’re poor,” he says bluntly, and I narrow my eyes at him.

“All you’ve been doing since we’ve met you is show what a prick you rich people are. Not only have you called me poor, but you’ve also degraded my looks more times than I can count in just one sitting. I don’t know who you take me for, but I cannot be with someone that talks to me like I’m gum under their shoes. I’m sure there’s a lot of people who would be more than thrilled to take up the offer and marry you. Goodbye,” I say as I stand up. My legs wobble out of anger, and I lean on the table for support.

He sighs and reaches out and grabs my arm to stop me. I look at him and scrunch my face in disgust at the arrogant look on his face.

“Let go of me,” I say sharply, ripping my hand away from his grip. Without a word, he reaches into his pocket and slaps his card his card on the table.

“Take it,” he commands. “Call me when you change your mind.”

Maintaining eye contact, I pick up the card and raise it to the space between us.

“No,” I retort right before I rip it and let the pieces fall to the table.

I watch as his eyes close and his fists clench. He mumbles a few words before he opens his eyes. His eyes were so bloodshot that it made me want to crawl into a hole, away from his gaze. Regardless, I stood my ground and hid my fear, determination flowing through my veins. The tension between us so thick that it was getting suffocating. Here I was, a bartender under the gaze of a ruthless businessman who could ruin me and everything I hold dear with the snap of his fingers.

“You wouldn’t want to reject my offer Adeline,” he says curtly, and I laugh.

“And who the hell do you think you are to tell me what I can and cannot do,” I retort, and he smirks.

“Trust me princess,” he starts as he walks towards to me, lightly grazing his hand across my jaw. He leans into my ear and a familiar trail of electricity made its way through my spine. “You do not want to mess with Roderick Faye,” he whispers, resting his hand on the small of my back.

“Go to hell,” I say softly into his ear. Pulling away with a smirk, I walk out, resisting the ye

arning of my body for his touch on my skin.