Chapter Five: The Decision
983 Words
Claire barely slept that night.
She tossed and turned, her mind replaying Austin’s words over and over again. Marry me. Six months. No strings attached.
It sounded absurd. Insane. Dangerous.
And yet… It also sounded like the only way out.
The bakery’s bills were piling higher each month. Suppliers were threatening to cut them off. Her mother’s medication was due for renewal next week. And Claire’s own savings — the little she’d scraped together from double shifts — had almost vanished.
She sat up in bed, rubbing her temples. “I can’t marry a stranger,” she whispered to herself. “No matter how desperate things are.”
But the thought wouldn’t go away.
Austin Blake — the man she’d accidentally spilled coffee on — had appeared in her life like a storm. Confidence. Unshakable. Too sure of himself.
And now, he was offering to fix everything with a single, impossible proposal.
What kind of man does that? she wondered.
Someone who was used to control. Someone who never heard “no.”
The next morning, the smell of freshly baked bread filled the air. Her mother hummed softly as she arranged pastries by the window.
Claire forced a smile. “Morning, Mom.”
“Morning, sweetheart,” Mrs. Williams said warmly. “You look tired. Rough night?”
Claire nodded weakly. “Yeah. Couldn’t sleep.”
Her mother frowned. “You’re worrying again, aren’t you? I told you, we’ll manage somehow. We always do.”
But Claire could see the exhaustion behind her mother’s brave smile — the fine lines deepening, the slow way she moved. They weren’t managing. Not anymore.
She turned away, pretending to wipe the counter just so her mother wouldn’t see her eyes glisten.
By noon, Claire stepped outside for air. The sky was pale and cloudy, the kind of day that matched her mood perfectly.
She walked aimlessly down the street until she found herself sitting on a bench near the park, clutching the small white card in her hand.
Austin’s business card.
Elegant. Minimal. Cold.
Just like him.
She traced the embossed letters with her thumb.
Austin Blake, CEO — Blake Enterprises.
“Marry me,” she murmured again, shaking her head. “He’s out of his mind.”
“Talking to yourself again?”
Claire looked up to see her best friend, Maya Thompson, standing in front of her with two cups of coffee.
“Maya,” she sighed with relief. “You scared me.”
“That’s because you looked like you were about to jump into another universe,” Maya said, sitting beside her. “What’s wrong?”
Claire hesitated. Then she handed her the card. “You’re not going to believe this.”
Maya raised a brow. “Try me.”
Five minutes later, after Claire explained everything, Maya nearly choked on her coffee.
“He what?!”
“I told you it’s crazy.”
“Crazy? It’s psychotic! He’s rich, arrogant, and probably has a team of lawyers who chew people up for breakfast. Claire, this sounds like a trap!”
“I know,” Claire said softly. “But… it could also be a way out. Mom’s bakery is falling apart, Maya. We’re drowning in debt. If I don’t do something soon—”
Maya shook her head. “Not this, Claire. There has to be another way.”
“There isn’t,” Claire said quietly. “I’ve looked. Every door is closed.”
Maya groaned, running a hand through her curls. “What if he’s lying? What if he just wants something from you?”
Claire let out a humorless laugh. “He already said what he wants — a fake wife. For six months. After that, it’s over.”
“And you believe him?”
“No,” Claire admitted. “But I don’t have a choice.”
The silence between them stretched.
Finally, Maya spoke again, softer this time. “You’re really considering it, aren’t you?”
Claire looked down at her lap. “If it means saving my mom’s bakery… yes.”
Maya sighed heavily. “Then promise me something.”
“What?”
“If you’re going to do this, go in with your eyes open. Protect yourself. Don’t let him control you.”
Claire nodded. “I won’t.”
“Good,” Maya said, squeezing her hand. “And if he hurts you — even a little — I’ll personally dump sugar in his fancy car engine.”
That made Claire laugh, a small, broken sound that still felt good.
“Deal.”
That night, Claire sat by her bedroom window, staring at the lights of the city. Somewhere out there, Austin Blake was probably sipping wine in a penthouse, completely sure she’d call.
She hated that he was right.
She hated that she needed him.
With trembling hands, she picked up her phone and dialed the number on the card.
It rang once. Twice. Then his voice — deep, steady, unmistakably calm — came through.
“Claire.”
He didn’t even sound surprised.
“You knew I’d call,” she said quietly.
“I hoped you would,” he replied.
Her heart thudded painfully in her chest. “I’ve thought about your offer.”
“And?”
She took a shaky breath. “I’ll do it.”
There was a brief silence — then, a smile in his voice. “Good. I’ll have my lawyer send over the contract tomorrow morning.”
Claire closed her eyes. “This doesn’t mean I trust you.”
“I wouldn’t expect you to,” he said smoothly. “But I promise, you won’t regret it.”
“We’ll see about that,” she muttered, and hung up.
She dropped the phone onto her lap and buried her face in her hands.
Her pulse was racing, her stomach twisting with fear.
There was no turning back now.
- Writer
