Chapter Two
1212 Words
"I do not see any ring on your finger," he said, his brow furrowing.
"Actually, I... " I hesitated, holding my forehead.
"And why do you seem so familiar?" He leaned into my face, his gaze intense. His low voice sent chills down my spine.
"Sir," a feminine voice called from the doorway, and our gazes shifted. She sashayed into the office, stilettos clicking against the marble floor.
"I am sorry, but none of the ladies agreed to come with me," she said, her lashes fluttering.
"Nevermind, Flora. "It is no longer important," he said as he returned to his seat.
"I thought your father really wanted you to introduce your fiancee to him today?" She asked, gently bumping me as she stood at his table, but I was quick to grab hold of myself.
"I already did, Flora," he said, placing the signed paper in the file.
"What are you implying?"
He interrupted her sentence with his intense gaze.
"I am sorry, Sir," she said, her eyes lowered.
"You had better be more than sorry," he snapped.
"Do you want me to do anything for you?" She asked with a strained smile.
"No," he responded, tapping the keypad on his desk.
"Okay… who is she?" She inquired, nodding toward me.
"Jannie Wills," He replied.
"Why is she here?"
He paused typing and raised his gaze to her.
"The last time I checked, you are my secretary, and you should be the one to inform me of the intentions of my visitors," his face was expressionless.
"But…"
"It is too early for your frivolous excuses, Flora," he stated.
"Leave; we will talk later."
"But I arrived late because you had sent me on an errand," she explained.
"Alright, errand girl. "Where is the fake fiancee I asked you to bring me?" he swayed in his seat.
"Not one of them agreed to come."
"Funny," he said, clenching his jaw.
"After so many unsuitable dates, none of the girls whose contacts my matchmaker sent to you agreed to show up?"
"Perhaps, Sir, you should consider other options rather than relying on a matchmaker," she said, rubbing the back of her neck.
"You of all people should know how busy I am," he retorted.
I felt awkward standing there. So I decided to go back to Mr. Smith and explain the situation to him.
Just as I turned to leave, the CEO called out.
"Jannie?"
I turned back.
"Flora would take you shopping at a private boutique so you could get home and prepare for the dinner."
"Okay, Sir," I nodded, even though I did not agree with what he was saying.
Flora's eyes rolled up in disgust as I looked at her.
"Flora!" He called out.
"Yes, sir," she said, smiling.
"If anything happens to her, consider yourself as good as dead," he said, and her smile faded into a blank expression.
"Yes, Sir," she replied with a bow and approached me.
"Come with me," she demanded, snapping her fingers sharply.
"Flora!" He called out, and she froze in her tracks, rolling her eyes before facing him.
"She is my fiancee, so treat her with respect."
Flora's eyes widened, but the CEO ignored her silence and turned away.
She raised an eyebrow at me and said, "Please, come with me ma'am," before we left the office.
------------------------------------------
I adjusted my brown contact lenses while watching my sister pace across the room out of the corner of my eye.
"Honestly, Jannie, I do not understand what is going on right now," she said, her brow furrowed.
Looking at her, I asked, "What exactly do not you understand?"
She stopped in her tracks, turned to me, narrowed her eyes, and exclaimed,
"You are marrying a man who is supposed to be your boss!"
I looked in the mirror and raised my brow as my lips curled slightly.
"I told you that after dinner, I will tell him that I am not interested in the marriage," I reassured, adjusting my fake mole on my chin.
"What kept you from telling him when he invited you over?" Anna yelled as she moved closer to me, arms outstretched.
"Because I was invited by his dad!" I spoke softly, my gaze fixed on my reflection.
"You could have simply said no," she exclaimed, punching her palm.
"And blow up his cover? He was on the verge of losing his company. I had to help," I said, fixng my earrings.
"That is his business!" She sniffed.
"You need to keep your voice down, Anna," I said, glancing at my three-year-old daughter, Laura, who was sleeping on the bed.
"I went through a lot to get her to sleep so early."
"You should have thought about that before you signed a marriage certificate," she sighed, walking to the kitchen.
"That was a mistake!" I said, sliding my foot into the silver four-inch heels I had chosen at the boutique earlier.
"I am sorry, but this whole outfit and preparation does not look like a mistake to me," she said, stirring the chips in the pan.
I entered the kitchen to get a bottle of water.
"Have you considered what would happen to you if his family finds out about Laura?" Anna inquired.
"I will not marry him, Anna," I whispered as I took a sip of the chilled water from the fridge.
"I am only trying to help myself. This is a one-time opportunity for me to earn enough money to help us get out of poverty for good."
"Are you marrying him just to get his money?"
"No…!"
"I'm actually… Never mind, you will not understand," I said, walking out of the kitchen, but she jumped in front of me.
"No, Jannie. Make me understand," her voice trembling and she wiped her face with the back of her hand.
"I truly wish I did not have to do this for money!" I yelled, fists clenched.
"This could be my only chance to get you back in school, pay our rent, and cover Laura's outstanding tuition fees. I can not refuse it because I have a daughter."
"Get me back to school, you say?" She chuckled, a tear slipping from her eye.
"You said that three years ago and returned pregnant. Why should I believe you this time?"
"Because I am not sleeping with men this time!" I yelled. "All I have to do is act. Hopefully only tonight," my voice lowered.
"Hold on, what?" Her brown eyes grew wider.
"Keep your voice down," I shushed.
"So you are getting paid? What is the amount?" She cheered and moved closer to me. Her eyes gleamed with delight.
"I am not sure yet, but it is more than ten times what I am supposed to earn as a cleaner," I said, rolling my eyes.
"Holy Moly!" She laughed, holding her hands over her mouth.
"Then get going now. If Laura wakes up, she will want to accompany you."
"His driver is supposed to come pick me up," I shrugged, as the smell of burnt chips filled my nostrils.
"Your chips are getting burnt, girl," I pointed to the pan.
"Damn it!" She yelled, sprinting to the pan.
"Mummy?" My daughter called out, and I felt my heart race as I faced her.
- Writer
