Fake Marriage to the Cold Billionaire

Chapter 3: The First Meeting

(Reagan's POV)

I can't focus, I can't think, all I want to do is curl up in a ball and cry, cry until I couldn't cry anymore. But that wasn't me, sure crying might have made me feel better, but it wasn't going to solve my major problem. As my mom liked to say, crying never did anything for anybody and it didn't fix problems. If you wanted a problem fixed, you needed to go out there and do it yourself with a positive attitude, she used to say. For me, at this moment, that seemed impossible, and doing it with a positive attitude didn't seem like an option right now.

I couldn't stop looking at that letter, I had even brought it to class with me this morning, just because the whole situation seemed so utterly unbelievable. Now here I was, sitting at my desk, my books open in an attempt to study and I couldn't even focus on that. I laid my forehead on the desk, so tired and worn out from my sob session yesterday. Blake had tried to comfort me and put my mind at ease but even that hadn't helped.

At this point, I was considering dropping out of college and working mediocre jobs for the rest of my life. Lifting my head and looking at my mother's picture sitting in a black frame on my desk in front of me, all of those thoughts left my head. I had to remember why I had decided to attend college in the first place. My mom had always believed that education was important, especially since she had only graduated from high school and never attended college herself. After she had died, I had promised myself that I would make my mom proud and do whatever it took to get into college.

“But I don't know if I can do it, Mom," I whisper, looking at my mother's bright, smiling face that used to light up a room, “how can I do it if I can't even afford it? I wish you were here so that you could tell me what to do because right now I am so lost."

I lift my head, feeling my eyes water again, so I pat my cheeks in an attempt to not cry again. Taking a deep breath, I close the books on my desk, figuring that if I wasn't going to get any more studying done I might as well get ready for work. In the shower, I let the water just run down my body for a few minutes, the warmth of the water, easing my muscles and creating a sense of calmness within me. When I finished, I got dressed, washed my face, did my hair and makeup, and headed out of the door to my car. On the drive to the diner, I had multiple urges to cry again but attempted to pull myself together.

At the diner, I tried to focus on my work, but it was difficult when all I could think about was the $20,000 outstanding balance that I owed. I didn't even have a clue where I was going to be able to come up with $20,000 even though they hadn't given me a due date yet for the money. I knew though that if I didn't pay it off soon though, they would give me one. I didn't want to ask my dad because it was hard enough to send me here. Right now he was working three jobs to try and help me, but that wasn't even enough. Even with my job here at the diner and him working, all of our combined income wasn't enough to pay $20,000.

“I said could I have a grilled cheese, with a side of potato salad and onion rings, please?" I snap out of my daze as a female customer whose order I had been taking speaks.

“Oh, I'm sorry," I apologize, quickly jotting down her order on the notepad I'm holding, “would you like the cheese to be cheddar, American, pepper jack, swiss, or provolone?"

“Cheddar would be fine, thank you."

I jot down cheddar, “And would you like ham included in that grilled cheese, ma'am?"

She shakes her head, “No thank you."

I write down no ham and smile at her, “Anything for you to drink with your order today?"

She nods, “Yes, could I please get root beer please?"

“Of course, sorry for the delay and your order should be with you shortly."

I take the order ticket to where many others were placed, yelling to the cook the order before I see Mary coming up to me. “You don't look so good today sweetie, yesterday there seemed like there was something wrong and today it seems the same way. Now normally I wouldn't pry but I feel like today you need to tell someone what's going on."

I had promised myself that I wasn't going to break down but I couldn't take it anymore. So I stand there, trying to quietly sob right where the tables and booths were placed, telling Mary all about my predicament, how I owed the university $20,000 and how I had no idea how I was going to come up with it. Mary takes me to the bathroom and helps me clean myself up, telling me that everything was going to work itself out and that if I needed her help coming up with money that she would do everything she could to help me. I knew that there was no way that Mary could help me with a $20,000 bill, but I thank her anyway and wipe my eyes taking a deep breath before heading back to the main floor.

As I make my way to a booth, I feel a hand grab my arm, “Hey buddy, this isn't a free grab session you can't just grab someone's arm."

I spin around and am surprised to see the blonde mystery man, who looked even more gorgeous up close than he had on the internet. His grey eyes were incredibly mesmerizing and I thought that I might get lost in them if I stared too long. Rays of the sun that were streaming through the bright glass windows of the diner highlight his hair, making the blonde strands look like they had been woven by gold.

“I apologize, it's just I overheard you talking about how you were in a predicament and I was curious to see if I could help." he smiles, looking me up and down.

No matter how gorgeous I thought his eyes or his hair were, he had no business grabbing me so I snatch my arm from his grip and narrow my eyes at him, “Anybody ever told you that it's rude to eavesdrop on other people's conversation and grab them?"

He chuckles, “Like I said I apologize, but I didn't know how else to get your attention. Also, if you didn't want anyone to eavesdrop you should have talked in a more private spot."

“Look I don't have time for this," I explain impatiently, “I've got other customers to attend to but if you need someone to take your order I would be happy to get someone for you."

He shakes his head, “No, I want you and only you."

Wow, this guy just kept on getting weirder by the second, I think to myself as I look at him. He seemed like the type of person that wouldn't take no for an answer and he looked like someone who used his looks to get his way. The way that he was looking at me right now made me feel weak to my knees, his grey eyes were staring at me intensely as if begging me to hear him out.

“What do you want?" I ask, exasperated.

He motions to the seat facing him, “Please sit, I would rather do this with you sitting down, I don't like to look up at people."

I take a deep, exaggerated breath before taking a seat, “You better make this quick, I'm working and I don't think my boss would appreciate me talking to you while I'm supposed to be taking orders."

“You mean, Sal? I already let him know of my intentions to speak with you so he won't be bothering us."

I glare at him, “So what is it exactly that you want with me?"

He leans forward, “What if I told you I could help you with your little issue?"

I frown, “Unless you're some kind of millionaire with tons of cash there is no way that you can help me."

He leans back, folding his arms across his chest, allowing me a glimpse of his muscles straining against the fabric of his suit jacket, “Do you know who I am?"

I snort, “Am I supposed to? What are you somebody famous?"

“Not exactly but I am quite popular in the media and if you knew who I was you would know that I have tons of money."

Man, this guy sure was full of himself but I was curious to see what else he had to say, “Ok so if that's true what could you do to help me?"

“I would give you the $20,000 that you need to stay in your university if you agree to become my fiancee and marry me in two months."

I shoot up out of the seat, “What?! Are you insane?!" I lower my voice when I notice heads turned in our direction, “Look buddy, up until today I had never spoken to you, I mean I don't even know who you are why are you all of a sudden out of the blue asking me to marry you?"

“Let's just say you would be doing me a favor in return for me doing you a favor."

I shake my head, “You're crazy you know that, absolutely insane."

This time he stands up, pulling a small white business card out of his pocket, “All I'm asking is that you think about it." He takes my hand and places the business card in my palm, causing me to look up so that we were staring directly into each other's eyes, “Here is my number if you ever decide, I hope to hear from you, Reagan."

With that he gave me a cocky smile and turned to exit the restaurant, leaving me standing there not being able to move because I was just so in shock. When I finally broke out of my daze I look down at the card in my hand, the name on the card was Alexander Griffin along with a phone number. I walk over to the trash can to throw the card away but instead stick it in the pocket of my poodle skirt. Who exactly are you Alexander Griffin, and what is it that you want from me?