Fake Marriage to the Cold Billionaire

Chapter 6: Desperation Makes You Do Crazy Things

(Reagan's POV)

I didn't think that my situation could get any worse and yet it had, this letter from the university proved that everything had just gotten a whole lot worse. This morning I had decided to get the mail from our box, and one of the pieces of mail had been an envelope addressed to me from the university. I knew instantly upon seeing the letter that it probably wasn't a scholarship award, but something else having to do with my bill. That feeling had been correct when I had opened the letter and read what was printed on it.

The letter had read that if I did not pay the $20,000 in full within two months I would have to leave the university and would not be able to apply again for a year. It felt as though since I had talked about a deadline yesterday, I had unknowingly jinxed myself. This was by far possibly the worst thing that could have happened besides getting the first letter. I had checked my bank account on my bank's app, checking my savings account to see how much money I had currently saved. The amount in the account reads $1,500, which is nowhere even close to $20,000.

Right now, all I could think about is how the heck I was supposed to come up with $20,000 in two months. There was just absolutely no freaking way that I was going to be able to come up with that large of an amount in two months even with the money that I had already saved. I could pull as many shifts as I could handle at the diner and that still wouldn't give me enough to pay off my bill in two months. I thought about texting my dad about the situation but I didn't want to worry him, he already had enough on his plate, he didn't need to worry about me being possibly kicked out of the university cause I didn't have enough money to stay here.

Sitting in my English class now, I'm not paying attention to anything that the professor is saying because I am too focused on trying to figure out where I am going to come up with $20,000. The professor must have noticed me zoning out because she asks me a question, but I since haven't been paying attention, another student answered in my place. For the rest of the class period, I try to keep my attention on the class and the material that is being discussed but I am stressing out so much about my bill I can't focus.

“Reagan can I talk to you for a second?" my professor asks me, as I make my way out of the classroom with the rest of the students.

I nod, even though I need to get to my next class and she waits until everyone has left before she starts speaking. “I noticed that you didn't seem to be completely in the present today during class, is something going on?"

“Yeah, I'm just struggling with some personal stuff, nothing major."

My professor looks at me warily, knowing that I am holding back but she doesn't pry, “Well if you ever feel comfortable about talking about what you're going through just let me know. You are one of my best students in this class and I don't want to have to fail you.

I nod, “I'll keep that in mind and try and do better in class."

She smiles, “Good, now I'll let you go so you can get to your next class."

I exit the classroom and make my way to my next class, and while I was in my last class, debating with myself mentally about my situation I had felt Alexander's card in my pocket. Taking it out now, I look at it, and right then and there, in a move of desperation and anxiety, I make a decision that I know one day I might regret. I decide that if Alexander came into the diner today I would tell him that I would accept his proposal. This decision would quite possibly change my life forever but it was worth it if my overall goal was achieved.

I was still determined to go through with my decision when I arrived at the diner later in the day. While taking the orders of different customers, I subtly try to see if he had arrived yet. Eventually, after constantly looking around, I figured that he wasn't coming in today so I try to focus on doing my job. Just when I was about to take my break, he walks into the diner, looking as crisp and clean as he always did. He walks over to his usual booth and sits down and I decide that this is the time to make my move.

“We need to talk," I say when I reach his booth.

He looks up at me, his face having that charming smirk plastered on it, “Come to accept my proposal?"

“Yes," I say, bluntly.

Alexander looks shocked for a brief moment before looking serious, “In all seriousness, you want to marry me?"

“If you can help me with my problem like you said you could the other day, then yes I will marry you."

Alexander chuckles, “You're ready to marry a stranger just to get something in return?"

I sit down across from him in the booth and cross my arms over my chest, “Look I don't want to seem desperate but the truth is I am. You said that if I got engaged to you and married you that you would provide me with the means of fixing my problem. Now is that offer still on the table?"

Alexander leans back, “The offer is still on the table and since apparently you've accepted it all that needs to be done is for us to sign a contract."

“A contract? Why is that necessary?'

“I need to make sure that you uphold your end of the deal before, as you said, I provide you a means to fix your problem, and that is why a contract is necessary for this situation. Think of this marriage as more of a business transaction than an actual marriage, we will be business partners, not a romantic couple."

The way he says it makes me feel as though Alexander was cold and withdrawn when it came to women. Sure he probably got with different women every day but he probably kept them at a distance, paid them off so that they never came near him again. I was never was good at reading people but this just seemed like the vibe that I was picking up from Alexander. I was fine with it though, I didn't want a romantic relationship with him anyway.

“That's completely fine with me, I mean not to sound crass or anything but we are practically using each other for our agendas."

Alexander smiles, bitterly, “Yes you are correct. So I assume that we have a deal, you will become my fiancée and marry me, yes?"

I nod, “I'll shake on it if that will reassure you that I have no intention of backing out."

Alexander shakes his head, “No that won't be necessary, I will wait for you to get off of work, and then we can sign a contract."

I stand up, “Works for me, I assume that you will be in the parking lot until I get off?"

He nods, “Just meet me there when you finished."

I take my break and when I went back to work, time seemed to fly by, and soon enough it was time for me to get off work. Just like he said, Alexander is in the parking lot leaning on the side of a shiny, black, Mercedes-Benz. He sits in the front seat and while I sit on the passenger side, finding a yellow manila envelope waiting for me on the front seat.

“You already drew up a contract?"

“Yes."

I raise my eyebrow at him, “What if I hadn't accepted your proposal?"

Alexander gives me that cocky smile of his, “I had a feeling that you would."

I simply shake my head and open the envelope, pulling out a huge stack of papers. Briefly skimming each page I garnered the terms of our engagement and eventual marriage. Our engagement would begin the moment that the contract was signed and wedding preparations and engagement plans would begin the day after. The marriage date was scheduled for 5 weeks after our engagement but that was subject to change should one of the parties in the engagement choose to move the date up. We would only have to be married for six months after Alexander took his position as CEO at which point we would divorce. Upon our marriage, Alexander would award me the money that I needed to pay off my bill, and should I end the marriage immediately after receiving the money, the check would become void. Our marriage would be one of convenience, the only displays of affection would be in public for the media and others so that our engagement and marriage would seem real. As for our personal lives, we were free to pursue relationships with other people as long as we were discreet about it which I felt was more for Alexander's benefit than my own.

“Is the contract acceptable to you?" he asks as I finish up skimming it.

“Everything is agreeable and acceptable to me. Do you have a pen?"

He reaches into the inside of his suit and pulls out a fancy pen that looks like it probably costs a lot of money and hands it to me. I take off the cap and turn to the last page of the stack, signing my portion and noticing that Alexander had already signed his. When I finish, I hand Alexander's pen back to him and place the papers back into the envelope. There was no turning back now and it felt as though I had just signed my freedom and my life away.