CONTRACT MARRIAGE

Chapter 3 • The Proposal

He turned to look at Tom who stood staring in awe. He never believed Jessica would still turn down the proposal despite the thing at stake.

"Alright. Perhaps when you return we shall further discuss this. For now, I shall just step into the street and marry the first woman I see. Following your advice."

"Oh, that's good. Sign a contract marriage for three months. When I return, you can find a reason to end the marriage and we can get married almost immediately."

"Ah." He sighed again. "I can't believe you." He muttered. But in reality he couldn't believe his own self.

"Bye Levi. See you when I get back, love you."

"Love you too." And without another reply, Jessica ended the call. Levi turned again to Tom's shocking expression.

"What? Don't act surprised, I told you." Levi said. "...And now I have to go into the street and marry the first woman I see."

"What if you don't like the person?" Tom inquired.

"That's the exact reason I'm going for the first person I see. Because, if I begin to look for someone I like, there will be a big issue when it's time for the separation." Levi explained.

"What is she's dumb?"

"Then that's good. Because she won't try to act smart to make me indebted to her for life."

"What if she falls for you then? I mean, you're every woman's spec."

"Then, I hope she's poor. So I can put it in the contract to not catch feelings or to pay a huge amount of money."

"Then you can't go in your car. Cause if you do, you would miss the description you have just given." Tom advises. Levi stared on at him. He hated having to find wisdom in the words of his subordinates.

He sighed and got up to go. Tom watched him, expecting him to just return and say he couldn't do it, and send him instead. But, it never happened. Instead, he watched his boss walk out the company and walk down the street, like a man on a mission. He smiled.

•••End of Flashback•••

So, he stared at the crying woman before him. Perhaps he should have listened to Tom when he asked if he would like the woman he saw. This one was dirty! Although he knew a little makeover could change her appearance. He sighed within himself. He was feeling disgusted already, but a hundred billion was too much to consider besides marrying this weeping woman.

"Hey." He called. Mia sniffed and looked up at him. Why did he feel weird? She looked too broken. He didn't believe it was just his words that made her that sad. He didn't care anyway. If she was this sad, then it would be easy to go through the three months. All he needed to do was bad-mouth her, and she would let him be. He smiled wickedly.

"Sir, you called me?" She asked shakily. Perhaps she could ask him for help.

"Will you marry me?" He asked. "I'll pay you." He added.

"S…sir? Marry you?" Mia stuttered. She thought he would ask to sleep with her. She would have accepted because he looked very rich, and at least he wasn't fat and ugly like the other men.

"Why, are you surprised? You should be, because even I am."

"Not that, sir." She defended. "I… Well, yes. I am surprised." She smiled a little. Could he have fallen for her? Was this going to be a Cinderella story? Even if it wasn't, she would do it for her brother.

"So? What's your answer."

"Y… yes. But, I need something in return." She said softly. Her voice was still shaky from the crying.

"What?"

"Can you… possibly give me… eight hundred.. and fifty thousand… dollars?"

Levi scoffed. "Is that all?"

Mia nodded.

"Do you have an account? Do you need a cheque?"

"Wait, now?" She asked in surprise. A smile threatened to bloom on her face, but the tears were quick to form. She was happy, her brother wasn't going to die. She sniffed twice.

Levi frowned at her sorry appearance. He took out a signed cheque from his suit pocket and handed it to her. "Write the amount you want to collect, and cash it."

Mia collected it hesitantly. She stared at the cheque. Her eyes filled again with tears which she wiped against the sleeve of her shirt. Levi was furious at her actions, so he handed her a handkerchief. She thanked him.

"Now, when you're done. Come to LWC with this card. My assistant will bring you up." He added.

"Oh. Thank you very much sir." She smiled. Levi gagged internally at her smile as well.

"Oh, and. Make sure you look a little nice at least. You look like a sorry excuse of a lunatic right now." He spat. Then he left abruptly.

Mia paused in her joy, she took a look at herself. Sorry excuse of a lunatic? A mad person? That meant she couldn't even make a good mad person? Her heart broke. She thought he liked her at least. She held the cheque tightly in her hand. Firstly, she had to change her appearance, then she would go and pay for her brother's surgery. Then, she would go and see her husband. She cringed at the thought of being married.

With that, she made the long walk to the shitty apartment she and her brother lived in. She was owing rent for six months, and she couldn't even pay. Should she have charged more? Anyway, he did say he would pay her.

She quickly freshened up, and changed her dress. Then she climbed and packed her hair, and left hurriedly again. She went first to the hospital where she paid in full for the surgery. But before she left, she went in to see her brother one more time.

"Ash, I met a man. He will marry me. And he has paid for your surgery. And he will change our lives too. Just recover quickly for me." She whispered, and squeezed his hand.