FINALLY IN LOVE

Her green eyes were still heavy with sleep, focused on the clock, at 6:30 in the morning. Damn! Anita Carter was startled awake by the shrill sound of her alarm clock in a small apartment in the Bronx. She muttered as she jumped out of bed. Another busy day was beginning, and Anita got ready very quickly. Her long brown hair was tied up in a messy ponytail. She put on her uniform from the cafe and entered the kitchen. There she found her younger sister Catherine, sixteen (16) years old, preparing breakfast. Hey sleepyhead, Catherine joked. I thought you would be late again. Anita smiled, picking up a piece of toast. No way! I can’t afford to lose this job. The sisters exchanged worried glances. The family’s financial situation had been precarious ever since their mother fell ill. Medical bills were piling up, and Anita was working diligently to keep things afloat. "How is Mom?" Anita asked, getting her coffee quickly. The same, Catherine replied, her smile faltering. The doctor said she needed new treatment, but it cost a fortune. Don’t worry Cathy; we will manage. With a quick kiss on her sister’s forehead, Anita ran off to catch the subway. During the journey, her thoughts focused on worry and determination. She would do anything to help her family. He stood in his office at the top of a skyscraper in Pennsylvania. Kelvin Sterling, the business tycoon, watched the city below, reflecting his cold and impenetrable heart. Kelvin ran a hand through his impeccably combed hair as someone knocked on the door. A rare gesture of nervousness. It was Jim, his assistant. He quietly entered the office carrying a briefcase. His blue-gray eyes calculating numbers were now clouded with worry. Here are the profiles you requested, Mr. Sterling. Kelvin nodded, taking the folder. Thank you, Jim. Is there any news about the meeting with the investors? Yes Sir. They had confirmed it for next month, but, a great silence fell in the office. But what? Kelvin asked, his tone was sharp. The investors have expressed concern about your personal life, Sir. Your reputation as a Confederate bachelor is causing concern. Kelvin cursed softly. It was exactly what he feared. He worries about losing his business if he fails to find a fiance. The conservative investors he needed to impress valued family stability more than the numbers on the balance sheet. His analytical mind was already formulating a plan. Kelvin glanced through the documents with Jim. It was a search for potential women who would accept to be his fiance. His eyes gazed at Anita Carter. Her profile showed that she worked several jobs to keep her family. This interested Kelvin, and he was more curious to understand her. Jim, cancel my appointment for this afternoon, said Kelvin. I have an idea. The day at the cafe went as usual, with rushed customers, confused orders, and scarce tips. Anita kept a smile on her face but inside, anxiety consumed her. That was when he walked in. Kelvin Sterling, impeccably in his dressed suit, looked out of place in the modern cafe. His eyes roamed the place until they settled on Anita. He approached the counter with an enigmatic smile on his lips. “Anita Carter”, he asked, as it was inscribed on her dress. Anita, with a worried face, answered, “Yes Sir, how can I help you?” I think we can help each other, Kelvin replied. His voice was soft but firm. I have a proposition for you, intrigued and a little apprehensive. Anita, in surprise, followed him to a separate table, and Kelvin laid out his plan. I need you to pretend to be my fiance during certain important social events. Someone who can charm conservative investors with a convincing love story. Why me? Anita asked, still stunned. You have a quality that can’t be faked, authenticity, Kelvin replied, his eyes piercing. What else again? She asked. I will offer you generous compensation to cover your family expenses. Anita’s heart rose. Can you give me some time to think about it? Anita said. Kelvin agreed and gave her his business card. Anita thought of her mother's medical debts and her sister’s future. How can one compensate me for taking care of my family’s expenses by just being his fiance? This is madness, complete insanity, but thinking of medical debts and her sister’s future echoed in her mind. Anita couldn’t sleep that night because her mind thought of things she could imagine. The next morning, at the cafe, she took the business card and called the number on it. Jim, Kelvin’s assistant, answered the call. Hello, good morning. Please, how can I help you? Anita rephrased Kelvin’s words. I think we can help each other. Can Mr. Sterling meet me at the cafe he came to yesterday? Yes, madam, I will inform him, Jim replied. Kelvin was in his office, thinking of his next move to get a fiance before the collapse of his empire. Since he had heard nothing from Anita, he began to think of Portia. A woman whom his mother had arranged for him to marry. He wanted to use her as a means to save his business. He took out his phone, and before he could dial her number, there was a knock at his door. It was Jim. Sir, Anita Carter wants to meet you at the cafe. Kelvin, without hesitation, left his office to meet her. They sat at a separate table at the cafe. Do you want to be my fiance, for the deal? Kelvin asked. Anita, still in confusion, answered, not yet. What if I say no? She asked. She was trying to keep her voice steady. Kelvin smiled a smile that did not reach his eyes. Then, I will find someone else, but I doubt anyone else needs this opportunity as much as you do, Anita. Anita closed her eyes for a moment, weighing up her options. When she opened them again, her gaze had a new determination. Alright, Mr. Sterling, I accept. Kelvin held her hand, sealing the deal with a firm shake, thanks for accepting. Both smiled. We will begin preparations soon. As Anita watched Kelvin leave the cafe, she couldn’t help but wonder what exactly she had gotten herself into. A mixture of hope and apprehension stirred in her chest. Little did she know that this decision would change her life forever, dragging her into a world of luxury, intrigue, and perhaps unexpected love. Fate had rolled its dice and now Anita and Kelvin were about to embark on a journey that would test their ability to deceive and their conceptions of love, loyalty, and the true meaning of success. The cooled night air seemed to carry a mixture of promise and challenge as she strolled through the busy city streets. The image of Kelvin disappearing into the crowd still echoed in her mind like a foretaste of what was to come. The city lights flashed around her and each step took her further away from her old life and closer to the unknown. When she finally reached the splendid facade of the Plaza Hotel, a sense of reality enveloped her. Anita was on the verge of entering an entirely new world, embarking upon a fresh chapter in her existence. The ballroom of the Plaza Hotel glowed with the golden lights of hundreds of candles, reflected in the crystals of the chandeliers and the champagne glasses. The New York elite circulated the room, a sea of gala dresses and expensive suits. At the center of it all, Anita Carter felt differently. Dazzled and completely out of her element. The contrast between her restlessness in the cafe and the dazzling reception at the hotel clearly outlined a new chapter beginning in her life. She nervously adjusted the necklace around her neck, a generous loan from Kelvin for the occasion. Although elegant and perfectly fitted, the navy blue dress she was wearing seemed to weigh a ton. Anita took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. Kelvin's voice sounded soft in her ears. His hands rested gently on her back. “You are doing great,” he said. Anita turned to face him, surprised by the kindness in his normally cold eyes. For a moment she almost forgot that the whole thing was a farce. I feel like a fraud, she whispered, guilt weighing heavily on her chest. Kelvin leaned closer and held her hand, his expensive perfume enveloping her. You are the only real person in this room, Anita. Use that to your advantage. Before she could reply, a middle-aged couple approached them. The man with gray hair and a generous smile extended his hand to Kelvin. Sterling, what a pleasure to see you here, he exclaimed before turning his attention to Anita. “Who is this lovely young lady?” Kelvin smiled. He wrapped his arms around Anita’s waist in a possessive gesture that surprised her.