The Billionaire's Offer

Chapter 5: The Unexpected

Ella’s POV

“I’m-I am fine. Perfectly fine, Mr Andrew,” I stuttered, still trying to compose myself with a million thoughts flying in my head. I curled my fingers against the tip of my navy blue shirt.

“Are you sure? You look like you just saw a ghost?”

I raised my head to meet his piercing stare, my eyes widening at his comments. “Ghost? I don’t even believe in that. Yes, I’m fine. I’m just surprised you returned this early,” I replied in a breath. I couldn’t maintain eye contact with Mr Andrew.

How long had he been standing there? Did he hear everything…anything? His stare was colder and stern this time…why? Was he angry?

I bit my lower lips, frustrated and angry at myself. I should have paid more attention. Why did I let my guard down? Oh God, I need this job. I don’t want to get fired. I prayed, hoping against hope that Mr. Andrew didn’t hear my conversation with Justin, my boyfriend.

“Are you listening to me at all?” Mr Andrew’s screeched voice jerked me back to reality.

I raised my face at him, looking like an i***t. Confused and scared. “No sir,” I whimpered in an unsteady voice.

“Meet me at my office upstairs, but tidy up here first. I don’t want to repeat myself. Understood?”

I nodded excessively out of fear and curiosity. I had never stepped foot in his grand home office. It was out of bounds.

Will he fire me? Hand me a termination letter? My mind spiraled into a million thoughts that could kill me faster than what Mr. Andrew was about to say.

I watched him walk away, his arm swaddling Kim who was blabbing. He stopped all of a sudden and turned back.

“Don’t keep me waiting,” he ordered with an authoritative voice and paced forward.

“Yes, Mr Andrew,” I responded quietly, more to myself than to him.

Not wanting to anger him more, I hurriedly packed Kim’s dolls and placed them in their rightful positions. My phone beeped in my pocket but I ignored it. Now was not the time. The sooner I responded to Mr Andrew, the better for me.

Within minutes, I was done.

My forehead dripped with beads of sweat which I wiped off with the back of my palm. I wasn’t sweating because I was hot. It was the tension building up in my chest.

The anxiety and curiosity of what Mr Andrew would tell me.

I dragged myself to the door, it seemed my legs had suddenly become heavier for my body to carry. I thought of calling Justin. He could reassure him, and calm my nerves but that would be stupid. I dismissed the idea as quickly as it popped into my head.

I held the handrails tightly as I climbed the stairs leading to Mr. Andrew’s office. Each step I took made my heart beat faster, and my palms grew cold and numb.

Reaching the second floor, I noticed the door of a room opened. I walked towards it, assuming it to be Mr Andrew’s office. My guess was correct as I could hear Kim’s incohesive banter. She was in her own world.

Taking a deep breath, I knocked gently. Almost immediately, I heard his brusque voice.

“Come in.”

Pressing the doorknob, I pushed it and walked in nervously, my heel barely touching the ground completely.

“Have a seat,” he voiced out.

I did as he instructed, mindfully avoiding his piercing glare.

There was an awkward moment of silence that seemed like hours before he finally began speaking.

“Are you thinking of resigning?”

I raised my head instantly. “No sir,” I muttered. I realized my mistake when he twitched his brows but I said nothing else.

“But your conversation with–” he trailed off, his face devoid of any emotion. “God knows who says otherwise,” he continued.

My heart skipped the instant his words hit my ears. My eyes widened in shock, not blinking for a moment.

So he did hear! My God, I was in trouble. Please, save me!

I tried to utter something, anything but I couldn’t find the word to say. Rather, I swallowed a hard lump in my throat. My fingers curled against each other.

“Who was that?” He lashed out impatiently.

I swallowed my breath again before responding, trying to buy myself time to think of what to say.

Should I lie or should I just come clean? My heart was torn in two.

As if reading my mind, he spat out.

“Don’t even think of lying. For your own good!”

I nodded excessively again, like an i***t.

“My boyfriend.”

“Hmm,” he sighed softly, carefully considering his next words. He stood up abruptly towards the square-sized window. “I’ll try not to pick offense with the details you shared with him about me. Apparently, he has cast a love spell on you.”

I remained silent, unsure of how to respond.

“Anyways, I believe you yearn for something better,” he turned to me as he spoke. His eyes roared with power, his words taking a front seat at my earlobes effortlessly. “At least, financially to sort out your mess and that of your family. That’s why I want to offer you something that can change your life…in a good way.”

I shot him a bewildered look, my nerves calming down for a moment from the intense emotions running through me.

My eyes crinkled a little as a surge of eagerness swept through me. Eager to hear what he had to say next. It felt unbelievable but it was real. My boss wasn’t so bad after all.

He gestured at his desk and my gaze followed his direction.

“Pick it up.”

I stretched my hands to collect it wondering what was in the envelope. Then it clicked. Wait, is this what I’m thinking? The brown envelope was light. Was it a blank check? Wait…Mr Andrew gave me a blank check?

I blushed at the thought of it but it disappeared quickly. Why would my boss give me a blank check? I glanced back at him, still confused but excited.

“C’mon open it.” His voice was calm.

Ahh! Silly me. Why didn’t I open it to clear my doubts? “Thank you so much, Mr. Andrew,” I said as I carefully detached the sticky part of the envelope.

I unfolded the document, eager to confirm what I thought it was. But rather than jumping up in excitement, I squeezed my brows as I re-read the heading. This was probably a mistake. It definitely was.

“This is the wrong document, Mr Andrew. It’s—”

“No, it's not. It's meant for you,” he paused with a fixed gaze on me. “Ella, I want you to be my contract wife. All the—”

“Excuse me?” I said, standing up in an instant.

What the heck was going on? Was this a dream? What does a contract wife even mean? Whatever it was, I didn’t care to know.

“I’m sorry but this is not for me. I–I have a boyfriend, Mr Andrew?”

“So?” He asked bluntly like it didn’t matter.

I threw him a respectful ‘Are you serious’ look, still in shock.

“Mr Andrew, there are many women available for you if you need a wife—”

“Well, I’m not searching for a wife. Just a contract wife and that’s why I want you.”

“Thank you, Mr. Andrew, but I’m fine as Kim’s babysitter—”

"You can consider this an upgrade with other benefits. All the details are in the—”

“With all due respect Mr. Andrew, I’m not interested in any benefit or upgrade. If you need a wife, Linda is —”

“Forget about Linda. This doesn’t concern her. Hey, don’t overthink this. I’m the one doing you a favor here. Do you think your peasant boyfriend can sort out all your expenses? Or would you rather be homeless with your family? This is an opportu—”

“Mr Andrew!” I stood up immediately, my fist curved into a ball and my chest rising faster than normal. I could feel the gust of annoyance running through me. He was my boss, but that doesn’t mean he could talk down to my family and my boyfriend.

“Thank you for the offer, but I am not interested,” I said, not mincing any of my words. I returned his glare, surprising myself.

Suddenly, his stone-hard face cracked, turning into a mocking smirk.

“So you’d rather throw away $100,000 in the mud? All for a lowly life with no future?”

“Mr Andrew,” I screamed. “I’ll have to request an early closing time. I am not in the right state of mind. If you will excuse me, have a good day.”

Not waiting for his response, something I’ve never dared to do, I paced out of his office room. All the while avoiding eye contact.

“You have just two days to think this through and... be rest assured your job as a babysitter to Kim ends today, regardless of your choice,” he scuffed aloud.

But I didn’t respond or turn. I need to get out of here, away from him. He seems to have lost it. What was he even saying? A hundred thousand what?