Chapter five
1150 Words
Andre’s POV:
Two ladies were sitting at a table near the window, but the one with long, wavy dark hair and a warm caramel skin tone caught my attention.
Her face was filled with worry. She was staring into the distance, her hands clasped tightly together as if she was trying to hold herself together. Something about her drew me in.
I didn’t know her name yet, but her vulnerability struck a chord deep within me. She was different from the polished women I usually encountered.
There was something raw and genuine about her, something fragile.
As I watched, she ran a hand through her long, wavy dark hair, a sigh escaping her lips. She looked tired, like she was carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders.
The sight of her made me pause and in that instant I got an idea.
Hailey's POV:
I went to the bar with Isabel to cool off for the evening and tell her what has been going on between me and Dr. Jamie.
We sat there talking but I was lost in thoughts, trying to figure out how much longer I could survive under Dr Jamie’s thumb.
By the time I came back to consciousness, it was already late.
So, we greeted each other good night and I headed home to get a good sleep. When I got home, I had a quick shower and while dressing up, I suddenly heard a knock on the door.
I waited for some minutes to be sure if the knock was coming from my door. “Knock, knock, knock...”
After that knock, I was indeed certain that it came from my door. Wondering who it was at this hour, I made my way towards the door.
HOURS EARLIER
Andre’s POV:
For a brief moment, the thought crossed my mind: Could she be the one to help me?.
I wasn’t looking for love, not after the way my ex had left me but I needed someone. Someone who could act as my fiance so if my plan works, which i hope will, i would get my mother off my case and the endless gossip surrounding my love life, all I had to do was get the lady in person.
And this woman... there was something about her. She seemed like the perfect candidate. I waited patiently until she parted ways with the other lady I suppose was her friend.
As she was about to go home, I stood up and followed her, but kept a good distance so I wouldn't get caught.
She got into a taxi and I made sure my chauffeur followed her until we got to an apartment building.
I then asked my chauffeur to follow her inside the building without being noticed and find out her apartment number, after some minutes my chauffeur returned.
“Sir. Her apartment number is 48”
“Okay, thanks Derek,” I answered, fidgeting with excitement.
I sat in my car a bit longer, thinking if what I was about to do was the proper way to go about things, but since I was already here, I couldn't back down now. I needed to execute my plan, so I composed myself and climbed out of my car.
Knocking on the door, I got no response, so I knocked again but only heard movements, then the door opened revealing the lady from the bar, but this time she was even more beautiful than she was from a distance.
Hailey's POV:
I opened the door and my eyes met an unfamiliar face.
The sight before me was worth drooling over. His piercing deep blue eyes were captivating, not only those blue eyes but also his sharp and well defined jawline, broad shoulders and an air of confidence that was hard to ignore.
His dark hair was neatly trimmed, and he was breathtaking. I couldn't deny that, but what is a guy doing here, in front of my door?, I wondered.
For a moment, I was short of words.
“Good evening” he said to me after we stared at each other for a few minutes.
I nodded, still unsure of what was happening. “Uh, how may I help you?”, I managed to reply.
“May I speak with you?”, he asked, with his presence commanding but not overwhelming.
“I, um, I'm sorry, I think you've got the wrong address”, I said with a nervous chuckle.
“Actually....... I'm at the right address. May I come in?” He replied.
“Wait, wait, wait a minute. I don't know you and I don't think you know me, so why would I let a total stranger into my house just like that at this hour?”.
“Pardon my manners, I'm Andre McKellar”.
I just stared at him with a raised eyebrow. How would that name be of help to me?, I thought. “Come in”, I answered, stepping away from the door, giving him access to my apartment.
He walked into my apartment and quickly scanned it and noticed it was simple and tidy. “Please take a seat......can I offer you anything?” I offered.
“No thanks, but I would like to know your name since you already know mine”.
“Um, I'm Hailey Moore, but there's nothing special about my name”, I jokingly replied.
He nodded at my response, repeatedly saying my name in his head so he wouldn't forget. “Since you don't wish to take anything, what was it you wanted to talk about?”.
“I saw you earlier at the bar with another lady” he began, his eyes never leaving mine. “You seem... lost in thought.”
I blinked, surprised by his straightforward approach. “Yeah, that was my friend, I’m just dealing with some things,” I replied quietly, not wanting to burden a stranger with my problems.
He nodded, as if he understood more than I was saying. “I’m sorry to intrude, but I couldn’t help but notice that you seem like someone who’s going through a tough time.”
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. I didn’t know this man, and yet he was already prying into my life. “I guess you could say that,” I muttered.
“I don’t mean to be rude,” he continued, his tone softening, “but I have a proposition for you.” I raised an eyebrow, “A proposition?, okay......spit it out”.
He leaned in with an unreadable expression. “Marry me...or lose the one thing you can't afford to lose.”
My breath caught in my throat. I stared at him, my mind racing. Who is this man?
How does he know me?
And what does he think I can't afford to lose?.
- Writer
