Chapter 2 — Terms And Conditions
1297 Words
Icy chills ran up and down my spine. This was the fourth threat in a row and I knew I had to pay up ASAP! It was just highly frustrating that I had to pay a debt I didn’t owe. My ex boyfriend, Chase, owed the debt and when he disappeared shortly after I had given birth to Rebekah, the loan shark he owed came after me.
I had been kidnapped once, threatened and made to promise to pay in a month, but here I was, three weeks after, with barely any money to clear his debt. Who knows what those ruthless men would do next? Hurt me or my daughter? I drummed my fingers on the bed, as different thoughts ran through my head.
“You can't escape us. Pay now or suffer later” That was when I realized Aaron had been reading my screen with me all along.
“Reckless driver. Pick pocket. Nosy parker. You deserve an Oscar” I mocked, as I turned my phone upside down on my lap so he wouldn't see my screen anymore.
“Who are you owing?”
“That’s none of your business. It's not like you can help”
“Who knows? I could be your knight in shining armor”
“I'm not a damsel in distress. Besides, all I see is a tee and sweats, not a sword, shield or helmet” I said, amusing myself
“I see you've really got a sense of humor” He chuckled, caressing his beard. “Jokes apart. You need saving. Who are you owing?”
I was quiet for a while before I responded “Some stupid men. A loan shark to be precise”
“A loan shark? Why did you have to wait this long for them to bite?”
“If I had the money, wouldn't I have paid up already?”
“Well, I can help you”
“Did you hear me? I said, I can help you” Of course I had heard him the first time, but it was just…. just too astonishing coming from a stranger.
“Help me? You don't even know me, Aaron”
“You could start by telling me your name”. I looked at him intently and he raised his brows at me as if to say, “Go on, I'm waiting”
“Khloe Simmons”
“I’d help you clear your debts, Khloe, but on one condition”. The exact same line Jace had used. And what did he want? To sleep with me! So, who knew what this Aaron guy possibly wanted?
I chortled. I wanted to tell him not to bother anymore, but I decided to hear him out first.
“And that is?” I arched a brow at him
“Be my fiancée” He spat. I laughed out long and hard.
“What’s funny?” He seemed confused
“And why would I do that?”
“Because you need the money” He shrugged
“I don’t know you, Aaron. We’re not even in a relationship, so there’s no way I’d be your fiancée”
“P-R-E-T-E-N-D F-I-A-N-C-É-E” He laid emphasis on the words as he spoke.
“Did you think all of it was going to be real? It’s a charade, Khloe”
“That’s if you agree. Which I hope you do” He added
“Why me?”
“I need a wife, Khloe”
“I suppose Aaron Steinberg can get any woman he wants”
“It’s not as easy as you think it is” He then proceeded to tell me how badly he needed a fiancée who was later going to become his wife just so he could inherit his family’s company.
His mother –since she was his only surviving parent– had threatened to sell out his late father’s company or let someone else take the position of the CEO if he didn’t get his act right and by getting his act right, she meant him getting rid of his playboy lifestyle, settling down and becoming responsible because only responsible men could be leaders. Marriage, she believed, was going to make him responsible. Besides, he had a reputation to uphold. She had also freezed two of his major bank accounts.
“Still tied to Mommy’s apron string, eh?” I teased him but he didn’t seem to be having any of it
“Are you game or not?” He asked dismissively
“I’ll think about it”
________
I c****d my head to the door of my hospital ward when I heard it creak open. Aaron. He had a brown paper bag in his left hand and a large envelope in his right. He covered the few inches in front of him and was soon at my bedside.
“Here” He tossed the envelope on my lap. “The contract document”
“I’ll sign when you sign” He handed me a pen. He had already sent a soft copy of the document via email and I had read through it properly.
We just had to pose as a real couple, make appearances at events, probably attend interviews together, then let paparazzis and journalists do their thing. Most importantly, we just had to make his family believe that we were head over heels in love with each other, but in actual sense, falling in love or having any emotional attachments whatsoever were our restrictions.
He had to get the company and I had to pay off the loan shark. It was a charade and was going to be terminated at the end of a year.
“When are you getting discharged?”
“In two days”
“I got you this, by the way” He dropped the paper bag on the nightstand “Pasta, meatballs, shrimps and grilled chicken”
“Who thought you’d have some empathy in you?” I said as I pulled the document out of the envelope
“My wife–to–be shouln’t starve. No one wants to see a malnourished bride” He had just called me poor in two sentences. This was the thing with rich people – they felt they had everything. Tsk!
“Then you shouldn’t have bothered. I never said I can’t feed myself” I flipped the page of the document to the next.
“You don’t have to say so. It’s obvious”
“I’m not hungry” It was at that point my stomach chose to rumble, embarrassing me.
“Stop resisting and dig in already. It’s your favorite”
“And how would you know that?”
“Tanya isn’t a friend for nothing”
“Tanya with her loud mouth” I muttered under my breath
I didn’t utter any more words as I signed the document at my designated spot, then passed it over to him to sign too. Aside from having to pay off the loan shark, I also needed money for Rebekah’s surgery but after doing all the research I could on the Steinbergs, I couldn’t bring myself to tell Aaron that I had a daughter and that her wellbeing was one of the major reasons I agreed to a marriage of convenience with him.
I felt he might withdraw his help and that his family wouldn’t appreciate the fact that he married a single mom. I mean, there was this societal stigma attached to single mothers, so my daughter was going to be my little secret. I had warned Tanya sternly and she had promised to keep her mouth sealed.
“Soon to be Mrs. Steinberg” I said in my head as I watched him sign.
- Writer
