CHAPTER 4
1655 Words
The drive to Rose’s house was a silent one. Liam had offered to drive her instead of leaving her alone at such a late hour. He thought He could at least do that much.
They sat silently as Liam drove. Looking at her from the side of his eyes Liam noticed again how truly beautiful she was. He knew the tabloids would rave about her since she was gorgeous. He couldn’t keep himself from wondering what her body would feel like in his arms, they’d be soft and sweet no doubt.
Damn, all he wanted was a peaceful life without any woman to add to his headache, but the board had to interfere.
“So… we’ll be married very privately, no extravagant ceremony or anything. Just a fake priest and a member of my board. Understood?”
Rose remained silent, not uttering a word. Liam looked at her, shaking his head, he continued.
“And you’ll live with me, you’ll be allowed to work if you feel like…”
Silence
“You’ll pose as my wife publicly, but do well to keep your distance from me when we are in private. This means you’ll have your own room and I’ll have mine.”
More silence
“So, any relatives I should know about?”
Rose looked at her fingers and twiddled it.
“I uh.. have a grandma and a brother. My grandma has diabetes, while my brother is in college..”
“And?”
“And what? What else do you want me to say?”
“What’s the financial situation?”
“Oh so now you care to know” Rose said, her tone edgy and sarcastic.
Liam shrugged and remained silent with his eyebrows raised in expectation of an answer.
“Uhm... We’ve been given a week's notice, which means we need to move out by the end of the week. Plus I’m as broke as a baby at the moment”
“Okayyyy.. now that we have it all out, we’re good to go. Oh and of course, you already know I have a sister and a niece. My parents are dead, they died a long time ago.”
Liam went silent for a while before he continued
“I had a wife, but lost her to diabetes…”
Rose looked at him in surprise, real empathy clouding her face.
“I.. I’m so sorry”
“No, don’t be”
Before it could get more awkward, the car came to a halt.
“I guess this is it?” Liam said
Rose looked out and nodded. She reached for the door, and opened it.
“Hold on Rose, here’s my card, contact me. I have your number already….”
Rose stared at him in shock as she reached out to collect the card.
“Don’t ask me how I got it, I have my ways.” Liam said with a wink.
“See you soon wifey”
Pulling out of the driveway, Liam dialed his sister’s number, he knew she’d pick up no matter how late it was. It rang twice before a sleepy voice spoke from the other end.
“Hey dumbo, you know I’m a married woman right?“
“Well, you know I’m your brother right?”
“Shut up dumbo, why are you disturbing me”
“I’m getting married” Liam said tensely
“You’re what?!” Doris said, the drowsiness in her voice disappearing in an instant.
Liam laughed nervously, one hand ruffling his hair and the other on the steering wheel.
“You heard me, I said I’m getting married”
“Are you serious right now?”
“Yes Doris I’m dead serious” Liam said, his voice becoming more serious.
“How, who’s this woman?”
“I barely know her, I was running out of time and she seemed like the best pick”
“Why are you getting married Liam, I thought you weren’t ready to. Can you handle it?” Doris asked, worry etched in her voice.
Liam groaned in frustration.
“Not like I have a choice. The board gave me an ultimatum”
Doris sighed at the other end, and went silent for a while, her mind thinking about the suddenness of this whole thing. She loved her brother a lot and had really loved his wife when she was alive. She knew Liam could be fragile even if he acted all strong and cold.
“Is she decent at least?” She asked
“Yes… yeah she is” Liam responded slowly.
“Alright then, I approve. It’s all fake anyway.. but what if you end up falling in love with her?”
“That’ll never happen!” Liam spat out. The thought of loving another woman like he loved his dead wife scared him.
“Hmmm, don’t be so sure Liam.”
“I said that’ll nev-“
“Okay okay I get it Liam” Doris said, cutting him off.
“We’ll talk later Doris, I gotta go now”
“Alright, love ya loads big brother” Doris said
“Love you too Doris”
Liam disconnected the call as he stepped on the gas.
“I’m about to be a freaking married man, what a life…” he muttered under his breath.
***************
“Hey gurlll!” A high pitched voice called out in a boisterous way.
This voice was the voice of Rose’s friend; Clara. Although way older than Rose, they’re both good friends. Clara had been married once but lost her husband too, he was the only love of her life.
Rose stared at her with a shake of head, Clara loved to dress up even when she wasn’t going anywhere, and she always made sure to add all the bright colors to her outfit, how typical of her.
“Clara cmon, what's with all these bright colors everywhere? And neon? Really momma? That’s such a loud color!” Rose said bursting out in laughter.
“Oh honey, if I like it, then I’ll have it, ain’t nobody telling me what to do or how to do it” Clara said with a wave of her hands.
She pulled Rose in for a tight hug, inhaling her scent as she did so.
“I’ve missed you pumpkin”
“Aw I’ve missed you too” Rose replied with a bright smile.
Indeed, seeing Clara always lightened up her mood. The events of the past few days, especially yesterday, have been weighing on her mind so much, she was so grateful to be around her friend.
The house was adorned in bright colors to match Clara’s personality, and the air smelled of cinnamon.
Rose sat on the couch while Clara sat on a massage chair across from her.
“So what’s up girl, talk to me. It’s been a while, yunno. You don’t even tell me things these days”
“Uhh, honestly Clara, things have been pretty bad, and dramatic things have happened”
“What dramatic things?”
“I’m getting married Clara” Rose said softly, her head down and her hands clasped tightly.
“What?!” Clara gasped, her hands on her chest
“It’s a marriage of convenience- a contract marriage.. I.. I need the money…”
“What’s his name?”
“Liam Wordsworth”
“Liam Wordsworth! That sexy billionaire?”Clara cried, jumping up from the massage chair. She paced back and forth her hands on her chin.
“Billionaire? What do you mean?” Rose asked with a puzzled look.
“Gurl! You go around accepting proposals and you ain’t even know who you ‘bout to marry. That dude is loaded. The owner of the biggest advertising company in the whole of Chicago, he’s worth billions!”
“I.. I didn’t know that. I knew he could be rich but not as much as that..”
“Rosey do you live under a rock or what!” Clara said, grabbing her shoulders and giving her a rough shake.
She dropped her hands and looked closely at Rose’s face, concern hanging over her face,
“Rosey do you like him?”
“Of course I don’t Clara, I mean he’s hot and all, but I don’t feel love for him…”
“Why did you accept him then?”
“Look Clara, things have been so bad for us… I’m at my lowest.. we’ll be evicted from the house 5 days from now. I am really desperate..”
“Rosey you know you can always ask me…” Clara said, her face was full of sadness.
“I know Clara, but I can’t burden you any longer. You’ve been helping out for so long, it’s high time we got off your back…”
Sighing loudly, Clara sat down on the rug, her legs crossed over each other.
“What’s grandma’s take on this issue Rosey?”
“She was surprised at first, she isn’t too happy about the whole arrangement, but she has no choice. It’s either this way or the highway at this point”
Edging closer, Clara placed her hands on Rose’s knees, her face growing serious.
“I’ve watched you grow ever since you was a baby. Your mama was a dear friend of mine… you know that. I want the best for you Rosey. A contract marriage is a big deal to me.. but I choose to trust that you know what you’re doing.”
“Thanks Clara, for everyth-..” Rose said but was cut short by a loud bang on the door.
The bang continued loudly and Clara rose to her feet in fear, who could that be? she wondered.
Rushing to the door she opened it and was face to face with a tall handsome man in grey suit, and with eyes piercing through her very soul
“I’m here for my wife!”
- Writer
