Our 365-Day Marriage Bargain

For Love or Money

Elizabeth decided she needed a husband. One with $200,000 to spare.

She was drowning in student loan debts, and her little diner was on the verge of bankruptcy. She would be done with business school in a year, and she had to clear her debts to school if she was to graduate with her mates.

She stared at her near empty diner and sighed. The only regular customer she had was her neighbor, Mrs. Beetle. The old lady loved her food and could barely even afford any of it, so each time she came along, Elizabeth was forced to give her a discount.

“Thank you so much Lizzy. Your food is as wonderful as ever,” Mrs. Beetle beamed her a smile as she picked up the used plates from the table.

Elizabeth forced a smile and walked back to her kitchen. She tossed the plates into the dishwasher and slumped her back against the wall.

She clapped a hand on her forehead and let out a frustrated growl. “When does it end?”

She wiped her hands on her apron and took a deep breath. The weight of her worry was unbearable, the debts, her failing business, and the intense pressure and desire to graduate on time.

She thought about her friends – the few she had. They all seemed to be on a fast track to success, and here she was, barely keeping her head above water.

A tear trickled down her cheeks as she drowned in her anxiety, but the familiar chime of the doorbell snatched her out of her thoughts.

She wiped her tears, and put on her brightest smile. She hoped it was an actual customer, and not another charity case like Mrs. Beetle, but the person waiting for her in the diner lit up her world more than ever.

“Jason!” She yelled as she rushed out from behind the counter and wrapped her arms around him.

“Hey Lizzy,” he chuckled softly and hugged her back. “I've missed you too.”

She pulled away, her hands still resting on his shoulders as she looked at him with a glint of excitement in her eyes.

“I thought you went for a business meeting in Los Santos. What are you doing back here?”

“My trip was canceled,” Jason smiled. “And besides, I have good news.”

Elizabeth let her hands fall free from his shoulders and took a step back. Good news. When was the last time she got one? Everyday since her 24th birthday has been nothing but chaos.

“What good news?” She asked Jason, urging herself silently to be positive.

Jason grinned, his face lit up with a mischievous smile as he took a seat at a table beside them. “Do you remember how you joked about getting married to a rich man to help save your diner and pay you and your sister's student loan?”

Elizabeth hummed thoughtfully. She slipped into the seat across the table and looked at Jason. “I do. But I wasn't exactly joking.”

Jason’s grin widened. “I found someone.”

Elizabeth blinked. Her excitement was replaced by curiosity. “You found someone?” She repeated after him, not expecting that her friend would actually take what she said seriously. “Who?”

Jason paused and all at once, his eagerness vanished as he looked outside the window of the diner. “He's outside.”

Before Elizabeth could react, the door opened slowly and in walked the subject of her childhood trauma, Elijah Moore, polished and confident as ever.

His presence seemed to fill the entire diner with a thick air of authority. A frown settled on his face as he looked at Elizabeth, and the sight of him standing in her diner brought back a flood of memories she thought she had forgotten.

“Hello Elizabeth,” Elijah said gently, his voice just as she remembered, imposingly deep and infuriatingly calm.

Elizabeth flickered her gaze between Jason and Elijah, then back to Jason. “No. No way,” she sputtered. “There's no way in hell I'm marrying him.”

Jason gave a low snort. “Same thing he said.”

Elizabeth shot him a threatening glare. “I don't care what he said.”

Elijah raised a brow and scoffed. “Don't be petty Elizabeth. We're grown. Don't tell me you're still carrying a grudge from childhood?”

“Petty?” Elizabeth's voice flared. “You pushed me into a pool, six feet deep. I nearly drowned!”

Elijah shrugged, unbothered by her confrontation. “I was helping you face your fears. You're fine now, aren't you? Besides that was years ago, I was twelve.”

“And I was eight!” Elizabeth roared. She folded her arms across her chest and stared at Jason. “This is insane.”

Elijah scoffed.

“Is something funny?” Elizabeth stared daggers at him.

“Yes. You're playing the victim when you ruined my childhood.” Elijah frowned. Elizabeth blinked, astonished by his accusation, but she wouldn't let him say what was on his mind.

“I was your victim,” Elizabeth said with growing rage in her heart. “You made a fool of me.”

“And you stood me up on prom night.” Elijah snapped.

His words hung in the air, a deafening silence clouding the room. Elizabeth stared at him, unable to mutter a single word. He never asked her to prom. She stayed home because no one had asked her to prom. What was he talking about?

Elijah took a look at his watch and sighed. “I knew this was stupid, but Jason insisted. If you change your mind, come to Bay-View Central. You know my office.”

With that Elijah walked out to his SUV parked outside the diner, and he drove off without looking back. The door to the diner swung shut and Elizabeth stood there, still reeling from his last words.

She turned back to Jason, her eyes blazing with fury. “You thought this was a good idea?”

Jason shrugged. “His grandfather is dying.”

That was the second blow Elizabeth received in a space of ten minutes. “What do you mean he's dying?” She asked, flustered by Jason's words.

“Stage four cancer. Doctors said he has only a year to live, and he wants Elijah to be married before his time on earth comes to an end.” Jason revealed.

Elizabeth walked to the counter and picked up a bottle of water. She took a long gulp and dropped the bottle back on the table.

Jason strode towards her and held her hands in his. “I know you hate him; but Lizzy, this is your only chance. You need him.”

Need was a strong word, but Jason made a fair point. Elizabeth groaned as she collapsed into a nearby seat. She was frustrated by the idea; but if she couldn't find an alternative by the end of the week, he might be all she has.

“This is not happening,” she sobbed quietly. “I'm not getting married to that monster.”