Billionaire's marriage bargain

CHAPTER 3

MELODY

How in the world did you convince me to do this?" I exclaimed, stunned, as I stood in her dressing room, watching her sift through dresses on a hanger trying to pick an outfit for me.

"Melody, you know you need this. The guy is willing to pay a lot for this; he's a billionaire!" Rebecca said in a coaxing voice, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

"But still, I think being a fake girlfriend to a stranger isn't exactly an ideal job," I replied, observing her movements.

"Look, this guy could pay for your mum's heart surgery and every other burden. Then you won't have to work so hard. You need to live a little, explore the world," she said persuasively.

"How did you even meet this guy?" I asked curiously, intrigued by the whole situation.

"He's Ethan's best friend," she revealed, dumping a pile of clothes on the floor in her search.

"Wow, I'm impressed. Ethan is not just rich; he's also friends with a billionaire," I remarked, impressed by the connections.

"I know, right?" Rebecca exclaimed happily, holding up a stunning black figure-hugging dress. "Perfect!”

"We've got the dress. Now, all that’s left is hair and makeup," she said with a smile, surveying the outfit she had picked for me.

"I'm not so sure about this, Reba," I replied doubtfully, fidgeting with the hem of the dress.

"Trust me, okay? I've got this. Let me work my magic," she said, her eyes gleaming with confidence.

An hour later, I had to admit, I was impressed. Rebecca was truly skilled at what she did. I looked amazing in the outfit she had chosen for me. The black dress accentuated my curves perfectly and paired with the black heels, I felt elegant and confident.

"The car is here," Rebecca announced as she peeked out of the window.

"How did you know it's from him?" I asked curiously.

"Take a look," she said, pointing outside.

I was dumbfounded as I stared at a black, sleek, shiny limousine. "Wow, he really goes all out, doesn’t he?" I remarked in awe.

As we settled into the limo, my mind was racing with thoughts. Could I go through with this? How would I fit into the billionaire lifestyle and pretend to be his girlfriend?

Rebecca noticed my apprehension and reassured me, "Enough, Melody. I know you have doubts, but you need the money. This will be good, trust me." She squeezed my sweaty hands, offering support.

"This is so fancy," Rebecca explained as we arrived at our destination.

I had to agree with her as I took in elegant decor, with golden chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, plush velvet chairs, and ornate paintings adorning the walls.

As we entered the VIP section of the restaurant, I couldn't help but notice that the area was empty. It seemed Mr. Billionaire had rented out the entire place for the occasion. I spotted a handsome man already sitting at one of the tables.

"Hi, babe," Rebecca she said as hugged him.

"Wow, I'm a lucky man. You look ravishing, my love," he said, clearly smitten as he kissed her.

"You must be Rebecca. I'm Ethan," the man introduced himself as we shook hands.

"Asher will be here in 10 minutes," Ethan informed us.

We exchanged pleasantries and engaged in small talk until a tall figure entered the room, interrupting our conversation. "I have never seen Ethan so well-behaved," he remarked with a teasing tone.

I could recognize that voice any day and anytime, I looked up to see those mesmerizing blue eyes. "Mr. Grumpy!" I exclaimed unable to contain my surprise.

He squinted at me, and a flicker of recognition passed over his face. "Goofy Coffee girl?" he retorted, recalling our previous encounter.

Rebecca, sensing the tension, interjected, "You two know each other?"

"He's the grumpy rich guy who called me an i***t at the coffee shop," I explained to her.

"Excuse me, Clumsy the smurf, you ruined my $20,000 Armani suit," he exclaimed.

"Did he just call me a smurf? That's it, I'm leaving," I announced.

"Melody, calm down," Rebecca said, trying to defuse the situation as she held my hand reassuringly.

"I think we should all relax," Ethan chimed in, attempting to ease the tension.

"I know my friend can be a bit much sometimes. I apologize on his behalf," Ethan said, shooting Asher a knowing glance.

"I hope you can be gracious enough to let that incident fade so we can focus on the matter at hand," Ethan continued, his smile sheepish yet sincere.

I looked at Rebecca, who nodded encouragingly, signaling me to accept the olive branch. "Fine," I relented.

"I'm sorry about your suit," I apologized genuinely, wanting to smooth things over.

"It's fine, I have a closet full of those anyway," Asher shrugged nonchalantly.

"I'm glad we're moving forward. Now, Asher, I think you should explain what's going to happen," Ethan suggested, steering the conversation back on track.

I watched as Asher cleared his throat, his demeanor shifting to a more serious tone. "There have been some rather unsavory rumors about my family, causing major damage to my company. This arrangement could help resolve it," he explained.

"Ethan was the genius behind this idea," Asher added with a hint of sarcasm, earning a chuckle from Ethan.

"I was told you would be the best person to keep this as discreet as possible," Asher continued, acknowledging my role.

He then pulled out a document from his briefcase. "I met with my lawyers, and we drafted up a contract,"

"Of course, It can be reviewed and changed as time goes by, Although this arrangement should ideally last until the rumors die down," He said as he handed it over to me.

As I read through the contract, one line caught my attention, and I couldn't help but exclaim, "1 million dollars!"

"Yes, of course. That, along with your mother's surgery fees, father's gambling debt, and your brother's entire college fees," Asher confirmed, showing his commitment.

"Oh, and I bought the building your bakery is in. I bought it in your name," he added nonchalantly, surprising me with his generosity.

I was astonished, feeling a wave of gratitude and relief wash over me. "This is too much," I managed to say, overwhelmed by his gestures.

"Nonsense, I have to ensure you're thoroughly compensated, Now that we have gone over the contract, Will you sign it Clumsy.. I mean Melody "He smirked.

I rolled my eyes as I took the pen to sign the contract.

"We start tomorrow. There's an engagement party I'd like us to attend. I'll send over stylists to take care of you, and I'll come pick you up myself," he said.

"That's sooner than I expected, but I guess that's alright," I responded.

"Now that everything is sorted out, I think it's time for us to eat," Ethan suggested, shifting the focus to a more relaxed atmosphere as he motioned for the waiter.

Hours later, after finalizing details with Asher, I found myself sitting on my bed, thoughts swirling in a mix of anxiety and excitement. The sudden turn of events—from the pain of Joe's betrayal a few days ago to now agreeing to be a billionaire's girlfriend—was almost surreal.

I chuckled to myself, thinking about how just a short while ago, I was drowning my sorrows in a bottle, and now I was stepping into the world of the rich and famous, pretending to be someone I wasn't.

The prospect of financial stability for my family amidst the chaos of uncertainty brought a sense of relief, even though I still had reservations about the whole charade.

As I drifted off to sleep, a million thoughts ran through my head.