The Billionaires Duel

Mutual Agreement

KAREN

It's been exactly one week since Jason's proposal without a word from him since the lunch.

So much for happily ever after.

If he thinks I'm going to cower while he lords his half hearted proposal over me then he needs a rethink.

If my family is so poor and getting married to me won't benefit MERC, why did he agree to marry me?

What's in it for him in all of this?

What deal did my parents make?

I don't want to imagine things but my parents wouldn't even talk to me especially since the confrontation with my mother. Father's heard of it by now already.

At least they know what my intentions now and if they think I'll be the obedient daughter this time then they're in for a surprise.

Which is why I agreed to meet him even after his weird friendship offer.

At least he's not boring like his brother.

I suck on the straw attached to the juice carton I am holding in my hand as the sweetness of the fruit juice slides over my tongue.

I'm going to have to be discreet. I don't want my parents or Jason and his mother to find out.

The doorbell rings, alerting me.

Is it Henley already?

I glance at the ornamental wall clock hanging on the wall above my head.

It's noon and we agreed to have dinner.

I hurriedly answer the door.

"I'm not properly dressed," I mutter under my breath.

"Hen–" I stop short.

"Hello Miss Beth," Henley's majordomo, Richard greets me.

"Hi," my eyes fall to the box in his arms.

"Mr Daniels asked that this be delivered to you,"

I nod and open the door wider to let him through.

"I am very sorry to interrupt," he apologizes.

"oh no, you didn't interrupt anything," I say while eyeing the box.

What could it be?

Henley got me a gift?

Wow.

"This is for you," Richard hands me a note.

"I do hope we can come to an agreement tonight, dear friend of mine," The note read.

"Agreement?"

What does he mean?

What is Henley after?

"Mr Daniels picked this out for you," Richard gestures to the package with long, slender fingers.

I nod.

"I am to pick you up at seven. Mr Daniels hopes you enjoy your gift,"

I nod again.

"I'll see myself out then Miss," He says and makes for the front door.

"Thank you," I say to his retreating back.

Without thinking twice I rip the box open eager to see what gift Henley thought to get me.

I find a very expensive bottle of perfectly aged wine.

Stuck to the golden bottle is another note, handwritten this time.

"Cheers to a long lasting friendship"

My eyebrows rise in surprise.

He's really taking this friendship thing to another level.

But the wine, it's wickedly expensive. Even Henley's mother couldn't afford it without incurring debts and this man actually bought it to give me.

Something is going on.

No doubt.

At least I'll enjoy the taste of very expensive wine, I may never get to taste it again.

Also he'll need to know just how much I found his gift to be.

I take the bottle with me to the kitchen.

*** *** *** ***

"Good evening Miss Beth," Richard says as soon as I answer the door fully dressed and ready for the evening.

It's time.

it's time to know exactly what type of friends we are.

"Follow me please," Richard gestures and leads me to the limousine.

He holds the car door open for me and I slide in immediately immersed in plushness and a wonderful heady scent of flowers.

It's when my finances are threatened that the finest comfort seem to find me. Ironic.

"Oooh, cupcakes," I say excitedly at the open box of cupcakes on the seat in front of me.

I wonder what agreement he wants us to come to?

What could I possibly have to offer him?

I only agreed to date his brother so he could help our family's business thrive and return us to our former glory.

That was the plan before my parents decided to take matters in their hands and make decisions for me.

Well, there's only one way to find out..

I stare out the window at the lights beautifying the roads and the familiar white and black designs done on the pavements and pedestrian walks.

Lagos.

A very massive building comes into view.

SAFE HAVEN is boldly planted on the very top of the building.

Everyone knows that the restaurant lives up to it's name, or so I have heard seeing as I have never been here before even the years Jason and I dated.

This is a place where the high class can come to dine in peace without having to worry about reporters and cameras and the headlines.

My eyes track up the towering restaurant, it is massive.

"Thank you," I say softly as Richard helps me get out of the limo.

"Right this way, please," a female attendant that wasn't there when we pulled up suddenly materialized.

Hmm, the service is top notch.

I approve.

If it's possible, I think it is safe to say that the interior is massive.

Decked in shades of gold and bronze, the restaurant gives the weird feeling of being in a temple.

Chandeliers, massive crystal chandeliers decked the high ceilings and washed the restaurant in a warm yellow glow.

My silver pumps clicked on the tiled floor as I walked behind the female attendant. She leads me to an elevator and we ride up to a private dining room.

She stops in front of a door, "He's expecting you,"

"Thank you," I say and walk in.

The view.

"The view is nice," I clear my throat.

The dining room is decorated like every other part of the restaurant, art everywhere.

I glance at the table, it's already set.

"Hello best friend," he says with a smile.

I have to laugh, really.

"hello bestie," I say to him.

I can't hug him just yet until I ascertain what his version of 'best friends' means.

"How was your trip?" he holds out a seat for me.

"it was great, thank you," I settle in.

Where do I start to eat from?

My eyes wander over the table at the buffet set before me.

"I'm glad," he says while looking at me.

I can't make small talk, curiosity is killing me.

Time to hit the nail on the head.

"I'm sorry, but I can't make small talk without knowing exactly why you want to be friends with me," I break the silence.

"isn't it obvious?" he asks with a smirk.

"What's obvious?"

"Maybe I need a friend?"

he says.

I laugh again, genuinely this time.

"Don't play with me Henley. Tell me what you really want,"

He pauses.

"Wine?" he points at the wine bottle.

More expensive wine? Why not?

"Yes please,"

As he pours, he speaks.

"I know it may seem strange that I suddenly want to be your friend but trust me, I have good reason to."

He hands me the wine glass.

I say nothing.

He goes on.

"I know exactly why Jason's agreed to marry you and trust me when I say it's not in your best interest or your family's. It'd be safest if you called off the engagement and save your family a lifetime of disappointment and hatred."

I stare at him over the wine glass.

"What are you talking about?"

"Jason deals in shady business and uses MERC as a cover and of course Mother is aware but I don't know about Father and you and your family are going to bear all the bad consequences,"

"Shady business how? He promised to help get my Dad's company more recognition," I argue.

Frankly, it's hard to believe.

Why would Jason want to harm us?

Is it because we're struggling with finances and we seem like easy prey?

My parents have already thrown themselves at his feet at this point.

Do they know? Or they're just playing along.

"What exactly is this shady business that Jason into?" I ask.

Henley looks me dead in the eye.

"Drugs, Karen."

The wine glass slips from my fingers and clatters on the table cracking in the process.

"He wants to use us to market drugs?"

I ask in shock.

"It's a really long story but MERC is on the verge of getting exposed...well Jason is actually and they need a fall guy,"

"And why should I trust what you say?" I demand.

This shouldn't make sense to me, why is it making so much sense?

"Oh well, you're right but you should know that this isn't the first time. When my company was still in it's early stages, I asked my brother for help and he offered to help me on the condition that my company helps him deal drugs in the black market. Secretly of course and I said no and one month later another start up gets taken down on the counts of selling hard drugs to the public. I suspected but my suspicions were confirmed after my PI revealed all that I just told you."

Henley leans forward.

"My family is bad for your family and you need to pack your bags and leave right now if you want to make it out alive. I'll help you too,"

I don't know what to think.

This is too much to take.

I can't just leave, there's too much at stake and I don't know how much my parents have committed in getting Jason to propose.

We'd be broke in days.

"I can't just pack up and leave, you see." I pick my words carefully.

"Why?"

"Because too much is at stake for me and my family, too much."

"But..."

"I vowed to take matters in my hands and that is what I'll do."

"What exactly do you plan to do? Jason is dangerous for you," Henley persuades.

"You said this isn't the first time he's tried something like this. He needs to pay for what he's done. For all those innocent people he has sent to prison for his crimes. He needs to pay."

I say firmly.

"Karen,"

"You say you'd love to be my best friend Henley. Best friends help each other. Will you help me?"

Henley stares at me deeply for a very long time in silence.

My heart's in my mouth. This turned out worse than I expected but no way out except forward.

He sighs.

"Yes. I will help you,"