Rebirth: Second Chance At Love, War

Chapter 5

THE ULTIMATUM

ZARA'S POV

The crowd's cheers faded to a muffled roar as Nathan's words reverberated through my dazed mind. Engaged? I must have heard wrong through the pounding in my ears. Pulling back, I gaped openly at my manager - no, my “fiancé” now. "Nathan, what...you never said..."

His eyes crinkled softly at the corners. "We’ll settle this someplace else” he soothingly whispered in my ears.

All around us smiles bloomed like sunrise, congratulations spilled from every tongue. But I could barely breathe, let alone respond. Nathan must have seen the bewilderment written clearly upon my face. Cupping my cheek, he said gently, “I need you to smile Zara. People are watching."

My thoughts crashed against each other like storm-tossed waves. "I'm...just shocked that's all." A watery chuckle escaped me. "Cause this wasn’t the bloody agreement." I said with clenched teeth.

As the congratulations and well-wishes swirled around us, I spied familiar sneering vipers lurking on the outskirts. Leaning together, I caught the telltale hiss of their gossip-mongering once more.

"Can you believe this Nathan guy is the heir to Wells Enterprises?" snickered June. "Her ‘fiance is f*****g rich and she probably had no idea! She's hit a jackpot!"

Their cackles churned my gut like sour wine. Heir to Wells business empire? Nathan had certainly left that tidbit of information out of our talks. I thought he was simply a manager. I know he said he wanted to inherit his family’s wealth, I didn’t know he meant billions! What game was Mr Wells playing at?

Just then his arm slipped around my waist, pulling me from the spiral of doubts. “I’m ready to leave, are you?"

“Yes, cause you have a lot of explaining to do” I said about to leave when Elena stopped us. Even with defeat etched onto her serpentine features, Elena seemed unable to help herself from one last jab. "Quite the whirlwind romance! So tell me Zara, when did this happen? Cause it never seemed so at the office,”

Before I could respond, Nathan took my hand firmly in his. "I’m sorry Elena but we have to go." He lifted my coat and bag with practiced grace. "Zara, our reservations await."

As he led me swiftly toward the exit, I glanced back to see Elena fuming. She was not used to things not going her way.

Momentarily, we got to a restaurant. As our server poured the wine, I finally unleashed the torrent of questions swirling in my mind.

"I thought you merely needed a plus one for your grandfather's? And now we're engaged? Also, somehow you’re the son of the late Mr Wells? If you inherit his wealth you’d be a billionaire and you didn’t even tell me”

He held up a hand, expression soft yet serious. "Slow your horses, Zara. Yes I am his son. Also, there was no way I wouldn't defend you after Elena struck. As for the engagement..."

“It was too extra and quite impromptu” I interjected.

His jaw set firm. "Announcing it served two goals - protecting you, and proving to all that nasty lot who they were dealing with. And Grandfather will surely dig into your background now. Better the whole story's out in the open, then."

I took a thoughtful sip, mulling his reasons. "And the people at the office? Cause you announced our supposed engagement in front of Elena”

Reaching across the table, Nathan grasped my hand tightly. "Trust me when I say you've got nothing to fear from her anymore."

His earnest grin softened the stern lines of his face. Maybe this was all madness...but somehow, it felt like the start of something grand.

As the comfortable silence stretched, I stared into my wine, lost in thought.

"I know this is all rather...unexpected." he said.

Understatement of the century! I grappled for words, but none could describe the tempest inside. Finally Nathan spoke again, his offer shutting my mind down completely.

"Seventy thousand dollars, just to be my fiancée for tomorrow when I see Grandfather. That should compensate for any...inconvenience."

Seventy thousand dollars!? My breath caught violently in my chest. What simple lives that sum could change - escaping Mark, moving into a new place at last... But was I truly willing to delve deeper into this charade?

At my hesitation, Nathan continued smoothly. "A hundred thousand, then. It's a small price to pay to impress Grandfather."

Swooning like some romance heroine, I grasped for rational thought but found only that glimmering mirage of a new beginning.

"You have yourself a deal, Mr. Wells."

As Nathan drove off into the night, my swirling thoughts clouded my head. All became clearer when I turned the key to find Mark loitering unexpectedly by my door.

"Mark? What are you doing here?" Though his presence hardly comforted, years of habit had me inviting him kindly inside.

He trailed after like a hopeful puppy, taking my hand in his. "I've been thinking about our call, Zara. You said we could work things out - I'm here to do just that."

Perching beside him, I fought to keep distance in my tone and posture. "Mark, it's been a long day. Can we please not do this now?"

But he pressed on, cupping my cheek as he always did to weaken my resolve. "I miss you, baby. Give me another chance to make you happy..."

I squeezed his shoulder with a sigh. "I’m sorry but you need to go."

He stood as if anchored, hands fidgeting helplessly at his sides. "But Zara..."

"Please." My tone allowed no argument, though sympathy softened the blow.

As heavy footsteps receded into the night, I shut the door assuring myself that once I go through with Nathan’s plan and get my money, I was going to officially end things with him.

The next morning, a polite knock woke me up only to find Susan on my doorstep, wisps of excitement framing her doll-like face.

"Nathan sent me - he wants me to make you over for meeting Grandfather!" she bubbled, wasting no time in whisking me off to primp with her gifted hands.

Hours dissolved under beauty and charms until at last, I gazed, stunned at a vision in the mirror. Seductive curls and glittering gown left me nearly unrecognizable as timid Zara transformed into a jewel at Nathan's side.

"You'll knock em’ dead!" Susan praised.

True to her word, when Nathan laid eyes on me in the awaiting car, only one word escaped his lips: "Beautiful."

As we went through the gardens at his grandfather’s, heading towards the entrance, he took my hands with a meaningful squeeze. "Grandfather is crucial to win over. As heir I stand to inherit the entire Wells fortune, but..."

His fair brow knitted tight. "My rival is Claude, my bastard half brother. But with you by my side, my chances are very high."

I grinned gamely and raised our joined hands to kiss his knuckles. "Cheers to being a fake soon to be Mrs. Wells”

As we entered the embellished dining hall, all eyes turned our way with intrigue and suspicion etched plainly upon each face. Claude and his pregnant wife stared at me with contempt.

Nathan took my trembling hand and addressed them all. "Grandfather, brother, Crystal - allow me to introduce my beloved Zara."

Claude let out a derisive snort. "Beloved? Tell me, is this just another scheme to secure father’s fortunes?"

Steeling my fluttering nerves, I met each doubt-filled gaze head on. "I know you all have every reason to be wary, but I assure you that my love for Nathan is pure and real."

My words seemed to give Nathan's grandfather pause. Finally he spoke, a glint in his shrewd old eyes. "Very well, prove to me then that your love exceeds mere monetary matters.”

“How?” Nathan asked.

“A wedding. The both of you now have a wedding to plan” he concluded. Nathan sat tensed, unable to say a word.

“Well f**k me” I sighed under my breath.