A CONTRACT MARRIAGE WITH MY BILLIONAIRE

"You clumsy b***h you will pay for that." My pot bellied boss railed after landing a slap on my face for breaking a five thousand dollar plate. But as he was about to go in for another slap, a masculine hand crossed over my face preventing the slap from landing on my already reddish face." I think she has got enough scolding accompanied with slap from you", I heard a deep voice said by this stranger now turned saviour man, looking all sophisticated in a dazzling black suit. "You said it's five thousand dollars right?" the stranger asked. Placing some bundles of dollars on the left side pocket of the buttoned up sleeve that my pot bellied boss wore, the stranger said, "That's a ninety-five thousand dollar extra for a replacement. And just as if he owned me he grabbed my hands firmly, leading us out leaving my pot bellied boss mouth wide open. Releasing my wrist from his compelling firm grip as we were now outside the front of the restaurant were I work. " Who do you think you are to grab me off like that?" I demanded, obviously looking angry at him. "You are welcome as I suppose that's the 'thank you' I get." He replied unflinched by my ungrateful manner. "I never asked you to save me, and neither I'm I grateful that you did," I spatted in more anger. "You can go and flaunt off your wealth to some other girl not me." I spoke this because his manner of saving me really reminded me that I was always helpless anytime my boss scolds me with a slap. "How about you become my contract wife for a year then?" The stranger question caught me off guard as my lips parted out with, "What?" "Well since you can't appreciate my help and generosity back there, I suppose you would prefer something more straightforward and business like then." "You can't buy me off," I said looking more furious at him for what he just spoke out. " Take your money and your stupid proposal elsewhere," I said again, as I turned back walking away. " So you enjoy this toxic work life and suffering rather than accepting this one golden chance proposal? How pathetic I must say." His statement made my already residing steps to come to a halt. I felt my fist tightened out of nowhere as my teeth gritted up, coming back at him." It is my life and my choice not yours. Whether I enjoy it or not is none of your business. My eyes now expressing nothing but hate. "I would rather face this huddle every day than to have anything to do with you and your kind." "I would say the same", he answered still unflinched." But I'm not proposing such offer to you out of pleasure or if I didn't know you very much are in need of it." " What are you talking about?" I asked giving him a questioning and suspecting look. " What I'm saying is simple," he replied putting his hand into the two pocket of his neatly penciled ironed black pants. Stepping up close to where I stood, he continued." You are in a financial wreck with your family and for that, need a help out of it. And I for one need a wife for a year to prevent risking everything I have worked hard for." I have always resented wealthy people who think they can show off their wealth to the less fortunate like me in the society, but seeing this stranger, added something more to that resentment. At this point only sheer scorn and hatred was all I could feel towards this man. The way he robbed my financial situation into my face along with his deep sense of arrogance and ego tripled the feeling even more. "I absolutely don't care who you are or what you have found out about me, or what you can change about me, " I strictly said. "So do yourself a favour and go impress someone else with your lousy fortune." And with that, I finally walked away from him as a smirk escaped his lips. By the time I got back home that same day it was already dark and late. Entering into the one small room apartment that my mother as well as my younger brother and I stayed in, everywhere was dark as I couldn't see a thing. "Why is everywhere looking so dark?" I asked hoping to hear my younger brother respond as I walked my way in gently, knowing my way through even in the dark. " oh my dear you are finally back. I was worried sick about you."My mom subtle voice said as she turned on the small lamb in her hands. Surprised to see her still awake at this time as it was past her bedtime considering her health." Mother why are you still up by now? it's past your bedtime already," I gently voiced out my care. "I know it is. But I couldn't possibly sleep knowing you were not yet back by this time of the night," my mom replied as we both sat on the old looking sofa by the corner just beside our floor bed. "I'm so sorry for not coming straight after work. I just went off to clear my head and I lost track of time while at that," I managed to skillfully explain as I couldn't bring myself to tell her about the incident with the stranger and my abusive boss as I know that would cause her to worry more. Taking a hold of my hands, my mom expressed, "Look my dear, I know things are very hard for us right now. And you are taking the whole weight on our behalf, but I need you to take things easy on yourself. I belive that all this will pass, fate will change hands in our favour for us." I felt a nerve striking like a cord within me at the mention of that word 'fate' as I remembered my encounter with the stranger earlier on. 'What if this was fate way of doing its thing?' I wondered within myself.' Could it be that proposal was fate's way of providing a way out for us to finally be free from the slump life?' But while I wondered this, my eyes landed on a white envelope on the small wooden chair that made up our table. "What's that?" I asked as I reached out to pick it up. " Oh, I didn't want to tell you until tomorrow as I know you would be tried from work but that's the letter that was brought earlier today for our overdue electric bill and the landlord's warning letter for our three months old rent." My mom explained as I gave a huge sigh of exhaustion with the envelope now in my hands not wanting to open it's content anymore. Shifting my mom's worried look towards me as I sighed, I asked." Is Josh already sleeping?" " Yes he is. He waited up for you to come back early but I guess he got tried after he cried earlier about his college tuition fee yet to be settled out." Our both eyes landed on my younger brother who was fastly asleep as she said this. It was not the first time I time josh had cried over his tuition fee, and seeing him lay there not able to further his studies after high school, along with the bills in my hand and my mom's being ill even though she tries to be strong, weighed so much on my already down spirit. "Mom," I called out. "Yes dear," she replied, turning her gaze back at me. Taking a deep breath to what I was about to say, I then asked. "What if I tell you that fate has found a way for us to get out from all of this, but with a price that involves me getting entangled with someone. Would you advise I take it regardless?" Placing her feeble hands on my cheek, she said." I may not know why you are asking or what decision you have decided to take, but still as your mother I would advise that, if it involves anything illegal by any chance, then you shouldn't. Even if it promises so much. For I would rather be thrown out in the streets with you two than lose you both to anything or anyone in this world." Hearing my mom say this brought out the tears that I've been trying so hard to hold up, and my mom who I guessed has been doing same, broke down in tears with me as we came close to a hug comforting each other.