Game of Chance

NOELLE “It’s over, Noelle.” Malcolm’s eyes held pity and his voice was laced with concern. “The investors have pulled out. If you don’t come up with half a million dollars in the next two weeks, Noire Noelle Skin is finished.” My stomach twisted. Half a million? I didn’t even have five hundred. I sat in the dimly lit café, my fingers wrapped around a cold cup of coffee I could barely afford. Three months ago, I had been a rising star in the beauty industry. Now, I was drowning in debt, my business hanging by a thread. Across me sat Malcolm Hayes, my longtime lawyer and unfortunately, the bearer of bad news. His fingers drummed anxiously against the table. “There has to be another way.” My voice came out steadier than I felt. I couldn’t afford to let it go. He hesitated, then slid a sleek black envelope across the table. Gold lettering spelled out a name. XAVIER EVERHART. “I got a letter from him, Xavier Everhart.” He spoke and I arched my brows. I knew this name. It was only synonymous to danger. “A letter for you.” “Whatever that is, I am not interested in it.” “This might just be what you need.” He urged. What business could we possibly have together? I swallowed hard, my fingers trembling as I picked up my envelope. Inside was an invitation; a private meeting with Xavier Everhart, one of the most powerful billionaires in the country. I knew him. Of course, everyone did. Cold. Calculated. Ruthless. His business empire had swallowed smaller companies whole, leaving people in distress. But why me? “I don’t know what happened or what he has to say but I think it’s in your best interest to see him. He might be the help you need.” He spoke with precision. Maybe this was true. Maybe it wasn’t, I couldn’t tell. The devil doesn’t hand out favors for free. If he’s helping, it definitely has to be because he has already decided what he’s going to take and it’s.... always something dangerous. A man like Xavier Everhart didn’t extend a lifeline without a noose hidden inside. “Please, think about it. I have to leave now.” I didn’t look up but I knew he was leaving. the steady rhythm of his footsteps echoed, growing fainter and fainter until I heard nothing. One business deal. One wrong investment and now, my whole life was a mess! I was at the brink of losing everything I labored for. I picked the envelope and peeped at it again before a sigh escaped my lips. Was he thinking of acquiring my business too? Was this a plan to take over my company? I stood up and went on to wear my shades before leaving the café. I couldn’t imagine the shame that would follow once news broke out about how terrible the state of my company was. ** I found myself at the penthouse office of Argon Group. It had taken a couple hours of thinking before finally deciding to do this. As a matter of fact, it had taken me the whole night to make this decision. I couldn’t sleep as Malcolm’s words resounded in my head over and over again. Floor to ceiling windows framed the mighty building and drew great attention to it but it was Xavier Everhart who commanded the room. Dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, he leaned back in his leather chair, his gaze locked onto me like a predator assessing its prey. Dark hair. Ice blue eyes. The danger he exuded was almost tangible. He didn’t speak right away. Instead, he let the silence stretch, forcing me to squirm under his unreadable stare. Then, with a slow smirk, he finally spoke. “Marry me.” “Excuse me?” I blinked. Was this some sort of joke? “I am not a man of many words but I am going to explain it to you as easy as I can. A one-year contract marriage, no strings attached. In exchange, I’ll wipe out your debts, fund your business and set you up for life When the year is over, we’ll divorce, again, with no strings attached.” I watched his lips danced as he uttered those words as though this was just a business agreement. My pulse pounded. Oh, I had believed he would come up with the idea of me paying back heavily when he invests in my business or probably taking half of my company but not even in my wildest dream or imagination would I have thought he wanted me. I was the price. “And what do you get out of this?” I crossed my arms and his smirk deepened. “Let’s just say.... I want to prove a point which is not going to affect you in any way.” I exhaled sharply. Of course. Just a business deal. Nothing more but... I wasn’t sure I wanted to be entangled in whatever this was. “I..... “ I tried to think of the right words to say. I couldn’t bring myself to say yes yet I struggled with the need to say no. “I would.... I will like to think about it.” “Okay then, you have five.” He spoke and turned his back to me. I nodded and stood up to leave. “Five minutes.” He added and I halted, glued to the floor as a result of shock. “Five minutes?” I blurted out. He let out a short, humorless chuckle, tilting his head slightly as if amused by my hesitation. “I have a list of candidates, plenty actually. I just thought I’d extend the offer to you first, but if this is too much for you....” He let the sentence hang, unfinished. Then, with a lazy flick of wrist, he slid his phone into his pocket. I stood still on the spot, considering what step to take. Mother.... if my business failed, she would mock me for eternity. She had always wanted to see my business fail to prove that I would always ‘need’ her. I couldn’t let that happen. “I don’t have the luxury of waiting on indecisive people. Either you want it or you don’t. “ He turned his attention to the papers right in front of him. “Door’s right there. If....” “I’ll do it. “I blurted out and held my dress. I swallowed hard, the weight of my choice pressing down on my chest, A year. Just one year. My business would thrive again. My mother would have to swallow her words. If one year was all I needed to save myself from disgrace and taunting, then I would give it. “I’ll marry you.” I added. He didn’t so much blink. No satisfaction... just the same calm indifference. Without uttering a word, he reached for the contract and flipped it opened with practiced ease. The sleek pen in his fingers barely made a sound as he set it down on the paper and slid it across the desk towards me. “Sign.”