"You can't run from me, Lilian!!" One of the creditors knocked harshly on her door.
Lilian was trapped inside her house. She hid inside her bathroom for the fear of a break in. She couldn't call the police because she was scared and secondly, she didn't want to stain her reputation with criminal charges.
She was hoping he would knock and leave eventually but it seemed he wasn't ready to go anytime soon. He continued making a huge scene and the neighbours invited the police who took him away forcefully . The police tried to reach her and see if she was inside and safe but Lillian refused to open the door.
The police left afterward and Lilian could breathe in relief. She knew that it was a matter of time before she eventually got caught.
After some minutes, Lilian snuck out of her apartment with some of her belongings and headed for her friend's house but when she got there, her boyfriend was around and he was spending the weekend with her.
Lilian sighed in deep frustration and left immediately. She had nowhere to go and her house wasn't safe anymore. No money to stay at a motel or even rent another apartment. She was going broke at the second.
Lilian sat at a convenience store having a cool drink as she rimmed through her brain for any option. She was considering returning back to the orphanage and starting all over again when her phone rang.
She refused to pick up thinking it was the police or other creditors. Lilian became frightened when the phone rang again. Her next thought was to switch off the phone when a message popped up.
Lilian opened the message to see a message that made her smile widely. All hope was not lost as she was invited by the King's group to talk about her position as the wife of Lucas King.
Mrs Fiona was seen in a classy restaurant having some champagne when Lilian walked in. Her elegance made Lilian humble. She promised to compromise and obeyed everything they said to her. If possible, she could do the marriage now and hide from her creditors until she was able to pay her debt.
"Lilian Quest.." Mrs Fiona called out as she offered a seat.
"Good afternoon ma'am.." Lilian replied as soon as she sat down. Her eyes scanned through the place and knew that she was in her expensive place.
"Good afternoon lilian, congratulations on your acceptance to the king's family." She introduced and offered her a handshake which she responded nervously.
"You seem down or aren't you excited?... unlike when you were bold..are you okay?" Mrs Fiona asked at once, sensing her mood.
"No.. I am okay… just surprised that I am the selected candidate.. It feels surreal. " Lilian explained.
"I understand… but you see, you caught my attention when I saw you walk in from the elevator. You looked disappointed,not by the crowd but by yourself. I also saw how you got discouraged and made your way to leave. There was something about you that intrigued me and I can't let go…" Mrs Fiona explained after having a sip from her champagne.
"Oh..I see…" Lilian muttered. She wasn't expecting that and never knew that she was being observant about her.
"My graciousness!!!... Where are my manners?... Please, what can I offer you?... champagne, wine, coffee..anything… courtesy of King's Group." Mrs Fiona mentioned with a big smile.
"coffee..please.." lilian replied and with one clink of her fingers, a cup of coffee was being brought before her. Lilian noticed the whole restaurant was empty. No customer or anybody. Mrs Fiona noticed her and spoke with confidence.
"I bought this place just to speak to you."
"What!!!" Lilian screamed but stifled her voice by covering her mouth with her two hands.
"This is nothing… when you become the wife of Lucas King, you will have the power to do all this.. you will have people at your beck and call.. running to your aid at every given time ... ... but you see, that kind of power comes with a price." Mrs Fiona said with all seriousness.
"You mean.. by getting married to him?." Lily asked, getting intrigued by what she was saying.
"More than that my love!!!.. you have the opportunity to taste power. That feeling is much more than the taste of that hot coffee or the feeling of acquiring that new job. It's more than that. " she explained dramatically and lilian was hooked.
"So when do we start?" Lilian asked in full confidence.
"This is the information about Lucas King and before you open it. You will have to sign a NDA contract. You know we don't have any information leaking out from here. We are trying to do everything privately. " she explained.
"I totally understand…" lilian said and read through the contract before she signed. Mrs Fiona opened the file and showed her.
Lilian saw his picture for the first time and he was really handsome. The hype was worth it and proceeded to his personal details. She saw his age, health status and his qualifications in his educational background and working prospect. He had the perfect CV for any qualifications but she can't voucher for his mental and emotional personality.
"What about his emotional prospects?" Lilian asked.
"Oh… Lucas.. he is okay but you know men will be men. He is career oriented and prefers doing his things by himself. But I can't vouch for him unless you are married to him.. we are just helping him find a wife as soon as possible." she explained in an awkward tone which seemed to prick Lilian's spirit. She felt there wasn't more to what she was saying.
"Okay… I heard he got married twice?.. what happened?" She became curious. It has been a great concern among the internet and the society.
"That's personal.. I can't say but I can assure you that if you can make him happy and satisfied, I don't think you will have issues with him." Mrs Fiona replied to her in a scary tone which gave her second thought to reconsider her options. Lilian could hear Bianca's loud voice screaming no at her ears. This offer was mouth watering and it's only a fool that can reject this offer.
"I think I need time to think this through.." Lilian said immediately she stood up.
"Why?.. where are you going?" Mrs Fiona asked suddenly.
" I need to think this through… I want to be sure if I am going to do this." Lilian told her and apologised before making her way out of the room.
"If you leave, I am afraid that you have nullified the contract and there is a penalty to this.." Mrs Fiona said boldly without a hint of any emotions.
"What?!... what are you saying?" Lilian barked out immediately.
"You signed a contract.. didn't you read it correctly before you signed?" She replied to her in a rude way. Lilian, looking disbelieving, hurried to the table and went through the contract again to see that she missed a particular clause. They did it in a way she wouldn't notice. The deceptions, the lies and betrayal was too much for her to take.
"How could you?..." lillan barked and threw the contract on the floor angrily and rested her hands on the table angrily which shook the entire contents on it. All this while, Mrs Fiona wasn't moved by her tantrums. She knew that she had gotten her and there was nothing she could do.
"Gullible… your high taste for money you never worked for is remarkable. You think it's free and it would come running to you because you had the opportunity. You need to work for it…. Just like the others…" Mrs Fiona spilled out with full disdain.
"You won't get away with this… I will make sure you pay for this!!!" Lilian stormed at her.
"With what?... Where is your money?... Where is your power?... my love.. just calm down and let's continue from where we stopped… don't take it personal.." Mrs Fiona made mockery of her. Lillan felt humiliated but wasn't ready to give in. She turned her back and headed for the door when Mrs Fiona was reminded of the penalty money she would pay.
"You are so heartless… how do you expect me to pay 10 million dollars?. You are evil..all of you.. I.. I.." lilian wept immediately when she knew that it was all a set up to get her and the weirdest thing is why did they choose her and what is the reason for getting married to Lucas king.
"Let's continue…shall we?" Her voice echoed in her ears and she sighed deeply before she turned and walked back to the table and signed her doom.