CHAPTER 12
"You're not going to offer me anything" he paused with his eyes on me, "Where are your manners?"
"I think we should focus on the point of this meetup" I said as I pulled a seat, my palms out on the table emphasizing the importance of us meeting up.
"Fine—What do you want to know." he sighed, sitting up reluctantly.
"The truth" I uttered, "Why did you so desperately want to go out with someone that you had to ask your mother for help setting up a date."
"You just finished your masters" I paused. "You're young,hot and your parents have a shit ton of money." I said matter of factly.
"Why couldn't you just ask a girl out yourself" I asked.
"It's a long story" he blew out a breath, dragging his fingers across his face, obviously stressed out about something.
"I don't know if you know this, but my dad passed away." he said, I made to give my condolences but he cut me off.
"And I'm to take his place as the CEO of his company."
"Go on." I urged, getting the signal he didn't want me to say anything just yet.
"Well, a stipulation for this is uhm.." he paused, suddenly becoming very sheepish and avoiding my eyes.
"Is what Matthew?" I pressed further.
"Marriage….I need to be married" he said finally looking up at me, his piercing green eyes.
"What" I said my voice suddenly high pitched, as I looked at him confused.
"I guess my dad wanted me to show that I was responsible enough by taking care of a family of my own" he said his eyes on a random knickknack at the other end of the shop.
I had never seen him look so small and helpless, looking completely cornered sitting across from me. His shoulders tense and his jaw tight and for once he didn't have a smug response.
And somehow, that was what did it.
A laugh slipped out.
Before I knew it, I was hunched over my seat laughing, so hard that my stomach started hurting. He just sat there staring at me like I had gone mad. I readjusted into my seat and wiped the tears across my face as I let out a breath.
"That's the funniest shit I've heard in a while," I said, still giggling.
"And you thought I would be stupid enough to marry you"
I shook my head
"Some girls in this town might fall for whatever this is but definitely not me"
"What if it was a contract marriage?" He asked and suddenly everything clicked, his mum asking mine, the secrecy of it all.
I stared at him, "Was this just a plan to humiliate me from the start?" I asked
"What–No" he paused rubbing his over his stubble "I didn't know it was you, I swear"
"If I happened to agree to this" I said slowly, curiosity getting the better of me, "What do I get?"
"Thirty thousand dollars every month. I pay off the mortgage for this building. A new car. You move into my apartment, and I take care of everything you need until the contract expires."
For a second, my mind went blank.
Thirty thousand dollars was the only thing ringing in my ears.
Enough to keep the bakery alive. Enough to stop pretending that I wasn't drowning under bills and overdue payments. Enough to save up for her college funds and give her the things I couldn't get as a child. I could finally move out of my overbearing mother's house.
He knew I needed what he was offering and he wasn't afraid to use it against me.
"I'm assuming that sounds useful considering how badly your bakery's been doing lately." the last part coming out sharper than the rest, my jaw hardening.
"You thought I would want to be in a fake marriage and play house with you after everything you did to me." I asked in disbelief.
"All we have to do is put on a show," he replied calmly. "Big wedding. Act like we're in love whenever we're around cameras, business partners, or anyone besides my mother."
"How long does this last" I asked
"The marriage will last for two years and when it elapses we file for a divorce." he said
"What do we say when they ask why we divorced" I asked.
"We fell out of love I guess, isn't that the cause of most divorces" he replied
"Are you interested or not?" he asked, staring me down as I thought about how this would either be a decision that would hunt me forever or would make sure that I never remain poor.
"I—"
The sound of keys rattling in the front door cut me off. I flinched at the sudden noise as the door swung open a second later
"Who the hell is this?"
He said as he stood at the doorway.