Love me for 3 months

Chapter 4 The Wedding Contract

As James insisted, they both shared a table with the view of the beach. Elia's mind wandered away, swaying along with the big waves far from the shore. Perhaps it was meant to be, her life turning out that way. Perhaps, she was never destined to live like everyone else. Tears began to roll down her cheeks.

"Are you hurt?" James was concerned. "You're...crying."

"Oh, I am fine," she was quick to wipe her eyes. "Something must have entered my eyes."

"So, where you from?"

"That doesn't concern you," Elia was firm with her answer. 

"Okay," he was taken aback. "What brings you here, then?"

"I am visiting my...father." She finally said it. It was her first time addressing Andy as her father, usually she'd say her mother's ex-boyfriend or ex-husband. 

"Well, I am here to clear my mind," James had nothing to hide. "I need to pull myself together and head back to the world of the rich." He chuckled before taking a sip of his coffee.

"The rich?" her eyebrows frowned. "What do you mean?" before James could answer, she rephrased, "No, please don't share anything. I don't want to play this game." She finished her cup and stood up. "I should get going."

"Wait, are you sure you're okay?"

"Why do you keep asking that?" Elia finally snapped. 

"Well, it's because you almost died and I almost killed someone, so basically that's why I kept asking."

Oh," Elia leaned back to her chair. It was not like he knew she's dying. "Well, that's a point to make."

"What do you do?"

"My work?"

"Yes."

"I am, well I was working as an event planner for a company. I quit my job."

Elia quit her job days after finding out about her condition. With the compensation money she had received from work and the savings she had, she decided to spend it all for herself, without giving to her mother. 

"Event planner?"

"Yes."

James had an idea. "If you're planning to stay here a little longer, I'd like to make you an offer."

"Offer?"

"Would you like to plan my wedding?"

"You're getting married?"

"Yes, shocking isn't it," he chuckled. "It's...inevitable, and I have to do it one way or the other."

"I don't think-"

"I have a beach house here and I am planning to get married there. My...fiancée will agree to it."

"You mean, you are making this decision without asking her?"

"Please, it's the one thing I can choose to do. People around me, they're like-" he paused. "Never mind, will you take the offer or not?"

"How much?"

"Unlimited budget, and your commission would be $80,000. Will that be enough?"

"80?" Elia gasped.

James assumed that it was not enough. "Alright, how about we make it solid $100,000?"

Elia was speechless.

"Well?" James wanted an answer.

That was a huge offer, she knew it. With that money, she could start her own business, buy a nice car, rent a comfortable house, travel anywhere she wanted, but here's the thing, she'd be gone by then. But instead, she could give the money away, perhaps to someone who would need it the most. Like a jackpot.

"Deal."

"Alright, I will have my assistant send you the agreement," James and Elia shook hands. "Your address?"

"Hold on," she took out a pen and piece of paper. She wrote down her Andy's house address and gave the paper to him.

"This is where you live?"

"No, but I will be staying there for the time being."

"Great, can I get your phone number?"

"No, I rather not. I will lease with your assistant for further assistance." She stood up and left.

"She's one mean woman," James said in shock.