The Proposal

Chapter 1

When she was a teenager Earn Sanithada had often fantasized about her wedding day. She imagined that she would bump into a beautiful woman while randomly walking down the streets and they would fall in love at first sight. Eventually, they would have the perfect wedding in the most gorgeous dresses, surrounded by friends and family. Then they would move to Europe and start their own family. However, her actual wedding day ended up being very different from her fantasy.

She was marrying a woman who was not only beautiful but also successful and rich. The heiress of the famous Thananusak Hospital where Earn worked as a nurse, Fahlada Thananusak. She had also definitely had a crush on Fahlada since she first joined the hospital and laid eyes on the older woman. If you told Earn back then that she would one day marry Fahlada she would have probably squealed with happiness. But on her actual wedding day, she did not feel any joy. This was because they were not in love. She hardly knew Fahlada like that. If anything she knew that Fahlada hardly ever noticed her or even knew of her existence.

This was just an arranged marriage.

This all started exactly one month ago...
It was lunch break at the hospital and Earn was enjoying lunch with another nurse, Rosarrin, while gossiping as usual
"Did you hear, the famous actress Ratee visited Doctor Fahlada again" Rosarrin stated "I am almost certain that she has a crush on our doctor"
Earn scoffed "I am pretty sure Khun Mor Fahlada has a dislike for actresses, that's what I overheard her say to Khun Mor Tan once"
"That would make sense. Anyway, if Ratee does indeed have a crush on Doctor Fahlada then good luck to her. Many men and women have tried but no one can melt our dear doctor's heart" she laughed

Suddenly from the corner of her eye, Earn saw Fahlada walk into the room and head towards them
"Is she coming here?" Earn wondered out loud as Rossarin looked up from her lunch in confusion. By the time she could turn around Fahlada had already reached their table. Her hands were in her coat pockets as usual.
"Nurse Earn, I need to see you in my office immediately. Please follow me"
Earn wanted to protest as she was not done with her lunch yet, but as the doctor started walking away she quickly got up and jogged to catch up with her.
"Khun Mor Fahlada, what's wrong? Did I do something?"
"We will talk in my office" Fahlada responded walking towards the elevator
"Please close the door behind you," She said to Earn as they finally walked into her office. Earn shut the door and looked around. She had only been to the office a few times.
"Please sit," Fahlada said, pointing to the chair across from her. Earn obeyed
"I will get straight to the point. I have a proposal for you"
"Oh?" Earn responded
"I want you to marry me"

........

It took Earn a minute to fully process the doctor's words
"What?" She responded with utmost confusion "Marry you? But you hardly know me? Until today I wasn't even sure if you knew my name. What is..."
"Please calm down," Fahlada said "Allow me to explain the situation"
Earn watched expectantly as the doctor gathered her thoughts
"You see. In about two months I am supposed to take over this hospital from my parents. But my mother is rather stubborn and wants me to have a partner. Mainly because she wants someone to take care of me as I take care of the hospital. She doesn't understand that I don't need anyone to do that" Fahlanda grumbled "But anyway, I have been lying to her about having a girlfriend hoping that would get her off my back, but she decided last night that not only does she want to meet my girlfriend but she also wants me to get married before I can officially take over the hospital. That is her condition for this handover in fact"

Earn looks just as confused as before as she takes another moment to understand the situation.
"Uh ok...but...why are you asking me?"
Fahlada shrugged "One time my mother was extremely insistent on knowing who my girlfriend was and she asked me while we were at lunch in the hospital. So I just pointed at you because you were sitting close by"
"WHAT?" Earn almost yelled "But...WHAT??"
Fahlada raised her hands signalling to Earn to calm down "Look, I just need to put up a show for some time ok. Once I take over the hospital this will not be a concern anymore. You and I can get a divorce in a couple of months and I will tell my mother that it just wasn't meant to be"
Earn sat in silence, unsure of what to think or say

"How about this, I will give you a million baht to be married to me for a couple of months"
Earn's eyes widened as her thoughts went from being confused about the situation to her sick mother. The money could really help with her mother's treatment. She looked up at the doctor who was gazing at her with expectant eyes "You will have your full freedom. You just have to stay with me and pretend to be my wife for some time"
"Fahlada is a cold person but if I only have to fake being married to her for a couple of months...it should be ok...I suppose" Earn thought to herself "But..."
"Well?" Fahlada asked raising her eyebrow at the younger girl
Earn sighed as she stood up "Ok. Lets do it"