The Deal

1. Don't Cry Mercy (Hurts)

“A woman is like a tea bag – you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water.”
– Eleanor Roosevelt

Eight in the morning saw a young woman walking at a break neck speed towards a small cafe in the city. Her name is Rosalyn Summers, and she is twenty-three. A secetary working in McCain Enterprises.

"Good morning Rosalyn, how are you today?" I smiled as Layla passed me my sandwich. "I'm doing great Layla, just a little late, please add more milk to the expresso by the way" I added, it was a Monday and we all know that Monday is a pain in the ass. You turn off your alarm for almost five times before you literally crawl out of bed with your eyes half closed. That's most of our Monday schedules. We look at out clock and when we realize the time, a ton of profanities escape our mouths as we try to be The Flash and get everything done in seconds which we tend to mess up most of the time.

"Here's your coffee darling, be careful and a little tip, our cleaner called in sick this morning so tonight we need help. I know you need money, so is eighty alright?" Layla said softly. You see, I'm desperate for money. My sister needed more college funds, my mum is working her ass off for our family and our dad, has worked so hard all these years that he is lying in the hospital with liver cancer in the second stage. And the only thing I can do is work even harder each and everyday. "Thanks so much for informing Layla, I'll be there tonight at eight" I said flashing a quick smile before my high heels went click, click, click, down the busy street of New York City.

"Where's my report, Rosalyn?" "There's a meeting you need to clean up the room" "Where's my coffee?" "Need I always remind you?" I was bombarded with questions every single day of my work life. A secretary working in McCain Enterprises is the definition of workaholic. You work and work and work and only stop for lunch,making coffee and going home. Sounds like a great job huh?

My boss is none other than Damien McCain, he has been labeled as ruthless, selfish and devilishly handsome. He is. Many women have unrealistic dreams of getting together with him. It's idiotic really.

"Rosalyn my expresso" I sighed as his smooth voice filled the phone. "Yes Mr McCain" I said. I had forgotten to give him his usual morning expresso. "I'm dead" was the only thought running through my mind as I added hot water to the powder. I stirred quickly and dumped the spoon into the Basin. "Shit, he wants the spoon" I cursed softly as I grabbed the spoon washed it and placed it on the saucer before rushing to his office which might I say is gargantuan.

"Come in" I huffed and open the door to the office. "Mr McCain, your coffee" I said and placed it on the wooden table that probably cost the amount of my house. "Yes and sit down " he said gesturing to the seat. I stood there dumbfounded. This man, with his Armani suit, his dark eyes and dark personality just asked me to take a seat. "I don't say please Rosalyn" he said this time a little louder. I took a seat immediately.

"I have a deal for you" I looked up at him. "A deal?" I asked unsure. "Yes, I know you're in need of desperate money Rosalyn " he said almost mocking me. "What do you-" "Your father, Joseph Summers, age fifty-five diagnosed with liver cancer stage two, need I say more?" He said his eyes boring into mine. "How did you-" "How did I find out?" He asked softly. I nodded. "I have my ways Rosalyn, and I have a deal, listen, the Thursday I'm turning twenty-six" he paused and looked at me as if to see if I was listening. "I know" I replied softly. "So here's the deal, I want you to pretend to be my fiance" he said. It was as if he just asked me for lunch rather than ask me to be his fiance. It was as if he didn't give a damn.
'Pardon?" I replied. "You heard me Rosalyn, don't expect me to repeat it" he said with a sharp edge. "Fiance, why-" "You will receive ten million dollars transfered to your account when you sign the contract" he interrupted me for the third time. "Why do you need a fiance?" I asked twiddling my fingers, he is intimidating. "Simple I need to get married or I lose everything and now there's a great deal in front of you Rosalyn,take it or leave it" he said pushing a small stack of papers towards me. It was the contract. The contract to be his wife. "I need to think Mr McCain" I said softly. "Rosalyn, I don't have all the time in the world neither does your father, we both know the meager salary you earn isn't even enough for the hospital bedroom not to mention the process of curing Joseph" he said sitting up. "I..... it's a big decision" I whispered. "Look Rosalyn, once we get married we'll be together playing the devoted husband and wife before we file for a divorce three months after the wedding" he said handing me a pen. I read the contract carefully.

Rosalyn Summers will be the fiance of my client Damien McCain up until their marriage and three months after the supposed marriage, Mr McCain will file for a divorce.
During marriage these are the terms that follow.
-There will be absolutely no sexual intercourse.
-None of the marriage vows have to be followed.
-Miss Summers must not reveal this truth to anyone, or faces the consequences of being sued.
-Both shall not sleep in the same bed unless the parents of Mr McCain are over at the house.
-All terms must be strictly followed.
(A sum of ten million shall be given to Miss Rosalyn Summers pior to signing this contract)

I gripped the pen in my hand as I read through it again and again. "So Rosalyn?" He asks. "Even if you're not willing to be his wife, Dad needs this money to cure his cancer, I can't push him to his death just because I have no intention of marrying my boss who's an ass" the thought was running though my mind. Before I asked "So where do I sign?". He smirked and pointed it out. "And one more thing Rosalyn, wear something nice tomorrow night, you're going to meet the parents" he said. I nodded and left the office. 

"He what?" My mum exclaimed in my ear. "Yes mum I've been dating my boss for a year but we didn't want to publicize it yet" I said as I mopped the floor of Layla's cafe. "I see and you didn't bother to inform your family" She said, I could hear her disappointed voice through the phone. "I'm sorry mum, but we needed to make sure it was the right time" I said trying to make it as convincing as possible. "Alright, Come home and we'll sort it out" She said, we said our quick goodbyes before she cut the call.

"So McCain huh? Nice choice, he is handsome and rich" Layla said after I broke the news. "He's an asshole, ruthless and selfish too" I wanted to add but kept my mouth shut and returned a smile.  I cleaned the place up, organised the chairs and accepted the eighty dollars before returning home.

I walked down the streets when a car stopped beside me. The windows were down. "Need a ride home? " I bent down to see who the voice belonged to and I was shocked when I saw Damien in the car.  "Mr McCain" I greeted. "You're my fiance Rosalyn the last time I checked fiances don't address their significant other by their last names" he added smirking. "Fine Damien, what are you doing here? How do you know where I went to?" I asked. "Like I said I have my ways" he said and got out of his car. "Now are you going home or not?" He said. I sighed and opened the car door and got in followed by Damien.

"I'm home, thank you Damien" I said and left. His car drove off into the night.

"I saw it" my sister, Laurel claimed. "Saw what?" I asked putting my bag down. Your boyfriend. Wait nope, your fiance, wait nope,your soon to be hubby" She said excitedly.  "Yes yes Laurel, your sister is getting married, without telling us" mum said as she exited the kitchen. "Mum...." I mumbled. "Don't get me wrong Rosalyn I'm happy you found your Mr Right, but you could have informed us" She said as Laurel crept back to her room. I looked down and sighed. "Does dad...." I trailed off. "Yes he does and he is very happy his beautiful girl girl is getting married soon" She said smiling and pulling me into a tight hug. "Thanks mum" I whispered. All this marriage thing might be fake but my family is real and Dad is going to return home soon. "You know Rosalyn, Joseph loves you the most" mum said handing me a cup of water. "No mum he loves Laurel more" I said laughing.  "Now now Rosalyn we both know that's not true" She replied.

"I'm willing to do all this on behalf of my family and to cure my dad" That was my only thought as I went to sleep that night.

Hi guys I hope this is good and if you have ANY comments or suggestions for me, please let me know okay?
Thanks a lot for reading.
-Rachelngoh _