Contract Marriage

Chapter Two

CHAPTER TWO

I couldn’t believe I let Carrie talk me into “meeting” up with the Mr. Hastings of H&C Holdings…alone.

“He specifically asked for you—just you.” Carrie told me earlier.

What could it be that he wanted to meet with me over dinner—and on such short notice? I couldn’t possibly think of anything else but the presentation earlier today. To me, it meant only either of two things: one, he was completely impressed by my presentation that he wanted to talk more about it with me, or two, I  was a complete failure earlier today. I had prayed over and over that it was the former.

Could it be that he was attracted to me? A small voice at the back of my head suggested. Oh come on. Him—attracted to me? Crazy.

It wasn’t long before I received a text message from a certain Mr. Nicholas Sharpe who introduced himself as Mr. Hastings’ executive assistant, saying that my meeting with Mr. Hastings will have to be moved from the hotel restaurant to Mr. Hastings’ hotel suite.

Of course, red flags immediately popped up in my head. What else would a man want to do with a young woman like me inside his hotel suite? I almost backed out the instant I read the words “hotel suite” if it weren’t for Carrie’s voice resounding in my mind. “Your job depends on how your meeting will go. Better do your best.” I didn’t want to be out of a job—God knows how hard I’ve worked to get this job and to have stayed this long and so reluctantly, I replied saying that I would be able to make it. I think I may be out of my mind. At least if it doesn’t go well tonight, Carrie will know who I was last with—the police will have somewhere to start. I tried to laugh at my morbid joke but realized that it wasn’t funny at all.

Seriously though, was I willingly walking into a trap?

I took a deep breath and sighed as I made my way into the hotel.