Contract Marriage

Chapter Four

I took one tiny step after another. Slowly. I must’ve looked terrified or frazzled or something because I could almost hear the smile in his voice as he said: “It’s alright, I won’t bite.”

I looked up from straightening my dress and found him on the couch, and I would have to admit, up close, he really was handsome.

I smiled as I walked closer to where he was.

“Have a seat.” He said, patting the space beside him.

“Thank you.” I smiled and pulled a strand of hair behind my ear.

I estimated the proximity between him and myself if I were to sit in that spot and thought that it didn’t seem like a “professional” distance so opted to just leave a space that seemed enough for one person in between and sat down.

“Hi.” He looked at me with a smile that would melt girls’ hearts.

Goodness, Mia. What are you thinking about? You’re here about the presentation this afternoon. I tried to snap myself back to my senses.

“Hi.” I smiled shyly.

He moved to face me more.

“So, you must be wondering why I asked you to come over on such short notice, yes?”

I nodded.

“But I’m guessing this is about the presentation this morning, am I right, Mr. Hastings?”

“Well…yes.”

I could sense the hesitation in his voice. Why did he hesitate?

And again, he must have recognized the bewilderment in my expression because he had started to explain himself even before I could ask.

“Well it’s not exactly just about the presentation this morning.”

I grabbed the hem of my dress closer to me.

Oh my god. He wants me to sleep with him, doesn’t he?

I heard him laugh a little and again, this guy seems to just read me from just my expressions spot on.

“I know what you’re thinking and no. Well, not exactly.” He said as a small frown started to form in the space between his eyebrows.

God, why do I notice the most trivial things about him? He’s about to go all “Indecent Proposal” on me and still, I pay attention to these little things about him.

“’Well, not exactly?’ Excuse me?” I exaggerated how appalled I was at the situation.

A long pause.

 “I need you to marry me in return for the merger.” He finally said, cringed and closed his eyes almost preparing for when I slap him.

I thought about it—slapping him. But something wanted to know why in the world he would be asking or more like blackmailing a stranger to marry him.

“WHAT?” was all I could spit out from my mouth.