by Nora Ford
Chapter Two
Talia
Adam was already seated and checking something on his phone. I instantly saw him, the way he filled out his designer suit took my breath away. This is a business meeting, I reminded myself.
He noticed me and stood as I approached. A wave of heat surged over me when he reached out and took my hand in his. His penetrating stare and confident smile quivered as we shook hands.
“Ms. Jones, thanks for meeting me on such short notice.” His eyes scanned me from head to toe and a small smile touched the corners of his mouth. From the expression on Adam’s face, I could tell that he liked what he saw.
I offered him a smile as I removed my hand from his. “I don’t normally meet with clients outside their office, but…” before I could finish my sentence, he said with a grin. “For me, you made an exception, everyone does, but I appreciate it anyway.”
I didn’t know how to respond to this arrogant comment. So, I chose to let it slide. To hide my nervousness, I buried my face in the menu in front of me thinking, Things aren’t going as planned. Adam dominated the space by simply being there.
Much to my relief, the waitress came and took our orders. After she left, I asked him, “So, what do you think of my proposal?”
“Sorry, but I haven't had a chance to look at it yet.”
“If you haven’t read my proposal, what's the point of this meeting?” I asked confused.
“I have another offer for you, and I think it would be much more lucrative.” He smiled widely, exposing his perfect teeth.
This conversation was going all wrong, and I didn’t like it, but trying to sound casual, asked, “What kind of offer?”
Before he could answer, the waitress came with our orders. Although I wasn’t hungry, I tried to distract myself with the food in front of me. I was hoping he wouldn't notice how nervous he was making me.
After the waitress left, we ate in silence for a few moments, then he finally said, “It’s an unusual offer, one you won’t get every day. I want your exclusive services for a year, and I am going to pay you $100,000 a month. On top of that you’ll get a million dollars in cash when the year ends to my satisfaction.”
I could feel his eyes on me all the time. He was carefully studying my reaction to his words. I didn’t know how he was expecting me to respond and I honestly didn’t care. One thing was clear though: this meeting was a huge mistake I was about to correct.
I opened my purse and took out my credit card, but he stopped me before I could call the waitress.
“What are you doing?” he wanted to know.
“I am paying for my food. Thanks for your offer but I am not a call girl Mr. Grant.” I answered, while I was searching for the waitress who took our orders.
“Now you're insulting me,” he said sounding upset.
“We’re even then,” I said shortly. I was still scanning for the waitress and couldn’t find her anywhere.
“You’ve got me wrong; I didn’t mean it that way. Believe it or not but I don’t have to pay for sex. Besides, sex is the last thing I want from you,” he said with a grin this time.
I don’t know why I felt this way, but I was upset. Not that I wanted to have sex with him, but the fact that he didn't find me attractive bruised my ego. However, I didn’t show it and just asked him, “Then what do you want from me, Mr. Grant?”
“Adam, please, and I want to marry you,” he said simply.
“Sorry, what did you say?” I asked confused.
“You heard me right the first time. I want to marry you. If you say yes, we will get married this Friday.” I could see my reaction amused him.
“Sorry, but I don’t understand,” I said confused.
“You must have heard about my engagement to the senator’s daughter and the scandalous photos of her and her new boyfriend while wearing my ring.”
He looked me in the eye to make sure he had my attention, and then went on, “She is doing this on purpose to embarrass me. I gave a statement and said that I broke off the engagement, but it’s not enough. I need to get married soon. So, I’ll give the press something else to talk about.”
“I still don’t get it; you broke up with her, why do her news and photos affect you?” I asked again.
He took a deep breath and tried to explain again. “Everything about me is news. Negative publicity doesn’t only affect my image in the market, it also scares small investors and makes them sell their stocks and shares in my companies. I am losing money with every photo she publishes. So, I need to act quickly.”
“I see now, but why me? Wouldn’t a young model or someone prominent be a better choice?” I suggested.
He shook his head, “No, I thought about that, but it would scare the shareholders even more. They would think I am spending their hard-earned money on a gold-digger,” he explained, but I wasn’t convinced.
“You, on the other hand, are a perfect choice. You belong to the upper middle class, and you come from a respectable family. You will represent stability and people will love you.”
I nodded, “Okay, I see your point but won’t you have this problem again when we get divorced.”
He shook his head and said. “No, we are going to come up with a good reason for the divorce, like the fact that I’m a workaholic and married to my company. This way I’ll gain the trust of the shareholder, and you’ll gain the sympathy of the people. It’s going to be good for you as well.”
He was waiting for me to respond, and when I didn’t, he took out a business card from his pocket and gave it to me. “I have to leave now but here are the contact details of my publicist.”
When I made a perplexed expression, he added, “He is the one responsible for my websites, logos, and all those things. If you decide to refuse my offer, you can still contact him with your proposal. I am sure he will be glad to work with you.”
“Does this mean I can still do work for you even if I say no?” I asked cautiously.
“Yes, but if you decide to accept, I will be waiting for you in my office tomorrow at ten. However, at ten thirty this offer will be off the table. I hope you will make the right choice.”
He signaled the waitress to bring the check, this time she came running. After he paid, he rose up and just left.
Chapter Three
Talia
I sat there speechless and confused by his offer. I didn’t know how to react to this insane proposition. I probably should forget about it and call his publicist. A chance was all I wanted to gain from this meeting, and I got it. So why the hell do I think about this crazy deal?
I was still wrapped up in my thoughts when the waitress came to ask me if I wanted something else. I politely declined and grabbed my purse to leave. On my way out, I noticed that other guests were staring at me. “Great. One meeting with Adam Grant and people start talking,” I murmured to myself walking to my car.
Before I left the parking lot, I called my mom and asked her if Timo could spend the night. I knew she would love to have him, but still, I had to ask. After I hung up the phone with my mother, I drove to my sister’s apartment. I needed someone to talk to, and I couldn’t think of anyone other than one of my sisters.
My sisters and I are best friends; we can tell each other any and everything. We’re close to our mom too, however, I can’t discuss this arrangement with my mom; her answer would be a big NO. She believes in love, and forever, a wife for rent isn’t her kind of thing.
Olivia, my older sister, isn’t an option, she is married, and I don’t get along with her husband. So, Tessa, my younger sister is the better choice. She is only two years younger than me, and she is a good listener. She is a second-year resident doctor, specializing in Gynecology and Obstetrics, and she works crazy hours.
On my way I stopped to buy some essential groceries, I knew her fridge would probably be empty. I had a key to her apartment, but I was praying she would be home. I didn’t bother to ring just used my key. If she was home, she would probably be
sleeping.
She wasn’t there, but I decided to wait for her. I was putting the groceries away in the fridge when I heard the door close.
“Tal!” I heard her calling.
“In here,” I answered.
“Hi, what are you doing here?” she asked.
“I am stuffing your fridge, what else?” I said.
“Thanks, if it weren’t for you, mom and Liv, I would starve.” She gave me a weak smile. She looked exhausted.
“Why are you doing this to yourself?” I wanted to know.
“This is the price you have to pay to be a resident doctor,” she shrugged.
“Yes, but you look like shit,” I was stating a fact.
“Thanks for pointing it out, I feel like shit too. I wish I could say the same about you, but you look gorgeous tonight. A hot date?” She grinned.
“No, a business meeting,” I said shortly.
She gave me a suspicious look and asked, “You’re dressed like this for a business meeting?”
“Go take a shower and change these scrubs, while I fix you something to eat and then we’ll talk,” I suggested.
She frowned and said, “You sound serious, but you’re right I need to shower first so that I can feel like a human again. See you in a few.”
“Take your time,” I told her on her way out.
I quickly went to change into a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt. I always leave a few things for Timo and myself here and at my parents. It’s practical and efficient. Half an hour later, I had set the kitchen table, and was waiting for Tessa. She came in a few moments later dressed in a sleep shirt. “Coffee please,” she said.
“No, eat something first. I can’t believe you’re a doctor and have all these unhealthy habits. You should set an example for your patients,” I scolded.
“I tell my patients to do as I say not as I do. Besides, I am not pregnant; I can drink as much coffee as I want,” she shrugged.
“You might not be pregnant now, but you’ll be someday. You should take better care of yourself,” I argued.
She shook her head, gave me a weak smile and said, “Not anytime soon.”
“It’s been two years; you must start living again.” I gently patted her shoulder.
Tessa lost her fiancé in a car accident two years ago. Although she tries to hide it, she’s still grieving.
“Now stop acting like a mom and tell me what’s wrong?” she changes the subject.
I let it slide and said, “Okay, eat something first, and I’ll tell you everything while you’re eating.”
She nodded and bit into her sandwich. “Now tell,” she said with a mouth full of food.
I told her everything. I started with how I was trying to make an appointment with Adam Grant for weeks without any success, the stunt I pulled at his office last week, the meeting and finally his crazy offer.
Tessa was listening carefully; she didn’t interrupt me even once. When I finished, she gave me a knowing look and said, “So, you want to accept his offer.”
“I didn’t say that,” I said quickly.
“It’s obvious, if you are not considering it, you won’t be here,” She shrugged.
“I couldn’t just ignore an offer like that,” I said almost to myself.
“So, you’re considering it,” She repeated.
“It’s not the money, although it’s a lot. The publicity, the connections, do you know what this means, it’s the breakthrough that I need.” I was thinking aloud now.
“You may be right, but at what cost Tal?” She asked.
“What cost? I’ll marry the richest, hottest bachelor in Seattle for twelve months, what’s wrong with that?” I said trying to sound convincing.
“People don’t plan their divorce before they get married and you know it,” she tried to talk sense into me.
“Now you sound like mom, besides I’ve tried the real thing before and it didn’t last long either,” I said trying to shake off the memories of my first marriage.
“You were too young back then; it wasn’t your fault.”
Jeff, my ex-husband was an assistant doctor my dad was training; he charmed his way into every heart in my family. I wasn’t immune to his charm; I fell in love with him. He was ten years older than me, but I didn’t mind the age difference. I liked the fact that he was experienced and mature.
Shortly after we married, dad arranged a post for him in one of London’s hospitals, I left everything behind, and moved there with him. Before long I realized that all he was after was my dad’s connections and money.
When I refused to ask my parents for money, he started to show me his ugly side. He didn’t abuse me physically, but emotionally. Although he was discrete about his affairs, he made sure that I knew about every single one of them. After I fell pregnant, things got worse. He didn’t want the baby; he said we couldn’t afford a baby on only one income.
He demanded that I either end my pregnancy or ask my parents for financial support. I didn’t like the options he gave me, so that day I booked a ticket back to the States, and we divorced a few months later.
“I was twenty not sixteen, I should have known better,” I said, pushing the painful memories from my mind. Tessa didn’t respond, she just gave me a sympathetic look. I shook my head and said, “I don’t regret it, I have my son. I won’t trade him for the world.”
“Speaking of Timo, have you thought about how this deal is going to affect him?” she asked.
“He won’t be affected; he won’t even notice any difference. Adam is a very busy man; he won’t be around most of the time. This is a fake marriage remember; feelings are not involved. So, Timo won’t have to share me with another man. He will remain my one and only,” I explained.
“There is nothing wrong with Timo sharing you if it is with the right guy,” she gave me a warm smile.
“Right guys don’t exist,” I said shortly.
She ignored my last statement and asked, “Are you sure this is going to be safe?”
“What do you mean?” I didn’t understand her question.
“I mean are you sure he’s not in any kinky stuff?” She asked concerned.
“Do you mean the Fifty Shades of Grey kind of things?” I asked amused.
“Yes, and why are you grinning? These things exist,” she said.
“I am not sure about that, but I am sure about one thing, he is not interested in me in that way. He made it clear that this marriage will be on paper only. So, no sex, kinky or not,” I assured her.
“You made up your mind; you’re going to accept.” She was stating a fact, and she was right.
Chapter Four
Adam
The next day, I sat in my office waiting for Talia. I was hoping she would come. Something about her challenges me, she radiates original beauty. Nothing about her is fake.
Her stunning blue eyes and warm chestnut hair which flows over her shoulders were enough to knock a man’s breath from his lungs. She is tall and has a slender body. The fact that she is unaware of her prettiness made her even more beautiful.
However, I was attracted to her spirit and courage rather than her physical beauty. She will show up, I assured myself.
Although Talia was different than my former fiancé, she is a woman and money drives women. I had a lot of affairs before with models, starlets and politician's daughters. Every one of them was unique in a certain way, but they all have two things in common: they always want more, and they can’t be trusted.
I took a last look at the prenup contract that my legal team prepared earlier this week, and I was satisfied. It was a generous one, but it also ensured that she won’t sue me for anything more in the future. I have trust issues, and I don’t trust women.
Everything was ready for the meeting, the contract and the draft that I wrote about the topics we need to discuss today. One thing was missing though, Talia.
It was ten-twenty, and she wasn’t here yet. I grabbed the list of the other candidates and looked at
it quickly. They were all attractive women, one or two of them were even more beautiful than Talia, however, I don’t want any of them; I want her. I wasn’t bluffing when I said the offer wouldn’t stand beyond ten-thirty, though. I am a very busy and very impatient man; I don’t like to be kept waiting.
I was debating who I would call next, when I heard my assistant’s voice through the intercom saying, “Ms. Jones is here to see you, Sir.”
