by A P Gore
“Let me tell you a story first.”
Chapter 14
The sweet scent of coffee spread around the office, invading her senses and pulling her out of the trance. The handsome man sitting in front of her was the CEO, and she’d been dragging him around like—good God. She wanted to run away, lock herself in the bathroom, and cry for the rest of the day. What hadn’t she done to him? Called him an idiot, dragged him through office, and even made him eat sushi on street.
Jesus. Even God wouldn’t save her now.
She again hid her face behind her hands. Embarrassed and humiliated. Why couldn’t she die instead?
And he was staring at her like she was a delicious ice cream.
No, she couldn’t face him anymore. He would tease her with his prickly jokes. She guessed she couldn’t blame him completely. Rich people were like this.
“Let me tell you a story first,” he said.
If she raised her hand, she would touch his square jaw. How would his skin feel under her touch?
No, no. What was she thinking?
She tried to shake off the thought, but her gaze jumped to his jaw like moth drawn to fire.
Wake up Samantha! He is the CEO.
She pressed her lips together and closed her eyes. Yes, she wouldn’t look at him. That would be best.
“I need money,” he said. “A lot of money. I need your help.”
Her eyes popped open. What was he talking about?
With his eyes fixed on her, he sipped his coffee.
For something to do, she picked up her coffee and sipped a little. The hot liquid burned her throat, pulling her out of the magic spell he cast on her. Her vision became clear, and the realization struck.
It must be another joke. Why would he ask for money? She was carrying a fifty grand loan from a bank, and her salary could barely pay her bills and Aaron’s day care. Her financials were right in front of him.
“Gavin—” She bit her tongue hard. “Sorry, Mr. Hamilton. Sir. You’ve a great sense of humor. That marriage prank...” She pushed her emotions down. “You really got me there. But I’m on to—.”
“I meant what I said.”
Samantha shook her head. “Oh, come on. Money? I earn six hundred dollars a week. You probably spend more than that on your lunch.” She laughed. “How could you be serious?”
Gavin leaned forward, pulling her chair closer. His brown eyes stared into her soul. “Look in my eyes, and tell me if I’m lying.” He pulled her even closer, their eyes inches away from each other. “Nothing was a joke. I want to marry you for money.”
His eyes held the truth. Living alone, she had developed a sense of when someone was lying. At least some part of his words held truth, but it didn’t make any sense. Why would a CEO want to marry her—a broke, plain-looking woman with a four-year-old kid? Was he playing a joke again? Was he doing this for charity?
She hated that thought the most. People tried to help her out of pity, but they only received a refusal from her. She didn’t want anyone’s charity.
“Do you think I’m some kind of charity case?” Anger slipped into her voice.
He pushed her chair away and jumped to his feet. “No. I don’t do charity.”
“Then what is this? Why do you want to marry me? You can’t tell me it’s for my money. Not with a straight face.”
“Will you let me finish my story?”
She sighed but nodded. His motivations were a mystery she wasn’t sure she wanted to solve, but there was something in his eyes that compelled her to listen.
Picking up his coffee, he paced the length of the office. “Do you know what they call me in the IT world?”
“No.” She knew squat about him. Half an hour ago, she didn’t even know his position in the company.
“They call me the laundry man. I collect dirty laundry, wash it clean, and sell it for profit. I love doing it because it gives me a thrill. Getting a company out of the bad books is what I love most in this world, but it doesn’t come without investment. Right now, I’m in a tight spot. I owe a large sum of money to an investor. I’ve got a month to return that money. If I don’t, this company will go bankrupt and thousands of people will lose their jobs.”
“Where do I fit in?” she asked, crossing one leg over the other, barely controlling a laugh. This was ridiculous. The company was still hiring few weeks back. Why would it go bankrupt? Now, she wanted to see how many lies this man could throw at her before she laughed out loud.
“My grandma passed away few years ago and left me a large sum of money, but there’s a catch. I’ll only get the money after I prove to the trustee that I’ve been happily married for six months.”
Samantha’s urge to laugh only rose. This was the cheesiest story she had heard in a while. A CEO wanting to marry for money, and his grandmother leaving him money behind. How ridiculous would he get? But wait. Some of his story didn’t add up.
“I thought you said you needed money in a month.” She had finally caught his lie. He had clearly said he needed money quickly, then said he needed to wait six months for his inheritance. Did he think she was stupid? Sure, she took more time than others to understand complicated things, but she wasn’t an idiot.
“Can’t you just believe me for once?” He sat next to her, grabbing her hands. “Samantha, listen to me. If you help me with this, I’ll clear all of your debt and deposit enough money in your account that you can take care of your kid until he graduates from a nice college.” He sounded sincere, but his stone-faced expression gave it all away.
She couldn’t control it anymore. She burst out laughing. This was the most bizarre story she had ever heard in her life. “I salute your tenacity. You’ll go to any lengths to make your story believable, won’t you?”
Gavin shook his head, disappointment in his eyes. Releasing her hands, he walked over to the TV and turned it on. It wasn’t there yesterday, so he must have mounted it sometime today.
He scrolled through channels and stopped on a well-known news channel. The news was playing, displaying Tecme System’s name prominently.
The news ticker read: Ex-CEO of Tecme Systems arrested for embezzlement. New CEO Gavin Hamilton unavailable for comment.’
Samantha quivered in her chair. He couldn’t have made up this. Was he telling her the truth? Did he really want to marry her?
Chapter 15
An annoying reporter shouted on the TV, increasing Gavin’s irritation. They were making the rounds of the same news from different angles. Well, he didn’t care much about it. Most of the bankrupt companies he purchased had similar reasons for their downfall. Bad investments, a bad CEO... so it went.
Samantha’s face drained of color, and she shivered slightly. He suspected she needed a strong dose of coffee. Her first cup had already vanished.
He took her empty mug from her. It didn’t faze her; her big beautiful eyes remained focused on the TV. Now he was curious. What choice would she make after knowing her company was in a big trouble? Technically, it was his company, but as an employee a piece belonged to her.
Filling her mug with freshly brewed coffee, he returned to her. Her eyes still lingered on the TV. Now they were discussing what would happen with Tecme Systems, and all opinions were negative. It had been always like this. At first, they would root for the company’s demise and give it a thumbs down.
But he wouldn’t let that happen. The company would rise, as others had.
“Coffee. Drink.” He motioned at the mug in her hand.
She pulled her gaze away from TV and gawked at the brown liquid. “Why me?” Raising her head, she met his gaze, searching for truth.
“Two main reasons. First, I don’t have time to find a fake bride and negotiate with her. Second, I won’t fall for you.” That was the truth, something he didn’t want to hide from her. There would be no feelings. He didn’t have time for them.
“Because I’m ugly?”
Coughing, he almost dropped his mug. What was wrong with her
? Gazing at her, he found her fierce eyes piercing into his soul.
“On the contrary. You’ve got the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen.”
“Then why? Aren’t you worried I’ll fall for you instead? What if feelings got involved?”
Gavin arched his brow. “There’s no chance of that.”
“Why?”
“Because you’ve got a kid, and I’ve no intention of falling for a woman with a kid. And if you wanted love, you wouldn’t be hiding in oversized clothes and refusing to put on makeup. Isn’t it obvious you don’t want that either?
Her gaze lowered in silent agreement.
“We’ll be living our own lives. This will be just a business transaction. Give and take. We’ll both get money out of this. I’ll pay your debt and open an account for your kid that will help him until he gets out of college. Do you think you can send him to college with your measly pay?”
Her chin lifted, hurt shining in her eyes. Rising to her feet, she put the coffee mug on his desk. “Mr. Hamilton. Thanks for the offer, but I can’t accept it. I’m poor, but that doesn’t mean I have no dignity. I won’t be your fake wife.” Voice shaking and cheeks reddened, she looked like an angry goddess ready to devour him.
Damn, she was even cuter when she was angry. Her big blue eyes, the red on her cheeks, and the high tone of her mesmerizing voice. What was he getting himself into? Where would he end up if they got married?
“I—” He lacked the words. She was right. Maybe this was a stupid idea. Getting a fake wife? What was he thinking?
“I’ll hand in my resignation by the end of the day.” And she stormed out of his office.
Gavin slumped in his chair.
Rosie rushed into the office not long afterward, eyes wide. “What happened?”
“She rejected my offer.”
“Then why did she pass out in front of the elevator?”
Chapter 16
Samantha tried opening her eyes but shut them again quickly. Bright light nearly blinded her, and the taste of medicine itched in her mouth. She tried to roll onto her right side, away from the sunlight, but a tingle of pain pricked her lower back.
A door opened and someone stepped in with a soft muffling sound of sleepers. The footsteps stopped near her feet, and a rustle of papers fell on her ears.
Where was she?
Again, she tried to open her eyes, but bright light defeated her again. She raised her hand to rub her eyes.
“Careful,” an unfamiliar female voice said. “You have IV attached to that arm.”
Hospital. Aaron was in the hospital! Everything came rushing back to her. When she walked out of Gavin’s office, she got a call from Misha who told her Aaron was in an accident.
Her heart had skipped a beat. Panic had rushed through her veins.
After that, she didn’t know what happened.
She jerked herself upright on the bed, forcing her eyes open.
Her gaze landed on a small nurse. She was staring at a patient chart. Maybe hers. But why was she here?
Her gaze jumped around, taking in the interior of the hospital room.
If not for the nurse and the machinery hanging behind her, she would’ve thought she was in a five-star hotel. Paintings hung on the wall, and a large TV unit and a couch sat on the other side of the room.
The nurse moved around the foot of the bed, stepping closer. “How are you feeling?”
Clasping her hands around the edge of the bed, Samantha jumped out. Pain shot from her lower back, but she ignored it. “Where’s Aaron?”
“Aaron?” The nurse scratched the space behind her ears with a pen. “Is that the kid in the next room? Right, it was your boyfriend who got him moved here from Central Hospital.”
Boyfriend? What was she talking about? She shoved that worry aside in favor of her son.
“Can I go and see him?” She couldn’t think straight. Her heart was palpitating. She needed to see Aaron and make sure he was okay.
The nurse shrugged, but then closed her IV so she could go out.
Taking that as a yes, Samantha rushed outside. There was only one more room in that corridor, labeled VIP 02. Pushing the door open, she dashed inside.
Misha sat by the bed where Aaron lay, eyes closed and a bandage around his left hand.
Rushing forward, she wrapped her arms around her pumpkin. An IV was attached to his right wrist. Tears streamed down her cheeks, seeing him like this. She lay him back down carefully, smoothing his hair and pressing a kiss to his forehead.
Misha stood, sobbing. “I’m sorry. So sorry. But it wasn’t my fault.”
Samantha turned on her, lava boiling inside her chest. “What happened? How did he end up like this?” She glanced at Aaron. He was pale. She wanted to hug him tightly and cry her heart out, but he was sleeping and bandaged. So, she settled on sitting near his head and pulling his head into her lap.
“A motorbike crashed in the park where we were playing.” Misha said, sniffling. “Aaron got scared and fell.”
Samantha wanted to smash something over the woman’s head, but she muscled down her anger. It wasn’t the time to lose her temper.
Samantha cleared her throat. “Please go and call the doctor.”
Misha patted her shoulder. “Don’t worry, he’s all right.”
Samantha bit her lower lip. “He’d better be,” she whispered as Misha walked out.
A nurse walked in after Misha left. She brought some injections and medicines with her.
“Nurse, can you tell me how’s he doing now?” Though Aaron looked okay, other than the bandage on his left hand, her mother’s heart wouldn’t settle until she heard the prognosis from a professional.
“Oh, his left hand is bruised up.” The nurse adjusted the fluid flow of the IV. “It’s good to have a rich boyfriend, isn’t it? He made a ruckus and got your son transferred to this hospital. He even left his black AmEx at the reception to cover all the costs.” She clasped her hands against her chest. “I wish I would have a boyfriend like him someday.”
Samantha just stared at her, flummoxed.
A few minutes later, a doctor in his mid-forties walked into the room. He had a nice comforting smile. “How are you, Miss Hald?” He took Aaron’s hand and checked his pulse. “He’s doing great. Tomorrow we’ll do the surgery, and you should be able to take him home after a few hours’ observation.”
Samantha’s heart flipped inside her chest. “Surgery?”
The doctor stared at her with surprise. “Yes, your boyfriend didn’t tell you about it?” He scratched his chin. “I guess it’s because you came here unconscious.” He patted her shoulder. “Don’t worry, it’s only minor surgery. His appendix is inflamed, so it needs to come out.”
Samantha shook her head, unable to clear the confusion from her brain. “He was fine this morning. What happened?” She glanced at Misha, who had returned with the doctor, but by her clueless expression she didn’t seem to have any idea.
“Well, say thanks to your boyfriend for that. When he got the kid transferred here, he insisted on an MRI and full body checkup. While doing that we found his appendix is inflamed. Appendicitis is most common in teens and adults, but kids can get it too. Either way, it’s dangerous if the appendix ruptures, so it’s better to operate as soon as possible.”
The doctor’s words soothed her fears somewhat, but one thing still bugged her. “What boyfriend?”
Gavin came into the room as if on cue. “Honey, how are you doing?” Coming close to her, he wrapped his hands around her shoulders and then cast a smile at the doctor. “Thank you, doctor, but I’ll take it from here.” He squeezed Samantha’s shoulders lightly.
The doctor smiled back at him and then left.
Samantha glared at Gavin. What kind of new scheme had he cooked up now? Did he put his fingerprint on a marriage document while she was unconscious?
Chapter 17
Samantha gave Gavin a quizzical look. She looked damn cute with that blue hospital gown
complimenting her eyes. Especially now that he was seeing the real her, not the shady extra-large clothed version of her. With the right treatment, she would look as stunning as the models in the magazines.
Gavin pulled his eyes from her. Watching her was like watching an enticing movie where you couldn’t tear your eyes away.
He tapped his feet on the tiled floor before sighing, ashamed. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that, but the director of Central Hospital didn’t want to transfer your son here. So, I lied to get him transferred here.”
She raised her shoulder slightly, making him realize he was still holding her.
Pulling his hands away, he crossed his arms over his chest. “What choice did I have? You were unconscious from exhaustion and stress, and your kid was in another hospital. How was I supposed to keep track of you both at different places?”
The flame in her eyes died down, and her composure softened. Reaching out, she placed her small hand on his arm. “Thanks. It means a lot to me and my son.” Her gaze held a sincere note of thanks.
All his effort was worth for that one look. Not that he yearned for her thanks, but seeing her happy made him happy.
He handed her a bag filled with juices and fruit. “Now that you’re awake, I’ll take my leave. I’ve got a company to run.” His head suddenly throbbed with pain at the reminder. He had a company to run, and here he was looking after an employee who had rejected his offer straight away.
Whatever. He had to get back to work. The board was waiting for him.
“I saved my number in your phone. Call me if you need anything,” he said before glancing at the day care worker. If she was good at her job, Samantha’s kid wouldn’t have gotten hurt. “And please, let me take care of his surgery.”
She nodded with watery eyes. “Thanks Gavin. I can’t repay you enough.”
Gavin passed a nurse on the way out. As he stepped into the hall, Rosie appeared from around a corner. She had quizzical eyes. He regretted not picking up her calls for the last four hours. She would be pissed.
