The Agreement (An Indecent Proposal)

by J. C. Reed

  Not bad, only… “There isn’t going to be a ceremony because we’re eloping.”

  My remark managed to silence her for all of three seconds, during which her brain never stopped working. I could tell from her expression that she thought she had found the solution to my problem a moment before she opened her mouth to speak, her eyes twinkling. “Chase is an actor. I’m sure he’ll want his bride to look good in the wedding album, particularly if we’re to sell the wedding photos to the paparazzi.”

  I almost threw my hands up in exasperation. “It’s not a real wedding, Jude. We don’t love each other. Heck, he couldn’t care less about me, so trust me when I say a.) there won’t be a wedding album, and b.) Chase will probably want to get it over and done with without spending any of his money, and c.) you’re being creepy as hell. He’ll run for the hills the moment he hears I’m all serious about this wedding. Honestly, Jude, have you ever heard about a guy who cares about dresses, unless he’s very much into fashion?” I raised my brows meaningfully.

  Jude crossed her arms over her chest with a stubborn expression on her face. “You’re not even going to ask him? He might think differently, if only he saw the dress.”

  Oh God.

  Would Jude ever give up? I doubted it.

  I took a deep, calming breath and let it out slowly. “No, I’m not going to ask him. Now, please be reasonable. It’s just a dress. It’s not even the prettiest gown in store.”

  Which was a big, fat lie.

  It was the most stunning dress I had ever laid my eyes on.

  “If we look around, I’m sure we’ll find something cheaper and more flattering.”

  “No. You don’t understand, Laurie. This is the dress you fell in love with at first sight. It’s a good-luck dress.”

  Oh, shoot! She was going all spiritual on me.

  I followed the swooping motion of her arms. “Just admit, it beats the others by a mile. And you’ll be so pretty. Think how glowing you’ll look. The dress will practically do the job of getting married for you. Imagine all the stress going away, the moment you just say yes in this dress.”

  I sank onto the couch and let out an exasperated sigh.

  This would take time.

  I always knew that Jude could sell anything to anyone. I just never expected her to be as pushy as a car insurance salesman, insisting you buy something that was a worse investment than the state lottery.

  Shaking my head, I listened to Jude counting all the reasons why I just had to get the dress.

  It wasn’t just a dress for Jude simply because, unlike me, she was very much into fashion. She wanted me to look good, and I couldn’t blame her, only I wasn’t going to pay thousands of dollars on a piece of exquisite fabric—no matter how flattering it might be.

  We stared each other down in angry silence until Casey disrupted our glares with a simple cough to announce her presence.

  “I understand your problem,” Casey said slowly. “I think I can help.”

  “Oh? You can help?” Jude’s head snapped in her direction immediately. “We want to hear it.”

  I rolled my eyes. Nope, I wasn’t going to get a store card, even if it promised a repayment-free period, or whatever other strategies stores came up with to fool female shopaholics like Jude to part with their money.

  “Follow me,” Casey said conspiratorially. She locked the store and led us through the warehouse into the backyard that led to a parking lot. I wanted to ask where we were going, but Jude shushed me with a single determined look.

  We crossed the parking lot and entered a run-down building on the other side of the road, then climbed up the staircase. Casey unlocked a door on the second floor and ushered us into a narrow hall with countless pictures on the walls.

  It was someone’s apartment, no doubt about that. I suspected Casey’s, until a female voice called out her name.

  “Nana?” Casey said, gesturing us to follow her into a surprisingly spacious living room with yet more picture frames arranged across the old furniture—many of which showed children’s faces and a large family sitting together.

  “You bringing over friends?” The old woman was sitting on the couch. With her keen eyes resting on us, she put down her embroidery and stood, inching closer. Her warm gaze brushed us and settled on me.

  “This is my grandma. She’s a seamstress,” Casey explained by means of introduction. “I think she can help. It might not be a Vera Wang dress, but she can create a very similar style of dress in a very similar material for the fraction of a price. And between you and me”—she winked mischievously—“Grandma could give Vera a run for her money. But that’s just my opinion.”

  ****

  “She’s all about love at first sight,” Casey explained as she invited us to sit at the round table. “My grandparents were married for fifty-eight years. Right, Nana?”

  The old woman nodded, a kind expression on her face as her eyes lit up with fond memories. “We got engaged and married within a year of meeting. It was love at first sight. The first time I met Graham, he told me that I was worth waiting for. And I thought that was the kind of the person I could imagine my life with. We were poor, but we had a full life. We did everything together. It was the secret of our relationship. Sticking together. Sharing our passions.”

  “Wow,” I whispered, impressed. “Fifty-eight years. That’s a long time.”

  Nana had insisted we had some iced tea before she took my measurements, so I sipped on my glass and listened, enjoying the old woman’s stories. After all, she was someone who knew how to make a relationship work.

  “Not long enough.” She smiled gently, and for a second I could feel her pain. As much as I wanted to ask what happened to Graham, I just couldn’t, because I knew he would never have left her of his own free will. The greatest love stories always encountered the greatest loss. I couldn’t imagine loving so deeply and losing it all in the blink of an eye.

  Nana misinterpreted my smile for an invitation to continue. “My mother always told me that the moment the right man enters your life, all hell breaks loose. She couldn’t be more right. Suddenly you have needs you never knew existed, and those urges can only be stilled by him because he’s everywhere. In your mind. In your heart.” Pausing, she pointed at her chest. “And surely in your panties. I used to laugh, until I met Graham. Everything clicked from day one, and I just couldn’t say no.”

  “That’s amazing,” I said, genuinely impressed, my mind replaying her words. Fifty-eight years was a long time. I had never been that committed to anything. Not even to a single haircut. I sure couldn’t see myself hanging on to a man for such a long time.

  “Best decision of my life. Trust me, the right man will sneak into your heart before you know it and then there’s no going back. There is no mistaking love. That’s why marriage is such a beautiful thing that doesn’t need to wait.” She eyed me full of curiosity, crossing her hands, now old with age, on the table. Her wedding ring sparkled, as though beckoning to me, urging me to believe in the kind of love I was so afraid to peer at.

  No more running. Time to believe in it all.

  In a world where over billions of people existed, there had to be someone for me. Someone who might stir certain feelings, just like Chase did. Someone who might look as good as him.

  I stopped in my thoughts. Obviously, that someone wasn’t Chase.

  I liked him, but not like that. Or did I?

  Even though he had asked me to marry him, it was hardly the same thing.

  “So, my niece tells me you met the love of your life just days ago and now you want to get married.” Nana shot me a knowing look. “I understand you’re strapped for cash and in dire need of a dress.”

  “Yes, this one.” Jude held up the Vera Wang dress that was still draped over her arm. She hadn’t let it out of her sight. “But we cannot afford it.”

  Nana nodded, her wrinkled skin crinkling at the corners of her eyes.

  “You’re lucky. I’ve been a dressm
aker for years. I’d be happy to help to sew your wedding gown. May I?” She reached out for the dress and then inspected the inseams before looking up. “I can do something like this.”

  “Thank you,” I said, feeling utter gratitude. While she continued to chatter with Jude, I asked for the restroom, the woman’s words still ringing in my ears. Obviously, I couldn’t care less about instant attraction, but in a twisted way, her words made perfect sense.

  Someday I’d find someone worthy of my heart, but that moment hadn’t come. My heart would stay out of my marriage to Chase.

  This was the opportunity I had been waiting for, and now it was time to commit to my decision of doing everything possible to uncover the credibility of my mother’s last words to me.

  Returning to our table, I expected Jude to be immersed in deep and meaningful conversation, but to my surprise she had already paid an advance for the dress, and Casey and she were now waiting for me.

  All I could do was nod as I was asked to strip down to my underwear, and Casey’s grandmother began to take my measurements while Jude and Casey haggled over a price for yet another dress Jude insisted she needed for herself as the bridesmaid. Trust Jude to use the opportunity to get a dress she had always dreamed of custom designed. I knew she was going to use her gown as a cocktail dress with that extra zing.

  Thirty minutes later, Casey accompanied us out with the promise my dress would be ready within five days. We exchanged phone numbers in case one of us had questions, and then Jude left for the studio.

  As I made my way back home I felt flushed with both excitement and dread.

  I was going to wear a knockoff dress.

  Given that Chase and I were marriage shams, how fitting!

  For the umpteenth time, I wondered how I got myself into this situation. Under any other circumstances I would have run rather than let Jude make all the decisions, but those weren’t normal circumstances. I needed a dress that would fool everyone into thinking the wedding was real. And then there was the excitement. I was getting married. And even though everything was fake, I hoped the dress would be stunning and I’d look beautiful for Chase.

  Chapter 11

  Our apartment was situated in a converted warehouse that had been remodeled into affordable two-bedroom apartments. Ours was the one on the first floor. By the time I reached it, my back was slick with sweat and my clothes had become two sizes too small, sticking to my skin. I had barely unlocked the door when my cell rang.

  The caller id showed an unknown number.

  I slammed the door shut behind me and slumped to the floor, suddenly exhausted and flushed from the heat outside.

  “Can we talk?” It was Chase, and judging by the urgency in his voice he wasn’t calling to enquire about the progress of our wedding preparations.

  I frowned. Alarm bells started to ring in my head. It wasn’t like Chase to be formal. His tone ominous. Even though we’d had a good time the day before, I couldn’t stop the nervous flip my stomach did.

  Something was wrong.

  Or why else would he want to talk?

  “Sure.” I hesitated. “What about?”

  “Great. I’m just around the corner. I’ll be over in five.”

  And then he hung up, ignoring my question. I stared at the phone, flummoxed. What the hell was that all about? And how could he possibly be over in five minutes? Unless…

  He was around the corner, literally, because an instant later the intercom rang.

  Shit!

  I peered around, panicky, suddenly aware of the fact that I was a sweaty mess, and in desperate need of a shower. And not only that; the apartment didn’t look much better. I jumped up and began to strip off my clothes while simultaneously picking up Jude’s scattered interior design magazines and clothes. I had barely made it to the bathroom to discard my armful of clothes and magazines when the doorbell rang.

  Someone must have buzzed him in, because he was here. Right behind the door, inches separating us.

  I stood frozen to the spot, unsure whether to claim I wasn’t at home after all, or open the door, but pretend that I was too busy to let him in.

  The doorbell rang again, the piercing sound lingering in the air. An instant later, Chase’s faint voice echoed over.

  “Laurie? I know you’re in there. Open up.”

  Was he angry? I had no idea, but I didn’t like the sense of urgency and seriousness in his voice. He rapped at the door. Once. Twice. With a sigh, I shrugged into a bathrobe and wrapped the cord tightly around my waist, then pulled my hair up in a ponytail. As soon as I opened the door, Chase barged in, hot waves of anger wafting from him.

  “Hello to you, too,” I muttered, closing the door behind him.

  Ignoring me, he headed straight for the living room and slumped down on the sofa, then turned to face me, eyes blazing, his beautiful lips pressed in a tight line.

  What the heck did I do wrong?

  “Are you okay?” I asked, sliding down opposite him with as much distance as was possible between us. “You seem a bit upset.” Upset was an understatement. He seemed livid.

  “Are you alone?” His voice was hard as his eyes scanned the room in search for Jude.

  I nodded and he breathed out, but his muscles remained unnaturally tense. “We don’t have much time.”

  I regarded him, confused. “For what?”

  “You went to choose a wedding dress,” he said reproachfully, ignoring me again.

  I nodded slowly. “Yes, Chase. I did.”

  “Why?”

  His question caught me off guard.

  “Why?” I laughed. Had he smashed in his head or something? “In case you have forgotten, we’re supposed to get married. I need to make it look authentic.” A wave of shame washed over me at the cold look in his eyes. He thought me desperate. Or maybe realization had dawned on him and now he was having cold feet at the prospect of tying the knot with a complete stranger who might decide to file for spousal support, or worse—half of his belongings. Given that he seemed to own more than I did, I wouldn’t have been surprised if the latter was the case.

  Suddenly, my air supply was cut off and I felt as though the ceiling was about to crash down on me.

  What was I doing, pulling him into this mess with me? How the hell could I have relied on him to follow through with the marriage?

  I walked to the window and opened it to let in the warm afternoon air, then turned around, watching him closely.

  “What’s going on, Chase?” I asked.

  “Let me rephrase,” Chase said, his voice low but cold as ice. “One moment you don’t want this, and the next you buy a dress. You haven’t thought this through, Laurie.”

  “Believe me, I have,” I muttered. For years I had been planning on getting those letters in the hope that it would give me the chance to look into the mystery that had consumed most of my life.

  “No, you don’t understand.” Chase let out a slow breath. “I mean you sent me a text talking about calling the whole thing off. Are you sure you want to go through with this? Because you seem to constantly change your mind, and I have no time for this. I have no time for playing games.”

  “Yes, I’m sure.”

  He looked so unconvinced, my heart dropped. Or maybe it wasn’t conviction, but disappointment with my answer. Maybe he hoped I’d say that we were making a mistake.

  There was my answer.

  I crossed my arms over my chest and regarded him coldly, waiting for him to take the first step.

  “What?”

  “Nothing.” I shook my head slowly. “Look, if you don’t want to do this, it’s fine. You don’t even need to tell me. Just get up and leave, and I’ll get the message. There won’t be any hard feelings.”

  His hard expression softened a little. “I never said that.”

  “What are you trying to say, then, because I sure as hell don’t understand you. Do you want out? Is that why you’re here?”

  “I—” His words failed him. I could
see it from the various expressions crossing his face. Something bothered him. Something he didn’t want to share with me. I hadn’t known Chase for long, but for some reason I could sense that he was torn—confused, even.

  For a moment, silence ensued between us. I bit my lip hard until it burst between my teeth. My tongue flicked over a drop of blood inside my mouth.

  “How did you even know I went shopping?” I avoided the word ‘dress’ on purpose. Chase shook his head grimly, but remained silent.

  There was only one possibility.

  “Jude told you,” I said. It wasn’t a question; it was a statement. “Either that, or you followed us.”

  Chase looked up and our gazes met, and for a moment something shimmered in his eyes. “I didn’t follow you.”

  The dull pain in my head roared to a full throbbing pulsation. So she had told him.

  I didn’t like the fact that my best friend was telling him things behind my back. Maybe she was way more smitten with him than I had realized. Or maybe she hadn’t dropped the idea of asking him to help with the wedding costs. Either way, I didn’t like it.

  How dare she not tell me?

  “She shouldn’t have talked to you,” I said.

  “She wouldn’t have if I hadn’t called her.”

  A pang of jealousy hit me in the pit of my stomach. “Why did you?” I asked, even though it was none of my business. I didn’t own him. We weren’t even in a relationship. His silence worried me. Suddenly I could imagine Chase smiling at Jude with the same passion he had invested in my smile, asking her on a date, or sending her flirty messages.

  “Chase?” My voice sounded choked. “Why did you call her?”

  “Because I wanted to surprise you.”

  My heart began to pound harder as I leaned back in shock, then surprise. A minute passed in silence, followed by another.

  “With what?” I narrowed my eyes, not trusting him.

  His lips twitched at the corners, and for the first time his anger seemed lifted, giving him the carefree expression I had glimpsed before. And then it disappeared again and a frown took its place. “Doesn’t matter now.” Sitting back, he ran a hand through his disheveled hair, hesitating again.