3

"Wanda are you crazy?" Cherry was yelling. Wanda had told her what had happened with the guy in the bar. "What if he's a psycho?"

"I know what you're thinking but it's fine. I read through the contract thoroughly." She tried to make her friend sit but Cherry was fighting back. "It's ten thousand dollars a month, why would I give that up?"

"Ten thousand dollars is more than enough reason to think something is suspicious." She started. "What kind of crazy person pays that amount of money for a fake fiancee?"

"He's rich and not crazy." She tried to defend the man she would soon be engaged to.

"How do you know that?" "What if he sells body parts for a living?"

Wanda went to her room and searched through her bag for the card Elliot had given her. She didn't read it that day but it was the first thing she did the next morning. She appeared in the living room and handed it over to Cherry.

"He's Elliot Cyrus, from SEM Group."

Cherry's eyes widened. "Is this real?"

Wanda nodded in response. "And before you say anything, I googled him and he's really the guy I met at the bar."

Cherry felt light-headed, she grabbed hold of the island and sat on a barstool.

"So you're telling me the Elliot Cyrus approached you and–"

"Actually I approached him."

"Shut up and let me speak."

Wanda pursed her lips.

"As I was saying" She continued. "You guys talked and now you're being paid fifty grand to fake marry him?"

"Yup." Cherry held her head in her palms. "Lord I see you have favourites. It should've been me."

"Cher bear you have a boyfriend." Wanda laughed.

"Oh yeah that's true. I forgot." She looked at Wanda. "So any news from my brother-in-law?"

"No. He actually hasn't called me."

"Maybe he was joking?"

Wanda shook her head, "Nah I don't think so but even if he was I've got nothing to lose."

~~~~~

"Elliot are you crazy?" Toby was yelling. Elliot had told him what had happened with the girl in the bar. "What happened to being careful?"

"You were the one who told me to pick any girl I see."

Toby frowned, "Yeah well I didn't think you'd take me seriously."

"Well I did and it's done." He folded his arms "I haven't called her yet though."

Toby handed Elliot his phone and said "Go ahead."

Wanda's phone rang and it was an unknown number, she was about to ignore it until she remembered it could be Elliot, she then rushed to answer it.

"Hello?" she spoke.

"Hey Wanda it's Elliot, the guy from the bar."

"Oh hi, I was starting to think the day before yesterday was a dream."

Elliot laughed, she laughed too.

"I'm sorry I didn't call sooner, I was–"

Wanda interrupted, "It's fine. You must have been busy."

"Yeah." He was scratching his head, he didn't know what to say. He looked to Toby who mouthed some words. "I was wondering if we could meet to talk?"

"Yes that's fine. Where do we meet?"

"My place for privacy and security. If you don't mind that is."

Wanda replied, "I don't mind at all."

"Okay, so I'll text you my address and let's meet tomorrow anytime from two in the afternoon."

"Alright see you then." She dropped the call.

And then it dawned on her, it was really real.

~~~~~

Elliot Cyrus' house wasn't very huge or grand like she had imagined, it was still fancy no doubt and significantly larger than hers, he was definitely rich but the house was a little more humble than she envisioned it. After they ended the conversation yesterday, Elliot spent a lot of time tidying his home. It wasn't messy or unorganized but he just wanted it to look very presentable and it was. Wanda liked that it was neat.

"Please take a seat." He gestured to the white-coloured leather sofa. She smiled and took her seat. It was comfortable.

"Okay so let's get down to business." Elliot said as he sat beside her, he placed a sheet of paper on the glass coffee table in front of them. "I want you to read through it and ask me anything you don't understand."

"I thought we already signed the contract, why are we doing this again?"

"You were drunk. I just want to make sure you are aware and sober so it doesn't cause an issue later on."

Wanda smiled as she picked up the piece of paper and skimmed through it. She liked the fact that he didn't want to take advantage of her because she had drunk that night but she was quite alert when she spoke with him, but going through it completely sober wouldn't hurt anybody.

"Wait." She paused. "I have to live here, with you?"

"Uh yeah. I can't really explain it but it'll make things even better for me."

"Woah." She rubbed her forehead. "I'm going to live with a man I'm not married to."

"We'll be engaged, that's practically married."

"Let me get things straight. You need to have a fiancee to be able to inherit SEM."

He nodded

"Okay, I don't understand rich people but I'm getting paid so whatever."

"I don't understand it either." He laughed "My father is just a funny man."

"I think I'm good with all the conditions. I just have to hold out until you get what you want right?"

"Yeah, unless she comes back." He replied under his breath. She heard him but decided not to pry.

"What happens if I want out before you get what you want?"

"Oh yes, look at the second page. You'd have to pay me five hundred thousand dollars if you cancel the contract, but if I cancel it I'll pay you a million dollars."

She opened her mouth while counting the number of zeroes. "I'll never cancel."

"If that's settled then let's sign shall we?" He brought out his pen and signed first, then she brought hers and signed too.

"So what's next?" She asked.

"Move in as soon as you can. I still have a lot of briefing to do, like getting our stories straight and all."

"Okay. This weekend is fine?"

"Yes sure, I'll be looking forward to then.

"Me too."

They had dinner together, Elliot cooked and he was good at it. He dropped her off at her place and went to his parent's house.

~~~~~

Elliot drove into his parent's mansion and parked in the garage. His family's garage was no ordinary garage, there were five cars excluding his. Five fancy cars. Two belonged to his sisters Sarah and Maya, while the remaining three were shared between his mother and father although his father didn't drive much lately. He placed his head on the steering wheel and sighed, he was going to tell his family that he would bring his fiancee to the charity ball they were hosting and he hoped things would go smoothly.

"Mom look who came home." His younger sister Maya said as their mother came down the stairs.

Elliot was the only Cyrus child that didn't live in the mansion. He had moved out since college and didn't move back in. His mother Diane had begged him to return home but he refused to. Elliot loved his family, but he just thought it'd be better if he lived alone, he needed his privacy especially when he had a sister like Maya who was always in other people's business. His older sister Sarah remained in the house because she wanted to be close to their father, Sarah Cyrus loved her father a great deal and she didn't want to live too far from home. Maya on the other hand just didn't like the thought of paying rent so she also didn't have plans of moving out.

Elliot was close with his mother, but he still wanted his independence. He went to the foot of the stairs and stretched his hand out to her as she got closer, and when she got closer, she took his hand and smiled.

"I was just thinking about you." He kissed her cheek. "How are you sweetheart?"

"I'm fine mom. How are you?"

"As you can see I'm doing well."

"How's dad? I spoke with him over the phone last week and he said he's feeling better."

Diane sighed as she took her seat, "That's what the doctors say. He's in his study right now."

As they were talking, one of the maids came to announce dinner was ready, Elliot took his mother's hand and walked with her and then he realized someone was missing.

"Where's Sarah?"

"Oh she's in California. She has a case." Maya responded.

He nodded and sat, his sister sat and their mother sat. They didn't eat until his father Peter joined them.

Everyone was practically done with their food and Elliot was still thinking of how to talk about what he came for and when his sister brought up the charity ball, he found his chance.

"Speaking of the ball, I have a plus one."

"Toby isn't a plus one Elliot." Maya teased.

"Haha. Very funny." He replied. "I'm talking about my fiancee."

Everyone stopped, even his father. Maya dropped her fork it landed loudly on her plate.

"What did you say?" His mother asked turning to look at him.

"You heard right." He adjusted his sitting position and continued. "I'll introduce her to you then."

Elliot was expecting something from his father but he got nothing. He didn't even look at him.

"Dad."

Peter dropped his fork and looked at his son. "I figured that's why you came over. I feel relieved because I thought you would still be stuck on that girl."

"Don't you think it's too soon?" Diane said. "He just got out of a relationship you know."

"The sooner the better." Peter answered.

"You're suspicious." Maya eyed her brother. ", There's no way he got over Tara that fast."

Peter slammed his fist on the dining table and stood up, everyone flinched. "I told you I don't want to hear her name. And who cares if he's not over her, all that matters is that there's someone else."

Elliot frowned. His father had never liked Tara. "Tara is gone Maya. Wanda is all that matters now." He said in a low voice.

His mother put her hand over his and rubbed it gently. "Enough of this. I'm happy for you son."

"Thanks mom."

Peter cleared his throat and left them in the dining room, Maya got up too. "I still think he's lying but then we shall see."

After dinner, Elliot had tea with his mother before leaving the house. He called Toby but he wasn't answering, he wanted to call Wanda but he changed his mind. He looked at Tara's number and wanted to call her too but he fought the urge to. He drove home and went to bed.