Chapter 3

MARIANELLA

I blink what could be once, twice, or a hundred times, I am not sure, but I am probably crazy, after all I just heard my boss say that there is a solution in mind for our situation.

This can only be in my head, what is this situation that would involve the two of us?

He remains serious and apathetic, he is looking at me intently as if waiting for something, the gray orbs chasing every trace of my expression, I always feel watched and analyzed in his presence.

I begin the failed attempts to say something coherent, I don't understand anything that happened, or rather I don't understand anything I heard.

“ I am waiting for an answer, so make yourself at home," he says, without any irony or rudeness.

“ I'm not sure I heard correctly," I try to argue.

“ You heard perfectly what I said, every word," he shuts me up, that dominant voice invading my brain.

“ What kind of situation would involve the two of us? “ I kick it out, getting a cross of the eyebrows I get when I'm being insolent “ It's a genuine question, okay?”

“ You need me and I need you, it's all very simple, there's nothing to complicate”.

He is a very confident man, the kind who takes what he wants without any remorse in the methods he uses to get there, this makes me uniquely nervous, because in a way I feel like an easy target in his hands.

“ For God's sake! What could I possibly offer you? “ I cross my arms to steady myself.

“ You are the perfect person to get what I need," he replies, sweeping my body from top to bottom.

This act sent a shiver straight down my spine.

“ And what do you need?”

“ A bride”.

My mouth opens in a perfect circle as my arms collapse to my sides.

On what planet would this man have a problem with women? He has been on several magazine covers as the handsomest and richest tycoon in Seattle, women would be his last problem.

“ If this is some kind of joke…”

“ It's not “ his natural tone of voice gives me the impression that he's treating this as a natural.

“ I refuse to believe that you would have trouble finding a woman - I can't help but let these words go”.

Roman tilts his head back slightly and laughs, a brief sound, but it humanizes his robotic personality.

“ I don't have problems finding women," he emphasizes with a click of his tongue, "I just haven't found a woman who is interested in doing business with me without the intention of pulling my leg”.

Doing business.

“ How can you be so sure that I won't screw you over too? “ I hold my nose up.

Roman takes his hands out of his pockets only to rest them on the table, leaning his body toward me, his face close and I become aware of his breathing, he is so intimidating up close.

“ Would you do it? Would you stab me, Nella?”.

It's the first time he's ever said my nickname so softly, it strangely affects me in ways I can't explain, my cheeks catch fire again, he doesn't miss it, a small smile appears on his outlined lips.

I hate myself for making my emotions so visible.

“ No," I murmur, because it is the only thing I can do.

“ I know you don't, that's why you are the safe choice”.

“ I still don't understand”.

“ I know that your gears are working at full speed, but I need you to stay in the dark for the time being, until I have a confidentiality agreement”.

Of course, he will play it that way, his paranoid mania has kicked in, and I wouldn't be surprised if he makes me sign a confidentiality agreement right now.

Not that I blame him, a person in Roman's position has a lot to lose, there is an image that he needs to look after for the sake of business and that is why it surprises me, he is considering his secretary as a bride choice.

That would cause a scandal.

One of the kind that would put our names in all the wheels of conversation in this company, perhaps it would throw his name in the mud.

I feel my heartbeat racing wildly, my thoughts fill with disastrous possibilities, and my hands start to sound, I am not a self-assured woman, but anxiety plays a great role in painting me as crazy.

“ Stop," he orders, placing his hand over mine, "Get all this trivial nonsense out of your head, let's talk about all this yet”.

“ When?”.

“ How about dinner tomorrow? It will give me time to get organized and then we can put our cards on the table”.

My head spins with the rapidity of this conversation, it irritates me a little that he has everything under control while I am a mess of questioning and negative thoughts.

Something whistles inside me warning me that this is a very bad idea, after all he is still my boss and this could do a lot of damage.

On the other hand, I am very tempted to accept, I still need someone to accompany me and getting there with someone like Roman would send quite a message to my family.

I feel terrible with the immense satisfaction that comes over me, I can perfectly visualize the shocked faces and my cousin green with envy, it creates a peace-like scenario in my head.

Still I ponder over this, watching my boss's face with insecurity, which still conveys this innate certainty in his carefree expressions, and only then it hits me that he needs me too.

He mentioned something about me being perfect for what he needs, yet he didn't leave me a single clue as to what, this makes my heart resound frantically, a cold feeling settles in my stomach, I didn't know what kind of thing I was getting involved in.

“ Okay, dinner tomorrow “ I repeat as if it's an order, if he understands he doesn't let on.

Roman shakes his head with a satisfaction that I have no idea where it comes from, then flashes a smile that could rock the world.

“ Not a word about this to anyone”.

One more command, I contain the urge to roll my eyes.

I get up from the chair nodding in agreement, this forces him to move away, I am about to walk past the door when he says.

“ We have a lot to gain from this arrangement, trust me”.

By the time I got home at night I was a nervous wreck, I cleaned out the rooms in the apartment in an attempt to clear my head that failed utterly.

After all, why am I so nervous? There is no big deal, we are just two adults doing business, why should it be complicated?

The second attempt was to prepare dinner, I cut the vegetables as if they had killed some kitten of mine, and it was at this very moment, that Esmeralda appeared through the door, she also had an angry face.

I hear her purse being tossed somewhere and the swearing that God knows who it is.

I choose to be quiet and let the hate pour out of her, between mutterings I heard her say the name of her team director, but I kept pouring the vegetables into the pan next to the chicken to try to get more than a piece of the information.

I never dare to meddle in Esmeralda's angry outbursts any more than she ever does with me, is a consensus between us.

Although my fits of rage are infrequent, I become a ticking bomb when it happens.

I was on the verge of one with everything that was thrown at my back this week, I still don't know what I'm doing with my life, but I sure have been ignoring Mama's calls, which yielded some not very polite audios on my cell phone.

Mamá can't stand being ignored, especially by me, she believes that I am in charge of everything because I am the oldest, so she is always looking for my neck when she doesn't get any news.

I only intend to take any calls when I can actually explain to her or feed this lie Esmeralda has created, otherwise I am happy to pretend I don't have an electronic device.

I put the chicken in the oven and then turn to my sister, who is pacing back and forth in the kitchen, she seems to be talking to herself, her mouth twitching with each word and her eyes tightening with anger.

I don't know who did this to her, but if I were this person I would start preparing my funeral.

“ Pour this out," I encourage, as I go back to worrying about the pans on the fire.

“ Men are such idiots," she mutters, almost spitting fire from her tongue.

“ I agree, but which one are we talking about?”.

“ Christopher Nash”.

There you go, I knew I heard that name in the middle of your attack, it's not the first time I've heard his name mixed with curses here at home.

“ What should we kill him for? “ is a genuine question on my part.

“ I was on the phone with mama, the bastard overheard the whole conversation and then simply took the phone from my mother and started talking to her as if he were my boyfriend “ his hands close into firm fists at the side of his body, his muscles becoming rigid.

Immediately I slap my hand to my forehead, feeling a horrible migraine coming on.

“ In terms of bad luck we are a perfect match," I declare to her.

“ What does this mean? “ Esme narrows her eyes in my direction.

“ It means, I also got into a mess with my boss, and now he has offered me a deal to be his bride, can you believe it? “ I wave my hands in the air as I explain, emphasizing my chaotic state of mind.

“ What do you mean he wants you to be his fiancée? “ she almost screams.

I explain everything to her, every detail of the conversation and not forgetting the countless embarrassments I managed to get through in one day, and when I finish Esmeralda's chin is on the floor.

She also tells me that her team director who basically stuck his nose where it didn't belong has offered to be her fake boyfriend, it makes a bit of sense as she is dealing with the man who was born with a purpose to defy limits, now in my case...

“ What are we going to do? “ I ask.

“ There is nothing to do, Mama already thinks he is my boyfriend so the only thing I can do is sit back and watch my misfortune “ she laments “ As for you, go to that dinner and press his balls until he tells you the truth”.

For a moment I thought about the situation and then allowed an outrageous laugh to come out.

“ What's so funny, Marianella? I honestly don't see any”.

“ You and Christopher together in Spain are going to kill yourself having to spend more than 12 hours in the same environment”.

“ If that's the price for leaving Rebecca's face on the floor, then so be it, I'm in it! “ Esme slams her palm on the counter, very determined.

“ Maybe we should just tell the truth and accept whatever comes," I offer, even though I know this possibility makes me nauseous.

“ No way, you are in on this too, I am tired of our names being in family conversations”.

She was right, it was a real drag, besides the fact that there was no point in these family traditions, why should I be proud of having a good husband instead of having a good diploma and independence?

Things obviously didn't turn out the way I planned after college, but I still like the life I've earned, and I wouldn't mind spending the rest of my life alone if it meant living the way I see fit.

This is why my sister and I have always been closer to each other than to the rest of the family, we have always thought alike, and despite being two years older than her, it has never been a problem for us.

That's why this wedding is our chance to show our family that we are nothing like they think we are, despite the appealing methods, the message being sent was the same.

We can do anything we want.

“ How do we make it real? “ I ask the most logical question of the evening.

“ Well, first of all, we need to create a very romantic story worthy of a movie, I'm serious Nella, let's make it a big deal”.

“ This is going to end badly”.

“ What the hell! It's going to be the greatest performance of all time, our "boyfriends" “ she makes false quotation marks in the air “ are already amazing, it won't be difficult to involve them in a dramatic soap opera”.

“ I don't have a fake boyfriend yet, it's nothing confirmed”.

“ I doubt it isn't, he wouldn't be going for you so quickly if it was something uncertain”.

“ Come on Esme, the guy is a millionaire, manipulative, calculating with cruel tendencies when it comes to getting what he wants”.

“ That's what I'm saying, he doesn't play to lose”.

My stomach sinks at these words, although it's true, I know that usually in games the rope ends up breaking for the weaker side.

I'll have to be very clever and have a lot of wits about me if I'm not to end up hanging myself.

“ Well, I hope that in this whole thing, I won't be the one who ends up losing," I shuddered internally.

“ Use feminine gifts to your advantage Nella, it never fails”.

“ Okay, that was too much, I'm definitely not one of those women who can seduce him”.

“ This is exactly what can't happen, don't let him see your insecurity towards him, or he will use and abuse it”.

I remain pensive while I finish cooking, Esme goes to the shower and I occupy my mind in preparing the salad and forget about this subject.

Which becomes impossible when my cell phone screen lights up revealing that I have received a message.

The name Roman flashes on the screen.

My heart races as I pick up the device and slide it over so I can read the text.

Roman: Here is the contract, read it carefully and write down your questions for tomorrow.

I click on the contract and sit down to read, eventually discovering that the contract doesn't reveal much more than I already know, I huff in frustration.

It only emphasizes the secrecy of the supposed relationship and that the duration should be as long as necessary until both of you achieve your proposed goals, and of course that it is strictly forbidden for any third person to have knowledge of this agreement.

Marianella: Is that all?

The little balls indicating that he is typing appear on the screen and I wait expectantly.

Roman: Expecting what? A contract sealing world peace?

Marianella: I was expecting something more controlling and manic, maybe paranoid too.

Marianella: And just so you know, I already broke clause three before I even signed it.

Roman: Who knows?

Marianella: My sister, and in my defense, besides getting me into this mess, she has her own fake boyfriend too.

Roman: Fascinating.

I wrinkle my nose, he is snobbish even by message, and that doesn't surprise me.

Roman: I don't need a clause for everything, I have a method or two of making sure you keep your mouth shut.

Marianella: Why the contract then? Don't you trust your potential as a villain anymore? You're losing your touch.

Roman: It's out of formality, more like a last card.

He wasn't kidding about having other means to keep me quiet, I've seen it with my own eyes and it gives me chills to think that I might be next.

Marianella: Until tomorrow then, boss.