CHAPTER THREE

Oh my goodness!

"Girl I'm so sorry you have to put up with such a deadly request from your Father. I mean you could get killed in the process". Gabriel said empathetic ally 

"Exactly my point, you know. I haven't even Spent a day alone with this so-called man and Dad is already giving me an ultimatum".

"An ultimatum? What do you mean?"

"Dad's dying. I told him effortlessly as I began to sob. He moved over from the other couch to the one I was sitting on and hugged me tight. He let me cry out my pain for a few more seconds before freeing me up to explain what I had just said.

Gabriel has been my friend since way back in Kindergarten days. He has always been a supportive friend, always encouraging my good decisions and reproving the actions he knows would bring no good to my wellbeing. He is my greatest ally although not as poor as my family yet I find rest and peace when he calmly listens to all my up piled problems.

"Wait! Is that why he wants you to marry Alexander Stone?" Gabriel asked curiously.

"Yes. He said something about losing everything when he's gone if I don't marry Alexander and I don't get it". She panicked.

"Calm down Helena, everything will be fine okay? He said, rubbing her back softly.

Gabriel is also confused just as Helena is as to why a father would want to sign a marriage contract with another Billionaire just because he is dying and is scared that his rivals might claim his company. An insane thing to do. Gabriel thought.

"So what are you gonna do now because the is obviously your father's last wishes if you ask me"

"Gabriel, I don't know right now I think I'm the most confused being on the surface of the earth. I don't even know my left from my right, but one thing I know for sure is that I am not ready to spend a day with that arrogant man. I can't". I said, running her fingers in her hair.

He paused and watched me as I whined and complained bitterly. 

"This is insane but I think you should try it out".

"No way, I can't marry him, don't you get it?"

"No, Helena please don't get me wrong and I am not asking you to marry him".

Then what are you…I asked with curiosity in my eyes

"What I'm saying is you should talk to him". He cut in quickly leaving her hanging on her last sentence.

Who?

"Alexander of course, who else should you be talking to at this time?" He asked.

"You have to fix a date with him and talk things over, maybe your dad owes them and he wants you to be the price for payment or something".

"You should talk to him because right now he seems to be the only person that your Dad would listen to".

"Do you think so?"

"I do believe so".

He gave me a shy look directly into my eyes, I stared back and when I became uncomfortable with his stares I took my eyes off focusing them on my nails as I sniffed and blink back the tears that had already formed a home In my eyes.

"So what do you suggest I tell him?"

He paused for a while before letting the words fall heavily out of his lips.

"You could tell him you're engaged to be married and you're already pregnant for your soon to be husband"

Helena laughed.

Wait! 

"Are you serious? You of all people should know I haven't been in a relationship since the incident happened".

"Yes I know".

"You could tell him you're in love with me and we are planning our marriage".

"Really? Gabriel."

"Okay - that would have been a good idea if the man in question wasn't you"

They both laughed at the joke and then got serious after a few minutes.

"But why? Am I as arrogant as Alexander? The Lion".

"Stop! I don't even want to hear his name".

Gabriel continued to tease me with Alexander's nickname and each time I would cover my ears with the throw pillow I had been hugging since I got to his apartment.

"You should text him". He said casually

I'm afraid I don't have his number

"Well, I do,". Gabriel replied. And forwarded the number immediately to my phone.

I quickly copied it into my phone and sent him a short text.

***********

Alexander's pov

I have not been able to get a grip of myself since my mother broke the news of this forced marriage to me the previous day. I had been thinking of ways to dissolve my mother's decision without having to lose my inheritance but nothing seemed to align with my thoughts. My mother was a hard but to crack, every attempt to talk her out of this insane plan proved abortive. The hard push on my door got me jolting out of my wide thoughts.

" Who the hell is that? I have told you…"

"Take a chill pill my good friend". James responded as he walked majestically into my office. 

"James, you don't barge into my office like that, I am your boss remember?" I scolded

"I'm sorry boss", James apologized raising his hands in the air.

"You seem pissed and red in the face, c'mon man what's up?"

Alot is up James, I'm losing it.

Hey! slow down. 

Wait, you got a bitch pregnant? Ouch!

No, you idiot….Far from it.

"Then what could make a whole Tiger this red in the face, if not for woman trouble? Huh, Spill brother, I have my ears as open as a tunnel"

"Sure they are definitely looking like tunnels," he glanced at James' large ear size.

"Well my mother wants me to marry".

What?

His mouth dropped open.

To whom?

"Helena Cole, Nicholas Cole's daughter. His face grimaced as he forced the names out of his mouth.

Whooaa!

You're kidding right.

Nop!

Isn't that the Chief Gardner ?

"A gold digger, that's the right phrase to use", Alexander corrected.

Holy shit!

I can't believe this.

You better do bro, your best friend is about to be sold out like a kilo of chicken and you sit there wallowing in surprise?

Dang, what would you have me do bro?, I'm so confused as you are.

"But hey, You have to decline that request man, that's too dangerous".

"I know but it's not as dangerous as taking away all my inheritance and all I have worked for in the last three years". I could risk it. I let out a deep breath 

Jeez!

You mean your Mother is gonna do that to you if you don't marry her?

Yes.

Man your mom is mean as hell.

Hey! watch your mouth, that's my mom you talking about.

"I'm sorry broh, but this ain't good for you don't you think?"

I don't know man

"But look at things on the brighter side, that babe is hot, " James added.

"Hot?" Alexander bluffed. Well- not for me okay

Her standards are too low for me. She isn't even smart enough and that makes her unworthy to share my bed".

Not my class and definitely not my kinda girl

"How would you know if you don't give it a try?" James pointed out again.

"Cause I don't need to, " I yelled at him this time. The first time I met her she almost spilled a whole glass of wine on my expensive suit. That's how careless she is.

Whooaa!

But you never can tell.

"You know What, Just shut up Gabriel. Who's side are you on really?"

"On your side of course, I'm rooting for you anytime".

"I can see that". I replied as I picked up the cigarette pack from the desk and placed it in my mouth then went on to light it.

I had just wanted to say something when a message from an unknown number popped up in my phone". I puffed the cigarette smoke from my mouth as i read the text carefully 

"Hi Alexander, it's Helena kindly meet me up at the Hilltop restaurant. We need to talk.

Today at 7:00pm".

Wait, Gabriel, i said pointing out his finger in the air.

"What?" Gabriel asked with so much curiosity in his voice.

It's Helena, she reached out to me.

What does she want? James asked curiously 

A talk she says.

Gabriel grinned.

"Stop being foolish and wipe that useless grin off your face, you look like a cow, dumb head". I said in tune akin to a mockery.

"You're going right?"

Sure, why not? I have to warn her to stop the game her family is playing on us.

I said this and grabbed my suit then slid my arms into it carefully. It's 4pm already, I announced after checking my wrist watch for the time.

I need to grab some food before going for that horrible meeting with that girl. He said irritated.

I hastily grabbed my keys and began to leave, Gabriel followed behind me without saying any more words.

By the time I got to the restaurant Helena had picked for the meeting she wasn't present. This was one thing that made at least 2 staff every week. Incompetence and not keeping to time. It infuriates me and if this was a job interview or she was my staff, I would have thrown her lay-off letter in her face right from the entrance. 

I bit his lower lip and stamped my foot as the anger began to form on my face. I had just picked up my phone to inform Gabriel about my anger when I saw her walking in slowly through the door. She surveyed the large nicely decorated hall with her eyes as the place was almost nearly filled with guests eating and chatting cheerfully. In no time she caught my figure at the rare end of the hall, with two bodyguards standing side by side, this was the first time in a long while Helena would have a close look at me and possibly spend more than a minute talking to me. She was nervous and so she tried to control her steps so she wouldn't slip. I still had that generous cuteness of years and my business suit did justice to my physical look. My hair is arranged to one side with a part line pressed down with styling gel. I kept a fixed gaze on her as she walked shyly to the seat in front of me.

Sorry I'm late she said, not entirely meaning to apologize.

I didn't respond.

"I said I am sorry I came late"

I heard you the first time, I snapped without raising my eyes to look at her. She looked at the guards and then back to me, then I raised my hand to dismiss them. They walked away to the other end of the room where they couldn't hear any conversation but could still keep an eye on me just in case there's an attacker lurking around the vicinity.

She kept her eyes fixed on the guards and I could guess she was wondering about the kind of authority I had on those who worked for him.

"You know if you were my staff you would have been fired by now".

"Well, thank God I'm not," she responded sharply. She didn't like my demeanor for one second as well as I didn't like her presence and so I wanted the conversation to end as soon as possible.

 "I hear you proposed to my dad to marry me? Clearly I can see that you now want to become responsible I guess".

I laughed at her.

"Don't be ridiculous. What? I never asked to marry you. The words formed at the corner of my mouth.

You're not even my spec. I said finally.

Well, feeling is mutual, I don't want you either she responded with defiance in her voice.

With the look in her eyes I was sure my last words broke her but she didn't mind since she feels the same resentment for me.

"Well, that was what I was told"

"Me too"

What do you do "me too", she asked in a more subtle tone.

My mom called me home last night to say that I have to marry you and I wonder why she would make such a deadly decision for me, a very wrong decision. I said I surveyed her from head to toe.

"Hold on, I won't have you insult me okay. I'm only here to warn you to back off, cause I'm engaged to be married to someone else.

Whoa! Look who found love i said scornfully 

"Just leave my family alone and I will never cross your part", she begged.

I let out a short wicked laugh.

How much do we owe you, you could give us some time to pay back, she kept yapping.

Your family owes me nothing, I'm just as confused as you are on this.

Just tell your mom you can't marry me and we will be out of this incoming mess.

Well, I don't think I want to do that, Helena.

Go get ready, our marriage is in a week. I said and stood up from my seat.

Helena watched me walk all the way out with her mouth agape in shock.

This wasn't the plan.

Let's play along.