Chapter 7

ONE DAY BEFORE THE BOARD MEETING

By the next morning, it was like Mia had lost weight overnight. She was overwhelmed with everything, overthinking, and worrying nonstop. To top it off, Ethan had also not stopped calling her and sending her texts. Some of the texts were pleading for her forgiveness, some were reminding her how much they loved each other, and some were angry and more than mildly threatening. They had given Mia such a headache that she’d finally had no choice but to block him, if only so she could cry in silence.

She called the hospital at intervals to keep checking in on her mother, but remained at home because she didn’t think she could handle any human interaction. She slept fitfully and in short intervals. By daybreak, her eyes were sunken in and had dark circles surrounding them. She also had a pounding headache and felt slightly dizzy. Part of why she felt so horrible was that she really had no one to talk to and could only cry to herself. Her best friend was currently out of the country on a work trip, and Mia had never had the habit of disturbing people with her problems even though the person in question definitely wouldn’t see it that way.

She was just about to make herself presentable enough to be seen in public so she could head to the hospital when her doorbell rang. She trudged to the door slowly and the doorbell rang again and again. Whoever it was was definitely impatient. Mia didn’t really care. She opened the door and came face to face to a man that looked slightly familiar, although she couldn’t exactly place where she’d seen him. He gave her a small smile. “Miss Reed. Good afternoon.”

Mia frowned. It was noon already?

“We need to talk,” another deeper voice said, startling Mia into adjusting her vision slightly downwards.

There was a person right in front of her, and this time, she recognized him. It was the angry man in the wheelchair. The one who kept insisting she abort her pregnancy. Mia immediately became more guarded.

“What do you want?” Did he track her all the way to her home just to tell her to remove her child? She already told him she had no intention of doing that, or of trying to force him to take responsibility. She decided to tell him again. “I’m not aborting my baby, and I’m not – ”

Ezra waved a hand, interrupting her. “Yes, yes, I heard you yesterday. That’s not why I’m here today.”

Mia frowned slightly. “It’s not? Then why are you here?”

“To give you an offer,” Ezra replied.

“What offer?”

“Marry me.”

Mia blinked. The lack of sleep was definitely getting to her. She was starting to hear things.

Shaking her head slightly, she apologized. “I’m sorry, could you repeat that? Just now, I thought I heard you say that – ”

“You should marry me,” he finished for her. “That’s what I said.”

Mia blinked again, then slowly peered down the hallway of her apartment building. There were no cameras, nobody waiting to tell her she was being pranked. She turned back to Ezra.

“I’m sorry, Mr… Grey… but I don’t understand. Is this a joke? Is everything alright?”

“Can we have this conversation somewhere else? Somewhere… not so public?” He asked, looking around for the tenth time since he got there. The apartment complex wasn’t the kind of place he expected a woman who dated Ethan Grey to live. It wasn’t horrible, but it wasn’t good either. Not by his standards anyway.

Mia looked hesitant for a second. “I have to go to the hospital soon…” And she couldn’t invite two strange men into her home even though one of them was the father of her baby.

“I’ll be quick,” Ezra told her. He didn’t want to waste his own time either.

“There’s a coffee shop downstairs, if that would make you more comfortable?” Jason asked Mia.

After another moment of hesitation, she nodded. “I’ll meet you there.”

As Jason and Ezra left, Ezra asked, “What do you think of her?”

“She seems nice,” Jason replied, causing Ezra to snort.

Yeah. Nice. He’d seen enough “nice” people to know to never take people at face value. She did seem to be suffering though— she looked sick. He supposed that breaking off an engagement after finding out your fiance cheated and had a child with another woman, then getting news of your mother’s declining health, then finding out the baby you thought you carried for said fiance actually belonged to another man would do that to a person.

Mia arrived at the coffee shop minutes later, and by the time she took her seat, Ezra already had the document in front of her. The heading said “CONTRACT MARRIAGE”.

She looked up at him, silently waiting for an explanation.

Ezra got straight to the point. “I changed my mind regarding what to do with the pregnancy. For reasons best known to myself, I need a family of my own. A wife,” he gestured to her, “and a child. It will be a marriage in name only. And of course, you will be well compensated. After the duration of our marriage – shortly after the child is born – we’ll get divorced, and I will retain full custody of the child. A sum of fifty million dollars will be transferred to you after the fact. Deal?”

With each word he said, Mia’s expression had been growing more incredulous. “No!”

Ezra frowned. “Is the sum too little? A hundred million then. Final offer.”

Mia shook her head, more than confused. Who was this man and why would he think she would leave her baby behind for any sum of money? That was no different from selling her child, and she would rather die than do that.

She pushed the contract marriage document back to him and stood up. “I’m sorry Mr Grey, but I can’t do what you’re asking. No amount of money will make me abandon my child. Marriage is not a joke to me either. Goodbye.”

She made to leave, but Ezra’s chair blocked her path. “Hold on. You haven’t even read all the terms yet!”

“I don’t need to—”

“So you’d pass on a lucrative business offer just like that?” He was slightly incredulous. Was she really going to walk away from all that money he’d just tossed at her, or was it a ploy to get him to offer more?

“I think our opinions on what is considered business are different,” she replied softly.

“What if I told you I need your help?” He asked. Maybe appealing to her supposed bleeding heart would help. “And I know you need mine too.”

Mia started to shake her head again, but he didn’t let her refuse again.

“Your mother’s hospital bills. I can help you pay them.” She looked surprised, but he continued. “I’ll also cover the cost for any other medical expenses that might come up, no matter how much. Not to mention the care that the child will receive just by being mine. You’d be a fool to pass that up.”

Slowly, Mia sat back down. “How do you know about my mom?”

Ezra shrugged. “I’m a powerful man. Capable of protecting you and yours from anything.”

Mia exhaled slowly. There was something wrong with this picture – it seemed too good to be true. “What’s the catch?” She asked. “What do I have to do in return for all this?”

“Simple. Marry me.”

She still couldn’t believe it. All her mother’s medical debt, future expenses, protection from Ethan and his threats, and care for her unborn baby? These were all problems she felt were insurmountable. And now this man came offering a solution to everything just like that?

“And you say this is a marriage in name only?” she asked again.

“Yes,” Ezra confirmed. “There will be no physical relations – or any other kind. We will live as housemates, and nothing more. After the duration of our marriage is over, you leave with your money.”

“But without my baby,” Mia said.

“Naturally.”

She shook her head. “Then, I’m sorry. I can't do it. I won’t leave my baby behind.”

“Am I to understand that the part you have a problem with is the issue of full custody going to me?” He asked with narrowed eyes.

Slowly, without believing she was actually doing it, Mia nodded. “I don’t want the money either. I’m not selling my baby. And you have to tell me what exactly you’re getting out of this.”

Oh, for god’s sake.

“Fine,” Ezra replied. “You won’t be paid off. When the time comes, we’ll work out a joint custody agreement. But don’t even think about expecting any more for yourself. The child will be my responsibility, but after our marriage, I owe you nothing.”

Mia nodded.

“As for what I’m getting out of this,” Ezra continued. “Let's just say it's more than you can comprehend. My assistant will be in touch with the updated marriage agreement. Speak to him if you have any more questions.”

Just as he was about to wheel himself away, his phone began to ring.

“Who’s that?” He asked irritably.

“The Chairwoman,” Jason replied.

Ezra’s irritability vanished immediately as he took the phone. “Grandmother. How do you feel?”

“Save the pleasantries for when I’m not annoyed at you. Have you found the lady and taken back those awful words you said?”

Ezra gritted his teeth. “Yes.”

“Good. There’s an emergency. I just got a call from my assistant. Olivia and Ethan have called an emergency board meeting for tomorrow morning. They said they have something they want to announce. It's about the inheritance. I’m sure you already know what went on at the house yesterday. Ethan has an heir now, so it’s obvious what they intend to announce. If you have a plan, now is the time to act. You’re out of time already.” She ended the call.

Ezra set the phone down and glanced at Jason. “How good are our chances of getting a marriage certificate today?”

Jason glanced at his wristwatch, then shook his head. “Slim to none.”

Ezra turned back to Mia. “Seven thirty tomorrow morning. Be ready.”

“Wait. For what?” Mia asked as he began to leave.

Ezra smirked a little. “We’re getting married.”