Chapter eleven

Sara’s POV

As we walked into the meeting room, I felt a wave of surprise wash over me. The client was Derick, an old friend I hadn’t seen in years. I took a deep breath, determined to remain professional.

“Oh my gosh, Sara!” Derick exclaimed, standing up with a wide smile. “It’s been forever. How have you been?”

“Hi, Derick,” I replied, shaking his hand. “It’s great to see you. I’m doing well, thank you. How about you?”

Before Derick could respond, Zack interjected politely but firmly. “It’s good to see you both reconnecting, but let’s get started. We have a lot to cover.”

We took our seats, and I opened my notebook, ready to take notes. Throughout the meeting, I noticed Derick glancing at me, and it made me slightly uncomfortable. I focused on capturing important details, aware of Zack’s watchful presence.

Zack led the discussion efficiently, outlining the project’s key points. Derick occasionally directed questions my way, making it clear he valued my input. I answered succinctly, mindful of Zack’s scrutiny.

The meeting progressed smoothly, and as it concluded, Derick tried to engage me in conversation again. “Sara, we should catch up sometime. It’s been too long.”

I have no idea why Zack stepped in. “We appreciate your time, Derick. Sara and I have another engagement to attend to. We’ll be in touch.”

“Yes, of course,” I said, giving Derick a polite smile. “It was great seeing you again. Take care.”

We left the meeting room, and as we walked back to the office, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of relief and curiosity. Zack’s intervention had spared me from an awkward situation, but his protective behavior left me puzzled.

Once back at the office, Zack assigned me a pile of work. “I need these reports finalized by the end of the day,” he said, handing me a stack of documents. “And make sure they’re error-free.”

“Understood,” I replied, diving into the task. A few minutes later, Jane called me to her desk.

“There’s a package for Mr. Samuels,” she said. “Could you deliver it to his office?”

I nodded, taking the package and heading to Zack’s office. I knocked on the door, and his voice called out, “Come in.”

I stepped inside, placing the package on his desk. “Here’s your package, Mr. Samuels,” I said, trying to keep my tone neutral.

I handed the package to him.

“You can leave now.” He replied curtly.

Not even a thank you? I questioned myself.

I exited his office, feeling a mix of emotions. Zack’s demeanor was confusing, oscillating between protective and distant. It was as if he was trying to protect me from Derick and I still don’t get why.

As I returned to my desk, I couldn’t shake off the encounter with Derick or Zack’s unexpected behavior.

A few minutes later, after managing to focus on my work, Zack called me on the office intercom. I had just started to get into a rhythm with the reports he assigned me, my thoughts about the contract marriage temporarily pushed to the back of my mind.

The sudden buzz of the intercom jolted me out of my concentration. I reached over and pressed the button.

“Sara, come into my office now,” Zack’s voice crackled through the speaker. It was firm and left no room for questioning. Before I could respond, the line went dead.

I sat back in my chair, my heart pounding. What now? I thought. Did I make a mistake in the reports? Or is this about the contract? My mind raced with possibilities as I gathered my composure.

Taking a deep breath, I stood up, smoothing down my skirt.

When I reached his door, I paused for a moment to collect myself before knocking. The authoritative tone in Zack’s voice replayed in my mind, adding to my anxiety.

“Come in,” Zack’s voice called out from inside.

I pushed the door open and stepped into his office. Zack was at his desk, his attention focused on a stack of paperwork. The air in the room felt heavy with tension.

“You wanted to see me, Mr. Samuels?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

Without looking up, Zack gestured to the chair in front of his desk. “Sit down, Sara. I have something important to discuss with you.”

I moved to the chair and sat down, my hands clasped tightly in my lap. I watched as Zack continued to read through the documents in front of him. The silence stretched, and my anxiety grew with each passing second.

Is this about Derick or what did I do wrong, I thought while sitting on a chair facing Zack.

“Sara, I have something important to discuss with you,” he said, his tone more serious than the other time.

Now I am very scared to hear what he has to tell me. I silently prayed to God not to loose my job.

He handed me a document, his gaze intense.

“This is a contract marriage proposal. I’ve come to learn about your situation with your uncle and the condition he’s placed on you to marry before you can access your properties.”

My heart skipped a beat as I processed his words. How did he know about that?

“That’s not important,” Zack continued, cutting off my thoughts.

Ohhh, I must have said that out loud.

“What matters is that this contract could be mutually beneficial. You get access to your properties, and I fulfill my grandfather’s wish of seeing me married. It’s a win-win situation.”

I stared at the document in disbelief. A contract marriage with Zack? It seemed surreal.

How did he know everything about me and a contract marriage with someone that hates me. I’m very sure he hates me and to top it all, he is very rude.

But it could solve all my problems. Still, I needed time to think about it.

“I need some time to think about it,” I finally managed to say, feeling overwhelmed.

“Take your time, but not too long. I need an answer soon,” Zack replied firmly.

Nodding, I left his office, my mind racing with conflicting thoughts and emotions. This was the last thing I expected to happen today.

Back at my desk, I struggled to focus on my work. The weight of the proposal hung over me like a dark cloud. A contract marriage with Zack? It seemed like a crazy idea, but it could be the solution to all my problems.