11. Bestie moments

"Let me get this straight. You had a whole rendezvous weekend, finally broke free from the shackles of Jeffery, and somehow caught the attention of the freaking King of Formula One, who's now offering you twenty million bucks to be his wife for just two years. And now Jeffery has your business locked down, too! Catty, your store is in trouble, you're practically broke, and a man is offering you enough money to change your life. So why the hell are you turning him down? Why choose to suffer?” my best friend, Melody, asked.

I sighed, “Why do you sound disappointed?”

The front door of Melody's apartment opened, and her boyfriend Derek walked in.

“Because if nothing else convinced you to marry him, the incentive alone should have,” Melody replied to my question.

“Mel, I'm just getting out of this shit with Jeffrey; I don’t want to get myself into another mess. Yet.”

“Exactly! That is why this is the best arrangement. It's temporary. All you need is a large shovel to dig gold, Catty. Dig the gold, pack it, and use it to make your life f*cking better. Become a f*cking Millionaire before thirty. Get set for life, Babygirl.”

“I feel like you want to lead me astray,” I murmured.

“You should be grateful you have a sound mind like me in your corner.

I chewed my lips. “You do know that the union won't be centered on love.”

“So? You centered love with Jeffery and look how it turned out. Now it’s time to decenter love.”

“You’re saying I should say yes?”

“Why not?”

“Pfft. Not a wise thing to do. Besides, I’m not exactly the kind of girl athletes would date.”

Sounding indignant, she says, “Well, I’d marry you. If I were a lesbian, I mean, you're hot like hot-hot."

“How incredibly comforting. Thank you.”

“Don’t be snotty. I’m damn serious. I think you're very hot and sexy. So sexy that every dude out there crushing on you is lucky I’m not into women. And except you love suffering, this is the wisest thing to do. You spent years building with Jeffery and showering him with love, and it got you nothing. I have a feeling that God wants this to be your comeback, Baby. Go in with an active shovel, decenter love and center Moneyyyy. Once bitten-”

I look to Derek for support. “Please tell your girlfriend she’s hallucinating.”

Smiling, he shook his head. “She's making so much sense, Catty."

"Cathy, you need this money. You're practically broke. Why can't you keep your damn ego aside and grab this opportunity? This dude could have gone to anyone with this offer. But he came to you, Babe.”

“Geez, and I wonder why.”

"Because you are awesome and f*cking irresistible. I know this because I know you. No sane man would experience you and want to leave. Ever."

"Damn straight," Derek chipped in.

“Just say yes, Babe.” Mel pressed.

Derek agreed with her. “It’s worth a try. If somebody were offering me a boatload of money to save my whole life, I’d definitely consider it.”

That made me laugh. “Really? You’d sleep with a total stranger for twenty million bucks?”

Derek glanced at Melody, then back at me. “Before I met my baby, I would’ve slept with a total stranger for nothing at all.”

Melody let out a cute laugh.

Frowning, I sat up. "Now that Derek mentioned it, I'm wondering if sex is part of the agreement."

“I doubt that. The dude might already have the side chicks that he keeps on the downlow, and just needs a wife for formalities and to satisfy Daddy Dearest. Maybe all he’d expect of you would be to show up at family functions, looking pretty. And it's a big bonus that you're a smart ass. The man knows what he wants." Mel told me, and I nodded stupidly.

“Not that you’ll take my advice," Derek began, "but I’m gonna give it anyway. Ask him what the conditions of his offer are. Then you negotiate.”

“You mean I should haggle over my purchase price.”

“No, that's not what I mean. He’s already named his price. What you negotiate are the terms.”

Leaning in, Melody says excitedly, “See why I love being in the midst of smart people. I think Catty should ask for a house and a luxury car.”

“No, I meant like how and when the money will be paid to you. You need to tell him you need the entire cash put in a trust in your name first, or you won’t walk down the aisle at all.”

Mel gasped. “Look at you! What a mastermind.”

“Hey, this is business, not love. The rules are different. You have to make sure you get everything you want up front and in writing or no deal.”

What I want…

Now that I think about it, I’m not sure anyone ever has thought about what I want.

My parents always cared about what they wanted.

And while I was still home, they wanted me married to Garrie Massot, the Mayor’s younger brother.

Garrie was a cheating bigot who had worked his way into my parents' hearts with his pocket.

They knew who and what he was, but they didn’t care.

Even after I caught him banging my cousin.

They just wanted his money, and the fame and respect that come with being married to the Massots.

But I wanted true love, and I thought I found that in Jeffery.

Hence, the reason I left home, took a flight to Willowbrook to be closer to Jeffery, and never looked back.

So, what do I want now?

I want my store back, too. I want Bella to still have her job.

If Graham was serious about his offer, I could sort all that out.

Twenty million dollars is a fortune.

I won't have to be bothered about a roof over my head anymore. I'll finally help Mel with a soft loan to start her fashion brand.

The things I could do with that kind of money…

I could hire an attorney to fight Jeffery for my money.

I could go back to school and get that second degree I've been eyeing for years.

I could figure out what I really wanted to do with my life. Who I actually wanted to be, aside from the "hardworking good girl".

“Come back from Jupiter, Babe," Mel called, tapping my arm.

I shook my head. "I think the negotiation suggestion is a great idea."

Melody bolted upright, clapping. “You’re going to do it?”

I hesitated before nodding. “Yeah. You’re right. What have I got to lose?”

I glanced at Derek, thankful that he mentioned the trust.

Now I know the first thing I’ll be asking Graham for.

Pulling out my phone, I typed out a text to him immediately.

ME: "[Hi]"

I paused and thought of what to say next. But my phone message tone beeped almost immediately.

GRAHAM: [Tell me where you are and I’ll be there immediately.]

Surprised both by the speed of his response and the brusque tone of it, I typed back.

ME: [I'm not asking you to come anywhere. And how about a hello?].

His answer came so fast; he must be using the microphone to dictate it.

GRAHAM: [Hello, Catalina. Now tell me where you are.]

I just sit there, frowning at the phone in my hand when another text comes through.

GRAHAM: [Catalina].

He only sent my name.

But in that single word, I felt every ounce of his impatience.

I mutter, “Are all rich people so bossy?”

ME: [We'll talk tomorrow. Good night."

He didn't reply again.

But when I got back to my apartment, Graham was standing in front of my apartment, right under the pine trees that did a great job of shielding most of his face.

What the hell!