The next morning, Kelsey woke up with a groan. "Wake up, Kelsey!" An annoying voice yelled as the bed continued to bounce up and down. "Wakey, wakes!"
"5 more minutes!" She said burying her head on her pillow and threw the covers back on herself. Unfortunately, someone took the covers off and the cold wind blew meeting her pale skin."C'mon, mom already left and you promise we are going to look after Kyle." He said as he sat on the bed and hung his head low. When Kelsey felt the stillness on the bed and quietness of her brother, she quickly sat up. She suddenly regretted ignoring him because the tears that were forming in his eyes melted her heart. She rushed to him and cuddled him between her arms."I'm sorry, I promise we'll go. C'mon, don't cry." She shushed him as she rocked them back and forth. Tears flooded his cheeks and guilt ate Kelsey as she heard him sob quietly. "No baby, please don't cry.""Is he going to get better? When is he coming home?" He asked looking up with his tear-filled eyes. Kelsey didn't have the heart to tell him that Kyle might not be going home anytime soon. He still needed to do at least four more chemotherapies. Kelsey felt crushed staring at her brokenhearted brother. He might not be related to them by blood, but in their hearts, they love him equally like he belonged to the family."Of course he's going to get better. And I'm sure he'll come home soon. Just keep praying, okay?" Kelsey said softly as she played with the end of his blonde locks."Okay." He whispered nodding his head. Kelsey let go of him and hold on his shoulders. "Listen to me, pal, Kyle is a fighter. Remember that he's the brave soldier in this house. He will never stop fighting and I'm sure he wouldn't let anything get to him. I'm sure that he'll be fine." She said encouragingly.Ace wiped his tears with the back of his hand and smiled at Kelsey but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Yeah, he is brave and strong." He agreed."Exactly, I'm sure he'll fight this off too." Kelsey smiled back and kissed his temple. She started tickling him and giggles filled the air. They continued to tickle each other for almost five minutes until Kelsey's phone rang.She quickly fixed herself up and gave Ace another sloppy kiss on the cheek. She got her phone from her bedside table and answered it."Hey, mom. How's everything so far?" She asked as she regarded Ace at the bed, who was exhausted and panting hard."Everything's fine, sweetheart. I just wanted to know if you and Ace are still coming.""Of course we're coming, mom. We'll support Kyle all the way. Tell him I'll bring him some cookies from Mrs. Freeman.""Oh, delightful! I'm sure he'll wait for you guys. Come early because his therapy starts at exactly eleven o'clock." She informed her."Got it. We'll be there in a jiffy." She said mimicking a British accent."Alright, tell Ace to eat a proper breakfast, okay? No more cookies in the morning.""Yes, ma'am, I will most certainly tell him. Tell Kyle we'll be there soon.""Alright, see you.""Bye mom.""Bye mom!" Ace shouted over the phone."Bye, you guys. Love you!" Her mother chuckled hearing Ace's enthusiastic voice over the phone."We love you too!" Kelsey said as she hung up the phone. Ace started to hop off the bed and his big grin was once again plastered on his face."Why don't you get ready and shower? I'll make us some breakfast as you do so." She suggested as she started to fix the bed."Can I have cookies instead?" He asked doing the puppy dog eyes and pouting his lips. Anyone would have caved in, but pouting didn't work on her."Sorry, pal, but I'm not mom. It's not gonna work." Kelsey smirked as the kid narrowed his eyes at her and brought his arms across his chest. He stood there like a stubborn child and Kelsey laughed at his childish remarks."Do you wanna go to Kyle or not? Because we could stay here all day." She said and she knew that he would give in and obey her."I'm going, I'm going!" He said running off to the bathroom.Kelsey mentally patted her back for the amazing skills she have. She nodded her head an muttered to herself. "I thought so." And she chuckled.~ * ~ * ~"Mr. King, all the documents that you need is in this file. Do you need anything else, sir?" Nina, Mason's receptionist and secretary, asked as she placed the files gently on his table."Yes, actually, did you do what I asked you to do yesterday?" He asked as he continued to type on his computer."Yes, sir, I did and quite frankly, many people had sent their résumés. Mostly women to be specific." She added and Mason stopped typing and turned his eyes on her."Great, I want all the résumés on my desk in ten." He informed her as he went back to typing."Got it." Nina said as she started to make her way out, but before she could even reach the doorknob, the door opened revealing a gorgeous man.Nina paused and admired the blonde headed guy with broad shoulders and tall figure by the door. "Hey, Nina." He greeted in a seductive way."H-hi." She stuttered staring at him in dazed."I see that you still look as fine as hell." He commented as red blush rushed through her cheeks."Ricky, stop flirting with my secretary!" Mason warned him and Ricky chuckled in response."Hey, a girl's gotta have her compliments." Ricky teased looking intently at Nina with a smirk playing on his lips."Rick, seriously, you're making her uncomfortable." Mason said as Nina squirmed and rocked back and forth in discomfort."Am I making you squirm, baby?" Ricky said seductively as Nina froze and blushed even more if it was even possible."Ugh! Ricky, my innocent ears!" Mason gagged as he plastered the most disgusted face he could master."Innocent ears, my ass!" Ricky said bursting in laughter. Nina stood awkwardly and she figured out it was her time to leave.She creepily slid out of the office without the two men noticing her escape and closed the door gently. When Ricky was finally out of breath from laughing, he stopped and turned back to the door, only to notice that Nina wasn't there anymore."Where'd she go?" He asked with a furrowed eyebrows at Mason."Maybe she realized how obnoxious you really are." Mason said as he continued to type on his computer."Ha-ha, very funny." He said sarcastically, sitting on the reclining chair at the corner of the room. He threw his arms at the back of his head and decline the chair back."You know what's funny? It's funny how you think my office is your home.""Says the guy who wasn't left his office for the last two days!" Ricky retorted narrowing his eyes at him."For your information, I'm trying to keep this company, which by the way, is sponsoring your diner. If I lose this company, you lose your business as well. Remember that, Rick." He said looking intently at him. Ricky knew he had a point. Without the King Corporation, his diner wouldn't be booming and popular."Alright, I get it. Dude, you really gotta get out more." He mumbled under his breath as he laid back on the chair."I did went out, Saturday night? Guess where that led me to?" Mason said with venom lacing though his voice."Well, it wasn't my fault that you didn't tell the girl to leave right after you banged her.""We were too drunk!" Mason screamed in frustration. "I didn't even know what I was doing! And let me tell you this, it was a huge miracle I made it home in one piece." He said stating how drunk he truly were."So what's your plan?" Ricky asked changing the topic. "What are you gonna do with this 'grandma issues'?""Don't worry about it. I've got everything under control." Mason assured him letting a smirk slipped out of his lips."Should I be relieved or worried?" He questioned unsurely and Mason chuckled at him."Maybe a little bit of both." He shrugged bluntly as he went back to typing."You're honestly killing me here, bro! C'mon, tell me!" Ricky begged getting out of the comfortable chair and slouched his way to one of the chairs in front of Mason's table. "Mason Emerson King! I demand you to tell me this instance what your plan is!" He growled with a pleaded tone."Richard Jason Hellman, calm yourself down, okay?""Don't call me Richard!" He hissed."Then don't call me Emerson." He retorted a smirk playing across his lips. Ricky narrowed his eyes at him with intensity.They had a stared down for a minute. Then, Ricky thought that what they were doing was stupid so he sighed and rolled his eyes. "Just tell me what the plan is, please!" He said with pleading tone."Easy." Mason shrugged nonchalantly. "I'll hire a bride." He admitted. Ricky stared at him like he had grown another head and his mouth agape."Hire a bride?" He asked incredulously. "Okay, it's official! You've officially turned nuts, crazy, insane! Are you high?!" Ricky practically screamed at him. It was a good thing that Mason's office was sound proof."Calm down, Rick. I told you, I don't want to settle down and I'm not gonna. Believe me, bro, this is the best plan I have. I know what I'm doing and I know what I'm getting myself into. So, do not worry about anything, I have everything under control." Mason answered with a smile playing along his lips. Ricky looked at him pointedly and shook his head in disagreement."Who's desperate enough to play the role of the wife of Mr. Mason King?""A lot of women, Rick, a lot of women. Just trust me, I know what I'm doing." Mason assured him as Ricky went back to the reclining chair."Whatever, but don't come to me one day and say you've fallen in love with this pretend wife of yours.""I'm not, I'm never going to say those words ever." He stated firmly and began typing back. He knew his plan was good, it was better than nothing. He rather hire a woman who was desperate to be with him than lose the company he desired of owning and managing since he was a kid.The next day, Mason was once again sitting on his office chair and looked through the pile of résumés. He separated the files from men to women then from women to gorgeous women. When he had three résumés in his hand, he called Nina in."Nina, I want an interview with these three. They seem to be the only women I'm interested in hiring." He said bluntly as he handed the folders to Nina."Yes, sir, right away." She nodded her head and headed back to her office. Nina was a beautiful woman. She had golden hair, fierce green eyes, and slim yet sexy body. It was one of the reasons why Mason hired her as his secretary. Not only was she smokin' hot, but she was also intelligent and punctual. She worked professionally and diligently. She never complained about any of the crazy jobs that Mason asked her to do. She would always say, 'Yes, sir.' No questions, no complains!Mason stared at the screen of his desktop where the pictures of the three women were plastered on. The first one had blon
"Bro, face it. It's hopeless." Ricky said as Mason let out a groan and smacked his head on the table."I mean, Blondie was too clingy." Ricky reminded as the girl's face flashed before his eyes."Hi, I'm Chelsea." She giggled flirtatiously."I'm Mason King and this right here is my business partner, Mr. Richard Hellman." Mason introduced as he beckoned her to sit on the chair across from him. But to his surprise, she sprawled herself on his table and placed her long tanned legs on it sexily. Her dress was way too short for both Ricky and Mason's liking."Tell me, do you like what you see, Mr. King?" She whispered seductively as Mason voluntarily shivered in disgust."This is an interview, Ms...." He looked down on her résumé and found her last name. "Castillo." He continued. "Not a club.""So, you're suggesting that you want me in your bed tonight?" She asked batting her eyebrows. 'Wow, talk about desperate.' Mason thought."I'm suggesting for you to leave." He announced earnin
"Yo-Your what?!" She stuttered. She tried to clean her ears and rubbed her eyes. She even tried pinching herself waiting for the moment that she would be waking up on her bed. Unfortunately, she was still seated on the comfortable seat staring at the amazingly looking guy in front of her."My hire bride, Ms. Parker. You will be posing as my wife." He repeated with the same firmness on his voice.She stared crazily at him for a few seconds before harsh words exited her mouth. "Are you crazy? Me, get married, to you? Is this some kind of a sick joke?!""Look, I know it might be a little overwhelming and too much information for a day, but I need to find myself a bride and get married within the next three months." He explained."So you mean to tell me that we are getting married? In three months?!" She asked flabbergasted."Fake marriage, and that is, if you are willing to take this job. It's one in a life time chance, Miss Parker." He stated as the phrase kept ringing in her head.
"Yo-Your what?!" She stuttered. She tried to clean her ears and rubbed her eyes. She even tried pinching herself waiting for the moment that she would be waking up on her bed. Unfortunately, she was still seated on the comfortable seat staring at the amazingly looking guy in front of her."My hire bride, Ms. Parker. You will be posing as my wife." He repeated with the same firmness on his voice.She stared crazily at him for a few seconds before harsh words exited her mouth. "Are you crazy? Me, get married, to you? Is this some kind of a sick joke?!""Look, I know it might be a little overwhelming and too much information for a day, but I need to find myself a bride and get married within the next three months." He explained."So you mean to tell me that we are getting married? In three months?!" She asked flabbergasted."Fake marriage, and that is, if you are willing to take this job. It's one in a life time chance, Miss Parker." He stated as the phrase kept ringing in her head.
Kelsey shook her head firmly and took a deep breath. When she felt like she was ready, she went inside the glass door and made her way to the booth."Good morning, Mr. King." She greeted formally with a tight smile on her face."Ahh, you're five minutes early. I'm impressed." He said nodding his head in the process. "Have a seat." He ordered as Kelsey sat on the connected booth across from him."Mr. King, I would-""First of all, if you're going to agree to this arrangement and accept my offer, I think you have to call me by my first name. It would be weird calling me so formally, is it not?" He asked with a raise eyebrow.Kelsey shot him a weirded look and shook her head. "Okay...Mason. I would like to hear your terms and see the contract, please.""Here." He said handing her a folder. "Everything is explained in there. How you would act as my wife, the story of how we met, and other relevant details. Do you need time to read the contract over?" He questioned as she started rea
The next day, Kelsey woke up at seven in the morning to get ready before Mason came. She took a bath and made sure she had everything she needed when she moves in with him.Yesterday, when she told her mother that she had to moved out, Hilda almost had a heart attack. It took Kelsey half an hour before fully calming her down. Hilda, of course, was against the idea of it but she knew how important it was for her daughter. She was devastated that her only daughter was leaving home. She really wasn't ready for all of these, but she knew that at one point in her life, her kids will grow up and leave. She was just too scared to let go."Are you sure you have everything?" Hilda asked as she watched her daughter from the door frame of her room."Yeah, I think I have everything. Besides, I'm only going to be gone for a short period of time, it's not like I'm actually going to go through this marriage." She explained as Hilda helped her close her luggages.Hilda let out a sighed. "What abo
Chapter 9 - The VisitMason followed Kelsey through the hall. It was still bothering him who they were visiting but it sure wasn't her father since they were in a children's hospital.Kelsey approached the counter and talked to the nurse. "Kelsey, it's so nice to see you again, hun. It has been a while." She greeted her."Yeah, I was really busy with work. Is he awake?" Kelsey asked her politely."Yes, just go in and surprise him. I'm sure he misses you a lot." The nurse said as Kelsey nodded and muttered a quick thank you to her. Kelsey made her way down the hall and Mason followed her. She knocked on the door and heard a voice inside giving her permission to go in.She peaked through the door as they heard a gasp. "Kelsey!""Hey." Kelsey greeted as she came in. She beckoned Mason in and he followed behind her awkwardly. Mason studied the thin bald boy in bed. An oxygen tank was placed beside him and a tube running to his nose. He was wearing a blue hospital robe and he was sit
Mason pulled up in front of his condo and the valet boy was waiting for him to give his car keys so he could park it for him.He twisted the key as the car's engine died and stopped roaring. He then glanced at the passenger seat, only to find Kelsey in a middle of a nap. Not wanting to disturb her from her sleep, he quietly shut the door closed and gave his key to the valet boy."Bring all the luggages to my room." He demanded as the valet boy nodded in return. Mason slowly opened the passenger door and unfastened Kelsey's seatbelt. He was having a debate in his head whether he should carry her in or wake her up.He was contemplating on what to do and he decided to go with his first choice. He slid his arms behind her legs and upper back and lifted her up. Kelsey groaned and stirred but her eyes remained close. He carried her in his condominium and some of his nosy neighbours whispered as they pass by. He ignored them as usual and entered his private elevator that went all the way