Chapter 5

“What's the contract about?”

I remained quiet. My brain couldn't process an answer for Lucy at that moment because the thought of getting myself involved in this contract bounced up and down my brain.

Who was getting married though? Mr Stones or his friend?

“Tori?”

The sound of my name pulled me out of my train of thought and back to reality.

“A contract for what?”

“Marriage” I answered immediately “5 million dollars to get into a contract marriage”

Her lips parted with a confused look displayed on her face.

“Contract marriage? Wait a minute” she looked me head to toe, realization appearing on her face.

“You can't be thinking of pulling this off”

“5 million dollar, Lucy” I explained with eagerness clear in my voice “I'll sort my life out with that. I'll sort the bakery, I'll sort my dad out, Lucy….. can't you see?”

“No, I can't see. Tori, if that contract is a marriage to Mr Stones, do you know what you'll be getting into? If he can easily get marriage, why does he need a contract?”

“It doesn't matter, Lucy” I whined “it doesn't. If my father dies, my life is over. How would my mom recover from that?”

I couldn't care less if this contract belonged to Mr Stones or his Friend. I didn't care what the problem was that made them result to a contract, but what I did know was that this was an opportunity to save my father and get my life back on track. If it meant me getting married to a man I knew nothing about, I'll do it a thousand times over.

“Would you even be able to locate him?”

Would I?

“They'll come back for the contract”

They have to.

Lucy let out a sigh, placing both hands on he hips “I have a bad feeling about this”

“You have a bad feeling about everything” I rolled my eyes, closing the pages of the contract shut “let's get back to work”

~°~

“What do you mean you left the contract at the bakery?”

Michael raised a brow at him, leaning his back towards the chair he was seated “‘I’ left it behind? You forgot we came with a contract when you were busy yelling like you built the bakery. What on earth was wrong with you?”

“You kept using the bloody baker as an example of a wife, Isn't that enough to piss me off?”

Just when he was already pissed off by the idea of getting married, the contract comes up, and of all people Mike could pitch to him as a choice, it had to be someone who runs an almost nonexistent bakery?

“Duncan, get this marriage thing over and done with. I'll go back for the document” he pushed his chair back, rising to his feet “in the mean time, make a freaking choice”

How easy was it to choose a life of boundage? A life that wouldn't guarantee you any form of change? How was a wife suppose to help him? If anything, women should want to stay away from him, for his sake and theirs.

~°~

“Here's your order.” I hand the lovely old lady her cupcakes, a smile displayed on my visibly tired face “thank you so much”

“Thank you, sweetie” and with that, she was on her way.

I leaned my tired body towards the show glass, letting out a sigh as I tried to get my muscles to relax.

Only 30 dollars sold today—was this how I was suppose to save my father and business?

I raised my head up a bit, resting my chin on my hands which were relaxed on the glass. The sun was almost down which meant another day was about to end, another day nearly wasted.

Just then, the store bell rang and what seemed to be a beacon of hope walked through the front door, his eyes searching the store carefully.

“Um…Hi, Hi again” Mr Stones friend from earlier took slow steps towards the show glass, a small smile flashing on his face.

“Hello again” I straightened my back almost immediately….

He's here for the contract.

“How's…your hand?”

I had honestly forgotten about that “oh um, it's fine…. doesn't really hurt as much. I'm guessing you're here for the document you left earlier”

He nodded with a smile “exactly”

Without hesitation, I rushed to the backroom, grabbing the document and rushing out the room and out of the counter space.

“Here you go” I handed it over

“Thank you”

I gently rubbed my palms on my apron, my mind thinking of different ways to start this conversation.

“Um…Mr….”

“Gail” he said “Micheal Gail”

I gave a slight smile “Mr Gail, I'm sorry but, I went through your document…. just a few glances”

He looked down at the sheets of paper before turning his gaze to me.

“You know what it's about then”

I nodded without hesitation “is it for you or Mr Stones?”

“Stones actually. It's complicated”

“I can imagine”

To say I was scared was an understatement. I felt my heart pounding rapidly in my chest, my stomach turning in fear while my palm got more sweaty.

“Mr Gail, is it….” I cleared my throat “is it possible for me to…. apply…for that position?”

He raised his brows in surprise “you want a contract marriage?”

“I need the money” I stated plainly “I need it very urgently. My family is not in a good place right now”

He was quiet. I could feel his eyes all over me, like he was trying to see into my soul, searching my face for every possible answer to questions I had no idea about.

“What's your name?”

“Tori, Tori Hills”

“Um, Tori, this really isn't up to me, it's up to Duncan. But, I'll try my best to convince him for your sake. But Tori, I need you to go home, get some rest and think very hard on this. When I mean hard, I mean very very hard on this.”

He took out a card from his pants pocket, handing it over to me “be here at 10 am tomorrow if you've decided to go ahead.”

I scanned the company card in my hand before looking up at him “I'll be there”

He shook his head slightly “don't rush, think it through”

“Isn't it just six months?” What exactly couldn't I endure for just 6 months?

A small smile formed on his face as a slight chuckle escaped his lips “You make a hasty decision, you'll find yourself running out after a month”