Chapter two

"You made the right choice, write down your bank account details"

She handed me a paper and pen-- I did as I was told and gave it to her.

"Ok, you have to meet him tomorrow, he wants to take a good look at you and what he's paying for"

She said, her eyes on her phone.

"Sent"

My phone buzzed almost immediately. OMG, it's a million dollars. My eyes widened.

"More of that is coming as long as you follow the rules. Give me a sec"

She left the room.

A lot going through my mind, who is he? Why is he spending a lot of money just to marry me? 

"Here take"

Bringing me out of my thoughts, she handed me a bag, inside is a dress and a pair of heels.

"Wear this tomorrow, I already sent you the time and location and listen this has to stay between us for now"

I nodded. I was thinking of asking for advice from Layla but I guess that isn't happening.

I felt a sense of dread as I pulled into my parking space and killed the engine. I still couldn't believe what the "siren" had told me. A man I'd never met was offering to pay a fortune for me to marry him. It was all so surreal. As I walked up the stairs to my apartment, I couldn't help but wonder who this man was.

**

The dress was a deep, vibrant red, the color of a rose in full bloom. It hugged my curves in all the right places, and the fabric felt like silk against my skin. It was stunning, and I couldn't deny that. But the color seemed to call attention to me in a way that made me uncomfortable. I couldn't help but feel like I was being offered up like a prize, I pulled my blonde hair into a ponytail, I was thinking about applying makeup but I feel like I was doing too much so I  left my face like that. I hoped that the man who wanted to marry me would see me as more than just a pretty face. But I wasn't sure.

The taxi pulled up in front of the address sent to me which is a cabin, and I took a deep breath before stepping out. I could feel the warmth of the Florida sun on my skin, and the sound of the waves crashing against the shore in the distance. As I paid the driver and grabbed my bag, I felt a sense of anticipation. I was finally here, and I was ready to take on whatever challenge lay ahead of me. I took a moment to look around, taking in the lush greenery and the rustic charm of the cabin. It was a far cry from my usual surroundings, and I was eager to explore.

I stepped through the door of the cabin, and I was immediately hit by the warm, earthy smell of cedar and pine. The cabin was rustic and cozy, with a large fireplace in the center of the room. 

"Welcome, we've been expecting you" one of the staffs greeted me.

"We're so glad you're here. Would you like anything to drink? We have some tea and coffee, if you'd like."

I hesitated, not sure what to say. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to respond or not. I felt out of my element, like a fish out of water. I wasn't used to this kind of treatment, and it was making me uncomfortable.

"I'm fine, thank you," I finally said and they showed me to a chair by the fireplace. 

The staff members left me except for one of them, I think she's here to monitor that I don't ruin anything cause I have never had a taste of this or maybe she's just there incase I need something.

I closed my eyes, trying to take a few deep breaths. The stillness of the cabin was a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of the outside world. But I knew that I couldn't get too comfortable.

I was struck by the height and powerful presence of a man that walked into the room. Even though I wasn't sure what to make of him, I couldn't deny that I was a bit captivated.

He's about 6'3", with a trim, athletic build. He's wearing a dark suit, and his hair is short and dark brown,  His piercing azure blue  eyes, same as my father's. He has a strong, square jaw. He seemed confident and sure of himself, almost to the point of arrogance. There's a faint scent of cedar and sandalwood that lingers in the air around him, and his hands are large,  strong and filled with veins. 

Damn!

I've seen guys at sultry siren but he will be the sexiest cause damn!

As I watched him walk into the room, I couldn't help but notice his clothes. They were clearly high-end, with the perfect cut and fit. His shirt was made of the finest cotton, and his suit looked like it had been tailored specifically for him. The fabric was smooth and silky, and the stitching was perfect. There was no doubt that he had spent a lot of money on his clothes, and they fit him like a glove. It was clear that he took pride in his appearance, and I couldn't help but feel a bit impressed, did I already say damn? Damn!!

The men at Sultry Siren were dressed in all different types of clothes, and it was clear that some of them were more expensive than others. I could tell which ones were high-end by the way they fit, the quality of the fabric, and the details like the stitching and the labels. The guys who were wearing fake clothes were easy to spot - their clothes were ill-fitting, the fabric was cheap, and the labels were often misspelled or just plain wrong. 

I noticed that the man was not alone. He was accompanied by a woman who I assumed was his secretary. She was dressed in formal clothes, and she carried herself with a professional demeanour.

He sat across me while the lady stood, his eyes on his phone.

As the staff member placed the tray of refreshments on the table, they announced, "Your refreshments, Mr. Williams." The woman standing next to Mr. Williams nodded and replied

"Thank you, Alfred." She then turned to me and said, "Would you like anything, Ms. Jones?" I quickly shook my head and said, "No, thank you." My focus remained on Mr. Williams, and I did my best to avoid looking at the tray of refreshments. It felt like a test of some sort, and I was determined not to give in.

"Name?"

He asked, his eyes still on his tab. Voice deep as the ocean, captivating as a siren's song. I opened my mouth to reply but his secretary said it instead.

"Samantha Jones"

Rich people and their easy ways of getting people's details.

"Age?"

"27"

"Parents?"

"Father is dead while mother is alive"

"State?"

"Affair and out of town"

"Your mother won't be a problem, right?"

He looked at me, finally getting his eyes off his phone. My knees got weak.

"No...no, she won't"

Stuttering? For the love of God, Sam, compose yourself. My mom won't be a problem, it's been eight years she left us and she has never for once called so I don't think she will be a problem.

"Degree?"

"High school dropout"

He looked at me for about three secs. I hope the high school dropout won't be a problem.

"Siblings?"

He continued.

"One, in college"

He nodded. His phone rang and he left. Is that all? Just like that. What happens next?

"Ms. Jones, I will be explaining a few things to you. I'm Ashely" his secretary stayed behind.

"Ok"

"Mr. Williams is a busy person, you will get used to it. Full name is Carlton Williams. Mother is dead, father is alive, has an older brother, you'd know the rest as time goes on"

"Ok"

"You will be meeting your lawyer tomorrow, the contract will be explained to you so there won't be issues in the future. Can  I get your contact?"

She stretched her phone and I punch in my number.

"Thank you for today Ms. Jones, I need to be on my way. The time and location will be sent to you for the appointment with your lawyer and also a ride is waiting for you outside"

She adjusted her glasses and left. I stepped outside right after she left, my God, it's Rolls-Royce and a man outside.

"Good day Ms. Jones, I will be taking you home" he said with a bright smile.

He opened the door. It feels so good to be treated this way.

"Welcome, Ms. Jones. I'm Elijah, I will be your personal driver from now on" the driver said as I settled into the backseat. His voice was soothing and calm, like a gentle breeze on a summer's day. 

"My personal driver?"

"Yes, you have an appointment tomorrow, I will be at your place at designated time"

Oh wow, I get my personal driver?

  I closed my eyes, savoring the moment of calm before the storm. 

I never want to go back to being a stripper.