Chapter Three

Karen's POV

We walked out of the restaurant as soon as we finished eating. "Thanks for everything." 

He grinned. "I can drive you home, I was actually less busy and it's already in the afternoon, we wasted time chatting and having fun." He proposed.

I pushed a strand of my hair behind my ear. "Fine, you can drive me home." I said and entered his car.

He waited for a few seconds as if he was contemplating before he entered the car. 

Starting the car's engine, he drove off. My mind drifted to the contract, I wanted to sign it but I didn't want anything that would stress me. I was lost in thoughts as silence hung the air. He gave a cough that was supposed to sound scoffing but sounded sort of mockery instead. 

"You've been thinking for a while now, you didn't even notice that I already parked outside your gate." He said. It dawned on me that he had already parked in front of my compound. 

I managed to smile. "Thank you Bill."

"You don't look happy, what happened?"

"I'll think about the contract." I answered and opened the car's door. As I tried to go out, he pulled me back in and kissed me. My eyes widened and I pushed him quickly.

"I'm so sorry." He apologized immediately in a small panicky voice.

Of course, I wanted him more than anything but it was very wrong. I just couldn't kiss him because he was married. "You're a married man, you shouldn't do such things." I corrected and came down from his car. I noticed he was embarrassed as he drove off quickly.

Walking into the compound, I looked at Henry's apartment, he was already getting ready for his party. I walked into my apartment and was surprised to find Emily still sitting down on the sofa watching a film on the television. She didn't even notice me when I came in.

I cleared my throat and she screamed in fear. I chuckled as she turned back and discovered that I was the one. I forced a light laugh.

"First, I didn't know you were this fearful." I mocked and dropped my bag on the table. Sitting down on the sofa, I removed my shoe and kept it in front of me.

"I wasn't afraid, the horrific film I watched this morning probably made me scared a little." She defended herself and I laughed.

She fiddled with the remote control and later dropped it on the table. I took a deep breath and pushed my hair out of my eyes. "I can't bear to watch horror films, I'll be scared all day and that's the only thing I'll think about." I joked.

She yawned and covered her mouth with her hand. "I'm really hungry." She said, her voice thin with stress.

"Don't tell me you haven't eaten?" I reprimanded.

She shook her head and I frowned. "I haven't eaten."

"Go and eat the leftovers. You won't die or better still, get a job." 

"We don't have a job, remember?"

I chuckled. "I was expecting you to ask about my date with Bill." I said, giggling excitedly.

She looked up, confused. "Huh?"

I sat up on the sofa. "So I went to his office first and he told me about a contract," I hiccuped and continued. "A billionaire needs someone who will act as his girlfriend when his family comes back from their trip." 

She also sat up and stared at me. An impish grin tugged at her lips. "So did you agree to the contract?" She asked.

I frowned. "I didn't."

She narrowed her eyes and looked at me confused. "You didn't see any pen to sign on the contract?" She asked and I chuckled.

"I didn't want to sign, I don't know what to expect." 

"Well, you said the man is a billionaire so expect a lot of good things."

"I'm actually not interested."

"That's great, I'm interested. I can pretend to be his girlfriend even till death." She said hilariously and I laughed.

"You should actually be his wife." I joked.

"Give me his address or name, I'm interested."

"I didn't say that I'm also not interested, I'm just thinking about it so I can decide on it fully so for the meantime, I'm still in the game." I replied standing up.

"You're just being selfish, nothing more." She insulted jokingly.

"I'm not selfish." I said and bent down to pick my shoes with my left hand and held my bag with the other hand.

"Where are you going?" She asked.

I took a steadying breath and stood up. "I'm going to my room. Once the party starts, please call me." I pleaded.

She frowned and hissed. "I love money also, I won't even come to your room to call you for the party so it's best if you don't sleep." She advised.

"Aren't you a wicked friend?" I asked and hit her gently with my bag. "I and Bill went to a restaurant and he paid for my meal. I picked an Indiana dish and it surprised him, he told me that I would cook that food for him one day."

"Why do I feel like this is from a recent film you watched?" She asked and I chuckled..

"You're insane. It actually happened today, he later kissed me but I slapped him." I lied.

Her eyes widened. "You don't possibly look like someone who would slap a man." She said in a causal tone as the door slowly opened and two men walked in.

I recognized the first man to be Henry but I didn't know who he brought along with him. "Hey ladies, I brought a friend along. He came quite early, can he stay at your place until the party?" Henry asked.

Looking at the tall, handsome and muscular man, I wondered if I could even refuse him. He smiled at me and I blushed. "Of course, he can stay." I answered, my voice soft with affection.

"Thank you." The man appreciated as he sat down comfortably on the sofa. Emily stood up and walked outside the house with Henry following her.

I looked at him and sat down on the sofa too.

"What's wrong with Emily, she doesn't seem to like me?" He asked, confused.

"She's always like that." 

"Really?"

I nodded. "So how long have you been Henry's friend?" 

He looked at me, contemplating whether to tell me. I smiled at him, giving him a flirtatious look.

"Well, I've been his friend for two years and he's really a nice person."

"Yeah, he seems like a nice guy." 

"You're beautiful." He commented and I blushed again.

Looking at his face, I wondered if I should tell him how handsome he was but I couldn't. I wanted to get to know him better. "So what's your name?" I asked.

"My name is Brody..... Brody Taylor."