Chapter 1

Taina POV

I wake up to my normal everyday life, my life is quite ordinary, I literally do the same things every day; eat, dress up, look for a taxi, go to work, head home and repeat. Is it tiring? Yes, it is, but this is what I have to sacrifice to make money. I graduated from Belema Prestigious school of writing, I wanted to become a writer, but no one would hire me as a writer, so I settled for a job as a secretary/ personal assistant while I work on my writing career, after all I need money to survive, and I like being independent.

“Morning mom and dad” I scream as I walk downstairs, I notice that there’s no food on the table, that means my parents have gone to their weekly pottery class, usually by 8 am there’s always food.

Today is my day off so I intend on just lazing around, it’s rare for me to just laze around, so I intend to make the most of it.

 “Who’s there?”, I notice something move

“Don’t follow me” my brother Thomas says as he runs into his room. “Don’t tell mom and dad that I didn’t go to school” he yells

I can’t be bothered anyway, my phone starts vibrating, it’s my boss Nek, why’s he calling me? Today is my day off, unfortunately I can’t miss this call “hello, Taina on the line, how can I help you Mr. Nek”

“Get to the office now! I have something important to discuss with you” My boss says

“Okay sir, I will be there in 25 minutes”. The call abruptly ends, he always does this, never lets me finish what I’m saying. My boss isn’t all bad he’s just cold and aloof and he expects everything and everyone around him to be perfect.

I take a quick shower and wear a tight but not revealing dress, I rush down to the main street. I only have 15 minutes left, I can’t afford to be late “Taxi… Taxi…Taxi… but not one stopped for me, it’s like I’m invisible today, luckily for me I notice a bicycle rental shop, I guess I’m cycling today, “how much to rent a bicycle for a day” I ask the shop keeper

“That’ll be 25 dollars “the shop keeper replies, I feel like I’m being robbed, but I rather be robbed than face the wrath of my boss

“Okay, I’ll bring it back first thing tomorrow morning” I dash out with the bicycle, board it and cycle to the office. By the time I’m there I’m all sweaty, “Good morning, Bell” I greet the security man. I have 5 minutes left, I dash to the bathroom, spray some perfumes, wash my face and reapply my make up. I’m ready to face my boss.

“Good morning Mr. Nek” why would you like to see me” He doesn’t respond, he only gestures for me to have my seat, “well a greeting would have been nice or even hello” I think to myself.

“Have you seen the recent announcement made by the prime minister” Nek says, I shake my head, in between me being Neks personal assistant and running my own life, I hardly have time to myself.

“The prime minister has ordered all men above the age of 28 to be married by this year or they will be deported to yuhic” I’m looking at him a bit confused and unbothered, how does that have to do with me 

“I don’t have a brother above the age of 28 sir, but thank you for the concern” I say as I smile “The prime minister says all kind of nonsense to be honest sir”

“It’s not nonsense and I’m not talking about your brother, I’m concerned about myself, I’m 29” Nek sighs “I can’t risk getting deported to yuhic, my business is flourishing here”

“Okay sir, don’t you have a girlfriend” why’s he telling me all these things, I don’t care about his personal life. Wait a minute if he gets deported, I might lose my job.

“No, I don’t, and that’s the reason why I want to see you, I’ve known you for 3 years now and I’m most comfortable with you…” okay where’s he headed at

“I want us to get married for a period of 5 years, after 5 years the prime minister would not be in position and the law would be made void according to laws of Yula” he says with a straight face.

“Good one sir, I almost fell for that” I say “I’m not joking, did you see me smile” he responds

I start laughing, I’ve never laughed in front of Nek, it’s not professional of me but neither is this proposition “sir you must be joking right, there are thousands of girls dying to be with you; why don’t you ask them to marry you” I can’t help but slump into my seat, whatever her say’s might hit me fast, so I need to be ready.

Nek frustratedly ruffles his hair, “I know that, but like I said I’m most comfortable with you, it’s a period of 5 years and for each year I’ll pay you 2 million dollars”

The money is enticing, I’ll be able to leave this job and start my own life, but it feels like I’m selling my soul to the devil “I can’t…”, no let me think this through “I’ll think about it” I say as I slowly back out of the room.

“You have until today” Nek says as he slowly eyes me, for a man whose life is sort of in my hands, he’s very proud.

For the rest of the day, I’m quite disturbed, I can’t concentrate, my mind keeps going back to our previous conversation “be my contract wife”, what do I do?

“Taina... Taina... Taina!” Cete yells, “where’s your mind at, I’ve been at your desk for a minute now, are you okay?”

“I am okay, I’ve just had a very busy day, the boss has been overbearing today” I lie, I didn’t lie Nek has been overbearing, I just told a half truth.

Cete shakes his head “Sorry to hear about that, how about we go to wine and dine so you can relax?”, that sounds nice, but I can’t go.

“I’d love to Cete, but I can’t, I have a deadline to meet up to, let’s reschedule for another day” I hate lying to Cete, but I can’t tell him that I was just proposed to by the boss.

Cete sighs “sure, I’ll just stay home and watch movies all by myself, I’m getting back to work, bye”

“Bye” I say. I can’t wait for today to be over; I continuously keep staring at the clock, it takes forever to get to 9 pm. At 9pm sharp I gather my things and carefully run downstairs, great! I escaped Nek.