The Proposal

Vanessa

“I am very sorry for the trouble I caused downstairs sir.” I decided to take matters into my own hands as I could no longer handle the awkward silence with him typing away on his phone.

“The truth is, I’ve been feeling dizzy all day and I guess it’s really because I’ve been a tad bit stressed out. Not that I’m being overworked because you people are great employers, but it’s just that…”

“Can you just shut up if you have nothing smart to say.” He commands in a low and precise tone to stop my rambling.

I blame myself for this one so I have no reason to be pissed.

It’s like he gets off on issuing commands and embarrassing people at the same time.

“ I would like to make you a proposition.”

Wow he’s not firing me yet.

“ I want you to marry me..”

What! I look around in search of the cameras or his friends at least so that I know that he’s trying to play a prank on me but the serious look on his face says otherwise.

“ What?”

“ You do not strike me as a deaf person so I wonder why you would want me to repeat myself.”

I give him my most lethal glare.  “ I heard you the first time but I think I got some words mixed up. You didn’t happen to say marry right?” 

He gives me the most condescending look that makes me feel less than nothing  “ I did tell you to marry me”

I go silent for a minute “ I’m very sorry sir, although I’m flattered, I do not know anything about how you feel and I’m not trying to devalue your feelings or anything but I refuse your proposal. I really do not feel the same way.”

“ Glad to get that out of the way. I’m not proposing a love marriage, I just need a bride. You’re not anything but  you make the adequate fit.”

Not anything? Adequate? Not even perfect. I should probably pull on that snobbish nose. Well I wouldn’t want to be with you either, You condescending twat.

“ I still respectfully decline your proposal sir. Thank you though, good night.” I get up to leave

“ Five million dollars and an all expense paid heart surgery and treatment, whatever you need."

I sit right back on the chair at the sound of the money. Five…five million? A whooping five million dollars? Really, how much do these people have that they can just call sums of money like that? And money is supposed to be a sacred entity. At least to me it is. Five million dollars is a lot of money. I could travel the world. I could get my mom away from this job and give her a better life. I could give Dylan, Tianna and myself a better education. I could get a better home for my family. I could do a lot with five freaking million dollars. Plus the free heart surgery and treatment. But how does he know…

“ How do you even know about my heart condition?”

“ You don’t think I know nothing about what goes on under my roof? You get all that and all you have to do is marry me.”

More like sell my soul to the devil

What’s the catch though? I have only been listening to my benefits. Why would he want to marry me? Is he so desperate to prove something that he needs a wife urgently or what? Even if he does, there are a lot of women that will be thrilled to go down this path with him. Why would he choose me? 

“What would you gain from marrying me? You spoke about the benefits I’ll be getting not yours. What do you get in return?”

“ Your silence, your body and a heir. You see, my father smart as he is believed to be, isn’t all that. He requested in his will not to have my inheritance passed to me unless I have a wife and kid and the failure to do so within a particular time bracket would lead to me loosing my family’s legacy to my stepbrother”.

Would that be a bad thing though, Stephan isn’t bad. 

If looks could kill I will be dead, butchered and cremated then brought back to life, shot again and buried. Did I say that out loud?

“ Then why not date someone, get to know her and marry her like a normal person” I said the last one under my breath. 

“ I mean, you already have a lot of ladies flocking around you. Finding a wife among them should not be a problem to you or Mr. Forbes could find you one. He’s the ladies man”

“ Do you have anything for him?” he asks while watching closely for a response

“ No. His reputation precedes him”.

“ I do know a lot of women but I also do know that you’ll give me what I want without causing me problems”.

I’m not the most docile person. I could be problematic too.

“ You could try”. Wait did I say that out loud? 

“ Why then does it feel like I’m selling my soul and not marrying a person?”

“Because you will be making a lot of money from it”.

“ I prefer a normal marriage with love, kids and all that comes with it”

“ You probably didn’t hear me say that a kid is part of the agreement”

“How though? I don’t even know you. How are we supposed to bring a kid into the world?”

“ like normal people do or are you clueless about the art of making babies? I could school you on that. Besides I don’t think you will ever get a better option in life than what I’m offering you. If I were you, I’ll be smart”

Arrogance! I was wondering when it would show.

“ It’s not arrogance. Arrogance is built on false beliefs. There is nothing remotely false about me.”

Did I say that out loud too?

“ Yes you did. Now what do you say?” 

Does it really have to be me though. If anything, the money involved is making me think about everything. What if I end up like his mom? Sad and all. What if there are future issues? People like Dimitri should not be messed with. They own everywhere and everything. People like me don’t stand a chance against him. We’re even insignificant to him. Just pawns on his chessboard. He is ruthless and formidable, striking everything that gets in his way. What if he decides eventually that I’m a problem to him? What would he do to me? And a kid right now. I’m not even done setting myself up would I be able to handle having a kid. I really need sometime to think about this.

“ How much time do I have to think about this? I’m sure you know it’s not easy to come to a decision about something like this”.

“ You have right now to make your choice. Time is a luxury even money cannot buy”.

Arrogant bastard with his stupid philosophy.

“ And if I say no? You really can’t give me the rest of the day to think through it?”

What is the worst that could happen? Even if he doesn’t make me happy, a lot of money would. A lot of people would say that money isn’t everything, but if it really isn’t, then I wouldn’t be here considering a fake, loveless marriage to a bitter, tyrant King. The money could go a long way for my family and I. I could even travel around the world and gain all the culinary knowledge I’ll ever need and then come back to start up my own restaurant. 

“You can sign here when you’re done daydreaming”

“ You really had this all planned out. The contract already has my name on it. How were you so sure I would agree?”

“ You’re poor and lack the proper standard of education to get you anywhere. Besides I don’t waste my time on things that wouldn’t get me the planned out result”. I send him my lethal glare again.

Insults. Did I ever mention how I fantasize about marking his face with my palm?

“ How about you loose that attitude that will surely get you punished”. He says it in a dark and low tone that leaves me craving the punishment

“ How about you loose some of that attitude if we’re going to make this work”. I just couldn’t hold it back. “You should show some respect to the person you’re proposing marriage to or how will people believe us?”

“ So I take it that you agree to my proposal. Just sign over there” He says pointing to where my signature should be. It was a statement not even a question. His level of confidence is uncontested.

I take his pen and sign where I’m supposed to. “ So how are we playing this out? No one will believe that you suddenly want to marry me when we don’t even acknowledge my existence. Remember you’re my boss and I’m your maid. There should be a story if we’re going to be playing this out for your inheritance or wouldn’t they question the circumstances behind this…” I say pointing between us.

“ You think I wouldn’t have thought this through before making the offer?” He brings out another booklet.

“ We’ll make a formal announcement of our engagement in a month but this is to be like a guide schedule to ease people into it. We would have to make subtle hints and all”

“ Oooohhhhh do we get to kiss every morning in the kitchen while I make you breakfast?” I say wiggling my brows.

“ Stop. You really look weird and stupid making that face? Everything we need to do is in there”. 

“ So we’ll go out for a romantic dinner on Friday after which we’ll go out for a secret walk on Sunday and dinner again on Monday. Are you sure you didn’t already have a crush on me? I mean, this is all really planned out well. Maybe this fake marriage is just a way to express what you are really afraid to admit.” I decide to get my own share of fun from this.

“ You are not remotely close to my taste in women that is why I picked you in the first place. So get that idea out of your head.”

He really knows how to make a girl feel special.

“ Now that all of that is handled, you can get out now?”

I get up and start to make my way to the door but I turn around for a moment to ask “What if anyone finds out or they suspect anything?”

“ It’s the more reason why you have to get your acting together and put on a big performance. You know you’ll be getting your reward in due time. Just remember when to draw the line. We wouldn’t want you to start catching feelings”

I’m so tired I decide to ignore the last part of his response I just answer with a loud scoff. “ Okay. Goodnight boss” and I walk out. He doesn’t respond but I could feel his eyes following me out. 

As I make my way back downstairs to my room I rethink my decision and question if I made the right decision. Selling myself to him for some money. I hope it doesn’t come back to bite me in the ass. But five million dollars is not just some money. It’s a whole great load of money. Plus the health benefits. I finally get the treatment I need to get rid of that constant pain. Soon I’ll no longer need you to survive I think as I pop my pills in my mouth.

It’s a big risk going down this path with Dimitri Ian, making this deal with him. He’s like the devil and the devil tempts you by dangling sweet things that you need in your face only to then request and snatch your soul as payment for what you took from him. I know that what I just signed up for isn’t going to be easy but what is life without a little risk?