Chapter Four

Lila raised her head up to look at him wondering why he asking her such personal questions. "I don't think it's any of your business Me Williams. Or don't you agree?"

"Please call me Victor, Mr Williams makes me sound older than my age. My father was Mr Williams."

Lila rolled her eyes but didn't say anything. She took another sip of her coffee and grimaced. It was tasteless now. She dropped the cup on the desk and leaned back in her seat. "Victor, you haven't answered my question."

'Even the way she says my name is beautiful.' He thought but said instead; "What question, sweetie?" He bit his lip holding back a laugh at the stunned expression on her face at the endearment.

"Don't call me that." She gritted her teeth hating how much her heartbeat had picked up because of the endearment. It was just a stupid endearment, why are you affected?

"Then what should I call you darling?"

Lila shut her eyes and took a deep breath. He was messing with her, of course he was. He was only trying to get a reaction out of her. "You should really stop calling me that, we're not even in a relationship yet."

"Does this mean you'll marry me then? My grandmother is going to love you so much you know."

"I can't marry a total stranger." She replied rising to her feet.

"Okay wait!" Victor ran a hand through his hair in desperation. Time was ticking. He'd told the lawyer that he was engaged to someone and soon enough his grandmother would find out about it. Lila was his only hope right now and besides she could also gain so much from this.

"I already told you I won't marry a stranger!" Lila shouted banging her fists on the table.

"Well alright then pretend at least." Lila drowned opening her mouth but he shook his head. "Listen to me first."

Lila stood one hand on her waist and the other on the desk. "You have fifteen seconds."

"So look at it this way. What if we don't really get married? I mean we can pretend to be married and in the face of the world, the lawyer and my grandmother it will be real. We're the only ones who would know the truth about everything."

"Are you out of your mind? How can you ask me to deceive your grandma like that! And the lawyer? What will happen when finds out the truth? I could go to prison and then who'd look after my mother then?"

Victor scoffed. "How are they going to find out then? Will you tell me? Will I or maybe Mr Anderson will??"

"Don't shout at me you're the one who's trying to fool the whole world.

"Big deal! Haven't you told a lie before and would it still be a lie if it's for a good cause?"

Lila sighed and placed her hands on her head. She wasn't thinking straight. Victor was trying to mess with her head and she didn't like it. The sooner she left his presence and this entire office, the better.

"Look Victor I can't do this. I understand that you really need this money and I respect it but you can't force me to be a part of this crazy plan of yours. I'll get a good job and pay for my mother's treatment." She met his eyes. "I am not a charity case and I won't do this. Have a good day Victor Williams."

And with that, she turned on her heels and left the office without a backward glance at Victor who was stunned.

"She's something else." Victor laughed spinning in his chair. "She's really something."

***

"Lila? Lila where are you going?" Emmanuel asked running after her.

Lila didn't stop walking neither did she turn around to look at him, she was furious. Who did Victor Williams think he was? Yes he was rich and a young CEO but so what? She wasn't interested in his money. Her mother was her responsibility and she's raise the money to look after her, on her own.

And he wanted her to lie? She could understand lying to the world because frankly she didn't care what people thought but to lie to his grandmother and the lawyer? No, no she couldn't do it and she refused to do it.

"Lila! Will you just stop?" Emmanuel called again and she stopped walking hiding her face in her hands. "Where are you going? How did it go with Victor and why do you look so tense? Lila?"

"Nothing is going to happen between me and your Boss, Ema, I can't be part of a lie."

A lie? "Lila, what lie? What are you talking about?"

"He wants us to pretend to be married! He wants me to look t his grandmother and say that we're actually married when we're not." She yelled turning to look at him.

"And?" He asked slipping his hands in his pocket. "And so what Lila? What is your problem with that? Why do you always have to let your ego get in your way?"

"My ego?" Lila frowned completely stunned by his accusations. "My ego, Ema what are you saying to me? I said he told me to lie to his grandmother. His, his lawyer!"

"And?" He questioned, an unreadable expression on his face. "Big deal Lila you have to lie to her. So what? Would it be so bad if you had to lie for your mother?"

"Ema what are you even..?"

"Aunt Ellen is fighting for her life, Lila, open your eyes! What would it cost you to pretend until she gets the treatment she needs? Are you so selfish that you can't put your perfect wedding image aside for her sake? Tell me Lila!" People were starting to stare now but neither of them noticed.

Victor frowned as he spotted the two. He had decided to run after her and try to talk sense into her. He was sure he could convince her but as he saw the two he paused. Why was his shy assistant making such a scene in the office? He had honestly never seen that man do anything other than smile.

"Selfish? Did you just say I'm selfish?" Lila inquired, her voice was so quiet Victor almost didn't hear her from where he was standing.

"Lila I.." Victor recognized the moment his assistant realized what had happened. It seemed the man aged been a daze before and suddenly the wool had been pulled from over his eyes.

"Did you just call me selfish? Emmanuel Anderson, did you just call me selfish?"

Uh-oh

"Lila I didn't mean.."

"But you did Ema," she sniffed using her hands to brush her tears away.

Emmanuel made a move to touch her but she pulled away making him frown. "You called me selfish Ema. I love that woman so much that I was willing to come here and see your Boss. You know how much I despise him so how can you still call me selfish when I came here to see him and at least hear him out?" She brushed away more tears. "So maybe I'm selfish Ema, yeah just maybe I am but remember this, I refuse to lie to his lawyer and his grandmother because how will I face my mum afterwards? What do you think Ellen Smith will say when she finds out how I got the money for her treatment? Tell me Ema, what do you think she'd do?"

"Lila I didn't mean it, I was just upset.." Ema tried to apologize again but she cut him off.

"Because you thought I was selfish. You thought I was selfish because I refused to take this golden opportunity. Isn't that right Ema?" She looked up at caught sight of Victor walking back into his office. He had decided that this wasn't something his assistant would want him to see, it would embarrass him way too much.

"Look Ema, look who decided to join the party. It's your boss " she said walking towards him.

Victor stiffened as she walked towards him. "Lila what are you doing?"

"My best friend just called me selfish because of you. I hope you feel good now and I wish you good luck finding that perfect wife."

Lila stared at Ema who has tears in his eyes and sniffed then she ran out of the office. She ran until she was outside the office taking the stairs instead of the elevator.

Once she was outside, she took a deep breath and hailed a cab. "St Jones Hospital."