A Desperate Bargain

Jeremy looked dashing in his navy-blue suit, polished shoes, gold wristwatch, and the faint scent of designer cologne.

Stepping out in style, he was driven to the office, where his arrival created a buzz akin to a presidential visit. As the company’s president, his presence commanded respect.

Everyone welcomed him with warm smiles. He shook hands with a few colleagues, and wheeled his chair to his office.

It felt good to be back. Everything was in place. His secretary walked in to brief him on the things that had been going prior to his resumption. She expressed how happy she was that he survived the accident, and said that she was optimistic that he would walk again.

He cut her short. He didn't like talking about the possibility of walking again. Having high hopes and expectations cut short wasn't something he was ready for.

Jeremy, however, quickly changed the subject. He wasn’t ready to entertain false hope. Thanking her for holding the fort, he instructed her to prepare the presentation meeting. He resisted the urge to ask about Sarah but subtly glanced around for her and Conrad. Perhaps they hadn’t arrived yet.

Jeremy did the presentation flawlessly and bagged a major contract for his company.

When he discovered that Sarah and Conrad had arrived, he called for a board meeting with members of the board. He bought their shares and had their contracts terminated.

Oh, the joy that gave him. He couldn't bear to be in the same space with Sarah and Conrad as lovers; about to be married. His staff whispered about it in the office, and they too found it awful.

The betrayal was too intense. And the nerve they both had to have no shame. Or did they think he didn't know they were getting married? Whatever.

The satisfaction of removing the betrayers from his life felt like a small victory in his healing journey.

He got back to the mansion and thought of having a drink to celebrate his victory. He didn't want to celebrate alone, he thought of celebrating with his buddy, Leo. He had become fond of Leo. Leo was diligent in his job and had put up with him for a month.

He wheeled his chair to Leo's door, but before he knocked, he heard a feminine voice singing softly from inside. He opened the door and went in, and found Leo coming out of the washroom as Leah. Leah paused out of shock.

“You're not a man,” Jeremy said in disbelief.

“Sir, I can explain. I'm sorry, sir. Please let me explain,” Leah stammered, visibly panicked.

“You deceived me? Get out! Get lost! Leave!” Jeremy's voice rose in anger.

Hearing the boss scream like that, Maggie rushed in, and was shocked too.

Jeremy wheeled his chair speedily out of the room and Leah followed, crying profusely, “please, sir. I can explain. Please, forgive me. Please, have mercy on me.”

“If you're not out of my house in 30 minutes, you won't like what I'd do to you,” Jeremy threatened.

“No…please, sir,” Leah pleaded but Jeremy ignored her desperate please.

She cried so much, her nose running. Maggie consoled her and advised her to just leave. “Mr. Harper hates deceit. He won't listen to you now. Just leave, okay? I'm sorry, my dear.”

Leah arrived home looking devastated. Her eyes were swollen because she'd cried so much. She had just lost another job. Her chest was hurting. She was so miserable.

Her mother saw her and just realized it. Mama didn't ask Leah any questions. She just consoled her.

“It's okay, my darling. It's alright.”

Instead of feeling better, Leah cried the more. She was hurt. She hated how she got fired. This time, she was fired because she was wrong. She deceived a vulnerable man for her own selfish reasons.

But she had to. She blamed herself for not being careful. She didn't realize her boss would be back early. Still, she should have been more careful.

Her siblings came to join Mama to console her but she just told them that she wanted to be alone.

They let her be but it wasn't long before Noah arrived. Apparently, Mama had called him.

Noah tried to console Leah but she didn't utter a word.

She stared at her boss's number on her phone for the next few days but never mustered courage to call him. She believed he must hate her. She had deceived him and earned his trust. She thought about how miserable he must feel having been betrayed yet again.

She refused to eat. She just grieved and imagined where she'd start from.

A week later, Leah was back on the couch, drowning in despair. She’d thought she could make it work, but now she was back to square one. Her phone buzzed, breaking her thoughts. It was her boss.

“Hello?” she answered quickly.

“Come to the mansion,” Jeremy’s voice commanded.

She arrived an hour later, her heart racing. Jeremy was waiting for her in the study, a folder in his hands. He slid it across the desk toward her.

“What’s this?” she asked, afraid somewhat.

“A contract,” he said flatly. “You’ll be my wife—for six months.”

Leah blinked, sure she’d misheard. “Excuse me?”

“I have my reasons,” Jeremy said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Five thousand dollars a month. No strings attached. Just keep up appearances.”

Leah opened the folder and scanned the document. It seemed too good to be true, but desperation clouded her judgment.

“What do you say?” Jeremy asked.

Leah swallowed hard. “Deal.”