THE PROPOSAL

Anesha's POV

I wake up in a room, drowsy. It's so bright, it hurts my eyes. I groan and pull up the covers. The soft mattress and its clean scent lull me back to sleep. Last night's episode comes to me in bits and pieces. Max and his side piece. My ruined proposal. The handsome stranger at the bar. Falling in my own vomit. I spring up in the bed, swearing loudly. Why am I in a bed? I look around, shocked and confused. There are ceiling length windows letting in the sunlight and a sky-line view of the city. I know for a fact that this place is way out of my paycheck.

I jump out of the covers, cradling my head. I look down and freeze. Whose shirt is this? It falls down to my knees and envelopes me. Did I do something crazy last night? Did he? I don't feel weird so I assume I'm okay. Besides, there's no time to think about that now. I need to make a run for it while I still can. I see my clothes on a chair. They smell clean, not a hint of alcohol on them. I put them on a hurry, leave a note and run like my life depends on it.

My phone starts buzzing the minute I get a cab heading home. My head hurts and my heart is heavy. It hits me now that I had found the love of my life cheating on me. I break down again, tears streaming down my face. I'd spent all my savings on the ring. And yet, he'd cheated. How was I going to pay my rent? Maybe, I could ask my mom. I shake away the thought. Our conversations were more employer and employee than mother and daughter. She was doing fine with her new family and only cared enough to send me on dates with rich men.

The phone buzz violently in my pocket. I pick up without looking at the caller ID. "Hello?"

"Anesha, I've organised a date for you at the Estrada. Reservations is at 9pm today."

"Mom? What is this?"

"You have a blind date with someone important at 9pm today. Don't be late."

"No," my voice barely comes out, "I won't go. You don't get to tell me what to do. And I'm having a shitty day already so please just stop. Stop interfering with my life."

There's a silent pause and her voice rings out, clearly. "You wouldn't have a life if I didn't do what I had to do."

I blink back tears in shock. Her harsh words digging deeper into my heart. "How can you say that?"

"Anesha, I am doing the best I can for you. You think I'm a bad parent for this? Do you want to end up like your father?  It's time you forget your stupid fantasies and that foolish boy you're seeing. That good for nothing fool would never be the man you think he is." I swallow my retort because she's right. "Get your head out of the clouds and plant your feet on the ground."

"Like you did?" I spit out just to spite her.

"Yes. Like I did." She says without breaking a sweat. "I've arranged for a full beauty experience so head over to Suzuki's. Let her fix you up. 9pm, today. Don't be late and don't embarrass me. This is your last chance." her voice disappears with a click. I wipe my tears and take deep breaths. So much for asking her for help. What was I expecting? I pause and think to myself as I brood about her reply. What if she's right? What if love really isn't for me? Either ways, I know better than to disobey her. Maybe it is time I got serious. I tell the driver the directions to Suzuki's and exhale.

He doesn't look as surprised as I am. Instead, he swirls his wine and takes a sip. Here I am donned in a little black dress my mother picked out, titties out. It felt like a second skin, pulling out every curve. My mother had asked for a soft glam so Suzuki switched the maroon lipstick she'd already picked out for a lighter nude.

All of that, just to end up with the same man I'd met in the bar and left with nothing but a note!

I avoid his gaze as much as I can, hoping the ground would swallow me up. It doesn't. He speaks instead in the same deep voice that lured me to him the night before. "We meet again. Is the wine to your liking? I ordered something light for you."

"Did you know I was coming here?"

"Yes, my assistant gave me your file. I wouldn't beat around the bush. Be my wife."

"What?"

"You're fresh out of a terrible relationship and you're here so I believe you're back in the market. Only this time, you're looking for a man like me. Rich enough to give you everything you need. I'm guessing love is off the table for you because if it wasn't, you wouldn't be here and that's perfect. I don't want someone who'd fall in love with me simply because I bought her a diamond."

"So you just want a trophy wife and I fit the bill?" I say, stung. I didn't think he was this kind of person. I wouldn't have left him a note apologizing.

"Yes. But it won't be anything long term. It'll only last a year, minus our dating period. I get what I want and you get your mother off your back. Afterwards we get a divorce and go our merry ways."

"Now look here, I –"

"10 million dollars."

My mouth falls open. He pulls out a manila folder and pushes it over to my side. "I'll pay you 10 million dollars. That is, excluding your monthly allowance and expenses. How does that sound?"

10 million dollars?! I could be a millionaire in a year?! Just by being his wife? My mouth waters at the thought but I put on my best poker face. There was no way this was true. "What's the catch? I get to have all this just to be your wife?"

He takes another sip of his wine. "As I said, I only want a wife on paper but that's not it. My father's been pestering me to get married. It's been years and he wouldn't let up. Now something's come up and I need a wife. All my life's work depends on this so I have decided to give him what he wants the most from me." he gestures towards me. "A wife."

I can tell that he's dead serious about this. He pulls out a pen and places it on the folder. "So, do we have a deal?"

I think about the benefits. The things I could do with all that money. The places I could go. I scan the document and it's there in fine print.

10 million dollars.

I put it down and take a deep breath. I could get my mother off my case for good. No falling in love, he said. Easy peasy. As much as Max was a piece of shit, I still needed time to heal. I wasn't going to be jumping into anyone's bed anytime soon.

I stare down at the document, and push it back to him. He cocks a brow at me, unimpressed. "No. I can't. I won't. I don't know what gave you the impression that I'm looking for a glorified sugar daddy, he flinches lightly but doesn't interrupt me, “but I'm not. So thank you for your generous offer but no, thank you."

He stops me from leaving, pressing his card in my palm. "Call this number when you change your mind."

I stare down at him, fiercely. "I won't."

My landlord and Amy my best friend are outside my door when I get home. Her eyes bulge when she sees me and then narrow to slits. I know she knows that I went out on one of my mother's dates again and that she isn't pleased.

"You're looking good for a squatter. Hot date with your boyfriend?"

I flinch at his words. What was the hostility for? "What's going on?"

"Your rent's almost due. That's what's going on."

I scoff. "My rent's expiring on the 18th of September. That's next month."

Amy shakes her head, disappointed. "That's next week."

I whip out my phone to prove them wrong and get silenced instead. True to their words, it's September. I look from Amy to my landlord, gripping my apartment key in my hand. Dread settling in my stomach.

I'm about to be homeless.