This chapter was supposedly longer, but I cut it into two parts. So, see you on the next chapter! Thank you for reading! Leave a comment and vote—only if you want to :D
CHAPTER 13: Wedding Jitters“Go on dates, huh?”I flipped through the clothes hanging on a rack in front. I didn’t answer Freda who was standing beside me, also shuffling through the wedding clothes inside the third boutique we were in.“And what facts did you write about yourself? I hope there’s some that would nudge his junior down there. Oh! And I wanna see his list!” Freda giggled. I rolled my eyes at her. I was about to talk when the wedding coordinator came to us.“That is actually really great, Miss Hill. That would suit well with the ethereal theme we were discussing with the team for your wedding.” Gwen, the pretty blonde wedding coordinator said. I looked at the gown I was holding in one hand as she touched it, feeling the fabric. I shook my head. “I kind of want just a simple gown,” I said, turning to her.I saw Freda raise a brow at my peripheral vision, but I ignored her. I smiled at Gwen who looked at me while covering her frustration. I have been rejecting all their
PROLOGUE:Everyone sat stiffly on their seats. Tensed and scared. My hands started sweating, but I kept myself composed as I sat behind the boss that was now making everyone tremble in their seats. I looked in front, seeing one of our employees almost crying as he stood in front of the boardroom. Poor Allan.“Did you think about this properly, Mr. Smith?” Mr. Troy Sanford, the CEO of the biggest, fast-rising group of companies in the industry, pierced his bright brown eyes at Allan who had just finished his marketing presentation.The boss sat firmly on his seat at the head of the long table in the boardroom. And even in his sitting form, he looked big and tall. Intimidating. Most especially with those striking eyes.I couldn’t help but grimace at the situation. The devil is showing up again.“I want all of this redone.” Sir Troy suddenly announced that garnered collective gasps around the room. Yup. Like I said, the devil is on the rise.“B-But, Sir. W-we only have 2 weeks before
CHAPTER 1: Bad OmenI heard bad hair days were a bad omen. My girl friend Freda said that, and she’s a hairstylist, so that may explain why she’s made that statement. But since almost every day of my existence has been a ‘bad hair day’ (more like bad hair years. Except maybe when Freda finally convinced me to at least get my hair rebonded to avoid the usual messy dry-curls I was having), yet I was still able to keep my life together (barely), I might say that this day is just another day of my usual bad hair day mornings.“Ow!” I groaned as I combed my hair in place. I looked at my watch and my eyes immediately widened when I saw it was just a minute before the boss came. “Rachel!” I called one of my colleagues, seeing her walking by the hallway almost in a rush. Before I could even ask for her report, she said. “He’s here! He’s in the elevator!” She whisper-shouted that and ran to her office. I chuckled. Before she got out of the place, she once again did that whisper-shout thing,
CHAPTER 2: The Ladies’ Man“Oh, come on! We prepared so much for this! I trained Mia how to walk with shoes for today, only to get canceled!”I clutched my phone harder on my hand as I pinned it closer to my cheek. “I know. I’m so sorry, Freds. I promise I’ll make it up to you and Mia.” I whispered, making sure the boss wouldn’t hear me as he sat in front with Bran in the car. “Don’t forget Louisse! He’s gonna be pissed.” I chuckled, hearing the frantic frustration in her voice. Both her poodle dogs had an attitude, and I like hanging out with them.We were on our way to the restaurant to meet Mr. Peterson and Miss Annika, when I was finally able to get a hold of Freda who wasn't replying to my texts nor answering my calls earlier. She said she had a client, so she couldn’t get to her phone earlier.“Say sorry to Louisse for me. I swear I’ll give my entire day off to you guys,” I said.“You better! It took us months to finally get this scheduled and now it’s canceled.” Even when I c
CHAPTER 3: Trusted Partner—NOT"Daddy,” Miss Annika suddenly spoke, touching her father’s arm as if she was getting awkward of the question herself.“Don’t ask Troy that.” She glanced at Sir Troy who was still silent beside me. “We’re both adults. We know what we’re doing—“ “Which basically tells me you two don't have a serious relationship.” Mr. Peterson concluded with a challenging look, his eyes still directed at Sir Troy. “Dad—““Yes, we do not have a relationship, Sir. We both consented to what we were doing and that was it. We have made it clear between the two of us what we were from the very beginning,” Mr. Sanford said without even stuttering, cutting what Miss Annika was supposed to say to her father. I stared at him with my mouth slightly opened, seeing how seemingly calm he still was despite what was happening. He was basically interrogated by the father of her lover! I don’t know what’s more intimidating than that. For me, that is most intimidating. But maybe not for
CHAPTER 4: Talking To An Alien“Really?” I bit on my ice cream and nodded at Freda. It was Sunday and we were sprawled on a mat on the ground with Louisse and Mia running around the old park nearby our old neighborhood.“He said he didn’t want anyone uncommitted like Sir Troy. It was his philosophy, as if he would know the person through his relationships—awww,” I paused and grimaced when a brain freeze hit me.Freda tapped my back. “That’s what you get when you bite into ice creams.”I sat up. “Hey, it’s a different experience when you bite into it!” Freda just nodded at me, with her face uninterested. “Let’s go back to your boss and his first ever failed business arrangement.”I leaned my elbow on the floor again and watched the leaves swaying above us with the wind. “Yeah, since I’ve been his secretary, I’ve never seen a failed business deal done by Sir Troy himself. It was almost like he had this persuasive power that he could lure anyone he wanted—““Ah-huh, like girls like An
CHAPTER 5: The Deal “W-WHAT?!” I exclaimed after buffering for a couple of seconds. Sir Troy just looked at me in that same ‘Do-I-look-like-I’m-kidding?’ face of his. But I certainly want him to kid around right now! “M-marry you?” I repeated in shock. He nodded. “Yes. I have found the way to get the deal with Mr. Peterson. That is for you to marry me,” he said so calmly. Too calmly and business-y for my own liking. “W-wait, wait wait! You mean to say, you want to get married to me so you could have the deal with Mr. Peterson?” I frantically said, panicking. Well, who wouldn’t? “You just basically repeated what I said.” The boss said. Smartass! I shook my head. I breathed in and out. I looked at him again. “But why me? Why can’t you just ask Miss Annika to marry you?” I know I said something about that hurting the latter and she deserved better, but heck! My life is on the line here! “I don’t want to be tied up in a marriage—“ I cut him off and raised a hand in front of hi
CHAPTER 6: Knight In Shining Armour“2 weeks?! Are you out of your mind?!”I pulled my phone away from my ear when Freda screamed that. “I know, but I can’t just decline the offer. He just offered everything I needed,” I reasoned, glancing over the place. When I saw I was still alone on the floor, no one walking along the hallway, I focused on the phone call again.“Yeah, and that’s in exchange for lying to everyone.” I sighed, sensing how Freda still couldn’t grasp the idea. It even took me an entire day to start absorbing the fact that I just agreed to this. And even up until now, I still couldn’t fully believe I’ll be Mrs. Sanford in less than a month.I don’t even want to know how Miss Annika would react to this, nor Mr. Peterson, and the other employees—or just everyone who knew us. I’m just so nervous about this!I heard Freda take a deep breath. “But I get it. Who wouldn’t say ‘no’ to that offer? The amount of it is almost unbelievable. He’s basically offering you a new life