LANA'S POVI rushed out of the house and went to my car, and when I got inside, I cried against the steering wheel. I wanted to feel nothing when I saw JJ and killed him, but the thought that his blood was on my hands, tortured me. Dax couldn't even help without making me feel worse than I already felt. I sniffled and lifted my head off the steering wheel, pushed the key inside the ignition, and drove away. I went straight to the nearest bar that I could find. I ordered five shots of vodka and gulped them as if they didn't make me feel as if my tongue was being burned. I wanted to forget everything that happened and wake up to a whole new chapter of my life. I was tired of how miserable I felt every day since I lost my parents. I needed a break..."Lana, we need to go home." A familiar voice spoke as I felt a hand tap on my shoulder. My head was heavy as I lifted my head from the table and looked at the person. "Dax?" "Can we go home?""I don't want to go home. I don't want to go
OCTOBER 2022LANA'S POVThe next morning, I woke up from my cell phone ringing inside my bag. I got up and took it out of the handbag and answered it. "Hello?""Is this Amalah James?" I hesitated for a second, closed my eyes, and exhaled. "Yes?""You're talking with Din Flemmings, I am Paolo Costa's lawyer. I am calling regarding your father's estate." "Oh." I sat down on the couch in the bedroom and looked at Dax and Xavier as they got up and looked at me with confused expressions on their faces. It was a bit weird that Costa already listed me as one of the beneficiaries of his estate when we only reunited shortly before his death. "Can I come and see you to talk in person, Miss James?" "Oh, I'm- That will be okay, I guess." I was hesitant."Perfect. You can send a location of your choosing," Din replied enthusiastically. "I will send you my house address," I answered. "That will be perfect. I hope to see you soon."I hung up the call and felt like there was a big lump in my
MAY 2022~LANA~"You have coronary artery disease. It causes the blood vessels to your heart to narrow and limit blood flow..." The doctor's voice echoed in my ears as I sat there and saw my life flash right before my eyes. I was 24 years old and barely had anything in my name to leave a legacy behind. "What do I do?" I gathered all my strength and looked at the doctor, trying so hard not to shed a tear. "You will need a heart transplant. Or else, you have a year or less than that to live."A year to live? "Oh, so how much is that transplant?" I swallowed."It is a very expensive procedure, Lana. You will need donations, or perhaps a sponsor. There is no way that you will be able to raise this money all on your own," he answered with worry on his face. It was just so funny how I always imagined my inevitable demise every time I remembered my parents' death anniversary. It always crossed my mind that I might not live past the years they had lived. They, too, had nothing in their
~DAX~"I will not get married so that you can hand over your company to me, Father! We both know that I am good at what I do, regardless of my marital status!" I snapped as I walked down the stairs. My father was behind me. Insisting for the hundredth time that I get married before he can legally hand over his company to me as his firstborn son. It was so demotivating that I had to earn my rightful inheritance by my marital status instead of my hard work and dedication. He knew that I was more than qualified to handle the company after him. "I will not have you rule that company with hoes, son!" He yelled as we both got downstairs. I turned to him. "If you don't want me as the successor to your company anymore, Dad, don't try to force it by making me marry before my appointed time!""You are 30 years old, Dax! Aren't you ashamed of yourself that at your age you still sleep with different girls and have no prospects for your future?!" He asked. "I decide when I want to marry, Fath
~LANA~After I met with Dax, he took all my contacts, and my house address and said that he would contact me as soon as his lawyer and financial advisor went through the contract and sent me all the terms and conditions before I commenced as his 'Fake Wife'. I was giggling inside when I left his office. "So, did you get the job?" My very nosy work friend asked during our shift at work. I remembered that I informed her a few days ago that I applied at Dax's Club to be a stripper. I sounded very enthusiastic and made her believe that I would be leaving the underpaying job very soon. "You would not believe what I'm about to tell you," I led her to the passage so that our boss would not scold us for talking during working hours.I looked both ways before I whispered to her, "I got a good deal. 10 million dollars for just being his fake wife."She looked at me and gasped. "What the hell?!""Shh... Ben will hear us," I whispered to warn her to get her voice down. Ben was the manager of
~LANA~Xavier? I could not believe my eyes. I hadn't seen him since forever. It had been exactly 2 years since he graduated from college and left. I never thought that I would ever see him again ever since. "Oh, you've bought yourself a wife already?" He smirked. "Bought? Really?" Dax scoffed. Xavier rolled his eyes, cleared his throat, came forward, took my hand, and brought it to his lips. The brief kiss left tingles on my skin, and I awkwardly smiled at him because we were pretending not to know each other. "I am pleased to meet you, sister-in-law," he smiled."Nice to meet you," I smiled back. He was so good at pretending. I wasn't even sure that it was him or just someone who happened to look exactly like him. I imagined how hard it was going to be to have dinner with him in the same room. He and I had a history. We did things to each other that still lingered in my mind whenever I thought of him. "I am Xavier. Dax's younger brother," he kept eye contact. It felt so a
~LANA~The next morning, I woke up as usual and prepared myself for work. I dressed up and put on a jacket because the weather was a little bit chilly. I tied my hair into a bun, and when I was satisfied with my look in the mirror, I headed to the kitchen to have breakfast. After I was done and had had breakfast, my phone beeped. A text from Dax. Dax: "Be ready in two hours. I'm going to pick you up. I have a meeting that I need to attend with you.""He got to be kidding," I rolled my eyes, shaking my head as I read the text. But then again, I didn't tell him that I had a job at the coffee shop. As I was contemplating whether to go to work or not, my phone beeped again. Money transfer of $5,000. And a text from Dax.Dax: "Get yourself a nice dress." 'Did he just send me my monthly salary to get a dress with it?' I muttered to myself as I looked at the bank notification. I sat down on my kitchen chair, and it then started to sink in that I signed a contract with Dax to be his
~LANA~When we got to Dax's meeting venue, he took my hand and boldly walked with me in the boardroom. His father and brother were there. Together with a group of boardroom members who lifted their eyes and studied me carefully as I walked in with Dax. "Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. My apologies for being late. You know how it is living with a woman. They take time getting ready," Dax chuckled softly as he helped me to sit down. The people in the boardroom chuckled. "Oh. This is my wife, Lana." He finally introduced me, taking my hand into his and kissing it. If that was not all a pretense, I had to commend Dax for being such a perfect gentleman and husband. He knew exactly how to make me feel like a lady and make people envious of our union. A part of me wished to find something as beautiful as our fake marriage someday. "We are pleased to meet you, Lana. Though you and I have made acquaintance, I believe that everyone here is also pleased to know you as my son's wife."