Chapter 5: My Price

Lena’s POV

I couldn't sleep that night, I tried, but to no avail. I lay in my small bed in the bedroom staring at the ceiling, but any moment I closed my eyes, I saw the same thing. Five hundred thousand dollars.

The number appeared behind my eyelids like a warning, then I saw my mother's face, the hospital bills, Adrian Vale and the contract.

I turned onto my side and pulled the blanket over my head. “This is crazy," I whispered to myself. I pushed the blanket away. “I can't do this,” I muttered again. But the moment I said it, another thought came. “Then what are you going to do?” I asked myself. I had no answer.

I sat up, reached for the contract on my bedside table, and I had brought it home in a plain black folder. It looked harmless, just paper, but it had the power to change my entire life.

I opened it again, six months, five hundred thousand dollars, public appearances, living in Adrian's house and pretending to love him. I stopped at the last part, pretending to love him and I laughed bitterly. "Who would believe that?" I asked softly. But no answer came immediately.

I looked at myself in the mirror across the room. "Certainly not me,” I said. My phone rang, and I grabbed it. "Hello, are you awake?" A voice echoed softly. It was my mother and I looked at the wall clock, it was 8pm. "Yes mom,” I whispered.

"You should be sleeping by now,” she said quietly. "What about you?" I asked politely. "I woke up thirsty,” she said. "Do you want water?" I asked. “No, I'm fine,” she replied.

I smiled.

"You sound like me,” she said softly. “I learned from you, my best mom ever,” I whispered. She laughed softly and then she became quiet.

"Lena?" She called. "Yes?" I answered. "Did you get the money?" She asked calmly. My smile disappeared. "What money?” I asked very quickly. “The money for the hospital bills,” she said.

I looked at the contract. "I'm working on it,” l said. “You don't have to lie,” she said again. "I'm not lying mom,” I murmured. “You always say that when you are moody,” she said.

I swallowed.

"Mom, I'll handle it,” I said calmly. “How?" She asked carefully. “I don't know yet,” I responded quietly. There was silence at the moment and then she asked quietly, "Did you borrow more money?" "No,” I replied quickly.

"Did you take another job?” She asked again. "No,” I responded softly. "Lena,” she called again. "I'm okay Mama,” I said.

“You keep saying that,” she said. "You're my daughter, and I know when you're scared,” she added. My eyes filled with tears and wiped them quickly. "I'll fix this Ma and it will be fine,” I said.

"You don't have to fix everything alone,” she said. "I”ll mom,” I said. "No, I disagree,” she dragged. I looked toward her bedroom. "Do you want me to come over?" I asked. "Yes,” she responded quickly.

Then I forgot to put the contract back on the table and walked down the hallway and she was sitting up in bed when I entered. She smiled when she saw me. “Come in, sit,” she said.

I sat beside her and she touched my face. "You look so tired,” she said. "I am,” I whispered. “Did you eat at all?" She asked. I smiled. "Yes,” I replied. “Liar,” she said quickly.

I laughed softly. "I had coffee,” I said. Coffee isn't food,” she said. "It is, if you're desperate,” I said. She shook her head and then she noticed the folder in my hand. “What is that?" She asked.

I froze.

"Nothing,” I said. "Lena,” she echoed my name once. “It's work,” I said. What kind of work?" She asked. I looked away. "Just something I'm considering,” I said. "Does it pay well?" She asked. I hesitated. "Yes,” I said.

“How well?" She asked again. But I didn't answer and her eyes narrowed. "Lena,” she called me again. "It's complicated,” I said. "Is it legal?" She asked. I looked at her a couple times, my silence answered her and she grabbed my hand.

“What did they ask you to do?" She asked quietly. I took a deep breath. "I was offered a contract,” I whispered. “What kind of contract?" She asked. I couldn't say a word at the moment, but after a while I broke the silence. "I have to pretend to be someone's fiancée,” I murmured.

My mother stared at me and then she blinked. "Someone's what, Fiancée?” She asked. She looked at me for several seconds, then unexpectedly, she laughed. “You're joking,” she said.

"Who is the man?" She asked very quickly. "Adrian Vale,” I responded quietly. Her laughter disappeared, I regretted that I mentioned the name. "The Adrian Vale?" She asked again.

I nodded slowly.

She stared at me. "Why?" She asked. “He needs to get married for his inheritance,"I said. “And he wants you?" She asked quickly. She shook her head. "That family is dangerous,” she said.

I looked at her. "What do you mean mom?" I asked. "Nothing,” she said. "Mom,” I echoed. She looked away. "Your father used to talk about them,” she said.

My heart skipped. "My father?" I asked. "Forget about what I just said,” she said. "What did my Dad say?" I asked quietly. She remained silent. “Mom,” I echoed again. He knew some people connected to the Vales family,” she said. "How?" I asked curiously. “I don't know,” she said. "You do know,” I repeated.

She sighed. "Your father never talked much about business,” she said. "Did he know Adrian?” I asked vigorously. “No,” she responded softly. “Then who?" I asked again. "I don't remember,” she said.

I stared at her, she ignored meeting my eyes again for some time and there was something she wasn't telling me. But before I could ask again, she coughed, hard cough and I immediately forgot everything else.

"Mom, are you okay,” I asked quickly. "I'm okay,” she said. I rushed for her medicine. "Take this mom,” I said. "I will, not now,” she said. She took it, I watched until she swallowed it and then she squeezed my hand. “Don't do something you will regret because of me,” she said.

I stared at her for a couple of seconds. “What if it's the only way?" I asked carefully. “Then find another way,” she replied calmly. "What if there isn't one?" I said. She looked into my eyes. "Then we'll face it together,” she said.

I smiled through my tears. "I love you mom,” I said. "I love you too,” she said.

I kissed her forehead and then I left the room. But her words, we found another way, echoed in my head one more time. If there wasn't another way, at least I couldn't see one. The next morning, I went back to Vale Enterprises.

I told myself I was only returning to ask questions. I wasn't going to sign anything and that was what I told myself. The receptionist looked up when I approached. "Miss Brooks,” she whispered. Yes,” I answered. “Mr. Vale is expecting you,” she said.

My stomach tightened.

“Although, he said you might come,” she added.

I frowned.

"He knew already?" I whispered. She smiled politely. "Mr. Vale usually knows what he's doing,” she said.

That answer bothered me most, so I took the elevator hallway upstairs and when the doors opened, Adrian was standing near the window.

He turned and his eyes met mine once. “You came back,” he said. "I have questions,” I said. “I expected that from you,” he said. "How did you know?" I asked consciously. "Yes of course, how won't I know," he said calmly. He gestured toward the chair. “Sit,” he said. I sat and he remained standing.

"Did you read the contract?" He asked quietly. “Three times, I did,” I replied softly. "I think you're insane,” he said. His eyebrow furrowed. "That's not an answer to my question,” he said. “It's an opinion,” I said. I almost smiled, but I remembered why I was there.

"If I agree, what exactly happens?" I asked. "You move into my house,” he responded quickly. “When?" I asked again. “Tomorrow,” he replied. My eyes widened. "Just tomorrow?" I said carefully. We don't have much time any longer,” he said.

"My grandmother is holding a family dinner in three days,” he said. "Three days is too prompt Adrian?" I said. "I need to introduce you before then,” he said. "So this has already been arranged?" I said. "No, not really what you think Lena,” he said.

Adrian stared at me carefully. "I don't arrange things without a reason,” he said. "That's exactly what worries me most,” I said. He was silent and I studied him very closely. “You need someone else,” I said. “Someone who needs the money, not me,” I murmured.

His jaw tightened.

He didn't answer and waited for a few minutes. Yet he couldn't say anything. "Fine,” I whispered. I looked down at my hands. “If I sign, I want one thing,” I said. "What?" He asked quickly.

“My mother must never be involved, you don't tell the press about her and you don't use her illness to control me,” I said. His eyes hardened. "I wouldn't,” he said. "I need it in writing,” I said. It can be added,” he said.

“And I want freedom to visit her whenever I want,” I added. "Of course,” he said. "Even if we're supposed to attend something?" I said. "I'll arrange transportation,” he said.

For some reason, the responses he gave felt honest and I took a breath. "What happens if people find out it's fake?" I asked again carefully. “They won't,” He responded politely.

“How can you be so sure?" I asked quietly. "Because they won't have a reason to doubt us,” he replied. "And if they do?" I asked again. “Then we'll deal with it together,” he replied.

I looked at the contract, my fingers trembled and Adrian noticed. "You don't have to sign,” he whispered. "Why do you say that?" I asked furiously. “You heard me,” he replied gently.

“But you need this,” he said quietly. “I'll find another way if you do not sign anyways,” he added. I almost laughed. "You said that yesterday,” I said. "And I meant it,” he said.

But then I remembered my mother's cough, the hospital bill, the fear in her eyes. Immediately I picked up the pen and Adrian watched silently.

"Last chance," he said. I looked at him. "Are you trying to convince me not to?" I asked. “Not really but I'm trying to make sure you understand what you're agreeing to,” he said.

"I understand,” I said. I looked down at the contract one more time. "I understand that you need a fiancée,” I whispered.

I signed my name but at that moment the pen felt heavier than it should have. Lena Brooks, my name was suddenly tied to Adrian Vale. I pushed the contract toward him, Adrian picked it up and he looked at my signature.

Something unreadable crossed his face, he signed, his handwriting was quick and controlled. "It's done,” he said.