AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Before I could stop it, a deep, throaty chuckle bubbled out of my chest. The man is nuts.
“What? That’s ridiculous. If I do not want to be your girlfriend, what makes you think I’ll agree to marry you?”
“Will you let me finish?” I pursed my lips, studying him intently. “I need to get married before the ultimatum.”
I arched my brows, wondering what that had to do with me.
“And since I already told them you’re my girlfriend, it just makes more sense to get married. A fake marriage, that’s what I’m proposing.”
“Why me?”
“Why do you think? See, I have a host of women who would jump at this offer.”
“Then go ask them then. Why me? You just want to make my life a living hell.”
If I didn’t know better, I’d say he was hurt. His eyes, almost as dark as his hair, mirrored a deep hurt.
“So that’s what you think of me, huh? When have I ever made things difficult for you? Contrary to your thoughts, I am not obsessed with you, Zoey. I was caught in a fix, and you were the closest solution. Hence my asking you. Were the circumstances different, you wouldn’t even make top ten,” he spat.
I shot out of my seat angrily and made to leave. I couldn’t stand him.
“Three million.”
“What?”
“I’ll pay you three million if you agree. You’ll still get your wages and some extra benefits. But three million... For the assignment.”
I halted in my step and whirled around to take a good look at him.
“I know you need the money, so throw the vain pride aside. If not for you, do it for Jason.”
I charged at him, stopping only when we were a hair’s breadth apart.
“Keep my son’s name out of your mouth,” I fumed.
“I’m just saying. You’re sinking into debt; you could use some help. This is help.”
“How did you know?” He lowered his eyes and nervously scratched the back of his neck. I gasped in realization. “You looked into me. How dare you?”
“I employed you to look after my kids. Of course, I looked into you. I couldn’t risk you being a psychopath or worse.”
“That is messed up, even for you,” I sneered, storming out of the room to get my son. I couldn’t stand being there any longer.
Whoever wasin charge of stringing the universe must have had something out for me. I felt it. Knew something was amiss as I drove into my street. It had begun to rain, and soft patters hit the car window, making tapping sounds that made Jason flinch in the back seat. I hated rainy days. Not because of the smell of wet earth—that I could deal with. It was more because Jason always felt sick afterward.
“Buddy, we’re here. You’ll soon be nice and warm,” I called out as I pulled into the driveway. I grabbed an umbrella from beneath my seat and spread it out before getting down and going to Jason’s side. Shielding him from the rain with my body and the umbrella, we rushed to the porch, out of the furious lash of nature.
I felt it when I pushed my key in and turned it. The click, signaling the unlocking, never came.
“Mom, look at this,” Jay called out, stretching a sheet of paper toward me.
I felt my whole world crash as I read the note. I had received the eviction notice two weeks before, but I didn’t know the landlord would go ahead with his threat. I couldn’t stop the tears from streaming down my face.
“Mom, what’s wrong?” I quickly wiped my tears with the sleeve of my dress.
“Nothing, buddy. Wait in the car, luv. Wouldn’t want you to catch a cold now,” I managed a little smile and gave him the umbrella. He hesitated, and I flashed another encouraging smile before he slowly trudged to the car.
My mother instincts kicked in, and I decided to find a way to get Jason out of the cold first. I dialed Olivia’s number.
