Chapter 2 The Call

Chandelier lights spread out like a sea of golden yellow across the restaurant. The soft sound of piano music, the quiet chatter of people, and the clinging of cutleries gave life to the room. Darnell was at his reserved table at five-thirty pm. Only two other people were at the VVIP section situated on the highest floor. From up there, he had the best view of the entire restaurant. He looked over the smooth timber railing occasionally to look out for the lady he'd met the night before, as he'd inconveniently forgotten to ask for her phone number.

His phone rang and he picked it up to check the caller ID. It was Tessy, his ex. Even though he'd made it clear to her that their six-month long relationship was nothing other than business, she still called him every now and then, hoping to rekindle their relationship. It was clear to him that he'd made a mistake going for someone so young, but she was available in the short amount of time he needed her before meeting with his family. Grandfather had grown fond of Tessy, so Darnell kept her for much longer, until Grandfather started asking when they would get married. That was when Darnell knew he had to get rid of her.

He ignored the call. It wasn't appropriate now that he was about to meet his wife to be.

Sasha arrived at a few minutes before six. At the entrance, she informed the security that she was there for Mr. Darnell King, and he pointed to the top floor. She could see from his head to his shoulder from where he sat near the railing. He was distracted by his phone, picked it up, put it back down, placed his right arm on the railing and stared ahead. His long-sleeved shirt was folded down to his wrist, exposing a watch.

As she made her way upstairs, she began to wonder if she was a little over-dressed. Or rather, under-dressed. She'd worn a sleeveless silver sequin dress that stopped above her knee. It was tight around her waist area but looser around her hips. It accentuated her curve. She'd paired it with a pair of black pointed heels and a black purse. Her goal-to be seductive. She wasn't the kind of woman that expected a man like him to want anything serious. No. She was there to sow wild oats with the most handsome man in the world.

"Mr. King," she called as she reached his table. A server helped her into her.

Looking directly at him now sent a flush of anxiety through her body. He looked at her through his lashes, with a deadly smirk spread across his face

"It's a pleasure to have your company," he said.

God, she was angelic. Her brown skin glistened under the golden lights of the chandelier. Her makeup was barely there, but it accentuated her facial features; sharp jawline, full lips that were the focus of her face, thanks to that pink shade of shiny lipgloss she'd smeared on them, and sparkly eyeshadow beautified her eyelids. Grandfather would never think of Tammy again if he brought her home.

"Likewise." She smiled.

There was a bottle of wine on the table. Darnell pooped it open and poured some of its contents into two glasses that a server had brought over.

"Red Ash," he said as he placed one glass on Sasha's side of the table. "I formulated the ingredients myself."

Sasha inhaled the wine's fruity smell before putting the glass to her lips. "This is amazing," she complimented as she tasted the wine.

"Thank you," Darnell replied confidently.

As the night progressed, they talked about why he came to America and about her job. Two hours later, they were ready to call it a night. He offered to drive her home, and so they walked to his car together.

"Miss Peirce, I'm afraid I haven't been entirely open with you all night," he said.

"Oh?" Sasha let out. Could this be the moment he used his charm to initiate something sexual? Did he want to take her home?

"I have a business proposition for you," he said.

She stopped walking. "What? Really?"

A business proposal from Darnell King? Founder of the biggest wine company in the world, new heir to King Hotels, and who was also possibly a billionaire? Was the universe about to reward her after her company failed her?

"I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but I may have overheard some of your conversation last night," he said. "Particularly the part about wanting a fake marriage."

"Oh...well. I was just talking, you know? I wasn't really going to do it," she confessed.

"You sounded pretty serious to me."

"Well, yes. At first, I really was considering it, but my sister talked me out of it. But, why? Does this have anything to do with this business proposal you have for me?" she asked.

"Miss Peirce," he started, looking into her eyes. "How would you like to marry me?"

Sasha recoiled in confusion. "What?

"Marry me," he repeated."You want me to marry you?" she asked, as if to be sure she'd heard him correctly.

"Yes, I do," he replied.

"Why?"

"It'll be a fake marriage. Short-lived. And you'd be paid handsomely," he said.

"But, why?" she insisted.

Darnell exhaled. "My grandfather barely has two months to live. His dying wish is to see me get married. I want to fulfill it," he explained. "You only have to be my wife for as long as he lives. In return, you will get whatever you want. Go wherever you want to go in the world. And after my grandfather's death and our divorce, you will be rewarded with two million.

"Sasha's eyes widened.

"Well...I...I think I need more information," she said.

"That's all the information there is to know," he said. "We get married. You become my wife until my grandfather passes on. That's it. Sleep on it. Call me tomorrow when you have an answer." He handed her a card. "Shall we?" He signaled to his car.

*

"I would do it," said Tatiana when Sasha told her over the phone about Darnell's offer later that night when she got home.

"I thought you didn't want me to get fake married," Sasha said.

"This one is different," said Tatiana, stating the obvious. "Marrying Darnell King? Two million dollars? Hell, I would take it right now if he came to me.

"Sasha laughed. "I get it. I guess I'm just worried about what I could be getting myself into. This family is powerful, you know? And, of all women, why me? I mean, I get that he'd heard me telling you that I wanted to get fake married, but I'm a nobody and he could easily find someone more...his status. Someone more believable."

"Probably because he gets to pay you two million dollars. That's nothing to him. I think you should make him increase his offer," Tatiana suggested.

"I think you're right," Sasha concurred. "Maybe, I can finally free us from Dad's debt once and for all."

"Oh, Sash. You'd really do that?"

"Of course. You'd do the same if it were you."

"I love you," Tatiana said. "Do you have to have sex with him?" she blurted out.

"You know what? I never asked, but thanks for bringing that up."

"Be careful, okay Sash? And call me if you ever need anything."

"Thank you, sis."

Sasha hung up and heard a knock on her door, followed by her mother entering her room before she could say anything.

"Are you seeing someone new?" her mother asked excitedly in her Nigerian accent. "I saw that man that brought you home. Is that who you went on a date with?"

"How did you even...?" Sasha trailed off, not bothering to finish her question as she knew her mother must have looked through the window when she heard the sound of the car.

"It's good that you're moving on," her mother continued after she sat down in a chair next to Sasha's bed. "I saw Trey the other day at the grocery store with his new girlfriend."

Sasha sprung up from her bed and turned to face her mother. It had been a month since Trey broke up with her. A week since she forced herself to stop checking his social media. Sure, he was allowed to move on. But for a relationship of ten years, it was hurtful that he had moved on so quickly while she was left treating her wounds.

"What?" she managed to let out.

"You should have told him you were ready for marriage like I told you..."

"Please, mum. Enough of that!" she yelled angrily and lay back down on her belly, with the back of her head facing her mother.

"I'm just saying," her mother continued. "Ten years. He wasted your time."

"And I told you I wasn't ready to marry either. But if you want me to get married so badly, then I will get married." Sasha rose from her bed, grabbed Darnell's card from the table where she'd kept it, and barged out of the room.

She went outside to the balcony and shakily dialed his number. It was almost nine pm, perhaps too late to place the call, but she needed to tell him as soon as possible before she changed her mind.

"Hello?" he said as he picked the call.

"It's Miss Peirce," Sasha answered. "I will marry you, but I want five million dollars."

"Done. My driver will pick you up in three days. We will go over the contract and plan a wedding next week."

"Wait, what?"

"Yes?"

"Isn't that a little too soon?" she protested.

"No," he replied abruptly.

She had already made one renegotiation and worried that another might put him off.

"Fine. But I want to know everything that is expected of me before I sign any contract,' she said.

"You will."

She ended the call and sighed heavily. She'd just sold herself for five million dollars. Five million dollars that would be hers in two months, during which she'd be married into one of the most powerful families in the world. And then, she'd be divorced. Oh, why hadn't she thought about that part? People would mock her. They'd laugh and say she was a nobody hoping to get a taste of wealth, but it didn't last. They'd say, how could someone fumble one of the richest men in the world so quickly. And her mother? She would never stop saying how Sasha's independence pushes men away.

But at least she'd be five-million-dollar richer.