Chapter 7 Straight to the point

"Yes, I want to apologize for being late. It's not an excuse, but I had to ask for permission from my job and..." She trailed off as she realized she was rambling.

"Please, sit down. Would you like some coffee? Tea?" He asked in a nervous tone.

"Water, please," she pleaded, having run too much.

"You can get comfortable on the couch, and we'll move to the table later."

Gisela nodded, walked in that direction, and elegantly sat down on the cushioned couch, crossing her legs. The silky red fabric rose a little, offering Adal a good view of her smooth, athletic legs, or at least that's what her body showed to any pair of eyes trying to delight in them.

"Snacks?" He asked politely, trying to be cordial.

"No, thank you," she shook her head.

"Are you sure?" Adal insisted, trying to be a gentleman.

"Yes."

Totally perplexed by the woman he didn't want to have any physical contact with, he started to bring her a glass of water.

They looked at each other for a moment, letting the silence prolong.

"Setting aside what happened yesterday, you're the person Lucero recommended to me and who knows the reason for the meeting."

"The whole thing seems crazy, but I came here to do the contract."

"Don't you believe in marriage?"

She shrugged before answering, "Marriage is unnecessary. Don't worry, I'm not looking to fall in love."

"Commitments last a short time."

"Maybe," she responded, changing her posture and crossing her legs again. "That's why we need to determine when everything will end, and if it's not too much trouble, I can know when the wedding will be."

"We don't have time, the wedding has to take place as soon as possible, considering this weekend."

"I see..."

"It's all just business!"

Gisela was left breathless upon hearing Adal's words, the person she had been dazzled by a couple of hours ago.

"Let's sign, there's no time to lose," exclaimed Gisela, standing up and eager to end the conversation.

A strange expression appeared on Gisela's face. Her features tensed, although she regained her composure afterward.

"We can get comfortable."

"Is this the contract?"

Adal nodded.

"Go ahead."

Adal slid the documents across the shiny wooden surface. It took several minutes for him to examine the contract, minutes he used to analyze her. The strong attraction he felt irritated him. Gisela wasn't his type. She was too voluptuous, too direct, too...real. He needed the security of knowing he was safe from any emotional outburst if she didn't get her way.

"I agree, you want a trophy wife, but without the sex."

"Exactly," he affirmed without hesitation.

"That's good since there are many men who benefit greatly from marriage."

"How so?"

"They enjoy regular sex and companionship."

Gisela narrowed her eyes again and bit her lower lip.

"Why don't you tell me how much money I'll get from this marriage?"

"One hundred and eighty thousand euros."

"It's a lot of money," she begins to cough after feeling like she was choking on her own saliva.

"That means it's a deal," he says with a grin from ear to ear.

"Where will we live?"

"In my house, and as my wife, you'll need a wardrobe to match, you'll receive a monthly allowance, and you'll have access to my personal advisor."

"I don't care about that, I just want us to start and finish as soon as possible."

"Of course, one more thing, for the time being, we'll put our love lives on hold. We can't take any risks that could harm us."

"I'll do my best."

"No one can find out about this agreement," Adal becomes agitated just at the idea of others finding out about the fraud they'll commit, paranoia sets in. "So we'll have to pretend that we're madly in love. You'll have to come to dinner at my house to make the official announcement. Understand that everything has to be convincing."

"I don't like complications. Please, I don't want many parties. I'm terrible at that," Gisela began to get nervous. She didn't like the idea of lying and acting.

"Well, I'm sorry, but it's part of the deal."

"Anything else?"

"We'll have a wedding. Everything will be real, for everyone around us, it will be real, the romantic love that every couple desires. Do you understand?"

"I had planned a courthouse wedding, something simple. It's better not to make a scene."

"I was thinking of a white dress, an outdoor wedding, with my family," Adal questioned with his eyes wide open.

"I don't like weddings."

"We have something in common, but as you know, we both need this marriage, and if you're not willing to do it, you can leave," Adal's patience is running out. He's afraid she'll back out because she knows too much. "Understand that I'm marrying you for business reasons."

"Believe me, I don't like this either, but if we want others to think that this is real, we have to play a role," she bit her tongue. She was about to say to hell with everything. It was obvious that the two of them had a purpose for this marriage to be successful.

"Okay, but before you sign the contract, you can continue reading it. After you sign, we'll plan the wedding and everything else."

Everything sounded simple, but it wasn't, as words and actions are different to the point of not going hand in hand.

Gisela was very scared. She didn't want to get married, and especially not under these circumstances, but she needed the money because she was sure her mother would call her again to ask for more.

"I want to talk to you about sex."

"Sex?" she said, unable to believe what she was hearing.

The word came out of his mouth and bounced around the room like a shot. She blinked but refused to show any emotion on her face.

"You see, we have to be very discreet with..." for a few seconds, Gisela fell silent. She didn't want to talk about a topic that made her uncomfortable, but at the same time, she felt the need to make it clear that she wouldn't sleep with him.

"Discreet? I already told you that for the time being, neither of us will do anything. Understand that I have to protect my reputation."

Gisela still didn't understand why he didn't marry his girlfriend or another woman who was on his level.

"I understand."