Chapter 2 Why me

Lorelei.

"will you marry me"

I push back my chair and stand up.

"I am sorry I do not think I heard you right"

I think I am imagining things my boss did not Just ask me to marry him, this must be some sort of joke, like a prank or something, there must be hidden cameras around.

"Sit down Lorelei"

He commands

I sit back down but with a little distance from the table, in case I need to run.

"Sorry, I should explain myself first"

He apologizes.

Okay I really need to check what side the sun rose up from this morning because this is strange.

Nathaniel is about to say something but he is interrupted by Michael Lowell's entrance.

"Sorry I took so long, I had to make a pit stop"

He sits on the empty chair.

"What did I miss?"

"Mick, I think you would be better suited to explain the situation to miss Moore "

Nathaniel says.

"There is really not much to explain. He has a billion dollar inheritance that he needs to acquire but it comes with a condition, he needs to get married and we feel you are the best candidate for this, it would be a fake marriage to convince the public and his parents lawyers and after three years you guys get a divorce and go your different ways".

I stare at the both of them for Lord knows how long, I am absolutely speechless.

"I am really sorry but you have the wrong person"

I think all this money has finally gotten into their brain and they are starting to lose it.

"I forgot to mention the benefits that come with this. As a Bronze you have access to free health care which means You would be able to finally give your mother the treatments she needs. And part of the conditions for the inheritance is that whoever he married gets forty percent of his money"

"I'm sorry what!"

I exclaim

"Yes it's true"

What the hell is this, it is too much. What would Nathaniel Bronze need a contract marriage, he is Nathaniel the most eligible bachelor in the whole America, at least that is what they say.

" Why don't you actually marry someone then, someone you love"

"Love is a distraction and you are not here to give me advice. Take it as an assignment, all you have to do is play the perfect girlfriend in public and after three months we will have an elaborate wedding, then you play the perfect wife, after the three years we go our separate ways, you will be a billionaire."

I look from Nathaniel to Michael and back again, these people are serious, wow!

"Why me?"

"Because, it will be easy to sell our story and you are the only woman that I have tolerated for this long".

"Do I have time to think about this?"

"Yes, you have till the next week, you can stay home till then "

"I am sorry, what!"

"My girlfriend can't work for me"

"But I have not agreed yet"

"Well, stay at home till you do"

They both stand up, signaling the end of the conversation.

"You can not tell anyone about this"

Nathaniel says

"I have to tell my mom"

"No one"

"She is my mother and she would never believe us anyway, so I tell her."

"Fine but her and no one else"

I can not believe I just stood my ground against my boss or rather ex boss.

Michael tells his driver to drive me home, while he leaves with Nathaniel.

"Thank you"

I say to the driver as I step out of the car and shut the door.

"Mama"

I call out as I step into the house.

"Welcome home Lorelei, you are early"

Eva, the nurse I hired to take care of my mom when I am at work, greets.

"Hi Eva, I closed early today. How is she"

"Strong"

She answers

"Good, you can take the rest of the day off, I will take it from here since I am home"

"Okay thanks, I already gave her the afternoon pills."

"Alright thanks,"

She clears her stuff then says goodbye to my mom before she leaves.

"I need your advice for something mom"

"Wow, that is a first"

"Come on, I am serious, something strange happened in work today"

I explain everything to her, about the proposal and the money.

"So, what do you think, should I take it?"

"Oh , sweet child of course you should, this is a great opportunity for us."

"Really?, I thought you would disagree, it is not right."

"Well, no it is not, but you are not doing this for anyone, you are doing this for you, you can either look at it as something wrong or you can think of it as an answer to our prayers"

"You are right, I guess. I would call them that I accept"

"Yes, but wait a bit, not just yet. Do you thrust this boss of yours?, Do not let them forget. You may be getting a lot out of this but you are still helping them."

"Yes ma"

"And if it ever gets too overwhelming, you back out"

"Yes ma"

"Good girl"

She coughs and I give her a glass of water.

Monday morning I am all dressed and ready for work. I called Micheal on Saturday to get my answer, so we are meeting in Nathaniel's office.

I am not sure if I am still His secretary, but I stopped at Dani's to pick up his coffee.

When I enter the office, I am engulfed by a hug.

"I taught he fired you, I was so worried"

I avoided Betta's call all week because I really didn't know what to tell her.

"Sorry, I made you worry, I wasn't feeling very well so my boss gave me the rest of the week off".

"Okay, I hope you are much better now, this place is full without you".

"How about we hang out later after work"

"Sure"

I do my usual morning routine when I am done I wait for them in my office.

Not so long later they both arrive but this time with Nathaniel's lawyer.

"Come on"

Nathaniel says inviting me to his office.

"Barrister Dennis is here to draw the contract