Chapter 2 The Hunt!

I'm still trying to process everything that's happening. My friend just looks at me with a concerned expression but doesn't say anything. I enter the main room, head straight to the bar, pour a shot of whiskey, and down it in one go. Lucas keeps watching me.

"Say something, brother. I'm going crazy here. I don't even know where to start to find a bride. I'm not even dating, and the women I enjoy at night are not what I want."

"Calm down, James. As I told you, I'm with you through thick and thin. We'll find a solution, don't worry. Since we left the office, I've been thinking about what we can do, and I have an idea. I'm not sure if you'll like it."

I look at Lucas's face and wait for him to speak to find out what idea he has, because I still don't know what to do.

"Look, brother, I know you're terrified of marriage, and you don't believe in love. So, the traditional way won't work. I know that if you find some woman, she might be interested only in the money you have and might want to scam you. So, I was thinking: how about you make a contract?"

I look at Lucas in disbelief. But what do you mean, a contract? Isn't the will and that darned clause that will change my entire life and plans enough, now a contract too?

Lucas smiles and starts to explain: "Man, you find a woman with whom you've had no prior contact and make her an offer. You have nothing to lose. Offer her a good monthly salary to become your wife. Explain to her that there's no need for any intimate contact with you, that she only needs to pretend in front of others, and that after 3 and a half years, since you need to be married for a minimum of three years, both she and you will be released from the commitment."

I look at Lucas thinking: wow, man, you're a genius. But we still have a lot to discuss because I have no idea where to find this woman. But, as always, Lucas has thought of everything and suggests that we search for the woman at the college we attend, as there we might find the perfect wife for me.

I still don't fully believe this idea will work, but it's worth a try. I have very little time to find this woman who will spend so much time with me. I don't understand why my grandfather gave me such little time to decide something so important for my life. He knew I wasn't dating, so how could I get engaged and married so quickly? But I know he believed in fate. So I head to college, and there I find Lucas, and we begin the hunt.

We start looking for the woman who will be my future wife at the college. In my classroom, I don't see anyone who fits the desired profile. They all seem like shallow socialites who would probably try to scam me. I feel demotivated, but Lucas is enthusiastic, as if he's enjoying the situation. He encourages me to keep searching throughout the college, going from classroom to classroom, and analyzing the girls.

We spent a full two weeks searching and analyzing the girls, but I couldn't find any that interested me. In fact, I'm not even sure myself exactly what I'm looking for. I thought I'd know it when I saw it. Lucas remembers a girl in his finance class. She's about to graduate, in her final semester. He tells me she earned a full scholarship to our college due to her excellent performance in high school. She comes from a humble family and works hard. She's received several dubious offers but has never gotten involved in anything wrong. She studies at night and works during the day at a café in Miami Beach.

I'm tired of searching and starting to think maybe I won't be able to find a woman who suits me. But I decide to meet this girl, as she's one of my last hopes. I've come across several girls who would easily accept my proposal, but I prefer peace since I'll have to put up with this girl for three and a half years of my life. I need to choose carefully.

Lucas points out the girl to me, and I watch her from afar all night at the college. I notice that she doesn't pay much attention to the other guys. During the break, she sits in a distant corner with a book, reading while eating. She's genuinely interesting and very different from the socialites who study here.

The next day, I wake up, shower, and decide to go to the café where she works. I go with Lucas since he's part of this quest. We arrive at the café, and I see her waiting on some tables. I sit at one of them, waiting to be served. She approaches, and I stand there, not knowing what to say. Lucas breaks the ice and places our order for both of us. She barely looks at us, writes down the order, and walks away. I look at Lucas, wondering how to approach her.

"Man, honestly, I'm here thinking about how to approach her. I have no idea where to start. If I go up to her and say I want to marry her and make a contract, she'll think I'm going crazy or slap me and run away in fear."

"Relax, man, let's think of a way. But first, you need to be sure she's the one you want. Deciding on the target will make it easier to find the right approach."

Lucas seems to have it all figured out, but I'm still unsure. She returns with our order, places it on the table, and asks if we need anything else. I decide to start a conversation with her.

"Hi, how are you? I think I know you from somewhere!"

She looks at me, raising an eyebrow, as if trying to remember. Lucas interrupts.

"That's right, James. She goes to our college."

The girl looks at me again, apologizes, and says she doesn't remember me. She looks at Lucas and mentions she has a faint memory of him, as they're in the same class. She smiles shyly, apologizes again, and explains that she can't chat right now because she has a lot of work to do. I reply that it's okay, and she can go. Lucas and I eat, pay the bill, and leave a generous tip for her. Then we head back home."

Lucas knows me very well and already knows I'm quite interested in that girl. He looks at me with a somewhat cynical smile.

"So, buddy! Found the woman of your dreams?"

"Cut it out, man. You know it's just a business matter, nothing more," I reply seriously.

"Don't tell me you didn't notice how she's a total babe, even under those outfits."

Lucas is somewhat superficial and appreciates well-dressed women, "the socialites," to be more specific. For him, any woman who dresses simply is considered poorly dressed.

"Really, man, I won't lie to you and say she's ugly. She has her charm. But I just want to achieve my goals, get my inheritance, and go back to my usual life. Sometimes, I even imagine that when I'm married, maybe I'll need to have a few flings now and then. After all, no man can stand being tied to one person for three and a half years, right?"

Lucas wholeheartedly agrees with me but says that this effort is necessary and for the greater good.

Then we arrive home and head to the main room to think of an approach that could convince this girl to agree to the terms of my contract.

Lucas, as always, is ahead of me, devising a plan to achieve my goal. I look at him, give him a big hug, and say,

"How could I live without you, my friend?"

He just hugs me back and smiles. He really is a great brother.

Lucas takes the opportunity to investigate the poor girl's life and discovers that she lives with her father, who is an alcoholic and a gambling addict, accumulating several debts. It would be easy to convince her, or even her father, to marry in exchange for a good monthly sum. Thus, the second part of the plan goes into action."