Chapter 2 Rafael Fernandez

With shaky steps she got out of the cab and walked into the restaurant. It was already evening, the wind was so chilling and she hated herself more for not putting on something warm.

She got into the most expensive restaurant in Italy.

She had given the P.A a call and he had sent the address to her after making her wait for 30 minutes.

But it really didn't matter now she was there already.

She needed to act as soon as possible, her rent had expired and she had sacrificed lots of sleepless nights to make sure she was not a dropout.

"You must be Ms Francisco ."A waiter impeccably dressed came up to her, staring at her closely.

Her hands tightened on her little bag and she nodded numbly.

"All right then, this way."He motioned with his hand and she followed him to a private lodge which was more beautiful and magnificent than the rest of the restaurant, so large and strikingly beautiful that it was only befitting for the rich.

"Mr Fernandez will be with you shortly." the waiter said to her, smiling.

She nodded, feeling her neck stiff with anxiety.

She glanced down at her worn out wrist watch,

It was past 7:30 pm.

She tried to shut her eyes and relax but the pounding headache just wouldn't let her.

No matter how she tried to forget everything that happened ,her mind still went back to the image she had seen that afternoon .

Those words she had heard, the betrayal she had felt. her heart tightened and she almost started crying afresh.

While she was waiting, another waiter approached her with a tray of expensive wine and even before she could refuse or say that she was fine she had already poured the wine and offered it to her.

"Mr Fernandez asks us to treat you with the best .''the waitress said ."if you need anything we are at your service. "

How stupid was she not to accept his proposal 2 weeks ago when he had just come back from the country after having a vacation and now he had asked them to meet in a restaurant.

She gave a silent prayer that he didn't tell her he had found a bride because her world was going to come crashing down again.

After waiting for several minutes she took the glass and gulped everything down.

And by the time she glanced at her watch again, it was 8:45 pm.

She was already growing impatient feeling pity for herself already and a tiny bit of anger had pierced her heart when she decided this was all a failed attempt ,she wasn't supposed to be here in the first place.

She would rather get going and maybe try tomorrow or even try to find another job and beg any of her friends to allow her to stay with them for the meantime.

Just as she got to her feet, her phone fell out of her hands and she went down to pick it. It was at that very moment that a powerful sweet scented perfume flowed into the room and the first thing she saw was a long leg which was pushed into expensive Italian shoes followed by another.

The perfume was so powerful that it could even enchant the soul itself.

Slowly she picked up her phone and let her eyes travel from the shoe up to the ankle and then slowly she looked up as her mouth fell open.

Never in her life would she have imagined that this was the man who had given her the proposal.

His well chiseled jaw drove into well sensual thin lips that could kiss one's sorrow away,icy gray eyes that will leave one spellbound staring into them.

He was so ruggedly handsome that she had thought that he was probably a Greek god.

"You seem to be in a hurry Miss," he said as he took the seat before her while she slowly stood up with her phone in her hand.

"Oh no I was just....."

She stuttered, staring at the old man who was probably in his mid-40s, his boyish look and strong stature making him look like he was in his twenties.

Anyways he said as he glanced at his expensive wristwatch.

I'm in a hurry and I would like us to go straight to business. "

As she sat down she looked at him and already concluded he was arrogant. He didn't even apologize for coming late and it sounded as if it was her fault that she was in a hurry.

He clapped his hands as one of his bodyguards came and gave him a contract file which he slid across the table to her.

"While you read that ,I would like to give you my terms and conditions for you to be my wife. Normally I should have chosen a bride a long time ago but I'm a very busy man so don't think you are lucky to have me. "

She raised her brows as she opened the file with shaky hands.

I need you to be my wife as soon as possible,once you agree the sum of $20,000 will be paid into your account and after the wedding and the balance sum of $10,000 will be sent to you.You don't have much to do but to follow me around for every business meeting and for us to act like we are married."

She wanted to ask lots of questions but merely staring at him made her head go blank.

"You didn't tell me your name." That was the only thing she could come up with as the bodyguard handed her a pen.

"My name is Rafael Richardo Fernandez,CEO of Dez Incorporated,Mall Luna,Ardo Technologies and ... "He was about to continue when one of the companies he mentioned struck a chord in her head.

"Ardo Technologies?"She stuttered and she could swear that she had heard about this company before.

it was the same company that Ethan had worked in as the managing director.

"You mean you own Ardo technologies ?"she asked.

"Yes." he said with a proud look ."And my nephew Ethan Rivera,my sister's son, is the managing director. "

"Ethan Rivera?" she asked

He stared briefly at her

"Yes ,do you know him?"