Chapter 5 The Approach

Brian**

Charlotte appeared in the office looking tensed, the work in the office was too much and I could see it in her face.

Her scent stole into my lungs, blurring the usually crisp edges of my logic and reasoning, and her presence burned into my side like an open flame.

Tension lined her elegant features. She wasn't looking good.

" You can have your seat", I say

"Thank you", she smiles, her smile didn't contain any ounce of warmth.

Warmth spread through me. How would I bring it up to her? This was not going through as I planned.

"How are the designs?" I ask, waiting for her response.

"Good, I must say" I could see through her, it wasn't going well but there was nothing I could.

" Did you fix designs at the corners of the bar?" I ask again trying to release the tension in the room.

The tension was so thick I could taste it in my throat, but I pushed it back.

"I was trying to get it when you called", she responded, looking at the silver watch she wore.

My Dad is making things hard. If there was an award for killing your parents, I would have won a trophy for that.

Aggravation rose in my throat trying to remember how the conversation went with them.

"We need to talk", Dad said, leaving the room silent Tension lined his stiff shoulders and shadowed his features.

Mom's smile dropped creating a hint of fear in her eyes. This was not going well. I thought.

Fear lodged deep in my guts and my stomach cramped.

" You need to get married as soon as possible" Mum broke the words down.

The unease in my stomach swirled faster.

"Wh...why?" I stutter, frustration seeping through my voice.

The room was silent if a needle drops, it could be heard.

Mum starts, leaving dad in his frustration. "Your dad has few years to live, you would have to take over the company as soon as possible, and he doesn't feel you are responsible enough till you start a family and that can be possible if you get married"

Panic froze her in mid breath.

" Am I not responsible enough?" I questioned them both.

A fresh tsunami of rage rolled through me.

I wasn't prepared for any of this. I couldn't bring myself to so much anger seeing my mum crying. Surprise and a hint of uncertainty surfaced her eyes.

Dad gained his courage and spoke in a low tone" You have just 3 months to get a wife and marry her, your mum and I did that and we are enjoying it"

Flames of frustration rose in my throat.

Is this a joke? How would he say that? I don't think I want a marriage. I have been doing just fine and I'm good like this.

Dad could sense my hint of anger.

" Or you could let me sell the company out, how about that?"

Flames of emotion surged through the air, incinerating any inhibitions or rational thought.

"I would get married as soon as possible" my jaw clenched sending my fist a preparation to punch. Concern and a hint of amusement glinted in mom's eyes.

"But the space left for the bar is quite small, so that side of the house won't be so bold" she says.

" That's fine" I say placing my hand on my head to soothe the throbbing pain behind my temples.

"Be my wife" I say,

Possessiveness churned beneath my skin

An icy claw of shock snatched her breath from her lungs

She is not saying anything.

"Be your wife? She repeats, barely above a whisper.

"I mean, pretend to be my wife," I say

"Pretend?" She arches an eyebrow

"Yes, I need a wife for 3 months and I know you are the perfect person for this job".

"All I need from you is to sign a contract and you get 20% of the shares of the Oasis Company", I said, mingling with the pen in front of me to avoid going mad

Her silence breaks my heart and it irritates me at the same time.

She blinked a few times and throws her head back laughing.

" I'm sorry, you called the wrong person" she says offering a weak smile as she leaves the office.

I swallowed past the hitch in my throat.

This was not what I was expecting and how do I call her back and try to explain things to her without causing a scene in the office?

A twitch of regret softened my irritation

~~~~~~~~~~

**Charlotte**

There were things in this life that could not just be normal. Getting a surprise for your birthday was normal, planning the surprise birthday yourself was normal, but being the wife of a Musk for 3 months was never normal.

His wife.

The rawness of these simple words dissolved some of my willpower. I rubbed a hand over my face, restless and unsettled.

The Perfect person for the job.

Brian had other people who were better and more looking than me. How could I be the perfect person??

As I looked through my laptop to get done with the designs I had to be done with.

An email popped up revealing a little of what I was facing currently and my heartbeat stumbles causing my breakfast to get the best out of me. Pressure builds up simultaneously in my chest and at the base of my spine. My fingers curled tight around my pen.

And you will get 20% of the shares

The words echoed in my head like a nightmare stuck on a broken coil.

At this point, I knew I was going to be the perfect person for the job and I had no reason to decline this offer.