Chapter 5 5

After the accident...

Zara's mind was still reeling from the mysterious motorbike rider. How did he know her name? She pushed the thought aside, focusing on the present.

The hefty man looked at her, raising an eyebrow. "You okay?"

Zara nodded, not wanting to discuss the incident. "Yeah, I'm fine. Let's just go."

The man nodded and they sped off. Arriving at the house, Patricia's face lit up as she saw Zara.

"Zara!, brave girl!" Patricia exclaimed. "How much did you get?"

Zara sighed, showing her the alert on her phone. Patricia let out a whoop of excitement.

"We won't be opening the restaurant tomorrow! We would be eating out!" Zara forced a smile.

Zara's smile faltered as she excused herself. "I'm tired, Patricia. I need to rest."

Patricia's expression softened. "No problem. Go get some rest."

Zara trudged to her room, her mind still reeling from the mysterious motorbike rider. The helmet had obscured his face. She pushed the thoughts aside, not wanting to dwell on them. After a refreshing shower, she collapsed onto her bed, letting exhaustion claim her.

Weeks turned into months, and Zara's skills were honed to perfection. She took on various missions, each one a success. But with every victory, her resentment grew. Patricia had used her enough.

One day, a folder landed before her, bearing the name "Williams Brown" – the influential CEO of WB Shopping Mall. Zara's eyes narrowed, her exhaustion boiling over into anger.

She confronted Patricia, her voice firm. "I've had enough. I know I've paid off my father's debt, but you've kept me here, using me for your gain. This mission with Williams Brown will be my last. After that, we're done."

Patricia's laughter sent a shiver down Zara's spine. "Who told you you're done?" she asked, her eyes glinting with amusement.

Zara's jaw clenched. "I know I am. And I'm not backing down."

Patricia raised her hands in a mock surrender. "We'll discuss this further after you've taken care of Williams Brown. For now, let's focus on the mission."

Zara snatched the folder. Her anger was palpable, but fear simmered just below the surface.

Zara stepped into a cozy restaurant, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee enveloping her. She needed a break from Patricia's manipulations and the daunting task ahead. Sliding into a booth by the window, she ordered a refreshing drink and began to study the contents of the Williams Brown folder.

As she pored over the documents, a voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Mind if I join you?" a deep voice asked.

Zara looked up to see a tall, dark-haired man smiling at her. She wasn't in the mood for small talk, but he seemed harmless enough. She nodded, and he slid into the booth across from her.

After they exchanged pleasantries, the silence was palpable. She was grateful the stranger respected her.

As she finished her drink, she glanced at her watch. "I have to go now."

The man nodded understandingly. "It was nice meeting you."

Zara smiled politely and left the restaurant, her mind refocusing on the mission ahead.

Back at the house, Patricia briefed her on the plan. Williams Brown had just arrived at the airport, and Zara was to "accidentally" bump into him, creating a diversion.

Zara's heart raced; she reviewed the plan one last time. This was it. Her last mission. She took a deep breath, mentally preparing herself for what was to come.

Zara's eyes scanned the crowded airport terminal, her gaze locking onto Williams Brown's distinctive figure.

As Williams walked towards her, Zara "accidentally" bumped into him, apologizing profusely. "Oh, I'm so sorry! I'm such a clumsy fool!"

Williams smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "No harm done. Are you okay?"

Zara nodded, smiling back at him. "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks for checking."

As they parted ways, Zara's hands moved swiftly, exchanging their luggage tags. Williams didn't notice, too caught up in his phone call.

The plan was in motion. Now, all Zara had to do was wait for Williams to realize the mistake...

That evening, Williams' voice came through the phone, apologetic. "Hi, I think we had a luggage mix-up at the airport earlier. I'm Williams Brown."

Zara's voice was sweet and concerned. "Oh no, I'm so sorry! I'm the one who bumped into you. Where do you want to meet to exchange our luggage?"

They agreed to meet at a café. As Zara arrived, Williams stood up, smiling. "Thanks for coming."

Zara handed him his luggage, and as they exchanged pleasantries, she said, "I'm so sorry again for bumping into you. I feel like I've seen you somewhere before."

Williams chuckled. "Of course, who doesn't know me?" They both laughed.

As they talked, Williams seemed to take a liking to Zara's poised demeanor. "You're a well-behaved lady, aren't you?" he said, impressed.

Zara smiled graciously. "Thank you, sir."

Williams' eyes sparkled with interest. "Would you like to meet up sometime? Maybe over dinner?"

Zara's smile was demure. "I'd like that."

They exchanged numbers, and as they parted ways, Zara felt a sense of satisfaction. "The plan is going smoothly."

Williams walked into his parents' opulent living room, expecting a warm welcome. Instead, he was met with a stern expression from his father.

"Williams, it's time we talked about your future," his father said, his voice firm.

Williams raised an eyebrow. "What about my future?"

His mother chimed in, her voice sweet but firm. "You've made enough money, dear. It's time to settle down and start a family."

Williams shook his head. "I'm not getting married."

His father's face darkened. "You'll do as we say, Williams. You're not getting any younger. If you don't marry soon, you'll regret it."

Williams felt a surge of anger, but his father's next words left him stunned.

"If you don't bring home a suitable wife, you'll find out that you're not entitled to anything in my will."

Williams' eyes widened in shock. He looked at his mother, expecting her to intervene, but she remained silent, her eyes cast downward.

Through gritted teeth, Williams said, "Fine. I'll bring my girlfriend to meet you. Since you're rushing me, I'll make sure to introduce her to you soon."

His father's expression softened, a sly smile spreading across his face. "I'm looking forward to meeting her, Williams."

Williams nodded, his mind racing. He had no girlfriend, but he knew exactly who he was going to introduce to his parents. Zara, the beautiful lady he had met at the airport.

Meanwhile, Patricia's face scrunched in concern. "It's been days, Zara. Are you sure you didn't scare him off?"

Zara rolled her eyes. "Of course, I was nice to him. Relax, he'll call."

Just then, Zara's phone rang, and she smiled sweetly at Patricia. "See?"

She picked up the call, and Williams' deep voice came through. "Hey, sorry I haven't been in touch. I've been busy since my work trip."

Zara's voice was warm and understanding. "It's fine. I know how it is."

Williams paused, then asked, "Would you like to meet up later this evening?"

Zara agreed, and they made plans to meet at a fancy restaurant downtown. As she hung up the phone, Patricia's face lit up with excitement.

"Well?" Patricia asked, barely containing her enthusiasm.

Zara smiled, "He wants to meet up tonight."

As they sat across from each other at the fancy restaurant, Williams seemed distant, his mind elsewhere. Zara tried to engage him in conversation, but he only half-listened, his responses brief.

Noticing his distraction, Zara asked, "Is everything okay? You seem a bit...preoccupied."

Williams hesitated, fidgeting with his napkin. Then, in a rush, he blurted out, "My parents want me to get married. I'm not ready, but I need to find someone...and I thought maybe...you."

Zara's eyes widened in shock. "You want me to marry you?"

Williams nodded. "I know it sounds ridiculous, but I couldn't just... I'm willing to make it worth your while, financially. Name any amount, and I'll pay it."

Zara's expression remained neutral, but her mind was racing. This was the opportunity she had been waiting for – a chance to escape Patricia's clutches.

Before Williams could continue, Zara cut him off, a sincere smile spreading across her face. "Yes, I'll marry you."

Williams' eyes widened in surprise. "Are you serious? You will?"

Zara nodded, her voice firm. "Yes, I'm serious. We can have a contract-based marriage, and I'll help you appease your parents. I'm willing to negotiate the terms, and I think we can come to a mutually beneficial agreement."

Williams looked stunned but also relieved. "Thank you, Zara. I owe you one. Let's discuss the details, and I'll make sure you're taken care of."

Zara's smile grew wider. She knew exactly what she was getting herself into – and she was ready to play the game.

Williams and Zara finalized their marriage agreement and agreed to meet up the next day to sign the documents.

After dropping Zara off at home, Williams thanked her again for agreeing to marry him. Zara smiled politely and stepped out of the car.

As she entered the house, Patricia greeted her with a wide grin. "So, how did it go?"

Zara put on a sad face and sighed. "Williams wants me to marry him."

Patricia's eyes widened in surprise. "What?!"

Zara continued, "His parents need him to get married and all that."

Patricia began to pace around the room, her expression thoughtful. "My God, this will be difficult now."

Zara watched her, wondering what Patricia was thinking.

Patricia stopped pacing and turned to Zara. "Okay, this is what will happen. You will marry him."

Zara's eyes widened in shock. "What?!"

Patricia continued, "You'll marry him, and then after you become his wife, you'll get the money. It will be easy. Then, we'll think of a way for you to get a divorce. Maybe you'll say you're infertile or that he abuses you."

Zara's face fell, her eyes wide with shock.

Zara's voice echoed through the room as she shouted, "Have you lost your mind?! You want me to do this just for money?! Are you not thinking about the consequences if things go south?"

Patricia's smile remained unwavering. "Nothing's going to happen, Zara. It's going to be an easy job."

Zara couldn't even bear to look at Patricia, she stormed off to her room instead. Patricia called after her, but Zara slammed the door shut.

As she stood in her room, Zara took a deep breath and whispered to herself, "Good work, Zara. I'll marry Williams and get Patricia off my back."

The next day, Williams and Zara met up, signing the documents that sealed their deal. Williams smiled, seeming relieved, and took Zara to meet his parents.

To Zara's surprise, they welcomed her with open arms, loving her instantly. For the first time in a while, Zara felt a spark of happiness.

The marriage preparations began, with Williams' parents taking charge. Zara found herself swept up in a whirlwind of wedding planning, her mind racing with thoughts of the future.

As she stood amidst the chaos, Zara couldn't help but wonder what lay ahead. Would she be able to handle the consequences? And what would happen when it was all over?