Dinner before you eat me

In the middle days of July, the large funeral hall was crowded with people. As she looked at the affectionate and flattering faces of each person and listened to their concerns about her living together with them, Wuraola's heart grew colder and colder.

"My father didn't have any close friends in his lifetime, and he won't have any after his death. If you have any humanity left in you, please don't disturb his peace and leave."

"That's not it, Wuraola. Your father's house was demolished. Do you still have a house to live in? As a young girl, you're easily deceived."

Standing up with a cold face, Wura opened the door. "I'll give you ten minutes to leave. If you don't leave after ten minutes, I'll call the police."

Her mother died when she was young, and her father worked so hard to raise her. All of her relatives avoided them like a plague. Now that they know that their old house has been demolished and money is to be given, they suddenly appear one by one. Were they trying to take advantage of her?

Seeing that she wasn't joking, the crowd left, cursing and swearing. For a moment, the funeral hall became quiet, except for a man in black who didn't leave.

"Do you want to wait for me to call the police before leaving?"

"My master wants to see you, Miss Wura. Please come with me."

The man looked bold, he was clearly not an ordinary person.

Wuraola was almost numb with grief and had no interest in who this man's master was.

"I'm busy. You can leave."

"Miss Wuraola will regret it if she doesn't come. This matter is very important to you."

Kneeling in front of her father's picture, Wuraola silently remembered her father's hardships, with the gift she had bought for him still by her side.

"Dad, this is the first gift I've ever bought for you. I don't know if you'll like it... Don't worry, I'll avenge you."

Her eyes were cold, and the man in black left silently. Her father died in their old house, which was demolished. Everyone said it was an accident, but Wuraola didn't believe it, because he left her alone in this world.

It was the first time in her life that she received a paycheck. She couldn't wait to buy her father a windbreaker and make a reservation at a fancy restaurant for dinner. But what she saw was her father's lifeless body.

Wuraola clenched her fists, filled with hatred.

"Your father didn't die from an accident." A man's voice sounded from behind her, deep and hoarse, yet sexy at the same time.

Wuraola turned around abruptly.

Behind her stood a man in a suit and leather shoes, with perfectly groomed hair. He wore a white silk shirt with a dark red tie.

He looked down at Wuraola with his deep, black eyes.

His straight nose was topped with a thin, cold mouth which complimented his long eyebrows.

Who was he? And how did he know that her father didn't die from an accident?

"What do you mean?" Wuraola asked.

"Just what you're thinking, exactly as you're thinking it." The man's expression was indifferent, and his eyes were filled with sympathy.

"I can help you."

Wuraola's heart raced. Although she firmly believed that her father didn't die in an accident, hearing someone else confirm it made it difficult for her to control her emotions.

"What evidence do you have to prove it? Or are you just making it up?" Wuraola asked.

There was a moment of silence, the man crouched down, maintaining eye contact with Wuraola.

"I don't have any evidence, but I can help you find it."

Wuraola didn't feel happy, but rather weary.

This man looked dangerous from his head to his toe. He wouldn't help her for no reason.

"What do you want?" Wuraola looked at him and asked, "Or rather, what is the price to pay if you are helping me? What do you want to exchange with me?"

"You."

Wuraola was stunned and didn't understand, "What?"

"I want you."

The man reached out and pinched Wuraola's chin, his actions felt romantic but his voice remained cold, "Marry me."

This was even more shocking than winning a lottery. With just a few simple words, Wuraola still felt like she needed a lot of effort to digest it.

"Are you...sick?"

Would a normal person propose to someone they've never met before at someone else's funeral?

The man wasn't angry, but instead withdrew his hand and rested it on his knee, "If I told you that the only way to find evidence is to marry me, what would you say?"

"Why?"

"Because." The man leaned in close to Wuraola and whispered, "My name is Mide Wellington."

Midd Wellington? Wellington... Wuraola suddenly opened her eyes wide in disbelief and looked at the young man, her lips tightly pursed.

"You said your surname is Wellington?"

She clenched her fists, restraining the urge to punch him in the face, "What's your relationship with the company that forced my dad to sign the agreement?"

Mide saw her sudden change in expression and didn't hide anything as he said "I am the vice president of that company, and my father is the chairman of the board."

Wuraola's head was banging. She had always suspected that the company was responsible for her father's death. What did it mean for him to come and ask her to marry him?

"Are you playing me?"

The reason why her father refused to agree to the demolition was because all of his and his wife's memories were there. If they developed the area, my father would become a thorn in their eye.

"Or do you think I won't do anything to you? Do you think that just because we are common people without money or power, we can't do anything to you?!"

All of a sudden, Mide was about to stand up when Wuraola stretched out her hand to grab his collar, but he grabbed her wrist in mid-air.

Mide lowered his head and looked at the woman who was close at hand. Her face, without any makeup, was filled with stubbornness and resentment, as though she had lost the pillar of her life, just like he had at that time.

"Be more sober, Wuraola. Not all people with the surname Wellington are your enemies. Don't you understand? I'm here to help you."

"Help me?" Wuraola raised her voice and sneered, her eyes were full of mockery. "Help an outsider to fight against your own company and father? Mide Wellington, are you stupid or am I the stupid one here?"

"Believe it or not, this is the truth," Mide said, letting go of her hand and taking a contract from his assistant to hand it over to her. "This is the biggest concession I've fought for you. The company has never spent so much money before."

Snap!

Wuraola didn't hesitate to slap away the contract in Mide's hand. "Do you think money is everything? Will everything be fine if you give me money?"

Looking at the contract on the ground, Mide didn't pick it up, but instead, his forehead veins bulged.

"Do you think you can avenge your father by acting based on your emotions? I'll give you one day to think about whether or not to marry me. I'll come to you the day after tomorrow."

After speaking, Mide left with a colder expression than before.

Sitting in the car, his assistant was worried. "Sir, what if she tears up the contract? You sacrificed one of your projects for it. Why don't you tell Miss Wuraola about it? What if she doesn't agree to marry you the day after tomorrow? Wouldn't my Lord be at a disadvantage?

"You underestimate her," Mide said, supporting his head with one hand and closing his eyes to rest. "She's a unique woman. I didn't make a mistake in choosing her."

As for what to do if she still refuses to marry him the day after tomorrow, he can only take a hard approach without hesitation.

Mide watched as the house of Wuraola faded into the distance. There was a change in his heart that he hadn't even noticed.

That night, Wuraola knelt in front of her father's picture all night long, without closing her eyes. When the first ray of sunlight shone the next morning, she got up, washed up, and left with the agreement on the ground.

At Wellington Corporation.

Wuraola looked up at the magnificent building, feeling both nervous and calm. She took a deep breath and stepped inside, ready to start her war.

When the administration department heard that Wuraola had come, the director rushed over to invite her to the VIP room, afraid that she would cause trouble. But she was calm and polite as if she were a guest.

"Miss Wuraola, do you have any business coming here? I am the administrative director of Wellington Corporation. If you have anything to say, please tell me."

Wuraola glanced at him. "What I want to say is something you can't decide. Is your chairman here? I want to see him."

"Whether I can decide or not, how do you know if you don't say it?" The administrative director was stunned. This woman had such unwavering boldness. Was there anything in this company that he couldn't decide?

"I demand double compensation."

Okay, very good, he really couldn't decide... The administrative director nodded reluctantly. "Please wait a moment, Miss Wuraola."

The room was empty, and she finally relaxed her clenched fists.

When Mide received the news that Wuraola had come to the company, he was amazed for a moment, and a smile appeared on his handsome face. "Is she here to find me?"

His assistant coughed softly. "Sir, Miss Wuraola, is here to see the chairman. She demands double compensation."

He was amazed. He immediately ordered his assistant to prepare some food and drinks and wait for the chairman to return.

As soon as they heard the door open, both of them looked towards the entrance. The administrative director looked relieved, while Wuraola had no emotions on her face.

"This is the vice president of our company and also the son of our chairman." With the young man here, he wouldn't have to take the blame, right?

Wuraola didn't say a word, and Mide didn't mind. "Go prepare some food," he said, then looked at Wuraola, "Do you have any dietary restrictions?"

She nodded negatively and he signaled to the administrative director to leave.

'Wuraola is really bold. She dared to come directly and demand double compensation. I'm afraid that's not her intention. This woman's actions cannot be understood with ordinary thinking.' Mide thought to himself.

"When is the chairman returning to the company?" Mide asked as the administrative director got to the door.

His assistant followed him, "I have no idea, sir. The meeting is quite important, so he might not be back until tonight."

After the two left, Wuraola and Mide were left alone in the office.

"Wuraola, your acting skills are good," Mide said, raising an eyebrow.

Wuraola didn't mince her words, "It takes one to know one."

Mide sat on the chair, folded his hands, and looked at Wura. "If you were not satisfied with the compensation, why didn't you say so yesterday?"

Wuraola glanced at him, "Do you think I came all the way here just for the money? You already said that the amount was the biggest concession your company could make, and I'm satisfied."

"Then, are you here to see your enemy?" Mide didn't seem surprised, as if it was to be expected.

Wuraola nodded, "Errmh before the chairman comes back, could you please keep me company, Mr. Mide?"

Mide cocked his eyebrows in surprise but quickly regained his composure. "Of course."

"Also," Wuraola suddenly leaned in close to Mide and spoke in a hushed voice, "I want to know about what happened between you and your father. Why are you going to such lengths to ruin him?"

"That seems to have nothing to do with you," Mide looked at Wuraola.

"If I go and tell him everything you've done, what do you think will happen?" Wuraola raised her eyebrows and looked at Mide, making it unable to tell if she was joking or serious.

Mide remained calm and said, "I want to believe that you are a smart lady and you know that by doing so, it will not benefit you in any way. Instead, you lose a good opportunity. You wouldn't dare to do that."

Wuraola rolled her eyes.

Seeing that he didn't say anything, Wuraola complained, "You know everything about me, but I know nothing about you. Is that fair?"

"The most ridiculous word in the world is 'fairness'. If there was fairness, there would be no life or death," Mide said. "But if you really want to know something about me, you can marry me. Then I'll tell you everything you want to know."

Wuraola hadn't thought this through yet, although she had already agreed to most of it in her heart. She just needed that last push.

"Forget it, I don't want to know for now. As for the answers you want to know, why rush? You'll know tomorrow," she said, tilting her head cutely.

Mide was about to say something else when his assistant knocked on the door. "The things have arrived."

"Come in," Mide said, sitting up straight and adjusting his clothes. The timing couldn't have been worse. His assistant looked at him curiously before leaving after putting down the things.

"Go ahead and eat," Mide said, glancing at his watch. "It should suit your taste. My father will be back in two hours. Before that, I'll teach you how to find his weak spot and negotiate with him."

Wuraola was surprised. "How do you know what I like to eat? And do you really have such a bad relationship with your father, that you have to teach me how to deal with him?"

"You have a lot to learn in the coming days. Let's cut to the chase. Remember what I say while you eat," Mide said.

...

Two hours later, Mide's father arrived at the company in time. Mide took Wuraola with him to see the chairman.

The chairman's secretary leaned over to whisper something in the chairman's ear in his office. Mr. Wellington's eyes turned to Wuraola, and his brow furrowed.

"The compensation agreement we sent to you yesterday already exceeds the amount you're owed. Doubling it is impossible," he said.

Sitting on the chair, Mr. Wellington sipped his tea.

"Don't be so merciless, Mr. Wellington," Wuraola replied. "I'm now an orphan, and everything that happened was because of your company. It's not unreasonable for me to demand double the compensation."

Without giving Mr. Wellington a chance to speak, she continued, "I happen to have a lot of free time. If Mr. Wellington can't even meet this small request, then I'll have to hang a banner at the front of your company."

"Ahem." Mide cleared his throat twice and stood up, walking over to Mr. Wellington. "Just agree to it. The company has already been reported severally by the media. We can't afford any more negative news."

Wellington corporation wasn't lacking in money, but it was lacking in good reputation, so the chairman had no choice but to agree to it.

Half an hour later, Wuraola walked out of Wellington Corporation with a cheque in her hand. A car was parked on the side of the road, and the driver got out when he saw her.

"Miss Wuraola, my lord asked me to pick you up."

With just a little thought, Wuraola knew who sent him. Without hesitation, she got into the car. However, instead of taking her home, the car drove her to a mansion.

"Where is this?" Wuraola got out of the car. "Did Mide ask you to bring me here?"

"Yes, Miss Wuraola. This is my lord's personal mansion. He asked you to wait here for a moment. He'll be back soon."

After speaking, the driver led Wuraola inside. A maid was already waiting at the door, so the driver left after dropping her off, while the maid led her inside.

"Miss Wura, would you like to take a bath and have a spa treatment first?" The maid smiled sweetly.

Why a bath? She wasn't here to serve someone!

"No, thank you. You can go about doing your business. I'll wait here alone until Mide returns," Wuraola said, feeling uncomfortable under the maid's gaze.

"Okay, if you need anything, just let me know," the maid said before leaving obediently.

"Pheew!" Wuraola breathed a sigh of relief and picked up a magazine to pass the time. Fortunately, it wasn't long before Mide arrived.

"After you left, he threw a big tantrum," Mide said, seeming to be in a good mood. "You did a good job Wuraola, I'm so proud of you."

He had taught her to use the company's reputation to her advantage, and Wuraola had clearly understood how to do so without too much effort.

"What do we do next?" Wuraola wasn't happy about the whole situation.

Mide rolled his eyes and gave her a strange look. "Next, we get married, of course."

At the mention of marriage, Wuraola's ears suddenly turned red, even though she knew it was just going to be a business arrangement between the two of them.

She wasn't sure if it was a good idea to be Mide's paper wife, but yet she needed to avenge her father's death.

"I didn't say I agreed to the contract marriage you suggested," she muttered.

Looking at her blushing face, Mide felt his heart skip a beat. A strange warmth flowed through him, making him feel like he was walking on clouds.

"But you've already agreed in your heart. You just haven't said it with your mouth yet," he said.

Wuraola didn't say anything. Suddenly, Mide stood up and walked over to her, leaning in close. The distance between them was only as wide as a fist, and they could see their reflections in each other's eyes.

"You..."