Love Beyond The Contract

The alarm rang loudly on the nightstand, its regular buzzing filling the tiny, darkly lighted room. Autumn White moaned and struggled to find the snooze button, but she ultimately succeeded. She blinked at the red numbers on the clock, which read 5:30 AM. For a waitress like her, it was much too early to be up so she decided to go back to sleep.

"Wake up Miss sleepy head. It's almost time for work. if you sleep any longer, we would get to work late," a voice said across the room.

Her best friend and roommate, Ruby, walked into the room hands akimbo but Autumn ignored her.

"Wake up now before I smack you Autumn," Ruby warned.

"Let me be, Ruby; it's just 5:30am. We still have a long time before work resumes," Autumn said as she rolled over to the other side of the bed still feeling sleepy.

"Uh...no, it's not; it's 7:30am. it says so clearly on your alarm clock," Ruby said.

Autumn, not believing her friend, turned to face the alarm clock on more time and saw it read 7:30am, which meant she had less than 30 minutes to get ready and be at work. Her eyes bulged out of their sockets as she jumped up from her bed.

"Why didn't you wake me earlier?" Autumn blamed her friend as she rushed into the bathroom to have her bath.

"Well I tried but you my friend was so deep in Wonderland that you refused to be woken," Ruby yelled back at her friend.

"I'll make us something to eat before we go to work," Ruby said, exiting the room.

Few minutes later, Autumn got out of the bathroom and immediately got dressed. She had always been known for coming to work early and she wasn't about to change that. Last night was the most stressful time at work; she went to bed pretty late after closing from work pretty late, which was why she found it hard to get up from bed on time.

She joined Ruby in the living room and they had breakfast together. As soon as they were done eating, they exited their home and made their way to the restaurant, Le Petit Bistro. Le Petit Bistro was a popular and charming eatery tucked between the sparkling skyscrapers of New York.

Autumn loved her job because it made her feel happy and satisfied. She carried out her duties with a smile on her face because she wanted the diners to feel happy and satisfied while having their meal. She had been working there for the past three years and had managed to impress the manager who took a liking to her.

Soon Ruby and Autumn got to their workplace and got ready to open for the day. Other employees joined them as time went on and by 10am, they were fully opened. Customers began to stream into the restaurant/diner that was famous for its delicious delicacies.

Meanwhile in a prestigious company not far from the diner, a Head Manager, Jaxon Wellington was having a discussion with his secretary. Jaxon was a tall, handsome young man, the heir to a great establishment, the Wellington Group, which contained a variety of businesses like hotels, airport, malls etc.

Although Jaxon was handsome and well to do, he was single but was always seen around with different ladies. his parents had pleaded with him to get married but he kept telling them that marriage was not his thing. The board of directors, who were bothered that his promiscuity would affect the business, urged him to find a wife but still he didn't bother doing so.

To him, being in a marriage felt like being in bondage where he wouldn't have freedom to do whatever he felt like doing. Also, he didn't think that being with one woman was a fun thing. His father, Marcus, who was still CEO, was scared to hand over the business to him so he threatened him to either get married or forfeit his right to take over the company.

"And that would be all," Jaxon finally said.

"Okay sir," the secretary replied.

"Do I have anything else on my schedule for today?"

"Yes sir, a get-together with your friends at the Le Petit Bistro by 9pm."

"That's outside of work hours; why did you add it in my schedule?"

"You asked me to, sir. You said you didn't want to forget as it was an important meeting," the scared secretary.

"Oh, that's true; thank you Sweety," Jaxon said to his secretary whose actually name was Sweety.

Sweety walked out of the office, leaving Jaxon to continue with his work. At the close of work, Jaxon went straight home to freshen up and take a rest before meeting with his friends that evening. At exactly 8:30pm, he left his house, casually dressed in a polo designer shirt, a pair of jeans, a pair of the latest Nike Air force sneakers, an expensive diamond chain and diamond Rolex watch. He didn't forget to put on his expensive Cologne.

In less than 30 minutes, he arrived at the restaurant and was led to a table where his friends were waiting for him. they were so excited to see each other as they exchanged pleasantries.

"This place looks nice and cozy," Jaxon said as he looked around the restaurant.

"Yeah, I chose this pace. This is where I took my wife to for our second year anniversary," Jacobi, one of Jaxon's friends said.

"I still cannot believe that you and Harry are married. And you, Kyle, an engaged man?" Jaxon said.

"Yes, marriage is good. you should join the team instead of gallivanting about with different ladies. you could catch STDs or whatever," Harry said.

"I don't just sleep with any woman, Harry. I do my findings first," Jaxon replied with a smirk on his face.

Before anyone else at their table could say another word, Jaxon suddenly yelled.

"WHAT THE FUC...?"

"I'll have a bowl of your creamy white chicken chili and a glass of water; I just find myself craving for some this lovely cool evening. I think my baby also craves for that," a pregnant female diner said to Autumn with a bright smile.

Autumn smiled back at her and said,

"Okay Ma'am and you sir."

The lady's husband said,

"I'll have the same thing; if that's what the baby wants, then we'll all have the same thing."

Autumn smiled and said she'd bring their other soon. She went to the kitchen to inform the chef of the couples' order. Few minutes later, she was heading back to the couples' table with a tray of their ordered meal. She was just a few seats away from them when a diner suddenly got up from their seat and bumped into her causing the content of her tray to tip over.

"I'm sorry; I'm so sorry," the diner apologized, feeling really bad.

Before Autumn could reply and say it was ok, she heard someone yell,

"WHAT THE FUC..."

Autumn looked to her side to see a man, who had had his clothes drenched with the content that was on her tray. The man happened to be Jaxon, although she didn't know who he was. Her eyes widened in shock as she began to apologize profusely.

"I'm so sorry sir; I didn't mean for that to happen. It was an accident. I'm really sorry," she said.

"SORRY? DID YOU JUST SAY YOU'RE SORRY BITCH? WHERE'S THE MANAGER HERE?" Jaxon yelled, drawing the attention of other diners.

Before Autumn could say anything else, the manager rushed out of his office. Someone had gone to inform him of the incidence before Jaxon even asked for him.

"I'm so sorry, Mr. Wellington about the accident. I promise it won't happen again," the manager said calmly, trying to calm Jaxon down.

"What happened here, Autumn?" he turned to face the poor Autumn who had been shaken up by the unfortunate incidence.

Autumn explained to him that a diner accidentally bumped into her causing her to mistakenly dump the tray and its contents on Jaxson. As the manager turned to face Jaxon to continue with the apologies, Jaxson spoke.

"Fire her," he said.

"Fire her now," Jaxon repeated.

"I'm sorry Mr. Wellington but Autumn is one of our best employees here. She has never made a mistake in the last three years of her service here. I'm sure she didn't mean for this to happen," the manager said, trying to get Jaxon to change his mind.

"Her employment or my patronage?" Jaxon said, shutting the manager up and putting him in a tight corner.

there was a brief moment of silence before the manager spoke. he turned to Autumn and with a heavy heart, he declared,

"I'm sorry Autumn but we have to let you go."

Autumn look at her boss with her eyes wide open. She couldn't believe that her boss was letting her go over a mistake that she wasn't fully responsible for.

"But Mr. Mc..."

"I'm sorry Autumn but we cannot afford to lose Mr. Wellington at our restaurant. I'm sorry once again," the manager said.

Autumn shifted her gaze from the manager to Jaxon who was staring back at her, his anger subsided but hers was over the roof. She was hurt but very angry at Jaxon for making her lose her job, the job she loved so much. Without any more said, Autumn walked to the back of the restaurant to get changed. Before she came back out, Jaxon and his friends had left the restaurant. She walked out of the restaurant feeling really heartbroken. All these, the other diners who were watching this scene unfold, condemned Jaxon for making the poor waitress lose her job.

Autumn took a cab and went home. Without taking off her clothes, she climbed her bed and wrapped her blanket around her body. Within minutes, she was consumed by sleep. When next she opened her eyes, Ruby was standing above her, with a sad look on her face.

"I heard what happened. Are you okay?" she asked.

"No I'm not. You know how much I loved that job and just because of one little mistake I made that wasn't entirely my fault, I lost my job," Autumn said, tears swelling in her eyes.

"Oh, come here," Ruby said as she sat on the bed and spread her arm out for Autumn to come into it for an embrace.

They stayed in that position for a while before separating. Autumn's face was red from al the crying that she had done and Ruby felt bad because she knew there was nothing she could do about the whole situation.

"I can't believe Mr. McCain let you go just like that. I thought you were his favourite. When I heard what he did, I went to his office to question him about it and all he could wad give me an envelope for you, saying it contained a compensation fee to say how sorry he was for doing that. That traitor," Ruby said, her anger starting to build up.

"I don't blame him; Customers are always right and besides that customer seemed like a pretty big deal. My anger isn't for Mr. McCain but the rich bastard that cost me my job. I wish I could slap him and hurl insults to his face for causing me so much pain," Autumn said.

Ruby comforted her some more and tried to cheer her up by declaring girls' night. She ordered pizza and they watched lots of movies together. After that day, Autumn began to search for a new menial job because she needed to find a way to fend for herself. But all her efforts were to no avail.

One day she returned from an unfruitful job hunt and a thought struck her mind. She pulled out her certificate from where she had kept it.

"I guess it's time to make use of you again," she said blowing away the accumulated dust.

Autumn decided it was time to make use of her certificate to get a better job, maybe like an office job or something similar to that just so she can make good money and take care of her daily needs. Although she tried that several years ago and it didn't work out, she thought she should try again; hopefully she would be lucky enough to get a good job this time.

She went around looking for job using her certificate this time but things seemed to be the same way. Autumn was about giving up when she received a mail from a prestigious company asking her to come for an interview. She had submitted her CV at that company and had almost lost hope because they hadn't gotten back to her but now they had and were granting her an interview. She shared the good news with Ruby and after having a few glasses of wine, they went to bed.

The next day, Autumn left the house as early as possible as she didn't want to miss the opportunity. She met other applicants for the job there and sat with them while waiting for her turn to be called in. She heard that the Head Manager, the second in command to the CEO, who happened to be the CEO's son, was in charge of holding the interview.

She said a little prayer, hoping to find favor in the eyes of the interviewer. Few minutes later, the Head manager's secretary came out of then office.

"Miss Autumn White?" the secretary called out.

"Yes?" Autumn answered, looking up from her CV.

"It's your turn; come in please," the secretary said with a smile in her face.

"Thank you," Autumn said, a nervous smile appearing on her face.

Autumn got up from her seat and walked towards the door. She took a deep breath in and a deep breath out before opening the door and walking in.

"Good morning si... YOU," she began as she walked into the Head Manager's office.

"You? What are you doing here?" the Head Manager who happened to be none other than Jaxon asked.

"I'm obviously here to get a job since you made me lose my last one," Autumn said with so much hatred in her voice.

"Well, that happened because you were a clumsy worker," Jaxon said.

"I WAS BUMPED INTO... How many times do I have to explain that to you?" Autumn yelled before reducing her voice a bit.

There was a brief moment of silence before Jaxon spoke again.

"You're here for a job but what if I told you I have something better to offer?" he said.

"Which is?" Autumn asked; her curiosity piqued.

"Have a seat first," Jaxon said.

"I'll rather stand," Autumn answered.

"Just sit, please," Jaxon said.

Autumn looked at him before turning her attention to the seat and after contemplating for a while; she took a deep breath and sat on the chair.

"I'm seated now; what's your offer?" Autumn asked.

"My parents have been pestering me to get married for a while now and I have no intention of doing that. But the problem now is my father is threatening to keep me from having the company because of my "promiscuous ways" as he would say but I see it as freedom. Anyways, I eventually came up with a plan and this plan involves hiring a lady to act as my wife for the six months, one year at most and after a year, we file for a divorce and go our separate ways after I pay her a whooping sum of $100,000. Now this is where you come in," Jaxon said.

"And how does all this concern me? I'm confused," Autumn asked, showing her confusion.

"I want you to act as my pretend wife for the next one year or less," Jaxon answered, dropping the bomb.

Autumn's blood boiled on hearing what Jaxon had asked of her. She couldn't believe that after making her lose her job, he still had the guts to ask her to pretend to be his wife.

"You have much guts; after causing me to lose my job, you had the guts to ask me this. What on earth makes you think I'll say yes to your request?" Autumn said.

"I'm sure you're so desperate to find a new job. it's either you accept my proposal or I hinder you from getting a job anywhere in New York just like I got you fired at your old job," Jaxon said, a smirk on his face.

"You won't dare," autumn said, surprised but doubting if Jaxon was capable of doing such or not.

"Try me. I'll make sure you don't get a job anywhere in New York. I'm wealthy and I have connections so anything's possible for me," Jaxon said proudly.

Autumn got up from her seat, with a pissed look on her face.

"I came here for a job but it's obvious you won't give me the job so instead of wasting my precious time here listening to this stupid talk, I'll take my leave," She said, before walking out of the office and out of the building.

She returned home really upset and narrated what happened to Ruby, hoping that she'd support her but Ruby's statement shocked her.

"This man has the ability and the connections to make you job-miserable in New York. He is Jaxon Wellington, heir to a large business conglomerate. His father is the CEO of Wellington Group. So believe me when I say he can ruin you life with the snap of a finger. Just do what he wants and get paid a huge sum. Then your life will be set forever and you no longer have to get a job to take care of your needs," Ruby said.

"WHAT? You expect me to marry a stranger and the very man who made me lose my job?" Autumn ask to be sure she got what Ruby was trying to say.

"Yes," Ruby confirmed.