Married To My Baby Daddy's Brother

"How dare you speak to me like that?' The woman lashed out at Ariel.

"Madam, don't get the wrong impression, I was only following the rules given to us." Ariel smiles, trying her best to hide her fear.

"I'm going to test these heels, and there's nothing you will do about it!" The woman tried to poke Ariel with the heels of the stiletto.

"Ma'am." Ariel held onto the shoes. "You can't put them on."

"What's happening here?" A voice came from behind the scene. A slender model-like figure appeared. Her pink blazers spoke well of her position.

"Are you the manager here?" The woman asked in a furious tone. "Where is the manager?"

"Yes, ma'am. Good day; what's the problem?" The boss asked with a bright and delightful smile.

"I want to make a purchase but your rude worker won't let me test them out!

"Madam, I was only trying to follow-"

"You have no right to speak when a customer is in the middle of her complaint!" The boss cut her off, giving Ariel a deadly glare, her tone sharp and cautious.

She turned her attention to the customer. "Madam, I am so sorry for any inconvenience." Ariel's boss lamented as she bowed her head for the woman.

The woman glared at Ariel and she dropped the shoes noisily. "I'm not buying, good day." She stormed out of the store.

Amongst the crowd was a young man standing at approximately 6'2 tall, his ocean blue eyes and his lustrous black trimmed hair spoke well of him. His two huge bodyguards are beside him.

All this while, He had his eyes on Ariel, who was publicly humiliated for something she had no fault in.

"Meet me in my office now, you this useless stinky thing!" Ariel's boss spat as she strode out of the scene. Her tone was huffy and commanding.

The man was still there; he didn't move an inch. He scanned Ariel with his emotionless eyes as he was mesmerized by Ariel's beauty

"Hmmm.......this beauty should not be treated like trash." He murmured to himself.

He then signaled one of his bodyguards and whispered in his ear. "Give her my card." He commanded.

As the guard approached her, She wheeled her head up to see the huge masculinity in front of her. "Reach out if you want a life-changing opportunity, you have four days to think it through." The bodyguard said and left a confused Ariel who couldn't stop staring at him.

Ariel tucked the card away and went up to her boss' office. Would she ever have peace in the store? Her boss disliked her, and any little chance to punish her, she wouldn't let it slide. Each step she took reminded her of how loathsome her boss was.

"Knock knock." Ariel summoned up courage.

"Come in," Ariel's boss voiced from the inside.

Ariel entered and stood at her boss's table. Her hands at her back as she folded them tightly as if she was about to receive a death sentence.

Her boss stared at her silently without uttering a word.

"My sincere apolo-"

"Do not speak!" Her boss was pissed. "We lost a valuable customer."

"Ma-" Ariel's statement was cut short in her throat as her boss shushed her up. Leaving her no room for continuation.

"Ariel.....I have warned you several times not to get on my nerves. Do you not want this job anymore?" Her boss asked. Her tone was calm yet cautious.

"Ma'am please forgive me, it won't happen again." Ariel pleaded. Desperately praying silently for her boss's mercy.

"Don't beg me, Ariel; you chased one of our best customers; how do you want to make up for the loss you've caused my store!?"

"I am-"

"No paycheck this month, now get out of my office." Ariel's intended statement was cut short in her throat as she heard her boss's decision.

She stood there, not moving an inch, hoping to find any lingering favor in her boss's eyes.

"Do you have gums in your ears? Leave my office, I want fresh air!?" Her boss said, glaring at her like her presence was a contagious virusAriel wheeled around without uttering a word. Outside was Anya who had been eavesdropping the whole time.

As Ariel came out with teary eyes, Anya hugged her tightly. "It's okay...it's fine..."

"How am I supposed to care for my child if things continue like this? I have been saving up to pay for his tuition fees, but everything seems to be going wrong." Ariel lamented as she sobbed on her friend's shoulder.

"It's okay girl...I'm here for you, you're not alone in this." Anya comforted her as she rubbed her back for ease.

"Let's go, it's closing time," Anya said as she picked up their bags from the locker. They changed into their casual outfit and left the store.

Ariel got home with her last strength, hoping to dive and sink into her bed. However, her legs crumbled as she was welcomed with a more disheartening scene. Two men in the company of the caretaker had made their way into her room.

"What are you doing?" She rushed to them, trying to stop them from throwing her belongings away. "Leave that!

"Your rent has been overdue for two fucking years! The caretaker flung her hand away. She reeked of poverty. "You're leaving this house today."

All her pleas fell on deaf ears, they kept taking out her belongings until the room was empty. The caretaker put a big lock on the door. "When you have your money, let me know."

The faint sound of cars blaring from afar mingled with the rhythm of her heart, as she lost herself in the wilderness of her thoughts. Her phone buzzed, interrupting her. It was Anya.

"Girl, what's up?" Anya uttered from the other end of the call. "Ariel, are you listening?"

Anya heard the sniffs. "Girl, are you crying? Talk to me, I'm worried."

"I'm homeless now." She hated to trouble people with her own problems, but what option did she have?

"I'm on my way, we'll figure this out together." Anya hung up. Minutes later, she arrived at Ariel's place. "You can stay with me for the meantime." Anya patted her back for ease.

----

The next day, Ariel was on the bed, half asleep. A call buzzed from her phone. It was Mrs Garrett; her son's class teacher. "Hello Mrs Garr–"

"Max collapsed!" She yelled.

The room spun round, she placed her arm on the headboard for support." What happened to Max, where is he!?" Ariel was on her feet, slipping into any cloth she could find.

"The hospital Ma'am."

"Which hospital?"

"Saint Joan hospital" The woman responded and hung up.

Ariel waltzed past the crowd of people, heading towards Mrs Garrett. "Where is Max?" She shook her violently.

"Calm down, Ma, he's fine now, but the doctor wants to see you."

Along with Mrs Garrett, she went to the doctor's office. He ushered her in and Mrs Garrett excused herself.

"You're Max's mother, right?" He took off his glasses, which he placed on the table.

"Yes," She nodded. "Will Max be okay?" She wiped off her tears. " What happened to my son?"

"Madam I'm sorry to tell you that your son has arrhythmia."

"What....what did you say?"

"You heard right Ma'am." The doctor reiterated. "He needs to be operated on, it'll cost seven million."

Ariel froze. She pinched herself to be sure it wasn't a dream. Where was she supposed to find the money? "Doctor, I don't have such an amount."

"Well, I suggest you find it or else Max's health will deteriorate." His tone carried a serious warning.

"I'll try my best. Can I see Max now?"

"Yes, you can."

Before entering, she came to a halt, wiped her tears-stricken face, and curled up her lips to put a smile on her face.

"Mama, what happened to me, why am I here?"

Ariel sat next to him, stroking his hair." My baby, everything is fine."

Beside Max was a nurse who was inspecting Max's heart monitor.

"Can he be discharged for now?" Ariel asked the nurse.

"Yes ma'am, but he needs to be monitored."

She nodded but her eyes gave her misery. Some minutes later, Ariel signed for her son's discharge and took him home.

Back at home, Ariel sank into the sofa, tired and defeated.

"The business card, how about we check if you can be offered a position in their company?" Anya suggested.

"Are you sure?"

"You should try first." Anya tried to reason with her. "You never know what benefit you could gain from doing so."

From the dresser, she brought out the card, JC was embroidered on the card. Below it was a telephone number and an email address. "Are you sure about this?" She was in doubt.

"Try."

"Okay, I'm gonna email them now."

"No, don't email, call," Anya suggested.

"Okay," Ariel responded as she jacked around to pick up her phone. She called, it rang but no one answered.

"Tr-" Anya's statement was interrupted by a buzz from Ariel's phone. "Pick up!"

Ariel swiped to answer the call. "Hello,"

"I will send you the address." A masculine voice said. His voice was calm, yet intimidating. Minutes later, a message came in; an address of a restaurant.

"An address, It's a restaurant," Ariel said. "Formal or casual?"

"Formal." Anya was already on her feet, going through the wardrobe. "I will go select a perfect outfit for you."

Ariel took a look in the mirror. She was dressed up in a brown button-down shirt paired with cream paint. Her blonde hair was in a ponytail. She was ready!

"Casa Petra." Ariel hopped into the taxi and drove off. Minutes later, she arrived at the restaurant. A man whom she instantly recognized as the one who had handed her the card waited outside.

"You may go in." He opened the door. Ariel entered, holding her CV tight to her chest. There was no one aside from a man surrounded by bodyguards and her at the restaurant.

"You are 4 hours and 37 minutes late." The man in a navy blue tuxedo said. "Move closer and have your seat," Johnny ordered, pointing at the empty seat which she sat in.

"What is your name?" He arrested his fork halfway, his eyes scrutinizing her.

"Ar-Ariel Richmond." She stuttered.

"Johnny Lucas." He grinned. "Let's get straight to business." He picked up a file and handed it to her.

"My apologies, something came up on my way here."

Johnny didn't respond. He put the file on the table and slid it across, followed by a pen and an utterance. "Marry me."

Ariel's hands came to a halt upon hearing the statement. She shifted her gaze up and locked eyes with him. Her eyebrows squinted in disbelief "What did you say?"

"You heard me right," Johnny responded, his eyes remained calm and emotionless. "Read what the offer comes with."

Ariel took the file. Her expectation was to be given a job and not get entangled with a stranger. She skimmed through the file until her eyes fell on the amount being offered.

"Thirty million dollars!" She thought inwardly. "Comport yourself." Her eyes scrolled down the contract to read further. "A marriage of convenience?" She asked in confusion.

"Yes," Johnny nodded.

Ariel pushed back the file. "I came here to get a job, not to get married."

Johnny chuckled softly at her expectation. "Think about your son."

Ariel narrowed her eyes at him like a detective which made Johnny chuckle. "How do you know about my son?"

He picked up his glass, took two sips, and set it down. "I ran a background check" He replied. "Found out all I needed to know."

"A background check?" She swallowed hard. What else did he also know about her? She thought to herself.

As if sensing her uneasiness and worry, he added. "That's all that I know about you, the rest I want to hear from you."

Ariel's gaze shifted to the file on the table. Thirty million dollars! Max's surgery would be paid for, his tuition fees would be paid, and she'd no longer have to work an underpaid job. Plus this opportunity would bring her closer to her dream job.

"Just three months?" She looked at him and nodded. "Yes, Milady, ninety days and this charade will be over." He chewed on a piece of turkey.

"I'll do it." Ariel shrugged helplessly. Max's life was on the line. This was her only option. She was handed a pen which she uncapped and quickly signed before she changed her mind.

Johnny collected the file, his eyes going through it. "You have a beautiful signature." He said softly and for some reason, he was laughing. The file was handed over to a bodyguard who in turn put it in a case. "Eat milady, we have the night to ourselves."

Ariel reluctantly picked up the cutleries, scooping a spoonful of rice which she ate slowly. She hadn't realized how hungry she was.

"In these ninety days, do we have to-" How was she supposed to ask? Johnny knew where she was headed yet he enjoyed seeing her stutter in embarrassment.

"Do we do what couples do?" Her eyes were looking at her food. Her cheeks were flushed red with embarrassment. She just wanted to be on the safer side.

"Yes," His tone was serious. "All that couples do, we have to do."

Ariel's head shot up, her eyes clung onto his. The alarm she had been feeling combined with shock. "That wasn't part of the contract!" She was half rising from her seat.

Johnny leaned back in his chair, falling to suppress his laughter. "It's a joke, you've read the contract, it was never mentioned there or are you-"

"No," she interrupted. "Just playing it safe, don't want what happened to re-" She clamped her mouth shut the moment she realized she was saying too much.

"What were you saying?" He inquired.

"Nothing," she took a sip from her glass, which she choked on; luckily, she didn't die. "Are you okay?" Johnny asked.

"Yes," she wiped her mouth with a napkin.

The next five minutes were followed by an awkward silence. Johnny looked at the time; it was far spent. Ariel also realized the same thing, and she said, "I have to get going now; my friend and son must be worried sick."

"I'll drop you off," Johnny was rising to his feet but she waved her hand in the air. "You don't have to, I'll find my way home."

"I insist Mrs. Johnny." He smiled. " You are now my responsibility and I have to see to it that you get home safe."

The sound of being called Mrs Johnny made her toes curl in first hand embarrassment but she managed a smile. "Okay."

Johnny slipped on his jacket, and with his hand on her back, he guided her to the car, which was parked up front. One of the men opened the door and she entered. This is her life now!

Her eyes took the car in a look, mesmerized by the interior of the luxurious car. She had been catapulted into a world for the rich and opulent.

Well... She was once surrounded and wrapped in luxurious things before.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Johnny. "This job requires your full attention which means you'll have to leave your son out of it."

That statement didn't sit well with her and she expressed her displeasure. "I can't leave Max alone, he's sick."

"I'll see to it that Max is well taken care of," Johnny assured her. "You can leave him with your friend." To convince her, he added. "If anything goes wrong, I don't want Max to become a target for my enemies."

He was right; Max had nothing to do with it, so she agreed; Anya would gladly take care of him.

"We will be leaving very soon." He reached into his inner pocket for his phone.

"To where?" Ariel asked. "I thought we were residing here in Spain?" That was another reason why she agreed. At least she could pop up every once in a while to see her son.

"Las Vegas," he announced, sparing her a look before he averted his gaze back to his phone. "That is where your job begins."

Ariel had nothing going down her throat but she choked on air. Johnny patted her gently on the back until she stopped coughing.

"What...what did you say? Las...Las Ve...Vegas?"

"Yes, is there a problem with that?" He narrowed his eyes on her.

"No!" She interjected, her eyes twitching uncontrollably, betraying her response.

~What have I done to myself, what sort of cunning game is fate playing with me?~ She yelled inwardly.

Las Vegas was a forbidden city for Ariel. A place of torment and terror to her. A place where she sustained a wound that refused to heal, a wound that left a miserable memory.

The car pulled up to the house and he watched her until she entered the house.

"Where have you been?" Anya asked the minute Ariel walked in.

"The job interview." A tired Ariel flopped herself onto the sofa. Anya sat next to her, trying her best to restrain herself from wrapping her arms around Ariel's neck. "I called you so many times."

Ariel reached into her bag for her phone: 42 missed calls. "I'm so sorry." Ariel apologized. She had put her phone on silent to avoid any distractions while she was taking the supposed interview.

"I'll only forgive you once I hear you got the job." She gazed at her in anger.

"I did get the job," Ariel said as she brushed off the hairs that were sticking to her forehead.

Anya rose to her feet, and the anger she was reeling from instantly dissipated into thin air. "Congratulations."

"Thank you," Ariel said, struggling to breathe as Anya crushed her in a tight embrace. "That's not all."

Anya let go of her, and she sat next to her, eager to listen.

"I didn't get the job per say, I got married."