Married in 14 Days

Sasha strutted confidently as she made her way to her company's fundraiser in the five-star hotel. Being one of the first people to arrive, she sat on a table in front. In a few hours, Tom McCarthy, the Chief Strategy Officer, would make the most important announcement of her career; she was about to be promoted from manager to director. For seven years, she had worked hard to earn the promotion, and tonight was her night.

The event scaled through slowly and then it was time for the new Director of Strategy to be announced. Tom McCarthy took to the stage to address the crowd. After his speech, he made the announcement.

"I am pleased to announce that the new Director of Strategy for Golden firm is none other than Mr. Gold Fletcher."

As Mr. Fletcher made his way to the stage, Sasha felt her heart sink. How could this be? Everyone at work whispered that the promotion was hers. Tom McCarthy himself commended her at every given chance. He'd told her he couldn't think of anyone who was better fit for the role. What went wrong?

Disappointed, she walked out of the hotel, fighting back the tears that stung the back of her eyes. A little walk and some fresh air should make her feel better. Luckily, the grand hotel had a lakeside view that spread out in front of it. She carefully made her way to the bridge that curved over the lake and into a garden, using the bright screen of her phone to make her way through the darkness.

As she reached the middle of the bridge, her phone rang. It was her younger sister whom she had told about the promotion. Surely, Tatiana was calling to congratulate her. She thought about ignoring the call because she knew that having to say out loud that she didn't get the promotion would push her to tears, but she decided she would rather get it over with sooner than later.

"Hello?" She said as she answered the call."So?" Tatiana said from the other end of the phone. Her baby could be heard babbling in the background.

"So, I didn't get it," Sasha replied with an air of defeat.

"What?"

"Yeah.""I don't understand," said Tatiana after a brief silence.

"Yeah, me neither." Sasha used the back of her finger to dry a tear near her eye. "I was so sure I would get the promotion, but some new guy who just transferred here got it."

"Sasha, I'm so sorry," said Tatiana."I was really looking forward to this. I really thought that for once Mum and I would have something to talk about other than marriage."

"Don't tell me she still bothers you about getting married," Tatiana said."She never stopped. At this point, I'm considering a fake marriage.

"Tatiana laughed. "You wouldn't."

"No, I'm serious. I'm seriously considering a lavender marriage."

"You can't," Tatiana protested. She could hear the seriousness in her sister's voice.

"Why not?" asked Sasha."I mean...what if you fall in love with someone else and want a real marriage?

"Sasha scuffed. "After my ex? I don't think I ever will again."

"But what about...the other stuff?""What stuff?"

"Dad's debt," said Tatiana. "You can't just drag anyone into that, you know? And only someone who truly loves you would be willing to put up with that."

"Oh," said Sasha. "I didn't think about that." She sighed. "I wonder if we will ever get out of it. I wish I could have my home to myself without Mum nagging in my ear all day long. It's why I needed this promotion. I need every extra income I can get."

"I know. It's been harder since Ruby," confessed Tatiana. "Scott and I said to each other the other day that if we knew, we would have waited a few more years before having a baby. Now, a huge chunk of our income goes into paying off the debt and taking care of Ruby."

"I'm so glad that Scott understands," said Sasha."I know, right? I feel so lucky."

"I have to go back now before anyone notices I'm missing. I'm clearly very cherished in this company," Sasha said sarcastically.

"Try to be happy, okay? Someday, you'll get what you deserve. I know it," Tataiana said.

"Thanks."

Sasha ended the call and inhaled deeply. A little weight had been lifted off her shoulder just by talking to her sister. And for a moment, her problems didn't feel like hers alone. She turned around and stopped in her tracks.

At the foot of the bridge in the darkness, and with dim light pouring on its back, was a tall, broad-shouldered figure looking in her direction.

Since coming to America, Darnell had been to one soulless meeting after another. He preferred conversations about wines over those he'd had the past few days about hotels. But since his father passed away and he'd inherited his shares of all King Hotels, the largest luxury hotel conglomerate in the world, he was left to deal with the incomplete hotel budgets, unsigned hotel documents, and unresolved hotel plans. Everything about the hotels that his father left behind after he died were his now, both the wealth and the troubles.

His grandfather still owned shares of the hotels. Those too would become Darnell's when he passed away. That was how it worked in the King family. When an heir was no longer capable of handling the family business, he passed it down to the next in line, but held a small percentage of shares until his death. Then, when he too passed, his shares belonged to the new heir.

He'd been to all the countries in the world where they had hotels and was back to California where he started. It was here that he grew up as well, before he decided to start his wine business in Paris at the age of twenty-one.

His little brother, Joshua, had offered Darnell a room in his home, but he'd declined and chosen to stay at the hotel instead. He couldn't stand the familial atmosphere of Joshua's home. Grandfather always emphasized that it was important for a man to have a family. It was his first declaration to the world that he was fit to lead any business. After his father's dead, Joshua had inherited his personal business; an advertising firm for high-end companies. Grandfather said Joshua could handle it so easily because he was a family man

Darnell took his grandfather's statements with a grain of salt, because having a family always seemed like something done for show in the King family. Grandfather saw women outside of his marriage, and so did his father. Perhaps, even Joshua was the same too. Darnell couldn't imagine being a part of something so polished and yet so fake, so he never bothered to have a real relationship and had no intention of getting married.

Until now.

Grandfather was sick and barely had two months to live. He'd given Darnell an ultimatum-to marry before his death or lose his share of the hotels. So, his search for a wife began. He needed to pay someone to play his wife before Grandfather passed. It wouldn't be his first time paying women to be in a relationship with him to satisfy Grandfather.

He strolled out of the hotel and walked down to the lake. It was dark. He loved the darkness. Joshua always joked that it matched his closed off personality.

The lake area was his favorite place as a child. He had memories of his family having picnics there and looking like a perfectly happy family. Just him, his mother, his father, and Joshua-until he realized it was nothing more than a façade.

As he neared the bridge, he heard the voice of a woman coming from the top. He waited by the foot in hopes that she would leave after her phone call as she looked dressed for the party at the hotel.

She started talking about wanting a fake marriage and caught his attention. It was as though the universe had guided him there on purpose to help fulfill his desire. She was perfect for three reasons-she was desperate, needed money and was a nobody. He wanted a secret wedding, and it'll be easier to have when no one knew the woman he married.

She had ended her call and started back down the bridge. That was when it occurred to him that he'd never actually approached a woman romantically. She saw him and froze. He couldn't make out her full face clearly, but one half of it caught the light and he could see that her curly hair was packed upwards. He realized she couldn't see him clearly either and was afraid, so he mentally included fixing the lights around the lake to his list of things that needed fixing around the hotel.

"Hello," he said, raising his hand. "I'm Darnell. Darnell King. I own the hotel," he added, not to brag, but so that she could know that she was safe.

"Oh, Mr. King." She'd seen him on the internet, but it was her first time meeting him in person. His father was the former owner of her firm that his brother now owns.

"Likewise, Miss...."

"Peirce," replied Sasha. "Sasha Peirce."

"Miss Peirce," Darnell repeated. "Could I have a word with you, Miss. Peirce?"

"Of course," Sasha replied as she descended the bridge and finally stood next to him.

Even with her heels on, he towered over her. He was wearing a regular T-shirt and khaki pants but managed to make them appear fancy. His voice was deep but calm.

"So, what brings you out here?" he asked. "I figured you were one of the party people."

They started walking back to the party.

"Yeah, it hasn't been a great night for me. I didn't get the promotion I thought I'd get. So, I needed somewhere to breathe," she replied.

"My apologies," he said. "But I'm glad I got to meet you. I'd love to make it up to you with dinner. Tomorrow evening. What do you say?"

He was handsome. Gorgeous even. But she knew of his shenanigans and not to be fooled by his faux gentlemanliness. He was the King who people gossiped was different from the rest of his family. He was no family man, and none of his relationships had lasted more than a month. Maybe, it was her insecurity, or the fact that she'd been dying to have a man on her since her ex who'd broken her heart so badly that she'd felt no excitement ever since, but she decided she wanted to see where this went.

"I'd love to," she replied.

"Great," he said. "I'll be at the hotel's restaurant at six."

"I'll see you then." She smiled.He watched her walk into the party before turning around to leave.

Small diamond face, slim figure, sparkling almond eyes, thick curly hair, long legs. She was just perfect to play his wife. Perfect enough that everyone would believe they were great together. After all, that was all that mattered-how it looked on the outside.

All he had to do now was convince La Belle to become his wife within a month.

Chandelier lights spread out like a sea of golden yellow across the restaurant. The soft sound of piano music, the quiet chatter of people, and the clinging of cutleries gave life to the room. Darnell was at his reserved table at five-thirty pm. Only two other people were at the VVIP section situated on the highest floor. From up there, he had the best view of the entire restaurant. He looked over the smooth timber railing occasionally to look out for the lady he'd met the night before, as he'd inconveniently forgotten to ask for her phone number.

His phone rang and he picked it up to check the caller ID. It was Tessy, his ex. Even though he'd made it clear to her that their six-month long relationship was nothing other than business, she still called him every now and then, hoping to rekindle their relationship. It was clear to him that he'd made a mistake going for someone so young, but she was available in the short amount of time he needed her before meeting with his family. Grandfather had grown fond of Tessy, so Darnell kept her for much longer, until Grandfather started asking when they would get married. That was when Darnell knew he had to get rid of her.

He ignored the call. It wasn't appropriate now that he was about to meet his wife to be.

Sasha arrived at a few minutes before six. At the entrance, she informed the security that she was there for Mr. Darnell King, and he pointed to the top floor. She could see from his head to his shoulder from where he sat near the railing. He was distracted by his phone, picked it up, put it back down, placed his right arm on the railing and stared ahead. His long-sleeved shirt was folded down to his wrist, exposing a watch.

As she made her way upstairs, she began to wonder if she was a little over-dressed. Or rather, under-dressed. She'd worn a sleeveless silver sequin dress that stopped above her knee. It was tight around her waist area but looser around her hips. It accentuated her curve. She'd paired it with a pair of black pointed heels and a black purse. Her goal-to be seductive. She wasn't the kind of woman that expected a man like him to want anything serious. No. She was there to sow wild oats with the most handsome man in the world.

"Mr. King," she called as she reached his table. A server helped her into her.

Looking directly at him now sent a flush of anxiety through her body. He looked at her through his lashes, with a deadly smirk spread across his face

"It's a pleasure to have your company," he said.

God, she was angelic. Her brown skin glistened under the golden lights of the chandelier. Her makeup was barely there, but it accentuated her facial features; sharp jawline, full lips that were the focus of her face, thanks to that pink shade of shiny lipgloss she'd smeared on them, and sparkly eyeshadow beautified her eyelids. Grandfather would never think of Tammy again if he brought her home.

"Likewise." She smiled.

There was a bottle of wine on the table. Darnell pooped it open and poured some of its contents into two glasses that a server had brought over.

"Red Ash," he said as he placed one glass on Sasha's side of the table. "I formulated the ingredients myself."

Sasha inhaled the wine's fruity smell before putting the glass to her lips. "This is amazing," she complimented as she tasted the wine.

"Thank you," Darnell replied confidently.

As the night progressed, they talked about why he came to America and about her job. Two hours later, they were ready to call it a night. He offered to drive her home, and so they walked to his car together.

"Miss Peirce, I'm afraid I haven't been entirely open with you all night," he said.

"Oh?" Sasha let out. Could this be the moment he used his charm to initiate something sexual? Did he want to take her home?

"I have a business proposition for you," he said.

She stopped walking. "What? Really?"

A business proposal from Darnell King? Founder of the biggest wine company in the world, new heir to King Hotels, and who was also possibly a billionaire? Was the universe about to reward her after her company failed her?

"I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but I may have overheard some of your conversation last night," he said. "Particularly the part about wanting a fake marriage."

"Oh...well. I was just talking, you know? I wasn't really going to do it," she confessed.

"You sounded pretty serious to me."

"Well, yes. At first, I really was considering it, but my sister talked me out of it. But, why? Does this have anything to do with this business proposal you have for me?" she asked.

"Miss Peirce," he started, looking into her eyes. "How would you like to marry me?"

Sasha recoiled in confusion. "What?

"Marry me," he repeated."You want me to marry you?" she asked, as if to be sure she'd heard him correctly.

"Yes, I do," he replied.

"Why?"

"It'll be a fake marriage. Short-lived. And you'd be paid handsomely," he said.

"But, why?" she insisted.

Darnell exhaled. "My grandfather barely has two months to live. His dying wish is to see me get married. I want to fulfill it," he explained. "You only have to be my wife for as long as he lives. In return, you will get whatever you want. Go wherever you want to go in the world. And after my grandfather's death and our divorce, you will be rewarded with two million.

"Sasha's eyes widened.

"Well...I...I think I need more information," she said.

"That's all the information there is to know," he said. "We get married. You become my wife until my grandfather passes on. That's it. Sleep on it. Call me tomorrow when you have an answer." He handed her a card. "Shall we?" He signaled to his car.

*

"I would do it," said Tatiana when Sasha told her over the phone about Darnell's offer later that night when she got home.

"I thought you didn't want me to get fake married," Sasha said.

"This one is different," said Tatiana, stating the obvious. "Marrying Darnell King? Two million dollars? Hell, I would take it right now if he came to me.

"Sasha laughed. "I get it. I guess I'm just worried about what I could be getting myself into. This family is powerful, you know? And, of all women, why me? I mean, I get that he'd heard me telling you that I wanted to get fake married, but I'm a nobody and he could easily find someone more...his status. Someone more believable."

"Probably because he gets to pay you two million dollars. That's nothing to him. I think you should make him increase his offer," Tatiana suggested.

"I think you're right," Sasha concurred. "Maybe, I can finally free us from Dad's debt once and for all."

"Oh, Sash. You'd really do that?"

"Of course. You'd do the same if it were you."

"I love you," Tatiana said. "Do you have to have sex with him?" she blurted out.

"You know what? I never asked, but thanks for bringing that up."

"Be careful, okay Sash? And call me if you ever need anything."

"Thank you, sis."

Sasha hung up and heard a knock on her door, followed by her mother entering her room before she could say anything.

"Are you seeing someone new?" her mother asked excitedly in her Nigerian accent. "I saw that man that brought you home. Is that who you went on a date with?"

"How did you even...?" Sasha trailed off, not bothering to finish her question as she knew her mother must have looked through the window when she heard the sound of the car.

"It's good that you're moving on," her mother continued after she sat down in a chair next to Sasha's bed. "I saw Trey the other day at the grocery store with his new girlfriend."

Sasha sprung up from her bed and turned to face her mother. It had been a month since Trey broke up with her. A week since she forced herself to stop checking his social media. Sure, he was allowed to move on. But for a relationship of ten years, it was hurtful that he had moved on so quickly while she was left treating her wounds.

"What?" she managed to let out.

"You should have told him you were ready for marriage like I told you..."

"Please, mum. Enough of that!" she yelled angrily and lay back down on her belly, with the back of her head facing her mother.

"I'm just saying," her mother continued. "Ten years. He wasted your time."

"And I told you I wasn't ready to marry either. But if you want me to get married so badly, then I will get married." Sasha rose from her bed, grabbed Darnell's card from the table where she'd kept it, and barged out of the room.

She went outside to the balcony and shakily dialed his number. It was almost nine pm, perhaps too late to place the call, but she needed to tell him as soon as possible before she changed her mind.

"Hello?" he said as he picked the call.

"It's Miss Peirce," Sasha answered. "I will marry you, but I want five million dollars."

"Done. My driver will pick you up in three days. We will go over the contract and plan a wedding next week."

"Wait, what?"

"Yes?"

"Isn't that a little too soon?" she protested.

"No," he replied abruptly.

She had already made one renegotiation and worried that another might put him off.

"Fine. But I want to know everything that is expected of me before I sign any contract,' she said.

"You will."

She ended the call and sighed heavily. She'd just sold herself for five million dollars. Five million dollars that would be hers in two months, during which she'd be married into one of the most powerful families in the world. And then, she'd be divorced. Oh, why hadn't she thought about that part? People would mock her. They'd laugh and say she was a nobody hoping to get a taste of wealth, but it didn't last. They'd say, how could someone fumble one of the richest men in the world so quickly. And her mother? She would never stop saying how Sasha's independence pushes men away.

But at least she'd be five-million-dollar richer.

The driver swerved the limo into the gate and turned the ignition off when he'd parked in the space reserved for Darnell. He alighted from the driver's seat and pulled the passenger door open for Sasha. She made her way to the VVIP section where she and Darnell had met the last time.

Darnell paced while on a phone call, so she quietly took a seat and waited for him to be done with it. There was a sealed file sitting on the table, and she surmised it contained their marriage contract. He ended his call and joined her on the table

"I expected a lawyer," she said.

"It's a private matter," he replied. "No one except you and me can know."

"My sister knows," she said."Your family can know. They can't do anything."

His arrogance irked her.

"There are some ground rules that you must obey while you're married to me," he said as he opened the file.If this were a real relationship, she would have walked out at that moment.

"You can't see anyone for the duration of our marriage," he started. "No boyfriends, lovers dates, or anything of the sort. If you must, limit it to internet stuff until we're divorced. Cheating is a scandal in the family. We want to avoid that," he added.

"Does that apply to you as well, or is it just me?" she inquired.

He raised his head and looked in her eyes. "Just you."She hated him. She hated him badly. Of course he was that kind of man. Of course, he believed infidelity was only a problem when a woman did it.

He turned his attention back to the file and continued reading. "You also can't work for the duration of the marriage. Whatever you need would be provided for you."

"What about my job? Am I supposed to just quit?" she asked.

"If it's important to you, then you can have it back after the divorce," he assured. "I'll see to it that your job is still there when you return. Any more questions?"

"You brother owns my firm. What if he catches me someday? What if I get a promotion that requires me to see him face-to-face?" she asked.

"You only get to see each on the day of the wedding. I doubt he'd ever remember you," Darnell replied.

"Okay...and...do we...would you...do I have to...sleep with you?" She looked at his face to see his reaction.

"That's entirely up to you." He smirked."Well, I don't want to," she said as-a-matter-of-factly, hoping to deflate his overinflated ego.

"If you say so."

"So, where do I sign?"

"Right here." He pushed the contract to her side of the table and tapped on the spot.

She signed the paper after scanning through the contract, then pushed it back to him. "Anything else?"

He leaned back in his chair. "I don't think you like me very much."

"Is that a problem?"

"No. I think it's great," he replied. He wouldn't have a problem getting rid of her after their divorce.

"But I do think we should spend some time getting to know each other. If we're going to live together, we must make sure we don't want to kill each other," he said. "Resume our dates from where we left off?"

"What more is there to know?" she asked."Your previous intention," he said. "What did you hope to get out of going on a date with me?"

The piano man stopped playing and it dramatized the moment he asked the question.

"I thought you were nice. And I wanted to sleep with you," she said. "Anything else?"

She was a grown woman who didn't care if anyone judged her. And she needed him to know that she didn't like him. He was just for sex, nothing more.

"But that was before I knew you were kind of an ass," she added before he could answer.

"Tsk. Maybe, I should have waited a little longer before I popped the question," he said.

"Are you teasing me, Mr. King?" she leaned forward, placing her elbows on the table and looking into his eyes through her long lashes with a smirk across her lips.

"Call me Darnell," he said in a low drawl, with his eyes staring right back at her. "And I'll call you Sasha." His smirk had disappeared and his eyes read danger.

It did something to her internally. She pulled back and turned her eyes away. He smiled with satisfaction.

"I have to go," she said and started to leave. "See you at the wedding."

He wasn't used to the kind of woman she was-razor-sharp mouth, blunt, and fearless. Other women melted easily for him. This woman didn't. She liked to be in control.

This should be fun, he thought to himself.

*

As Sasha packed the rest of her things into a cardboard box, she looked around her office one more time and wondered if she was making a mistake. She'd never imagined herself leaving this office so soon, despite having been there for seven years. But Darnell had promised she would get it back. She hoped to God that he would keep his words.

She heard a knock on her door and turned around to see Tom McCarthy standing at her door. He was tall, and his head almost reached the door frame. His dirty blonde hair was groomed to lay at the sides, with a few short hairs falling in front to form a fringe. He was in his 40s, but still had that youthful playboy air about him.

"Remind me again why you're abandoning us," he said as he entered the office.

Sasha smiled, "I just...want to see what's out there for once."

"Not to discourage you but...there isn't always better out there, you know?" said Tom. "Sometimes what you have is the best you can get, especially in this economy. And you were so great at your job. It's a pity." He shook his head.

"Thank you. And...I'll take my chances. Who knows, maybe if I don't succeed out there, I can come back and my old job would be waiting for me."

Tom gritted his teeth and tilted his head. Sasha laugh.

"Speaking of," Sasha said. "With all due respect, I expected to get that promotion for director. You always said I worked so hard. Even now. And I've been in this company for seven years. So, why him and not me?" She continued, "Under normal circumstances, this would be inappropriate, but since I don't work here anymore, I might as well ask.""About that...," Tom moved closer to her. "I did think you deserved the promotion. But you just didn't convince me enough that you wanted it.""I don't understand."

"I was in a tight spot. The CSO of our office in Seattle is a good friend. He wanted me to give the job to Mr. Fletcher, so I put him into consideration. So, you see...it's not enough to be good at your job. It's better when you have...a trusted relationship...with someone powerful."

"W...what are you trying to say?" Sasha stuttered.Tom laughed. "How old are you? 29? 30? You're mature. Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about. All the compliments that I give you? The good things I only have to say about you? You know what I'm talking about. You chose to pretend not to."

Sasha's gaze shifted between his eyes. They were a light blue but carried some darkness in them. She closed her mouth when she realized it was open."

I can still guide you in this industry," Tom continued. "I know people in high places. I can get you another job..." he snapped his fingers. "Just like that. Maybe, you thought it was unprofessional, and so you ignored me. I get it. But now, we can connect. What do you say?"

Sasha shook her head and exhaled."Goodbye Tom. Till we meet again," she said and headed for the door.

*

A few days to the wedding, Sasha and Tatiana went shopping for a wedding dress. Darnell had assigned an assistant, Mary, to go with the pair. Sasha and Tatiana had taken the opportunity to shop other things. With two bags each in both hands, they hopped out of the store and headed for the limo where a driver waited for them. They were close to the car when Sasha spotted him.

"What?" Tatiana said when Sasha stopped. She followed the direction of her gaze and saw Trey on the other side of the road, about to cross the street. "Oh."

He spotted Sasha and Tatiana and waved. Tatiana waved back while Sasha just stared, her mind filled with anger. Trey crossed the road and approached them.

"Hi," he said nervously.

"Hi?" Sasha repeated, still looking him in the eyes.

"How have you been, Sasha?" he asked.

"What do you care?" she fired back.Trey sighed. "What do you want me to say? It's been more than a month, Sasha. Are you going to hate me forever?"

"You know, I wasn't sure, but then I heard from my mother that you got a new girlfriend already, and so I decided that maybe you deserve to be hated forever," she said. "What happened to wanting to find yourself? What, you got lost in another woman's vagina?"

"Look, I..." He shrugged. "It just happened."

"How could it take you ten years to realize you didn't want to be with me and less than a month to be with someone new?"

"Do you really want to do this again? Here? Fine. You weren't exactly easy to be with. You...you didn't make me feel needed," he said.

"You mean I didn't shrink myself to make you feel more like a man?' she fired. "Your fragility is not my responsibility, and I will not let you or my mum or anyone else make me feel like I'm too much, because I'm not."

Just then, Mary neared them, carrying the wedding dress Sasha had picked in a transparent garment bag as she headed to the car.

"Let's go, Sash. Your wedding dress is ready," Tatiana said to the hearing of Trey.

"I don't understand," said Trey. "Who's getting married?"

"She is," Tatiana said.

"You didn't feel needed because you weren't enough," said Sasha, as she caught on to her sister's act. "You didn't deserve me, so I found someone who did."

"Wait, wait, wait, what?" Trey narrowed his eyes and tiled his head in confusion. "How long have you been seeing him?"

"Goodbye, Trey." Tatiana pulled Sasha away.

"Wait! Sasha!" Trey yelled after them.

But Sasha and Tatiana jogged on, giggling.