The Billionaire's Bargain..

My whole life is about to be a hell of a rollercoaster. I stare at the beautifully dressed woman standing before me with a resolute look and for the second time this morning, I find myself unable to utter a word. The chairwoman of the Martinez empire is standing before me and announcing in front of the entire staff of Giancarlo- which is only one of the many establishments that her family owns- that she wants me to marry her son!

I count to five in my head and try to steady my breath to form a sentence. "Ma'am, I can't possibly marry your son. I don't... I can't... I don't know...."

"Nonsense!" She says pleasantly. "You don't know my son but you must have seen pictures of him all over the news. He's the sort of man that any girl would be happy to get married to."

She's not wrong, I know. Brandon Martinez is the heartthrob of Seattle, Washington. He is 6ft tall, built like a Greek god, and controls an empire worth billions of dollars. Who wouldn't want to be with a man like that? The problem is, Brandon, is rumored to be dating a different woman every week, all of them, models and actresses. The man is way out of my league and I know it. Also, he and I have never met before! We couldn't possibly get married.

Hailey, one of the waitresses and my best friend nudges me out of my reverie. I've been keeping the chairwoman waiting too long. "Ma'am, can I possibly get some time to think this through?" I ask in a squeaky voice that I do not recognize as mine.

"Certainly" She chimes happily. "I will be back here tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" I ask in horror. I asked for time to think things through and she's saying she'll be back tomorrow. I can't possibly make such a huge decision in such a short time.

Without waiting to respond to any more questions, the chairwoman turns on her heels with her bodyguards flanking her and heads towards her car. The moment she's out of the door, I feel my insides turn to jelly. Everyone starts to murmur about what just happened and Hailey rushes to my side to prevent anyone from giving me trouble but I can feel their stares. Mariah, the manager of Giancarlo is looking at me like she's about to strangle me. I have no idea why that woman hates me so much.

"Everyone, back to your jobs! We open in ten minutes." Mariah's voice rings loud as a bell. We all scurry back to our places but the chairwoman's announcement is all that everyone can talk about. It isn't until evening, when her shift is over, that Hailey walks up to me in the kitchen where I'm kneading a giant dough.

"Well, well, if it isn't the star of Giancarlo," she says.

I give her a stern look to shut her up but she just laughs it off.

"Come on. I want to hear everything."

"There's nothing to tell"

"Don't even start with me, Natalie. What do you mean there's nothing to tell? Rebecca Martinez, chairwoman of the Martinez empire walks into this restaurant to ask you in front of everyone to marry her son, who by the way, is one hell of a catch and you say there's nothing to tell?"

"Shhhh! Keep your voice down, Hailey. You're calling attention to us." I say in a hushed tone.

"Girl, you better start talking before I bring the whole staff into this kitchen with my voice"

"Hailey" I whine. "I'm working! I need to focus"

"Nat, you and I know you can knead that dough with your eyes closed. Spill already!!" She shrieks.

"Fine, fine. Look, when I met her, I had no idea she was Rebecca Martinez. She walked into this place looking deathly pale one night and I just helped take care of her. That's all." I finish but Hailey continues to give me a blank stare that I know means she's expecting details.

In truth, I only met the chairwoman by chance last week. Although my job description says assistant chef, Mariah sees to it that many other menial jobs in the kitchen fall to me. This means that sometimes, I stay back to clean the kitchen after everyone is gone. I complained once but Mariah asked me to leave if I thought it unfair. Of course, she knows I can't leave. She literally made me grovel for this job before employing me.

It was one of those nights. Hailey was off duty that day so she couldn't stay back to help me clean. I heard someone hit the restaurant door and stepped out of the kitchen to check. What I saw outside the restaurant was a very ill-looking woman curled up on the floor. Feeling skeptical and scared, I went towards her and saw that she was breathing heavily. Under her breath, I heard her whisper the word, "hospital". I immediately helped her to a position that allowed her to rest her back on the door, then, rushed back inside to get my bag and lock up the restaurant. After calling for a ride, I rushed her to a hospital not so far from Giancarlo. I didn't go home that night. I stayed back to ensure that she was fine. I had never met the woman before but I felt connected to her somehow.

When she woke up the next morning, I was at her side. Her coloring was better, and she was able to tell me what had happened. Apparently, the chairwoman had been robbed. The robbers had shot her driver and pushed them both out of the car, making away with the car and some money. Because they hadn't been far from Giancarlo, the chairwoman had managed to crawl to the restaurant. All this time, however, she didn't mention to me that she owned Giancarlo.

We talked some, and she told me she ran her own company but how was I supposed to know that she was the chairwoman? When the doctor confirmed that she was fine and would be ready to be discharged that evening, I hugged her and asked her to take my leave. For the first time since my father's death, I felt a true connection to an older person. She took down my contact and promised to put a call through to me and I'd been waiting to hear from her since then.

When she walked into Giancarlo today with two bodyguards at her side, I thought she'd come to see me and I ran to say hello. Imagine my shock when Mariah walked up to us and started bowing and sucking up to her. I was even more surprised when all members of staff came out to greet her with reverence.

Call me slow, but I didn't catch up until she told me who she was. Being the most recent employee at Giancarlo, I was the only one who didn't know her. At that moment, I wanted the ground beneath my feet to open up so I could make a quiet exit.

All the while as I narrate the entire story to Hailey, I see her expression go from shock to humor to pity and then again to humor. All of a sudden, she stops laughing and gives me a serious look.

"You have to agree to her offer!" She says gravely and my mouth falls open.

I stare at Hailey for a few seconds before returning my focus on the dough I'm kneading. "Are you crazy?"

"No, I'm not. It's you who would be crazy to reject the chairwoman's offer."

"What the hell are you even talking about, Hailey? I've never even met the woman's son."

"What does it matter?"

"What doesn't it?"

Before Hailey can respond, Alfredo, the head chef with a temper issue directs a string of Italian gibberish my way while flailing his hands. I know he's talking to me about hurrying up with the dough but I intentionally ignore him. Hailey walks to the sink to wash her hands and help me cut the dough into small sizes. Usually, there are three assistant chefs in the kitchen but Callum called in sick this morning and yet another employee who couldn't stand Alfredo's terrible temper quit yesterday. If Alfredo wasn't such a great chef, I'd probably hate him too but in truth, I am actually fond of him. As we cut the dough into pizza sizes, Hailey picks up the conversation.

"Natalie, think of all that you'd get from this marriage! As a Martinez, you'd have more than enough money on your hands. You'd be married to a wealthy Greek god and you'd be able to go anywhere in the world that you want!"

"Hailey, you know that man is way out of my league."

"Well, his mother asked you, didn't she? Tell me why you don't want to accept her offer."

"It's hardly an offer when I'm not getting anything out of it."

"Girl! You're going to be a Martinez. That is everything!"

"That's exactly my point. I'm not sure I can handle all of the glamour that comes with being a Martinez. Moreover, I don't understand why the chairwoman would choose me out of every girl in Seattle." I say quietly.

"Then ask her when she comes tomorrow." Hailey stops what she's doing to hold my hands fervently. "Nat, you know that I would support you in anything that you do. I just want you to think this through before you turn it down. Whatever you decide, I'm with you every step of the way."

With my eyes on hers, I thank the heavens for bringing Hailey my way. Sometimes, I don't think I deserve her. Hailey is soft as a kitten when I need her to be and stern as a tigress when defending me.

"Thank you, Hailey. You know I love you."

"I love you too, Nat," she says and pulls me in for a hug. The next second, Alfredo throws a mixing pan our way and it bounces neatly off of Hailey's head. She releases a string of curses his way while I laugh uncontrollably.

When the chairwoman shows up at Giancarlo the next morning, I am ready to go with her. However, this morning saw me weighing several options in my head, from quitting my job at Giancarlo to running in front of a train. In the end, I decided to go with Hailey's advice and see if this prospect is anything worth chasing.

With a big smile on her face, the chairwoman barely responds to the greetings that fly around and walks me towards her car outside. It suddenly occurs to me that this is what class truly is. The ability to snob people with such a kind smile plastered on one's face. I make the mistake of looking back before the restaurant door closes and catch Mariah's death stare. God knows that that woman would kill me if she got the chance.

Outside, a bodyguard opens the car door for me and bows as I sit. The driver also bows and greets me with respect. I am not used to this type of treatment and for a minute, it unnerves me but the chairwoman places a hand on mine to steady me. This gesture makes me wonder why everyone is so scared of Rebecca Martinez. She has been nothing but kind to me since we first met.

The Martinez mansion is unlike anything I've seen. It is a stately mansion that exudes elegance and charm. There are gorgeous marble towers along the way and a fountain right in front of the mansion. It is surrounded by a beautiful garden of flowers that make the heart sing. When we step out of the car, it takes all of my willpower not to gawk. Inside the living room is a crackling fireplace that screams elegance. The walls are adorned with family portraits and obviously expensive paintings.

A maid comes out to greet the chairwoman and she asks her to bring some wine and get Brandon, then offers me a seat next to her. God! Even the sofa screams money! When Brandon walks into the living room, I feel my heart do a double flip. Well, well, pictures certainly do not do him justice.

He bends down to kiss his mother's cheeks and as he takes a seat across from us, I catch his assessing gaze on me. All my life, I've been told that I am very pretty but under Brandon's scrutiny, I suddenly feel plain and unattractive. He soon returns his gaze to his mother.

"I can see you have a guest, Mom"

"Oh! She's not my guest. She's yours. Natalie, meet Brandon. Brandon, meet Natalie; the woman you will be getting married to!" The chairwoman says casually with a glass of wine between her fingers. Lightning fast, Brandon jumps to his feet.

"What the hell do you mean the woman I am getting married to?" He yells.

"Brandon, we talked about this yesterday," she says casually again.

"And I told you immediately that I wasn't interested".

"I told you, Brandon. You do not have a choice."

Brandon looks at me with contempt on his face and says the most degrading thing anyone has ever said to my face without batting an eyelid. "Listen to me, mom. I said this before, and I'm saying it again. I don't plan to ever get married. But if I were to consider it, I would rather die than settle for this... this underdressed, ugly swan!"

With this, he walks out of the house, and for the hundredth time in the past 48 hours, my mouth is hanging open with my jaw ready to hit the floor.

After Brandon leaves, the chairwoman brushes his insult off as childish exuberance and asks me to do the same. Well, easy for her to say but the man that walked out of this room was certainly no child. She ushers me to the dining room and we eat quietly. With servants on both sides of the dining table, all of our needs are met to.

In my head, I start to think of what it would mean if I lived like this every day of my life. In all honesty, I believe that it would be exhausting. I like the simple life that I lead and with Brandon's obvious contempt for me, I make up my mind while enjoying the heavenly chocolate cake dessert to turn down the chairwoman's offer.

Back at home, I sleep the rest of the day off after the chairwoman's driver drops me off. A loud, incessant knock at the door wakes me up in the evening. With sleepy eyes, I head towards the door. Hailey stands at my door ready to burst with excitement.

"Tell me everything!" She shrieks.

I shrug as I let her in and close the door behind her. "There is nothing to tell."

"Natalie, don't even get me---"

"Hailey!" I cut her off sharply. "For once, for the very first time, I'm being honest. There is actually nothing to tell."

I see her face fall before it takes on a look of pity.

"Oh my God, baby. What happened? Did she change her mind? Were you unable to see him?"

I give a half laugh before responding. "Oh, I saw him alright. Let's just say that he wasn't too excited to see me." I can see that she really wants to ask me to explain but doesn't want to make me uncomfortable so I tell her everything that happened at the Martinez mansion, what little there is to tell, at least.

Quietly, Hailey gathers me into her hands and tucks my head beneath her chin. As tears well up in my eyes, I find myself thinking that something like this would never happen to Hailey. She is 5ft 10 inches tall, with rich creamy skin, and her natural blond hair has gold streaks in it. She is slim and curvy and has the face of a supermodel. Hailey is the sort of woman that makes heads turn and she certainly is not the sort of woman that anyone would call an underdressed, ugly swan.

When I first started working at Giancarlo, Hailey and I hit it off like we'd known each other all our lives. At first, I was s little skeptical. I couldn't see why someone as gorgeous as her would want to be my friend but we soon grew on each other. We have been best friends for the past six months and I know now that I could never find another friend who loves me as fiercely as Hailey does. Another fine day to remind myself that I do not deserve her.

"What are you going to do now?" Hailey asks quietly.

"I don't know. Go back to my normal life, I guess. I never wanted any of the drama, anyways."

"I'm so sorry, Nat. It was I who convinced you that there might be something there."

"It's okay, Hae. It's not your fault. You know, I keep wondering why I feel so heartbroken when just yesterday, I was certain that I wanted nothing to do with the man." I say with a sad smile on my lips.

"It's the hormones, girl! One look at that gorgeous asshole and a girl's hormones are bound to start acting real crazy." Hailey says and makes me laugh. That night, Hailey sleeps over at my apartment and we watch silly rom-com together before falling asleep on the chair.

The next morning, I leave Hailey at home and prepare to go to work. She has the day off while I have to work. I consider calling in sick but if I'm being honest, I need work to get the thought of Brandon's harsh words out of my head.

At Giancarlo, everyone is murmuring again and I know that I am at the center of their conversations. I wonder if they have already heard. I mean, what if one of them is friends with one of the servants at the Martinez mansion? The mere thought of the embarrassment that would follow if the other employees find out what that asshole said gives me a headache but I steady my hands and force myself to focus on work.

I think that my sadness is obvious, however, because today, Alfredo does not shout at me. Even when I am slower than usual, he simply nudges my shoulders and asks me to hurry up in a calm voice. At 3, I take off my apron and head out of the kitchen for my lunch break. Most lunch hours, I remain at Giancarlo but this time, I need a breath of fresh air. I think to myself that I wish Hailey was here with me instead of at home.

The moment I step out of the kitchen, I know that something is off. The restaurant is eerily quiet and even the guests seem to be distracted by something. As I turn my head in the direction that everyone seems to be looking, I realize that the distraction is not something, but someone. Standing at a far corner of the restaurant and speaking quietly to a glassy-eyed and almost swooning Mariah is Brandon Martinez.

I feel my heart hit the bottom of my stomach. Oh God, my life is about to come to an end. Brandon Martinez, like his mother, has not stepped foot in this restaurant since I resumed here and now, all of a sudden, he has come to publicly have me fired for daring to dream about a life with him. I feel dread creep over my skin in anticipation of the embarrassment I'm about to face.

As if he can smell my fear, Brandon's eyes suddenly catch mine and he leaves Mariah's side and begins walking up to me. I try to get myself to run but my legs feel rooted to a spot. Even with my heart beating so fast, my stupid heart still has the guts to do a backflip at the sight of Brandon's muscular body jutting out of the three piece suit he has on.

When he finally stops in front of me, I take a look at his face and I see that he doesn't look furious. No, he actually looks... What's this? Happy? Amused? Is that a smile on his lips? Before I can bring myself to understand, Brandon grabs my shoulders and covers my lips with his. Although my initial reaction was of shock, I soon felt a warmth spread through me. Brandon's lips on mine send a jolt of shivers down my spine and I foolishly find myself placing my hands on his chest and leaning into him. All of a sudden, he pulls back and with twinkling eyes, smiles at me, "Hello, baby. Looks like you missed me. I just spoke to Mariah and you have the rest of the day off. Let's go home"

At Brandon's words, my mouth opens and closes a couple of times but I am unable to form words. All at once, I feel my head become light and fuzzy. The last thing I see before my vision goes dark is Brandon's utter look of panicked shock.