The Billionaire's Trade

"Oh my God" Elena whispered, color draining off her face.

Laura, who had been watching her mother closely, took the letter from her shaky hands and skimmed her eyes through the content.

Her heart seemed to drop too, glaring hard at what the printed letter contained as if it was written in Spanish.

"what is it?" Peter, her younger brother asked. Looking from one person to the other.

"This can't be happening "Elena said, lowering herself on one of the bakery's stools.

Peter obviously grew tired of waiting for explanations and snatched the letter from her hand.

"What did we ever do to him, we already promised to pay" Laura said, mildly. "Now he's threatening to seize the bakery"

She blinked back the tears that were threatening to fall. The letter had arrived early in the morning, they had been in debt to Jacob Marcini, a ruthless billionaire who had successfully taken anything his hands touched from them.

Before her father had died, they had been living comfortably as a middle class family until her father got diagnosed with Liver cancer and they practically spent all they had trying to keep him alive.

Her father had gone to Jacob Marcini, his boss in the company he worked, begging for financial assistance.

Her father had eventually died after all the money was spent for him to be flown to a specialist hospital. His death left them all in pain, suffering and a huge debt to pay .

"He says till the end of the week, there's no way we can pay everything off in three days" Elena said, her voice quivering.

"We should plead with him, Becky, her cousin who has been quiet suggested," He should give us more time"

Becky had come to live with them ever since her parents died in a plane crash since she was sixteen, she had ever since then, contributed to the welfare of their family but it had been barely enough.

Laura thought about all her family was going through, they had gone into abject poverty ever since her father died.

They had nothing and she had to drop out of school so that Peter could continue schooling.

But then the money they had was barely enough for feeding and he had to drop out too.

As time went on, they had gone from bad to worse and Jacob Marcini was hell bent on ruining them.

"We can't just let him take away the bakery, it's the only thing we've got " Laura said, "We don't even have a penny, we are only depending on it for little"

"The only way is paying him every penny he gave us," Elena said.

She watched her mother become so pale and empty, she buried her face in her palms. Her body was rather bony and frail.

Elena had been suffering from a serious case of colon cancer which had eaten deep into her health.

Laura didn't know what to do now, tears welled up in her eyes as she thought of everything they had been going through.

They needed money so badly, she had to buy drugs for her mother and pay for her surgery bills .

Their rent had long been overdue and the caretaker had visited just days before, giving them the final warning note from the landlord.

Soon, not only will the bakery be taken away from them, they'd also be homeless.

"I'm tired of all this," Peter said suddenly, "Damn him, and his useless debt "

Becky ran her fingers into her hair, looking at Laura who was obviously lost in thoughts.

"What do we do now?" She whispered

Laura looked down at the letter, hot tears that were welling up in her eyes rolled down her cheeks as she shut her eyes in hope the tears would stop.

The whole weight of her family was weighing her down, she had always been responsible for her family's welfare but now they were as poor as church rats.

What if she could stop the bakery from being forcefully taken?, what if there was something she could do afterwards? Yes, there has to be a way...

...."Can I wait for him?" Laura asked the frowning receptionist.

She looked up from her computer, they barely had visitors let alone one who was requested to see Jacob Marcini.

"I don't think he'd be here today, he went for a meeting," She said.

The receptionist looked up from her desk as the glass doors flung open behind them, Laura could bet the receptionist almost choked in her own breath as she sprang up from her chair.

"He's here!" Announced the receptionist.

Laura wondered who she was referring to and who it was that made her look frightened to death.

Slowly, she turned, immediately her heart skipped a beat or two, her jaw dropped and her brows raised as she watched two men walk in an intended slow motion to where she stood.

The one in front was breathtakingly handsome, tanned, tall and muscular while the other who followed closely behind him, a few inches shorter with lean muscles.

"Good day, Mr Marcini" The receptionist greeted, eyes lowered to the ground.

Did she just refer to him as...Laura's thought seemed to come to a halt as she gaped at him.

Laura couldn't believe her eyes, he was actually a young man and a handsome one at that. She felt rooted to the ground at the powerful sight of him, momentarily forgetting the reason she came.

Her eyes followed as they slowly walked past until it took her a whole lot of will power to snap out of whatever had entangled her. She was here to save the bakery, she was here to see him.

"Mr Marcini !" She called, she actually didn't know when she did.

The two men in suits looking like undercover agents stopped abruptly and slowly Jacob Marcini turned to the other man,Troy, his cousin.

Her heart was beating so fast now, what do she do now? What would she say?.....

........Laura had followed him into his office. She stood before him in his magnificent office, Laura kept her eyes pinned to the ground as Jacob Marcini's eyes seemed to Pierce through her.

" What did you say your name was again?" He asked not to look up from a file he was flipping through.

"My name is Laura Bloom," She answered.

"Hmm" He nodded, his eyes still not leaving the files,"And?"

"I came to apply for the job of your secretary," She said quietly.

"You think you can work for me?" He asked after a long time of staring at her.

"Yes, because I want something in return" She said carefully

He raised a brow,"Really?"

"I know you might not know me sir but I'm Laura Bloom, the daughter of Matthew and Elena Bloom"

"How is that any of my concern?" He asked

"Please, I'm here to plead with you. My father had been indebted to you before his death and you're threatening to take away our bakery" Laura told him, "The bakery is our only source of survival, if you take it away we might not be able to feed"

"If this is why you are here, then I'll have to ask you to leave" He said, returning back to his file

Laura dropped to her knees, tears sliding down her cheeks. She clasped her palm together, praying he had a change of heart.

"I only want to work for you so you can extend the time you gave my family on the bakery" She looked up at him in the face for the first time," If you take it away, we won't know how else to survive"

"And you think I give a hoot how you survive?"

"I beg you, Let me work for you.You don't have to pay me, I'll just work for as long as it takes till my pay becomes enough to cover up the debt"

It just seemed as if he was enjoying the whole begging. Jacob rested back against his chair.

"Very well then" Jacob said, "You'll work for as long as it takes to cover up the debt your family has"

"Thank you" She said, clasping her palm together.

"We'll put this into writing," He said, not seeming interested in her gratitude," Just in case you choose to suddenly go back on your words"

Her heart took a leap of joy but she was enveloped with emotions on how he would treat her as his new secretary.

Elena's had felt her heart skipped when Laura had told her everything.

"What were you thinking, Laura?" Elena said, too tired to yell.

"It's fine now, mum. As long as I work for him, he won't take the bakery away from us anymore"

"I don't have a good feeling about this," Becky whispered,"From what I know, Mr Marcini isn't someone people would want to work with"

"It's for the best. mum. Would you rather give up the bakery just like the way we did to every other thing" Laura said, "This Bakery means everything to us right now"

"You just don't understand, Laura. Jacob Marcini is cruel, he's heartless...I've lost your father and I am not going to loose you to his wickedness"

"He's a human like you and I, mum. I'll only work for him and not be enslaved to him"

"I just want you to be fine. I'll never forgive myself if something ever happens to you" Elena told her

"So you're actually going to work for him" Peter said suddenly from the door," I thought I hadn't heard you right"

"We'll have to keep the bakery, that's what matters" Laura told him but he said nothing, his face tightened.

This was the only way, she thought again. She'd start working for him as soon as possible. Her worries came back, what was she going to expect on her first day with her new boss....

________________________

.... " Damn it !" Jacob spat, slamming the newspaper on his desk.

" This can be fixed, trust me" Troy said."You have to relax"

"Relax?" Jacob thundered, "How the hell am I supposed to relax when that stupid picture is everywhere"

Troy glanced across to the newspaper with the front page plastered with a picture of Jacob kissing a lady in his car.

The picture was shot well, probably from an expert photographer, with the headline reading: BILLIONAIRE JACOB MARCINI SEEN HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH A STRIPPER.

"I can't get involved in this type of scandal, this company is at the peak of getting a million dollar contract by the end of this month" Jacob continued," The Representatives from China are already calling"

"We need to convince the public that you are honorable...you need to make them think highly of you again, '' Troy said.

"We'll get this sorted out in no time" Troy told him.

"We need to come up with something and fast before this damned news eats deep" Jacob said.

A light knock brought them both to look at the door. They watched it open and Laura slipped in.

"Am really sorry to interrupt - " She was starting to say

"No one said you could come in," Jacob fired.

"I only came with the files you demanded earlier" She said softly.

"I'm not blind " He retorted, he took a sip from his whiskey," Get out "

"But -" She wanted to say

Jacob flared, in a swift movement, flung his glass towards her. Laura screamed as the glass came in contact with the wall, the glass scattering in a loud bang with its liquid splashing wildly .

"Get out !" He thundered ," Out!"

Laura immediately dashed out, her heart beat speeding, she pulled open the door, slipping out.

"Calm down, Jacob," Troy told him "Something would be done about this, it'd be cleared up sooner than you expect"

But what could he possibly do to clear his name? He had to think of something.

Jacob's thought was far off, his thoughts roaming round the scandal he was into. He needed something to cover up the fast spreading news.

Then the idea struck him!

She was fearful, vulnerable and would practically do whatever it takes to stay at peace with him, to avoid trouble.

Moreover, she was a low profile lady, no one would want to dig into her past. Yes, if he chooses to get a high classed lady, the press might just dig in immediately and see right through him.

He thought it over again and the more he did, the more the idea seemed brighter, more brilliant.

What if he brings her into this, what if he...made her sign a short term marriage with him.

He would make the public and the press think he was actually engaged to be married.

It was running late in the evening, she had to pack up and lock up the office as soon as Jacob Marcini would leave.

She busied herself in neatly arranging the books back to the shelf, too busy to notice the door open and footsteps approaching behind her.

Laura kept the last of the books and turned only to almost jump in surprise as Jacob stood closely behind her watching with his hands tucked into his suit's trouser pocket.

" Mr Marcini, I didn't know you were here," Laura said.

"Shouldn't I be in my office anymore?" He asked, his face expressionless.

"I'm sorry," She said silently.

Jacob took a step towards her and she took a cautious step backwards. He took another step an inch separating them, Laura pinned her back to the shelf , holding her breath.

"I want something from you" He said casually," And it's urgent"

She still held her breath.

"I want to offer you a deal," He continued.

"I don't have anything to offer you, sir," She said.

He smirked," Yes, you do...I want you to sign a contract marriage between me"

Laura's eyes widened, she felt she had lost her sense of hearing. She had better been hearing things.

"W-what?"She stuttered.

"You'll pretend to be my fiance for a short period of time and in return I'll put away half the debt your family owes me"

Laura's heart was beating fast, very fast . Was he drunk ? How could he possibly ask him to pretend to be his fiance. He was going to put away the entire debts?, the words drummed into her ears but she didn't believe him.

" I don't have much time to waste...do we have a deal or not?"

" I'm sorry, sir but I can't accept..I have a fiance and I love him" She told him and then slid away...

________________________

"Hi babe," Laura called, approaching Thomas, her fiancé's.

She had met Thomas on her way to his house.

He turned to look at her and she couldn't help but notice the grim look on his face as he slid his hands into his trousers pocket.

"Hi, Love, "He said.

"What happened? I've been calling you for days..Are you okay?" She asked concerned.

Thomas struggled but said nothing. He was a young man who she'd known for four years, he'd proposed to her but was financially unstable for a wedding.

Laura had understood him, she knew he was managing as a clerk in a company and that he didn't have enough so she supported him with the little she had.

"What is it?"She asked again, placing her hand on his shoulder.

"It's nothing, I'm just tired, that's all," He said, not looking at her.

Laura smiled thinly, she drew in a breath and was going to tell him why she'd asked to see him.

Her mother had been taken to the hospital after she had complained of not feeling well, Laura thought it was time she collected all the money she had been saving which was in his hold.

"I think it's time I collected the money I've been saving up, "Laura told him,"I really need it now"

Thomas slid a look at her and scratched the side of his hair before clearing his throat.

"Look, Laura. I was meaning to tell you this but I didn't know how to,"He said, carefully picking his words.

"What is it?" Laura asked.

Thomas looked at her and licked his dried lips wet, "I don't have the money anymore "

Laura stared at him, she wondered if she hadn't heard him right, she probably didn't?

"What?" She whispered.

"Yes, Laura. I used it for something very important but ..but I promise to pay you back when I can,"He told her.

Laura stood still like one who had stepped on a landmine, she blinked repeatedly, praying hard that he was joking.

"You're.. you're kidding right?" She asked.

"Come on, Laura. I'm serious, all the money, it's all gone, "He said and shrugged, "I'm sorry but I did it for us both, if this business plan works out, Babe, we're made"

A tear slipped down Laura's eyes, she was doomed. All her life savings, everything she had given him to keep but now it was all gone.

How was she going to pay for her mother's hospital bills? If she wasted one more day, the doctors might just discharge her mother without any treatment.

Thomas reached out and cupped her cheeks, "I'm really sorry babe, I won't fail us I promise"

Laura couldn't say anything, she felt as if icy waters were poured on her and all she did was shiver.

Peter kissed her on the forehead and brought out his phone, "My boss just called..I have to head back to work"

Tears welled up in Laura's eyes as she watched him scurry across the road and disappeared into a bus.

Her legs felt like plastic as she dropped down on a wooden bench behind her, tears pouring down her eyes.

What does she do now? Where does she go for assistance? She felt lost now as she buried her face into her palm and sobbed silently.

Laura walked back home, her heart scorching and in spasm, feelings of emptiness had enveloped her. The money, all of it was gone, where did she want to start up from?

It hurt her so bad to think that he had used up all her life's savings without even letting her know of it.

Now her mother was in the hospital badly in need of a surgery to be carried out for her Colon cancer.

Tears poured down her face as she trudged home in the cold, she felt her head as light as a feather, she didn't know what else to do.

She got to the apartment and was shocked at the sight she beheld.

Peter was talking with the fat, short caretaker, he was almost pleading with him.

Her eyes dropped to the floor as she saw all their luggages outside the apartment, a uniformed security was bringing out the last of their things and locking the door with a very big padlock.

Laura ran to them, her heart pounding madly against the walls of her chest.

Peter turned to see her, he was thankful she had come right in time.

"Laura..Laura, we're being sent out of the house, "He told her.

The caretaker busied himself with signing some things on the notepad he held, his reading glasses resting on the bridge of his nose as he peered into it.

"Mr. Oliver, what's happening? You gave us two days" Laura asked him confused, "Why are you taking our things out ?"

He looked up at her, "I'm sorry miss Bloom but I'm only acting under the instructions of the landlord".

"This is not fair, he can't do this. He gave us two days, please, give us some time, "Laura begged.

"I'm afraid there's nothing I can do, Mr Marcini already gave out the order for you and your family to move out of his apartment today" He said.

Laura exchanged puzzled glances with Peter, Did he just say Mr Marcini? She looked back at him still confused.

"Mr Marcini?" She asked.

How could she not have known before now that the house had belonged to him?

She feared the worst was gradually starting to happen.

"Yes, he's the owner of all the houses in the estate including this one, "He said, then pushed up his glasses, "Excuse me"

Laura and Peter watched him and the security man walked away with the keys into a lorry, driving off.

Laura fell to the ground as her legs weren't able to support her body anymore.

Tears flowed down her eyes as she glanced over all their things, so they were going to live on the streets now?

"What do we do, Laura? Where do we go from here?" Peter asked her, his voice shaking.

"Where's Becky?" She asked instead.

Peter shrugged, "She stepped out, she said she was going to see mum...Laura, where do we go from here?"

Laura knew why he had done this, she knew why he had suddenly thrown their things out.

It was because she had rejected his offer, Laura cried silently as she sat on the pavement.

What step do she take now? She knew Jacob wouldn't stop until he had taken away everything from them, he wouldn't stop until she had accepted his offer.

She loved Thomas, she still believed in their love. He had promised her that when he had gathered enough money he would get married to her.

She wasn't going to call off her wedding with Thomas just because of Jacob's threats.

Peter watched her as she looked into the distance, her eyes clouded with tears.

But what does she do now?

________________________

Laura got down from the taxi in front of Thomas' apartment, her eyes were heavy with all the tears that had flown out.

She had thought of going to meet him as she knew he'd be back from work.

She was going to beg him to accommodate them until they sought things out.

The door was slightly open and she pushed it open, surprised and stepped into his sitting room.

She knew Thomas was not as careless as to leave his door open.

But then she saw clothes on the floor, she recognized the shirt and trousers Thomas had worn earlier and then her eyes slid to another clothe...a female dress.

Laura's heart knocked against the walls of her chest like she had been struck by a volcano and she prayed it wasn't what she was thinking.

She slowly went up the stairs and then she heard muffled moaning from Thomas' room.

"Thomas!" She called, surprised at the open door.

Tears poured down her eyes as she saw Thomas in the tangled sheets of his bed.

Her eyes moved to the lady underneath him, her eyes widened as her jaw dropped, she almost fell from the shock.

"Becky?" She called in disbelief.

Laura would never have believed that Becky was actually having an affair with her fiancé.

Becky hid her face while Thomas looked as surprised to see her as she was to see him.

"Laura, Laura please wait, "He called after her pulling his trousers up as she ran down the stairs quickly.

Laura turned immediately and sent a slap across his cheeks.

"You bastard," Laura spat, crying, "How dare you do this to me, sleeping with my own sister?"

"I'm so sorry, Laura. I didn't know what came into me" He begged

"For how long, Thomas, how long did you plan on deceiving me?" She yelled, "I guess she was the business you squandered my money on right?...right?"

"I'm sorry, besides you never had time for us," he whispered.

Tears poured down her eyes and she forcefully took off his ring, throwing it at him.

"It's over between us, Thomas, I never want to see you again"

Becky came out quietly, she stood at the foot of the bed, her eyes lowered.

Laura casted her a disgusted look, her own cousin was having an affair with her fiancé all this time, under her nose.

"How could you Becky?" Laura asked

"It wasn't my fault," Becky piped up, surprisingly she wasn't remorseful, "Y'all needed money, your mum was sick so what was i supposed to do".

"You cheap slut, "Laura spat.

"I had to do what I had to do, Laura. I was tired of everything that was happening. All the money I helped with, I got from Thomas," Becky said.

"We never asked you to contribute to anything, my mum took you in and gave you a roof above your head without wanting anything in return,"Tears slipped down Laura's eyes.

"Anyways," Becky shrugged, "I was tired of it and I'm pregnant for Thomas, I'm three months gone now so deal with it"

Laura felt those words hit her like a tornado, her chest tightened in pain as Becky walked up to Thomas and wrapped her hands around his waist, looking away.

With that Laura turned, running out of the house, she kept running across the street crying as she did.

The sun had pulled into the sky, welcoming dusk. Laura tripped in her steps and fell on the floor.

She sat there crying profusely, remembering all she'd gone through with Thomas.

She wiped her face, she was hurt and heartbroken.

There was only one thing she could do now.