The wife

"When will you give me a grandson Nathan?" Nathan listened as his mother brought that subject up once again.

What could he do to satisfy the woman?

His mother was a tall woman in her early fifties. One with the mouth of a teenager. She could never just stop babbling. Nathan could hardly believe he was spawned by the woman. Her hair was dirty blonde with faint streaks of the grey but she did a good job hiding them using hair treatments. Her skin was porcelain white almost making her as white as a corpse and it had fine lines to adorn her transition into old age. She was not welcoming it well, however.

She masked her face in Mary Kay in hopes to defy nature and it was a failing battle.

He, on the other hand, had picked most of his features from his late father. He had the same hair color as his mother but he earned his chiseled features from his no-nonsense father. His built-up body was a work of his, the only thing he took seriously in his teenage years. Things have changed but going to the gym once a week had become a part of him. His light caramel skin, a mixture of his mother's ghost-white skin and his father's ebony skin color.

Nathan's mum reached out to pick a cracker from a tray that was placed on the enamel-coated stool.

Stuffing her mouth with the plain but not bitter snack, She continued to rant.

"Are you even listening to me?"

Nathan was not. His mother's visit was interrupting his perfectly planned day. His face was plastered on his phone where he had written his schedules for the day and how his mother had swallowed up two hours and ruining his life.

What he had to do for family!

"I am mother, " Nathan replied absentmindedly as he watched his mother stuff another of his maid's cracker into her mouth.

"You shouldn't eat too much of that, " Nathan commented when he watched his mother pick another one.

His mother flayed her hands at him sending some of the grains on his perfectly ironed shirt and making it dirty.

"Good gracious!" He yelled when this happened.

"Mom! I had a really important meeting!" Nathan yelled louder gaining the maid, Betty who peeked from the kitchen to see what drama she was missing.

"Don't you yell at me!" Her voice turned hoarse and Nathan could tell she was about to be more dramatic.

"I just want what's best for you. I might not live long enough to see you happily married." She sobbed.

"Even if..." She continued to Nathan's aching ears." it's Betty."

Nathan raised an eyebrow. He had nothing against Betty but she wasn't just his type. He cherished control and he knew Betty would never even let him taste that. The girl held her pride in high esteem despite being a worker.

Nathan brushed back his brownish hair backward as he thought of a good way to get rid of his mother. She was staying with him for a week before she moved back to Greece, where his family manor resided.

"Ok, Mom! I have a girlfriend. If I bring her home, would you be satisfied and let me be?"

Nathan watched his mother face lit up with excitement.

"I knew it." She stated, snapping her fingers like she had gotten a brilliant business idea.

"Bring her home, Nathan. I want to talk to her." His mother mused.

What a drama queen!

Nathan checked his phone again for his schedule. Of he didn't plan his move now, he would be late and like really late.

He had a meeting with Mr. Duarte Suarez, another business mogul that could make his company hit the world.

"So...I have to go. Betty will help you with anything you need. I'll be back at four in the afternoon."

And before his mother could assert her opinion or another one of her many ridiculous ideas. He strode out.

His mother watched in silence as he threaded out the doorway and his bulky frame slowly disappeared in the light.

"At least he was bringing his girlfriend." She pacified herself and reached out to the tray to pick another cracker only to find out it was empty. She sulked and called on the maid to give her a refill. Her son was coming home soon and she could hardly wait to see his woman of choice.

The Boulderfist company was one of the most influential companies in the suburban of Mexico which was set up six years ago by Nathan and three other equally wealthy individuals.

The company produced wine. The kind that made people drunk and drained them of their money while adding to Nathan and his shareholders' pockets.

The elegant building was a 20 story building adorned with glass-like mirrors and a very busy one at that.

A red Ferrari pulled up at the enormous parking lot with Mr. Nathan Tocci getting out from it.

A young woman in her early twenties and dressed in a red suit. immediately rushed to aid him with his briefcase which he could be handled individually.

"Sir! Mr. Rodriguez is waiting."

Nathan bit his lips hating he wasted a fellow elites time.

"Thank you, Claire."

The woman gave him a weak grin and brushed her long black hair which was being tossed around by the wind behind her hair.

Nathan rushed into the seminar room, ignoring hundreds of workers greeting him a good morning. This uneventful morning was about to turn sour if he didn't bag that deal.

The seminar room was the only quiet place in the building that was absent from noisy workers. The room was painted Plain white with the lights tonight up its simple elegance.

It could contain twenty individuals and although it was rarely used, the room remained speck clean.

A rectangular table was placed in the center of the room close to the office with chairs made from ebony wood and marble giving it it's shine. At the end of the room was a digital projection device and a whiteboard.

Mr. Rodriguez was busy scribbling on the board and unaware of Nathan's arrival.

"I'm so sorry Mr. Rodriguez." Nathan apologized, indirectly informing the absent-minded man he was around.

The man turned and Nathan got a full view of his status.

His second-hand grey suit and plain white tie told a lot about his fashion sense. He had deep lines on his forehead and Nathan could picture him awake all night and a lot since he had bags under his eyes which made his appearance seem a little bit more haggard. His wide-toothed smile revealed a lot more. His teeth were slightly brown from an early morning coffee drink and His hair was a bit tangled and rough. Nathan could tell he was equally desperate to secure the deal with him.

"It's no biggie. You must have had a tight schedule."

He said.

He was not wrong. Nathan had to babysit his grown ass mother and the thought of bringing in a random girl home to present to his mother as his girlfriend came to mind again. Nathan quickly brushed the thought off and took a seat next to his client to be.

"So...What is the deal about?" Nathan asked, opening his briefcase and taking out a pen and a notebook.

"Yes. I have an idea that will boost your company revenue."

Nathan nodded, penning what tye man just uttered while the man continued his presentation.

The man took out a marker and began to make a scribble on the whiteboard.

"Your company is into winemaking, warehousing, and food preservation but there is a forgotten market no one has taken interest in."

"And what is that?" Nathan quizzed.

The man sketched a horribly drawn top and said, " Clothes."

Nathan jotted it down.

"Nice. Why would you suggest a throw a million-dollar at...clothes."

The man wiped beads of sweats that had slightly formed on his forehead and continued with his presentation wildly gesticulating.

"We wear clothes every day but we forget one Simple detail. Change! Throughout history, fashion changes. It's still changing and Boulderfist could be part of this revolution."

Nathan stopped jotting and placed his hands on his chin for support trying to figure what the man had just suggested.

"So you want Boulderfist to start a clothing line with you."

"Yes!" The man replied.

"So how much would you need?"

The man was silent for a brief moment and the only sound that echoed in the room was Nathan slightly tapping his foot on the tiled floor.

"A five hundred to begin with." He finally said.

Nathan could almost laugh if he wasn't on professional grounds.

"Do you have a sample of what you plan to make when you are giving the resources?" Nathan queried further, getting bored with the conversation.

"Ye-e-s!" The man rushed into his portfolio and brought out a set of drawings.

He arranged them neatly to Nathan who glanced through them briefly.

"So are you going to be the designer?"

Nathan watched the man adjust his tie like he was under huge pressure.

"Me and my wife." Mr. Rodriguez chipped in, his face turning red.

Nathan looked at his left fingers and noticed the golden band shining slightly thanks to the influence of the lights. He hadn't noticed that before. His mother's words came to mind. How she wanted to trap him while he was still so young.

"Well, I've heard enough." Nathan said standing up." Congratulations Mr. Rodriguez. I'll be signing a contract with you soon and then we can talk about the pay."

Nathan watched the man's tensed face turn to a slight smile.

"Oh my-Thank you, Mr. Nathan."

It was no biggie even if he knew he might lose a bit of money. He hardly trusted the man would be successful due to his demeanor but imagining him and a nagging wife was a reason to give charity.

He had the same problem albeit a mother.

Done with the seminar, Nathan walked out and headed to his office to give himself a mental break.

Nathan straightened the stuff on his desk, making sure everything was square and properly spaced. There wasn't much just a phone, a legal-sized lined black pad, his favorite color, a translucent Bic pen with a black top, and a big plastic cube with a picture of his family which his mother forced him to place there.

The Lovely mahogany desk was from his late sister who battled with cancer before losing the battle last year's December. It was the only reason he refused to get rid of it.

Nathan sat down to think of where he was going to get a lady to pose as his girlfriend for the night at least to get his mother off his back.

His door opened and a small face peeked in. Nathan's eyes opened to see Claire, his assistant. He wished he could use her but his mother had seen Claire and her boyfriend a thousand times and there was no way she was going to believe they would be a thing. They had been inseparable since college but in the workplace, she made sure she took him with the high accord.

"Mr. Nathan, someone wants to see you."

Nathan knew he was still free for an hour or two so he wondered who wanted to meet him in his only free time.

"Who?" He queried.

"A lady." Claire replied."should I let her in?"

"Sure." Nathan buzzed like an exhausted child.

Claire walked out and soon later, a young woman came in.

She was dressed in a sweeping gown that made her look to casual to be here for business. Observing her from leg upwards, Nathan noted her features.

She was slim, like skinny. She had black hair cropped short that balanced her rather long face. She wasn't beautiful in the conventional sense but she was pretty. Her black eyes and plush olive skin were a sight to behold almost making Nathan lust if she wore something more revealing.

The woman walked up to him and bowed respectfully.

"Hello, Mr. Nathan."

Nathan broke free from her spell and immediately spoke, "Yes, ehm-you wanted to see me?"

"Yes! I need your help."

This he knew. She needed a little bit of money.

"How much do you need?" He asked, bringing out a checkbook from his drawer.

The woman put up her palm as if to shut him up, "I don't need your charity. I just want to work."

Nathan was astounded by her boldness yet pleased that she wasn't lazy.

"Mrs..." Nathan said trying to get her to say her name.

"Bianca." She chipped in.

"Thanks. Mrs..."

"Miss!" She corrected.

"Sorry, Miss Bianca, we don't have a job right now for you but not to worry, I can arrange something."

The woman immediately fell on her knees when he said this.

"I'm begging you. I have no place to stay. I'll do anything." The wan pleaded, face down.

Nathan was embarrassed. She didn't want money and there was no menial love available presently.

"Please stand up Miss Bianca. I wish I could help but..."

Nathan's mind went reeling just when his phone chimed. It was his mother. He stared at the phone and the woman wan who needed a job simultaneously.

What a connection and yet he had almost blindly missed it.

"Sir?"

"Maybe I have something for you but it's personal. Can you act?"

The woman didn't even waste a second in giving him her reply.

"Yes! I acted in middle school."

Nathan smirked. He didn't believe in miracles, not since his sister's death but maybe manna did fall from heaven. Maybe it did.

"Manna doesn't fall if you don't ask."

"So what do I have to do?" Bianca asked, angsty to finally start working.

"You...pretend to be my girlfriend, " Nathan said firmly but gently.

"Why?"

Bianca seemed confused as to why he would want her to make her pretend she was in a relationship with him.

"Because I have a demanding mom and I want her out as soon as possible. "

Bianca nodded solemnly to his reply.

"So now that I'm idle. Let get to know each other. My mother will kill you with her question so best be prepared."

Bianca nodded in response and began talking.

"Well, I'm Mexican. Twenty-one. I guess that's all."

Nathan raised an eyebrow.

"No family?"

He watched Bianca slowly grasp to the Hem of her garment and he immediately knew he had made the wrong move.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't know they were dead." He apologized, out of necessity than from his heart.

Tears escaped Bianca's eyes and she wiped them off with the back of her hands.

"They are not dead. I haven't seen my father since birth. My mother is an alcoholic and can barely for herself. I do my best to support us."

Time was running out and this conversation and taken tye route to self-pity not what Nathan was expecting. His phone chimed again and this time he picked it up.

"Hello, mother."

"Nate! It's getting late. Where are you?"

His mother's voice rang furiously at the end of the line. Bianca forgot her worries suppressing a laugh.

"I'll be back by six." Nathan sent, his cheeks flushed.

"Waiting."

The line went dead and Nathan dropped the phone.

"That is what I face every single time she visits. Always complaining about something. Maybe that makes us alike, like kindred spirits."

"Very unlikely." I'll do anything to trade my life with yours." Bianca admitted.

"Interesting, " Nathan noted.

" So what about you?" Bianca asked.

Nathan thought for a little while.

"I'm a simple man. I love anything black, love working, and more importantly, I cherish my privacy."

He tensed the last part like he was referring to Bianca.

Bianca ignored this part.

"When do we go?" The fake girlfriend demanded.

Nate checked his Rolex and determined when they would be going.

"At four o'clock. My assistant Claire will be with you shortly."

Bianca stiffened, "I don't do well with people. Can't I stay here?"

Nathan stared expressionlessly to her chocolate black eyes.

"We just met Bianca. I just told you, I cherish my privacy."

Nathan strode out and waited at the door for her to come out.

"Milady." He said in a feigned British accent.

Bianca stood up and followed.

"I never knew you had a good sense of humor." She commented.

"I never knew you were so stereotypical, " Nathan said, slightly offended. He had a good sense of humor at least when his sister was still alive.

Bianca walked out and Nathan locked the door shut.

***

Bianca was dead bored with the assistant's attempt of striking a conversation with her. She would not just shut up.

Bianca's reply to every question the secretary threw at her way Ok, Wow, and facial expressions. The phone in the pocket of her gown which she had sown herself rang. She was tempted to pick it just to stop talking to Claire.

"Sorry. I have to pick this." Bianca said, reaching into her pocket and bringing out a small mobile phone.

Pressing a button, she put the phone to her ear.

"Hello, mother."

Claire resumed typing on the computer placed in front of her to give Bianca some privacy.

Bianca talked very briefly before cutting off the line.

"Was that your mother?" Claire asked.

Bianca gave her a stupid look before replying.

"Yes. So when will Mr. Nathan be done with whatever he is doing?"

"There he comes." Claire pointed and Bianca turned to where her finger led her.

Nathan looked exhausted. His shoulder sagged down and his shirt was soaked in his sweat making his singlet visible.

Nathan placed a hand over his head like he had a headache

"We need to go."

"Ok."

Nathan immediately stopped her, his eyes inspecting her body.

"You're not going like this."

Bianca wondered what was wrong with her dressing. She wore the best she had. A gown that had not lost color yet and was presentable to the public eye, a sandal she once set aside for beach-going. She was totally presentable.

"We are going to the mall."

"You have to be kidding me." Bianca retorted.

Turns out he was not kidding. Nathan dragged Bianca to the mall and now she had to pick a dress. One that eas presentable to his almighty mother's eye.

Nathan abandoned her in the hands of the manager of the clothing store.

The store manager, a woman who looked between thirty-five to forty, blessed with ebony black skin, and a penchant for fashion tips followed Bianca as she made a selection. If Nathan was going to let her pick a dress then she better-made use of the opportunity to burn down his bank account figures.

She picked three dresses. A royal blue gown that was at knee length and covered everything that needed to be covered. The other two were forced on her by the enthusiastic manager.

"This one will bring out your eyes." She threw a

Leopard skin printed jumpsuit, tight enough to kill a cat. Bianca wondered how she would be able to breathe in those.

"Now go dress and let check you out." The manager said whilst pushing Bianca to the dressing room.

The dressing room was like a closet except with mirrors. The three corners of the walls mirrored her image. Plain and drab.

"Dress." A voice echoed from outside the room.

Bianca roused from her deep though and picked up the Royal blue dress, the only one she had intended to wear.

She disposed of the old gown she was wearing and slipped into the new ones. Bianca picked up a set of Matching flats and wore them also. Done with dressing, she checked her reflection in the mirror.

"Who are you?" She ran her hands on the image her eyes portrayed.

"Why don't you just get-"

"Oh! my God!"

The scream made Bianca Yelp. It was the manager who could not wait for her to finish. What if she was naked?

"You look amazing but it needs something more."

Before Bianca could resist, the woman was already at her face applying Makeup.

After a series of brushing, wiping, and adding. The woman was done.

"Look at you, you look like a doll."

She was right. Bianca looked like an Android that was under the influence of a remote.

"Thanks." She lied.

"You're welcome. Now go show your boyfriend."

Bianca left, refusing to even debunk that Nathan was her boyfriend. It would be a losing battle.

Bianca stepped out. Slightly uncomfortable with people staring at her. The silent compliments even made it worse.

She quickened her steps until she reached Nathan who was staring blankly at his phone.

"Hello!"

Nathan lifted his chin to meet her face and his eyes immediately widened.

"Woah! You look stunning."

Bianca blushed at his compliment.

"Thanks."

"Ok. Let's go."

The car ride to Nathan's home was quicker than expected. He lived in a huge mansion painted cream. Nathan had Reve to her he wanted it black but didn't want to be tagged as creepy.

The doors were opened by servants and Bianca got a better view of the decor. The house wants even painted. It was layered with plaster of Paris that gave it it's flawless look. It was more than break taking. Bianca didn't get the chance to allow her eyes to adore the house as Nathan rushed her in. She saw why. The neighbors were glaring at her like they had seen a ghost.

Nathan rang the doorbell and waited for it answered.

Bianca's heart kept pumping in anticipation of what was coming.

What was Nathan's mother going to be like? What would happen?

The questions he knew no answers to were killing her and then the door opened.