6. The Contract Wedding

Liam sat back down on the chair as soon as Maya walked out of the door. He touched his lips the second time, surprised at how only a kiss could make him feel so disoriented. He only wanted to get back at her for tarnishing his image but he ended up getting affected instead by her soft lips. 

Liam straightened on his seat as he tried to adjust his trouser which had given him an erection just by the thought of Maya's lips.

Liam came out of his thoughts just as he heard the door, he straightened on his chair and smoothened out his suit before calling, ‘come in’ to the person.

Noah strolled into the boss's office with the files his boss had asked for in his hands. He dropped them gently on the table before turning to look at the boss who was watching him with a confused expression on his face" What are these?"

Noah raised his eyebrows, shocked as soon as he heard that. How could his boss forget so easily" Those are Miss Banks' personal files? You ask me to get them for you" Noah responded as Liam nodded and went through the files one after the other.

"Has Miss Banks left the company?" Liam asked Noah, showing a bit of disinterest in the issue but inwardly, he was dying to know if she was still in his company. 

" Yes sir. She left some hours ago" Noah replied. He turned to leave just as Liam waved him off but he paused and turned to watch the boss slowly afraid of what he wanted to say just now.

Liam noticed Noah's presence in his office. He raised his eyebrows at him, shocked" What are you still here for?" Liam asked him, he remembered waving him off but he's still here.

Just as Noah was about to reply, Liam's ringing tone filled the office. Liam cursed softly as he stood up to go pick up as it was his personal phone.

Liam immediately turned to accept the call as soon as he saw the caller's ID" Hello, grandpa" Liam called into the phone as he strolled to stand in front of the window looking down at the street. He was surprised as to why his grandfather was calling him at the office? Has he left already?

" Williams, bring that woman home. I want you to get married to her immediately seeing that she is pregnant with your child" 

His grandfather's excited voice filled the phone. Liam couldn't help cursing loudly, he had forgotten how fast news flies. 

Now, his grandfather wanted him to marry a woman who tarnished his image and was only after his money. No way!

" Grandpa, I'm sorry but you're mistaken. I can't marry that woman, she isn't pregnant for me. Everything in the magazine is not real" Liam went on to explain, he stepped away from the window and sat down on his chair, resting his back gently against the armrest.

" But Liam_________"

" I have to go now, grandpa. See you at home" Liam cut in, as he rushed to hang up the call before his grandfather said more ridiculous things.

Liam turned to relax on his chair. He couldn't believe his grandfather had asked him to marry Maya. Even though he was attracted to her he couldn't possibly get married to someone who lied his way into his arms. She was just like every gold digger he knows.

" Permit me, sir, I would like to say something," Noah said just as Liam came out of his thoughts to look at him.

Liam nodded for him to continue as he wrapped his hands across his chest with his head resting on the armrest, he gave him his optimum attention.

" I think you should accept your grandfather's choice," Noah told him. After going through the article writing about his boss and Miss Banks, he could see this was a great idea.  

Noah rushed to explain as soon as he saw Liam's lips curled up in anger and his fists clenched" I mean not legally but you and Miss Banks could have some sort of fake marriage just to save the company and no will know"

Liam sat up as soon as he heard that explanation. He stared at Noah for a long time thinking about the proposition before him. The idea was beneficial to him especially as he dreaded the idea of marriage and he could still save his company and reputation just by getting married to the one woman who started all of this.

Liam couldn't stop the smile that spread across his face. He stood up and grabbed Noah's hand in a firm handshake before turning to swivel across the room in excitement. This was a perfect idea! He could still remain celibate just by having a fake marriage. Woah! Why didn't he think of that before?

" Now, quickly find Miss Banks for me" Liam commanded Noah who turned to run out of the office but Liam's voice stopped him on the way. 

" Have you canceled the magazine subscription?" Liam asked him after remembering that he has asked him to cancel the yearly subscription for the gossip magazine.

" Not yet sir. I'm sorry, I will get to it immediately" Noah replied, scared that the boss might be angry with him. He has spent the time on the phone discussing with his new girlfriend that he has forgotten about the magazine. He hopes the boss will pardon him just this once.

" Leave it," Liam told a shocked Noah, waving him off. Liam turned to stare out of the window, his adrenaline was surging with excitement even for a fake wedding.

Liam smiled to himself" I always knew you will be useful someday, Miss Banks. Just wait, I will make sure to satisfy all of my fantasies with you" Liam muttered to himself before going over to his chair to get on with his work.

                                                                   

                             ***

Thirty minutes later, Liam was done making preparations for his fake wedding at the registry. All that was missing was the bride, Liam kept checking his watch wondering what was keeping Noah waiting?

Liam smiled as soon as he heard a knock on the door, he turned to call ‘come in’ to the person with his hands folded across his chest. He wasn't surprised to see Maya walking into the room closely followed by Noah. 

" Miss Banks was already on her way to you, sir" Noah hinted at his boss before turning to walk out of the door, closing it gently behind him as Liam turned to motion Maya to the empty seat in front of him.

" Have your seat, Miss Banks. And let's hear why you are back in my company a few hours after I ask you to leave?" Liam glared at her feigning annoyance. He was grateful to Noah for hinting that to him. It will be easy to manipulate her to accept his proposal. 

Maya cringed in fear as she took baby's step to the chair across from Liam, her newfound confidence faltering when she came face to face with Liam Powell.

" I_______ I'm sorry but I_______"

" Miss Banks, can you go straight to the point, I don't have all day," Liam said, cutting her off from her monosyllabic sentences. He turned to gather his files into his bag.

Maya nodded, she dropped her bag gently on her lap before taking a deep breath. She stares at Liam avoiding his eyes, while she prayed that he would be able to give the money" I need your help, sir, can you lend me two million dollars"

Liam sat up on his seat in shock, he was surprised to hear that. What did she need that kind amount of money for? Is she in any trouble that he isn't aware of?" Two million dollars?" Liam asked her again to be sure he heard alright.

" Yes sir" Maya replied, with her head bowed, she forced the tears that threatened to surface back. There was no need to cry in front of him. 

" Why? What did you need that huge sum of money for? Are you in debt" Liam asked her? He wasn't expecting her to ask for such a huge sum of money from him. He thought she wanted to beg her job back but she was being the gold digger he had once thought her of.

" That's none of your business. Are you giving me the money or not?" Maya glared at him, getting annoyed. How dare he sit there and pretend to care about her when he was the cause of her sorrows? If only he did listen to her, her mother would have been at home right now nagging her to get a man not in the hospital fighting for her life.

Liam's face tightened in anger. How could she tell him that it wasn't his business" I will give you the money but only one condition" Liam told her, he was trying to be gentle with her but here she was telling him it wasn't any of his business.

The happiness that was evident on Maya's face disappeared the moment she heard that. She knew he would be able to give her the money but she wasn't aware of the condition.

" What's the condition?" Maya summoned up the courage to ask after she had concluded to do anything for her mother.  Even though it means dancing to the tone of Liam Powell's music.

Liam smiled when he saw the resolve on her face. He took out his checkbook and wrote her a cheque to show her that he was serious" Here's your cheque" Liam showed it to her but refused to give it to her.

" This will be yours only if you agree to be my wife"

Maya gaped as her eyes widened in shock. She wasn't expecting him to want to marry her" But you don't know anything about me," Maya asked him in shock.  Moreover, she wasn't interested in getting married to him. He was the cause of all her troubles.

" You don't have to worry about that. I just need you to pretend to be my wife and nothing else" Liam raised his eyebrows at her, expecting her response.

Maya gulped nervously. She kept on reminding herself that she was only doing this for her mother and no one else" Okay, let's do it" Maya said after some time, she wanted to get out of here with the money in her hands but Liam had other plans for her.

" Really?"  Liam asked her, shocked to see that she accepted without much persuasion.  Liam wondered who the guy was, he's such a lucky man!. Liam stood up gathering his bag in his hands, he turned to see a bewildered Maya staring up at him.

" Where are we going?" Maya questioned after some time of him not saying anything to her. Was he joking with her right now? Maya wondered in her mind.

" To get married of course!" Liam smirked at her. He turned to walk out of the door without giving her any choice than to follow him.

Maya ran to keep up with Liam's long stride. She waited until they got into the elevator before she could protest. She didn't want most of the employees who had gathered to watch them, gossiping behind her back again.

" Can we get married another day? I really need the money urgently" Maya protested, hoping that Liam would consider her plea.

" And what should I do if you run away, Miss Banks?" Liam asked her as he watched her face for a response" We are getting married today, you can use the money for whatever tomorrow" Liam continued as stroll out of the elevator to the parking lot where his white Maserati was parked.

Maya bit her lips to stop her from crying. She got into the car beside Liam and watched him pull out of the company parking lot. Only then could she ask the one question that has been on her mind" How many months will the marriage last?" 

Liam turned to look at her, searching her face to see if she was backing out but only pain was evident" Three months" Liam answered, though he hoped it wouldn't be more than that. 

Maya nodded as she turned to gaze out of the window into the dark cold night which was empty and void just like the feelings in her heart. She hopes her mother will be alright before she got to her tomorrow