THREE

My eyes were fixed on her.

trying to read her mind. But all I could see was flimsy confusion glinting in her eyes.

I know how to get people in this situation to do my will. the confidence comes with years of negotiating with diverse people. And they always give in to what I want. but, for some weird reason, I have an unsettling feeling it wouldn't be easy to get her to do what I want. not even as her boss.

"Miss Brooke, before you give me an answer, know that this isn't a favor you're doing for me, NO. This is a business that would benefit you." the confusion on her face turned to irritation. 

She turned her gaze to Mark my lawyer, who was present for any legal clarity. And had been carefully silent.

"Miss Brooke, my understanding is that you have only one family member whom you love dearly. and unfortunately, she's ill, the weight of medical expenses has been on you which was the reason you dropped out of school to take care of her." 

if she was irritated before, now her eyes were burning with venom, a 'how dare you' kind of look. He continued anyway, this was too important for me to let go.

"you need money, a lot of money to take care of your granny and I can provide the financial aid for your livelihood and your granma's healthcare."

She finally opened her mouth in the most calm and angered way he had ever heard 

"And all this, because I need to be your brother's fiancee? shifting her gaze more directly at me, adjusting her body on the seat to face me.

"why do I have to be his fiancee?".

He took the remote that had been on his study desk and switched on the screen that was mounted on the wall of the room. a video of his brother Nathaniel Spark, appeared. it was of him dragging a stuffed toy almost violently from the nurse who was prepping him for cleanup. 

He shifted his attention to the lady who seemed worried rather than scared by the revelation on the screen.

"that is my brother, he is mentally unstable, and has been for years now. Mark." he motioned to him to present the document in his hand to her.

She opened the papers which were filled with pictures of Nat, his girlfriend, her lifeless body, and the shooter. She studied the document investigative, and read every word in the published articles on Amanda's death. her face turned to him, now with a questioning gaze.

"that is my brother and his dead fiancee," pointing at their pictures. "I'm sure by now you can see the identical resemblance you both shared."

she nods her head, giving me a go-ahead look to continue with the explanation.

"they were both deeply in love, she was a singer. At their engagement party, a fan of hers shot her beside my brother. and since then, Nat has been psychologically impended. he refused treatment, and food and became aggressive towards anybody who wasn't his girl. I'm the only person he sometimes listens to and talk to. He believes his fiancee isn't dead but would come back to him." he paused, waiting for her to say something, but she didn't. 

"the only thing that calmed him down a bit is her picture which he sleeps with and the stuffed animal she gave him while they were dating."

A drop of tear came down from her eyes and she swiftly rubbed it off. good, she's emphatic about it, he thought.

"Now why I need you to be his pretend girl is for the obvious revelation you&her look the same."

"I can see that," she muttered.

"the doctor had advised us to look for her sister or anybody who looks like her to get close to him, then maybe he would take his medications and therapy to get better. But no one shared a striking resemblance like you both." for some reason his heartbeat increased. Mark chipped in, sensing his uneasiness.

"Immediately he gets better mentally we will find a way to release you from the contract," Mark spoke as Sandy concentrated on Mary's picture on the table.

"There is a legal document that states that you must not discuss this with anyone, you are allowed to leave immediately after he gets back to himself. And there are 2 million dollars for you, 1 million immediately after you sign the agreement, and 1 million after you finish successfully. and some other listed requirements Miss Sandy."

Her expression was calm, listening to every word Mark was saying. 

"do you have anything to say Miss Sandy, or any reservation, I'll be happy to adjust it to your wish, "he added. all to manipulate her mind.

She stood up, standing in a position where she would have a clear view of him. This is crazy, what is she going to say? The thought rummaged through his head.

"if I get you correctly. sir, you want me to be your brother's pretend girlfriend for the duration of his recovery?" 

he nodded trying not to say anything wrong. 

"And I'm supposed to leave my granny who you know by your unapproved investigation of me that she  needs me the most currently."

While he could understand her sarcasm and anger towards his knowledge of her background. He knows for a fact that she needs him as much as he needs her.

 He stood up,  giving him a powerful presence over her. Edging closer to her.

"Miss Sandy, my background checks on you come with working with my company, if you read your appointment letter when you were hired you would find it there."

"oh I see" she added, intently looking at me.

"and your granny would be taken care of by the best care in the country, I have asked for the best doctor on your granny's cancer case. and there might be hope of her living longer than you were promised." YES! He could see her eyes widen like he had just promised her what mattered most to her.

"I honestly, have nothing but sympathy for you and especially your brother, but I'm sorry I cannot do it. I'll be tendering my resignation letter by tomorrow. that is if you do not want me working for you. and I promise not to utter this to anyone."

 My jaws dropped with an angry look at her as she walked out of the study.