Chapter 6

“… Just an arrogant person.”

Nita muttered as she watched Willow hop into his car and zoomed off. The stress of the day was enough for her. Feeling weak, she walked down the road and eventually got a cab.

When she arrived home, she was more heartbroken than ever. She entered her bathroom, with the water running from her head to toe, her tears mixed with it.

“Can I fix this mess?” She asked herself.

The next day.

Early hours of the day, Nita wondered if everything was against her as her ringing phone disrupted her peaceful sleep. It rang twice and she ignored it. The phone rang again and she reluctantly answered the call.

“Nita, how did your meeting with him go?”

It was her uncle, Victor.

The memories of what happened yesterday engulfed her mind which made her stay quiet for some seconds.

“Uncle Victor, to be honest, it didn’t end well. We have to find another means.”

“Another means? I just got a message from him saying you are the ‘determining factor’ of whether he takes over our company or let you have it on some conditions.”

She rubbed her eyes and sat up.

“What did he mean by that?”

Victor cleared his throat. “I should be the one asking.”

“Forget Willow, I am making more efforts to sort everything out,” Nita assured with her voice laced with a yawn.

“Nita, your meeting with him only made things worse.”

She arched her brow. “How?”

“I am at the front of our company and it has been sealed with the do not trespass tags and guards are present. No one is allowed access.”

***

An hour later, Nita was standing beside Uncle Victor as they both looked at Luxi Ventures. Tears welled in her eyes.

Her family’s assets were about to be taken over by someone else. All her father’s investments will eventually become irrelevant. There was nowhere they could have borrowed thirty million to clear the debt. Going to the bank will only bring her more embarrassment, there was nothing tangible that she would have used as collateral.

Luxi Ventures was a company that covered a large area. It had many departments and sub-units. The company deals mainly with pharmaceuticals. Different types of machinery and processing plants were all available at Luxi Ventures if only she had money to run the company the way her father would have done. However, the reality is against that.

“Nita, what exactly did you do?” Victor asked with a frown.

Nita turned around and saw their employees. They all stood in groups of four and five as they discussed how hard it was to get a job. She felt disappointed in herself.

“I don’t know.” Nita finally responded.

“What do you mean by you don’t know?” Uncle Victor sounds cold. “We still have little time. Let us talk to Mr. Willow. He should be kind enough to let us pack the things we have.”

Victor heaved.

Nita hissed. “Willow is nothing but a thorn in our flesh. Can’t we…”

Before she could complete her statement, Uncle Victor’s phone began to ring

“Speak of the devil,” Victor muttered before answering the call.

“Victor, is my money ready?!”

Victor gave an exasperated breath. “We are still on it but you shouldn’t have given the order that our company should be sealed when the repayment time you gave is yet to elapse.”

“I do whatever I like. No one questions my decision. Come over now to my office, we need to talk.”

***

“How inconsiderate can you be? How do you expect us to raise your money when we cannot carry out the necessary activities at the company that might yield us profit?” Nita spoke coldly as soon as they entered Willow’s office.

“Nita, calm down. Allow me to handle this.” Victor gazed at her before turning to Willow. “Please Mr. Willow, can you allow us to have access to the company?”

“What do you mean?” Willow asked with furrowed brows.

Nita was pissed off. Her uncle was pleading with him to grant them access to their company when the duration he gave for repayment was yet to elapse, yet he was playing dumb.

She could no longer keep her cool.

“Why are you pretending? You have no right to seal Luxi Ventures and pass the other that ‘no trespassing. Do you even have human sympathy? Don’t you feel for the numerous people that would be rendered jobless?” Nita said with a frown.

Uncle Victor’s gaze darted between Nita and Willow. “Mr. Willow, please do not be crossed with Nita. I understand how she feels about us losing the only thing we have in our family name.”

Nita widened her eyes. “Uncle, there is no point pleading with him. We still have some time left. All he has to do now is to revoke the order he gave which deprived us access to the company.”

Willow relaxed on his adjustable chair, he stared at Nita but his expression was unreadable.

“Nita, will you excuse us? I think we should have a man-to-man talk.” Victor said in a calm tone but fear was evident in his voice.

Nita folded her arms and stared at her uncle, her thoughts racing about what Victor wanted to tell Willow.

“You might say I am disrespectful but it doesn’t matter now. I am sorry, but I won’t leave.”

The fact that Willow didn’t acknowledge her uncle’s plea made rage boil inside her. The whole thing was a thing of shame and embarrassment to her. If age was to be considered, she knew beyond doubt that her uncle was older than Willow. But then, life happens --- the wealthy ones always have an upper hand in all situations.

“You want your company, right?” Willow didn’t wait for a response before he added. “I have an offer for you.”

Inwardly, Nita concluded that whatever offer it was, it was like putting water in a basket. He would make sure that whatever it is favors him. She was never going to accept it.

Uncle Victor heaved a sigh before glancing at Nita.

Nita was about to say something but Uncle Victor beat her to it.

“As long as the offer involves us having our company, count us in.” Victor paused and muttered. “Count me in.”

He knew how stubborn and unyielding Nita could be. Giving a response on her behalf may not end well.

Willow cleared his throat. “So, we will pretend to be lovers for the next six months. You’ll be with me at social events when necessary. All we are doing here is give and take, purely business.”

Nita pulled her ear a bit as though she did not hear him well. She glanced at Victor, looking confused and gob-smacked.

At this point, she let out the rage.

“Willow! I will never accept such an offer from you. All I need you to do now is revoke the order and let me have access to Luxi Ventures.”

How would she accept such an offer from the man who has made her and her uncle go through pain and humiliation?

“But Nita…” Victor did not complete his statement as Nita raised her hand signaling that he shouldn’t speak.

“I bet you would accept it whether you like it or not.” Willow sounded confident.

Nita hissed.

“I’d like to see you force me to do it.”

“Really?”

At this point, Victor spoke. “Isn’t it just for her to pretend to be your lover when and where necessary?”

Willow laughed. How simple Victor thought it was?!

“Everything will look real for the world, exchange our vows and sign necessary documents but it remains fake to us. It is just a marriage of convenience.”

“Hmm,” Victor rubbed his temples.

“Why will a billionaire like you engage in such a thing? Your money can get you any woman you desire.”

Willow leaned forward. “Since you asked, I should give you a reply. I am engaging in such a thing because I have a huge deal to sign. I would lose it if I did not prove to them that I have a lover, or wife, to show that the rumor about me being gay is false. And yes, my money can get any woman and it has gotten you.”

Nita giggled. “I never expected that you would be scared of losing something. Hold on, do I need to remind you that Willow Bryan is a billionaire?”