Chapter 3

GINA POV

   I was really mad and I knew I’d acted way out of proportion, it took a few hours for the anger to finally wear out and for the realization of me losing my job had just settled over me.

“What was I thinking? Why would I do that?” I scolded myself as I mentally slapped myself while walking back home, I’d decided to take a rest before going home and now it just seemed like my life had taken the worst turn it could ever take.

I live off of what I make from the restaurant, from serving people and now, I have no job or anything to help me get through the day.

I stood up to continue my work as I also continued scolding myself for acting so irrationally, another man had lied to me and broken my heart. Why did I think it was okay to take out the anger on someone else?

The importance of the client I’d lashed out on hit me when I got fired immediately he was dissatisfied.

I picked up my phone and went through my contact, staring at my boss’ contact intently. I contemplated calling and apologizing but I knew that there was no point as he was also stubborn.

I got home and decided I was going to take a shower before taking my cereal and going to bed.

‘I’ll try applying for a new job tomorrow.’ I sighed as I laid on my bed and thought of what I’d just gone through with a man, I’d lived my whole life just to satisfy him and now I’d just thrown my whole life away.

Ding dong ding dong.

The sound coming from the alarm I’d set on my phone jolted awake, I didn’t know I had fallen asleep already until I woke up.

I picked up my phone to check the time, it was 6:30 and the morning seemed to be a little bit chilly than usual.

Reluctantly, I stood up to prepare for my daily exercise, go for my morning run before having a bath and trying my luck in another restaurant.

“Shit!” I let out breathlessly as I checked the time, I’d been running for almost an hour and now I need to do what I had to do in a rush.

Rushing to the bathroom, I brushed my teeth as hurriedly as I could and also had my bath before getting out and throwing my clothes on. I dabbed some lipstick on my already chapped lips before wishing myself luck and walking out of the room.

The traffic I got stuck in wasn’t one I was expecting, I knew I stood no chance but I still thought to try. This was my first interview and I really hoped it would go great.

I got to the restaurant and adjusted the hem of my dress while also propping myself properly, I made my way in as gently as I could, wearing my biggest smile.

“Good morning.” The lady at the front desk said to me with a smile.

It was a really big restaurant and if I could get a job here, it’ll be way better than my previous job, smiling and getting out of my head. I spoke.

“Hi, good morning. I saw you’re hiring and I’d decided to come for an interview, it stated that it will be holding today.” I spoke to the lady at the front desk, I was breathless already due to all of the rush.

The look she gave me told me that wasn’t what she was expecting me to say, she’d probably thought I was coming to make a reservation.

“For what post, ma’am?” She asked politely and I let out a small smile.

“Waitress please, I’m Gina Georgia—“ I started saying but was cut short when she decided to talk.

“I’m sorry miss Gina but you’re late and that job was given out to someone else, I’m really sorry,” she apologized and I nodded my head in fake understanding, “but if you can drop your resume, we’ll contact you when there is another opening.” She added.

I agreed to do so but I knew she would never get back to me, it was just a lie, one I’m already used to.

I continued my job hunting and when it was getting dark, I finally gave up. I’d decided to go back home and just try again next week.

Four different restaurants and they’d all rejected me, I regretted all of my actions. I regret letting my anger take the best of me. I scrolled through my phone for a while as I went through some funny content to help me cheer up a little.

The sound coming from my bedside alarm once again woke me up, it was an early Monday morning and this time, I’d decided I was going to skip the early morning run.

That was probably the reason I went to my interviews late but I knew that was a lie, I always get to my interviews late because I’d failed to plan my time properly.

I sighed as I made my way to the bathroom, the cold water stinging my skin and making me yelp in pain.

I finally relaxed and soon I was done with my bath, I walked out of the bathroom to the kitchen to make myself a bowl of cereal before going online to job hunt as that was what I always do these days if I’m not walking around the city in search of a job opportunity.

“Let’s get hired.” I smiled as I opened up my laptop in front of me and went on LinkedIn, my favorite site. After minutes of scrolling up and down with no luck, I finally gave up.

I was starting to feel positive about today but it looked like my positivity was in vain, just when I was about to stand, I received a notification.

   ‘Waitress needed, must be beautiful and have good customer service—“

I didn’t finish reading the requirement before I scrolled down to the address, I grabbed my keys as I ran out of my house with my resume in my hand and I was thankful I’d had my bath before I decided to scroll through LinkedIn.

This is my last resort and I silently prayed that it goes well as it will mean a lot for me if it does.

I walked in the restaurant and the person I saw was who I least expected to see. There he was, the cheat at my previous job.

He was probably there to find a fling, I smirked as we locked eyes but I averted mine at once, I wasn’t ready to have eye contact with a cheat.

Everything about men these days irk me, after what Ken had done to me, men just seem to irritate me.

“Son of a bitch, fucking cheat—“ I mouthed as I poked my tongue out at him a little and I was surprised when he didn’t react.

He was instead amused by my reaction and letting out a small smirk, he also looked in the other direction as he continued speaking to the man he was standing with.

His easy dismissal made me mad, because I knew that’s probably how he toys with his wife’s feelings and the multiple girlfriends he must definitely have.

“Birds of a feather, disgusting bunch.” I mumbled to myself as I made my way to the front desk with a big smile on my face, “Good morning.” I greeted.

“Good Morning, miss—“ she greeted back as she tried to catch my name.

“Gina.” I immediately answered and she nodded with a smile as she repeated after me.

“How May I help you?” She asked and I cleared my throat before answering, I’d told her I was job hunting and I’d come across an ad that stated that they needed a waitress.

“Is the spot still open?” I asked after all my explanation, I crossed my fingers and hoped for a positive answer.

“Yes,” she answered and my heart leapt for joy, “but you’ll need to see the boss before you can be hired.” She added and I nodded in agreement.

“That’s not a problem, can I see him now?” I asked and the lady nodded positively as she got out of the desk and invited me to follow her to the boss.

She knocked slightly on the door and we soon got invited in, I was more than shocked and my blood threatened to stop flowing as I stared directly into the eyes of the man that was seated at the table.

It was him. The man I’d emptied a plate of pasta on and I’d also insulted him when I got here. He is my boss.

I mentally slapped myself again and cussed a little, the odds seem to be against and not in my favour. I stood there dumbly as I anticipated what I was supposed to do next.

“You can go now.” He said to the person that had ushered me to his office and he made her way out immediately, leaving the both of us alone in the spacious office.

“Have your seat.” He offered in a soft voice and I felt mr already racing heartbeat accelerated another notch. My knees felt wobbly as I made to do as told, each step I too was agonizing and it was as though I’d faint from how nervous I currently am.

The office soon seemed unusually hot. I knew it was just me and not the office because the Air conditioner was working perfectly fine.

“I know you—“ He started saying and I nodded affirmatively.

There it goes, this is the part where he talks about what I did to him and how because of that he wouldn’t be able to hire me, and of course, me being desperate and pathetic, began to frantically apologize.

“Why did you do it though?” He asked, I knew he was referring to the insults and the pasta dump.

I was embarrassed but if I wanted to get the job I desperately need at this point, I needed to come clean.

I told him about Ken and how he’d cheated on me, I also told him I’d thought he was also one of the cheats out there and his reaction completely threw me off balance.

He was laughing hysterically at me, I raised my brows at him as if to ask if anything was funny and he got it.

“I’m sorry, let me get this straight. You poured pasta on me and insulted me because you thought I was cheating on someone because of what your cheating ex boyfriend did to you?” He asked amidst laughs but I could tell he was serious.

I almost wanted to roll my eyes and respond to him sarcastically, but I didn’t dare do any of those because I was currently really desperate.

I either get this job or my life is literally doomed.

“I’ll consider you for the job but first, you need to do as I say.” He spoke and I was already getting irritated, he was starting to show off his arrogance, and attitude which I grately despise.

“What might that be?” I asked and he reached to his locker to bring out a document, I was curious as to what the content might be.

“You’d have to get married to me.”

I blinked at him after a few seconds. “What?” I exclaimed.

For the first time, I saw him roll his eyes.

“It’s a contract marriage, and fortunately for you, you fit into what I’m looking for. Trust me, I’d never have wanted to get married to you on normal basis.”

I swallowed emptily and pretended like his last sentence hadn’t stung, even though I knew damn well that I’d never willingly get married to him too.

“Why do you need a contract wife?” I asked instead.

“That’s none of your business. Are you interested or not?” Was just response. I pursed my lips as I reached for a document which he had whipped out from his desk.

“You’ll have to sign this.” He said, it wasn’t a question, it was more like a statement and my curiosity took over as I collected the document from him and carefully went through the content of the contract that had just been handed to me.

“Henry Thorn?” I hadn’t realized I had said it out loud until he replied.

It was a contract of marriage, my assumption about him was wrong, he wasn’t married yet and he in fact was in search of a wife.

So, I had indeed jumped into conclusions yesterday? Which means I had gotten fired for nothing.

A wave of embarrassing engulfed me, which I pointedly ignored, while hoping this man right here wouldn’t notice.

I looked through the benefits and they were so tempting that I didn’t have to think twice before asking for a pen and going ahead to sign.

It says I’d also have to live with him.

Which I don’t really mind, seeing as I won’t have to bother about my rents any longer.

I also wasn’t looking forward to getting into another relationship, so this contract marriage doesn’t really seem like a big deal.

“Gina.” He spoke as he went through my signature on the paper and something about the way he said my name made me shiver, which I pointedly ignored once again.

“With this contract, you’re now legally bound to me as my wife for a year, which automatically makes you ‘Mrs Thorn’.”

I’d just agreed to be married to a man I know nothing about.