Chapter 2: Flashback

"That's not what I meant, I actually was trying to... Wait, what?"

"I said, I will gladly marry a beautiful girl like you, so when do we get marry?"

Mirabel with her mouth agape couldn't find any words to say. Here she is, wondering what sort of approach she is to take in order to get a husband and this man just agrees without even asking 'why?'

"Don't you even want to know the reason?" She asked to which Oliver looked at her for a few seconds before replying.

"Okay, you can tell me the reason Hunny."

"Okay, the... Wait when did I become your hunny?"

"The moment you asked to marry me."

"B...but I said fake marriage."

"Does it matter?"

Oliver countered while still staring into her captivating eyes with a foolish grin.

_What have I gotten myself into? Hopefully, he isn't those sort of pervert men,_ Mirabel thought as she avoided his charming gaze.

Without wasting the man's time she explained her reasons for getting a fake marriage contract.

Throughout the talk, Oliver's expression was the same but inwardly, he felt shocked.

He couldn't help but rethink the consequences of his actions, 'Am I losing my mind? Damn, this must be the side effect of love at first sight and I'm definitely loving it.' He thought with a foolish grin on his face.

He never knew Mirabel was watching him the whole time he was thinking about the request. She couldn't help but rethink her actions once more, 'I pray this man isn't a pervert only a pervert accepts a lady's request so easily but he is kinda handsome... gosh Mirabel get a hold of yourself.'

"Alright, I'm ready young miss. Let's go get marry." Oliver said as he grabbed his suit.

"Th... that ea... sily? W... wait let me look for my friend, we came together." With a light blush from being stared at like that by Oliver, she hurriedly turned, looking for her friend who left her to flirt with guys instead of helping her get a fake husband.

After searching for a few minutes she still couldn't find Jennifer, she even tried calling her phone but the music was too loud that Mirabel couldn't hear her.

'I can't waste time or he might change his mind.' With such thought, she shyly said to the handsome man following her in a barely audible voice.

"Ca... Can we go?" 

"Sure, sure hunny. This way please." With his heart thumping from excitement, Oliver ushered her out.

****

Two young couples or yet-to-be couples could be seen strolling the streets of New York City. While Oliver was busy admiring Mirabel, she on the other hand couldn't help but recall the exact reason she wanted this fake marriage.

It all begins when she returns from school only to discover her grandfather's lifeless body on the floor, no matter which police station she took the case to they only wave her away saying her grandfather died of natural diseases and it has nothing to do with murderer cases which she refuse to believe.

Things took drastic turns when she couldn't pay her house bills and had to pack out into a single-room apartment. If not for Jennifer, Mirabel knew she wouldn't have survived or might as well have been forced to go into the street.

Just when she thought things would get better, a set of debts her grandfather took from a loanshark landed. Face the threat of either paying or she will be sold.

Rumour has it that her mother who left her at an extremely young age is currently one of the most successful celebrities in town but Mirabel hates her with passion for abandoning her even when she hears of the disaster that befalls her, she will rather go into the street than going to her mother for help.

****

On a certain day when she visited her friend Jennifer in order to borrow some money as usual she stumbled on Jennifer and her boyfriend in an intense query.

"Mike! I won't say this again, I don't want that job and won't be helping you! What else do you want me to do?!" Jennifer's charming voice echoes with frustration mixed in it.

"B... But you can speak up to five languages sweetie, please reconsider it. Do this for me please." Mike pleaded as his voice couldn't cloak the anger he felt.

"My answer still stands! No means No!"

"What of your friend Mirabel? I heard she keeps looking for money and I can bet she won't reject this offer. Why not convince her so that I..."

"I can't believe you brought out my personal life issue with Mirabel..." Jennifer couldn't help breaking into tears, with a hurt expression she replied. "You know what? We are done!"

"Wait, what?! N-no I didn't mean it that way hunny! Calm down and hear me out. This business I'm talking about will yell a lot of money for us and that's why my sense was clouded." With eyes full of sorrow, Mike tried explaining.

Mirabel who was standing outside of the door the whole time couldn't help bashing in as soon as she heard Mike's last words, curious she asked, "What's the offer? Hope it isn't an illegal job. What should I do? How much will they pay and for how long?"

"Are you nut Mirabel?! I'm even breaking up with him all because I wanna protect you and here you are trying to ask him for what?!" Jennifer couldn't help but yell.

Mike who saw this scene couldn't help but Mirabel directly, "Thank God you're here at the right moment. I can assure you the money is hefty, you interested?"

"Not until you tell me what kind of offer it is," Mirabel replied. She might be in desperate need of money but that doesn't mean she isn't cautious.

'This is too good to be true!' Mirabel thought as she listened to what Jennifer's boyfriend said.

He listed everything she needed to do and the amount promised and what she would give him as his own share.

Plus if the job was very good she would earn another additional bonus!

Wasn't this a God's sent opportunity?

Mirabel couldn't help but grin as she felt like her sad days would soon be over.

"Oh, I almost forgot to say this but the manager kinda has this eccentric character and always hates a thing or two about young ladies so the requirements are either you're above 38, married already or have a powerful connection which allows you in."

'I don't have any connections, I can't age overnight and even with make-up

it will still show. The only choice I have now is to get a fake husband' Mirabel thought.