Chapter two

At Morova bar, at eight. George sat waiting for Michael. George and Michael have been friends since childhood, Michael is a lawyer working in his dad's firm.

"Sorry, for that." Michael said as he rushed in.

"Don't tell me that, know you were just fooling with that your bitch, and kept me waiting"

"Bro, calm down. I just have to see her off before coming here. Michael said. "So, what's this all about?"

George brought out his phone and sent something to Michael.

"I want you to draft a contract for me. Make it tight, I didn't want any loophole."

"What's this all about, I don't understand. Do you mind to lesson me about it?"

George went on and told Michael how he intends to fulfill his grandmother's wish by marrying his secretary on paper, and pay her bills in return."

"How sure are you that she will accept this offer?"

"She will, she sounded desperate when she came to me, and I also inquired from the doctor, the cost of everything, she can't even cover it with the amount she is requesting for."

"Why don't you come clean to your

grandmother that you aren't dating."

"It's too late for that."

They had a few drinks before they left.

The following day at work. George called Brielle.

"Miss. Mikka, I have considered what you said, I will give you the money, but you that will be if you agree with what this paper said."

Brielle took the paper excitedly, expecting few conditions in how she should work, but she received the shock of her life, when she found out that she had married her boss, to save her grandmother.

"Sir, I think this is the wrong paper"

"Am sorry, it isn't."

Brielle was too shocked to move or say a word. Everything seems to be a dream. She pinched herself, and winced from the pain. That was when it dawned on her that this is real. And in her hand is a paper of contract marriage.

"I'm still waiting, and I don't have all day to dwell on that." George said.

"This man has to be joking, you just proposed marriage to me and you seem to take it as nothing." Brielle said to herself.

"Sir, I don't think I can do this, thanks for your help."

"I see, you can go." Brielle made her way to the door, but was stopped by George's words.

"It seems like she isn't as precious to you as you claimed. Don't blame me if anything happens to her. All you have to do is to make a little sacrifice for her"

"You call this a little sacrifice, living the next six months of my life with a complete stranger, a sacrifice. This is more than sacrifice, this is giving up my life to you for good six months. Just because of money, you don't know the pain of those who don't have it." Brielle half yelled.

"Like you." George said standing up from his chair, moving towards Brielle.

"Miss. Mikka, I bet you have forgotten that you are in my office, my company and my employee, and in whose presence you are standing, I will advise you to watch your mouth. And if i may ask, how else do you intend to raise eight hundred thousand, by whoring yourself around, she might die before then, which I bet you don't want. So right now, I am giving the choice of leaving."

Brielle was fuming at George's words. His words were real, but they struck like an arrow. "Arrogant bastard, how did you even get to know the amount needed for the surgery" she said to herself. And made for the door.

"If you walk through that door, forget about the money and this topic."

Brielle stopped, tears brewing in her eyes. This is it, the universe abandoned her. She turned slowly and her eyes met with George who was sitting on his table.

"Miss. Mikka, this marriage is an inconvenience for both of us, it's just a facade that will last for some months, and you move on with your life, but the pain of losing your grandmother won't be easy after six months. There are some people who didn't have the opportunity to get another life change through surgery, but if your grandmother is among the lucky ones I think it will be best if you help her make it." With that he returned to his seat. Brielle continued staring at him.

"You have five minutes to make a decision."

Brielle stood there staring at the paper and at George. Her mind is going whirlwind. She is caught up, no way out, there is no other opportunity that can offer her such money.

She picked the paper and went through it. The rules stated in the paper had her wondering what George tends to gain from the marriage, and she must not tell anybody about it.

"I have something to say." Brielle said after going through the paper.

"Go on"

"I want you to help me get another work, after those six months"

"Why?"

"It will be awkward working with you after the contract is over"

"Any other thing?"

"I will have to inform my grandmother about our arrangement, because that's the only way to ease her mind about the marriage, if I am to move in with you."

"Only if she can keep it a secret."

Brielle didn't say a word anymore, she picked a pen and signed away her life for six months to a stranger, her boss, the one who is cold, arrogant and known for having various women on his bed every weekend.

"So what next?"

"You will be moving in today, and again don't even refer to yourself as a Barlow except when I do so, but I don't think there will ever be a reason for such. You can go to the hospital now."

Brielle moved briskly to the elevator making her way to the hospital. She was surprised when she got to know that they are done with her grandmother's surgery.

"What do you mean, you are done and she is sleeping" Brielle asked the nurse she saw in her grandmother's ward.

"The doctor said we should get her ready for surgery immediately you left this morning, so we are not to question his order, we only follow. I think it would be best if you ask him."

Brielle moved to the doctor's office.

"Sir how was the surgery conducted so fast, I didn't pay for that"

"Miss. Mikka, don't worry, everything has been taken care of."

Brielle was confused, because she just signed the contract a few minutes ago, 'could it be that a good Samaritan paid for it, what if I have delayed a little I wouldn't have signed those contract.'

"Please can I know who paid for it"

"Mr. Barlow, I will see you later Miss. Mikka." The doctor said leaving his office.

"This doesn't make sense, I just signed those papers. Did he pay before he had me sign those papers? No he is a businessman who is about money, he won't take such a risk, what if I had walked out on him, maybe I could have escaped. I should have dared myself more" Brielle muttered to herself.