An Unexpected Offer

Hannah

I felt a sharp headache as I slowly blinked my eyes open, wondering where I was.

The room felt unfamiliar, decorated with tall ceilings, artworks, and designs as I scanned my eyes around.

I tried to sit up, but a painful knot twisted in my stomach, forcing me back onto the bed. That’s when my eyes caught him, standing with arms crossed behind his back in front of the wide glass windows.

Immediately, I panicked and my heart started racing, fearing the worst. He was wearing a black suit, with beautiful brown hair slicked backward.

Suddenly he turned towards me and his gaze met mine instantly. I was struck by his features; blue eyes as deep as the ocean, a stubble jawline, and high cheekbones. 

It felt oddly strange. I wasn’t one to swoon easily, but something about this man made my heart skip.

“Oh good you’re awake,” he said with a smile that sent chills down my spine.

“Wh-who are you? Where am I?” I asked, forcing myself up from the bed, but before he could say anything, I suddenly exclaimed in panic, “My purse… where’s my purse?”, and started pacing around frantically. 

“It’s by the nightstand,” he said calmly, pointing to it. 

I hurried towards it, searching the bag immediately,

“What are you looking for?” He asked calmly, but I simply ignored him and continued searching the bag until I found it.

I heaved a sigh of relief and turned towards him, the fear and panic I felt earlier suddenly returning. However, something about this man felt familiar and then it struck me,

“You,” I muttered in shock, walking towards him with slow measured steps.

“You’re the one that saved me.” I said and glanced around again, still confused, “Where are we? Why did you bring me here?”

The man smiled, his blue eyes staring at me so intently that it made me shift uncomfortably. “Most people would thank me for saving them, Hannah.” He replied and started approaching me, stopping just a few inches in front of me.

I could feel my cheeks burning and my heart pounding in my chest as he stood close to me, our faces nearly inches apart.

My previous antsy expression suddenly became calm as I got lost in his eyes, my senses tingling with excitement. 

I did not know what was happening inside me, but I found myself enjoying it a little too much to let it continue.

It felt as if I was in a trance as I gulped softly, still lost in his eyes, but then suddenly snapped out of it, moving away from him.

“How do you know my name?” I asked, cautiously, creasing my brows in confusion. 

I didn’t know this man from anywhere, and despite his alluring looks, I’d met enough nutjobs to know he could just as easily have been a stalker. I could not allow myself to be smitten by him, despite the sensations I was feeling towards him.

“I hope you don’t mind, but I checked your employee card for your name. I wanted to know who I saved.” He said with almost a trace of smugness, his eyes glinting with satisfaction. 

Hearing his words, I rolled my eyes. He was taking pride in rescuing me, and just then my phone alarm suddenly rang stealing my focus away. I turned and hurriedly picked up my purse. The Royal Group screenwriting examination was in an hour and I needed to be back home in time for it.

“Uhm, thank you for saving me, but I have to go now,” I said, hurrying towards the door.

“Wait!” He yelled abruptly, stopping me just at the door. I heaved a deep sigh and turned towards him slowly. I could sense what this was about. It wasn’t anything new to me. This was Slauson Creek and the men here were even more predictable than anywhere else. 

I didn’t know what absurd idea he had in his mind, but after almost being beaten to death, I didn’t want to have anything else to do with a man right now.

“I don’t know what exactly it is you are thinking, but it’s not going to happen. I’m not going to sleep with you just because you saved me.” I said bluntly.

“What?!” He asked, astonished by how I spoke to him.

“I’m not trying to sleep with you.” He quickly added and cracked a soft chuckle. For a moment I was quite humiliated, unable to look at him straight in the face.

“So what do you want?” I asked, folding my arms above my chest with a curious stare. 

He hesitated for a while and then quickly blurted, “Marry me!”, his gaze never leaving mine. 

I was wrong, this was even more absurd than the thought of him wanting to sleep with me.

It took a while to process what I had just heard and even longer to understand it. The man was clearly joking, I thought. It was only an insane person who would ask a girl he just met a few moments ago to marry him. It had to be a joke.

I suddenly started laughing, and this made him frown.

“Wh-what?! I asked, seeing the expression on his face, slowly starting to realize that he might not have been joking.

“You want to marry me?” I repeated, still in disbelief.

“Yes.” He replied firmly. “You don’t have to worry, it’s going to be contractual. I only need you to act as my fiancée, in exchange I will pay you five million dollars.” 

I froze in shock, looking at him with an expressionless face. 

‘Five million dollars?’ The words replayed in my head, yet it still sounded unbelievable.

“Five million dollars, Hannah. You can finally say goodbye to working in that club, and have a good life.” He said, breaking me out of my trance, almost as if he could read my thoughts.

I had to admit, his offer was tempting. With that much money, I could easily get into Royal Group Screenwriting school and not have to worry about my tuition or the debts that I was in. It would solve all my problems. 

However, at the end of the day, this man was still a stranger. One whose name I did not even know. I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I couldn’t sell my body or soul, no matter how enticing his offer seemed. 

“No, I’m sorry, but I can’t marry you,” I said and without waiting for his response, turned and walked out.