Chapter 6

I followed him into the living room in an effort to have a better understanding of what had taken place; nevertheless, I did not have the courage to question him directly. He picked up his phone and stepped out to the balcony, likely to have an important conversation. while I stood there unsure of what to do next, debating whether I should sit down and try to make myself more comfortable or whether I should continue standing.

Why were there so many reports outside? In the four years that I have worked at Elite Oaks, I have never seen so many media congregate in the hotel before. Why was this happening? I cocked my head to the side to get a peek at him. His gaze immediately landed on mine.

Still on the phone, he came back in and asked that I take a seat; I folded my silhouette in my arms and took the chair in the farthest corner to minimize being in his line of sight. With the booze still pumping through my veins, I was stumbling in and out of consciousness. A few hours ago, I pictured myself heading down the aisle to marry Arlo in this dress; now, I'm wearing the same, but in a completely different ballgame.

There were a million things I wanted to know, including why the media were waiting outside in the hallway. Why was he looking so worried? Was it my fault? What was going through his mind? Must I approach him? Who exactly was this man?

A bit later, he returned and sat on the couch directly across from me. He stared at his phone intently. He was continually typing and scrolling things. I did not speak to him during those few minutes; I simply observed him in silence.

I steeled my nerves and said, 'Excuse me,' as I leaned my body towards his direction.

‘Shhhh..!’ He looked up from his phone, where he was furiously typing, and motioned for me to pause.

"Shhhhh..!" I can't believe he did that. I'm not a kid who has to be Shhh..ed.!!! I 'm an adult female here trying to carry on a civil conversation. I leaned quietly in my chair with a moan of exasperation and folded my arms in my lap in disbelief.

After hearing a knock on the door, he quickly power walked over to open it, and a thin young guy who appeared to be in his late 20s and was dressed in a similarly elegant manner entered the room. The thin man appeared to be nervous. He nodded slightly in my direction and then muttered something into the gentleman's ears.

Both of the men slowly walked into the dining area to have a conversation about something that I had a feeling was really serious. In an effort to eavesdrop on their talk, I slowed down my breathing and concentrated on maintaining silence. They discussed something with regard to the uploading of videos and pictures to the internet. How will this affect the event that will take place the following morning? I couldn't help but wonder whether or not they were referring to photographs shot in the corridor. I wasn't a famous figure; in fact, no one was aware that I existed, so why would it be a huge thing unless he was a particularly notable person? Just who is he, exactly?

I was keen on continuing to listen to what they were discussing, but my fatigue had rendered my senses useless. I looked at the clock, and it said that it was five in the morning. The sky was just beginning to turn orange, signalling the impending arrival of the sun. The birds in the dense forest in the distance could be heard chirping and fluttering as they flew away from their nests. I was desperate for sleep and willing to do anything to get it. I had just closed my eyes for a few seconds when I was interrupted.

'Hello, Miss Zara, my name is Winston, and Mr. Colton would like to have a word with you,' The thin individual who had just come into the room a few minutes ago stated.

My eyes widened, my ears perked up, and I muttered, 'Mr Colton?' Is he Sherman Colton? The person who owns Elite Oak Resort?'

Winston smiled as he nodded affirmatively.

Oh, F**k, I can't believe my terrible luck, that out of all the men in the world. I had to meet Sherman Colton under the most peculiar of circumstances. I've heard he's really strict and that he fires and hires individuals like they're apples and oranges. While I had already handed in my resignation, there is now NO chance that I will ever be able to work at this place again.

I had spent the entire night drunk and in my wedding dress with the Sherman Colton, which just added to my shame. I wanted the ground underneath me to split open and swallow me in. I felt like bursting into tears because I was so embarrassed. I felt nauseated with shame.

I followed him, sweating anxiously, to the dining room.

'Ms. Zara, We know you have no idea how serious this problem is, but it is. and that impacts how people perceive the Colton empire. The reporters, who are here for a news conference, snapped photos of you and Mr. Colton in the corridor. You were obviously wearing your wedding dress for some reason, and since the photo has already gone viral on social media. There's talk going around that you and Mr. Colton recently got married.'

Winston spoke as though he had the inauguration speech memorized. It seemed quite scripted when he said it.

What he stated was absolutely true. Yet he gave the impression that he was asked to say it in a specific way, word for word.

'I'm at a loss for words. Do you want me to explain to the press that everything between Mr. Colton and I was just a misunderstanding?' I came up with the suggestion.

'Ms Zara, it won't work because you were caught on camera leaving and reentering his room. Are you lawfully married?' Inquiring Winston.

Mr. Colton's eyes furrowed as he waited for a response from me.

'No, I'm not married,' I told them, but I hoped they wouldn't inquire why I was wearing my wedding dress. It would be too humiliating to share my life's narrative with two people I had just met a few hours before.

'Winston, cut to the chase; this is no time for little chat.' Mr. Colton issued the order.

I glanced at Winston, then at Mr. Colton, and wondered what it was that these two gentlemen were going to suggest. I truly hoped that they won't ask me to compensate them for the damage that was accidentally brought to Mr. Colton as a result of him being photographed by paparazzi.

'Mr. Sherman Colton would like to marry you,' Winston said.

My mouth dropped open and I was at a loss for words; before I could respond. Winston elaborated, 'It will be a Contract marriage, and you will be paid handsomely at the end of every week when the term expires in 8 weeks; you will also be given a luxurious residence in the middle of the Dorian coast.'

That all sounded too good to be true, and it probably wasn't. As far as money goes, that would be a total game-changer for me. I was unemployed and in a terrible financial bind. I tried getting married for love once, and it didn't work out at all; it was a terrible experience. But, marriage without love was a disaster. The idea of getting married made me feel terrible, and I had decided to stop thinking about it altogether just last night.

I wasn't the smartest person in the room, but surely there was some sort of catch to the fact that this wealthy, good-looking man wanted to marry me, and for 8 weeks. Is it to indulge some repressed, twisted sexual urge? Look at yourself and him, Zara; he could have any lady in his arms; he looked like a Greek god.

Both men were paying close attention to me as I squinted my eyes and attempted to process the information that was being presented to me.

'Ms. Zara'

‘Huh?’ I found myself being drawn into the reality.

'We don't have time; you must decide before the press conference at 9 a.m,' Winston remarked.

Winston had been doing most of the talking for Mr. Colton, and I had to depend on his tone of voice to decipher what Sherman Colton was thinking. I turned to check at the time; it was 5:15 a.m.

'Zara, I want you to consider it as a business proposition; you can consent to it and change your life, or you can choose to go back to your old life; the decision is yours, but I would like it if you do it immediately since we are running out of time.' After a long period of silence, Mr. Colton finally reiterated his

He had a soothing and lilting tone to his voice, and his pronunciation of the phrases was crystal clear. In other words, he sounded like he belonged on the radio.

'I'll do it,' I said. It may have seemed as though I was acting impulsively, but in reality, I have always given careful consideration to everything in my life; nonetheless, nothing has ever gone according to plan. How awful will it be? I'm miserable as it is, but at least having some cash in the bank might make me feel better about my situation.

With a bland expression on his face, he continued, 'Great, Winston instruct the lawyer to get the contract ready in 20mins, check on Grandmother where she has reached, and get the folder ready for the press conference.'

He then grabbed his phone with him and walked into the other room. A few seconds later, he returned and turned to Winston and said, 'Get some breakfast for Miss. Zara and I, and make sure she gets what she likes.' There has never been a man in my life who has shown any interest in what I liked.