Chapter 6

Lindsey sat in her office staring into thin air, she was thinking of what to do but her head was blank, no idea was coming up aside from calling Georgina. 

"Oh God, ten years, I have worked so hard for ten years and I can't just sit and watch everything go down just like that" Lindsey lamented, she grabbed her bag and took out Georgina's card and made to call the number but then Keith's word flashed through her memory. "No... No, I can't do this" She dropped her phone, and just then her office door yanked open and Ashley walked in with a worried face. 

"What?" Lindsey raised a brow at her. "Errm, I don't really know how to say this but_" Ashley paused, showing Lindsey her phone. She took the phone from Ashley and froze immediately. "Who wrote this?" Lindsey asked getting curious. "It was uploaded anonymously and the reporters are outside probably waiting for you," Ashley said each word looking at Lindsey. 

"What?, Who let them in?" Lindsey rushed to her window, they were already inside her office premises. "They must have overpowered the gateman," Ashley said. Lindsey slumped into her seat. "Gosh Nancy, that blabbermouth it must be her" Lindsey grabbed her phone and dialled her number but she wasn't picking up, after the fifth trial she gave up and decided to call Georgina. 

"I see you changed your mind" Georgina was the first to speak immediately after the call connected. "Yes, The reporters are_"  "I'm aware of that Lindsey" Georgina didn't let her finish her sentence. "But I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do, you need to come up with a convincing lie and then meet me at Five Star Restaurant, I would be waiting," Georgina said and ended the call. 

Lindsey exhaled deeply closing her eyes, she stared at Ashley who was still standing there and then at the window. "God I hate today" she sneered. She got up and grabbed her bag walking outside. 

The reporters rushed towards her immediately after they saw her, Lindsey maintained her smiling face and prayed silently she doesn't pass out. "Did you see the news about you not wearing your engagement ring to work?" one of the reporters asked  "Oh my God, it's true, she doesn't have it" Another said and they began to take pictures of her bare fingers. 

"Actually, I was in a hurry to meet up with a client this morning so I forgot to wear my ring, And also I seriously don't think it's anyone's business, why put it up in the tabloid," Lindsey said. 

"A client, Do you mean representatives from Trust corp financials, we received a tip from a liable source that Lindsey events is owning the Trust corp financials a huge amount of money, likewise Citadel Bank" Lindsey stiff at the question, "how did words get out so easily," she thought looking at Ashley.  "Why would your company be in a huge debt when you are engaged to one of the richest men in the country, Don't he love you enough to pay up your debt" 

"Or perhaps there is something you aren't telling us, a lot of people are saying you aren't fit to be the young Mrs Winslow". "Also you work as a journalist at the daily time press but none of them knew about your engagement". Lindsey smiled "We kept our relationship out of the public eye for a reason," she said walking towards her car, she didn't want them to bring up another question relating to her company's debt issues. "And no family members were invited to the party, what sort of private relationship is that even I had a private relationship but my parents added the engagement party" Another reporter snapped and the others nodded their heads supporting her. 

Lindsey stared at her, she looked young and pretty with her long hair, she looked at her name tag and then at her ring, and burst into laughter "Good for you reporter Jane, and your family, it was indeed a surprise engagement not just to you all but to me so can you please leave me alone, its as if I don't own my life anymore and have to report everything that happens to me to you all" 

Lindsey closed her eyes opening them immediately wishing to say those words to her, before she could say a word to the lady she heard another familiar voice speak. "It was the family's decision not to attend" That was Angela. The reporters turned to her and began to take pictures of her. "Who are you?" Reporter Jane asked looking at Angela suspiciously. 

Angela walked to Lindsey smiling "Don't we look alike, Of course, I'm her mother" Angela said proudly stunning everyone. "You see, I was away on a business trip and I got delayed at the airport so I couldn't be at the party," Angela said sounding pitiful. Lindsey was grateful for her interference but at the same time, she didn't like it. Her presence was going to make everything difficult for her. 

"I see, but don't you look too young to be her mother" Reporter Jane said, she didn't believe the fact that Angela was Lindsey's mother, no one does believe her on the first day. "It's not my fault that your mother decide to look like an old hag, don't take it out on me" Angela snapped and everyone burst into laughter making reporter Jane embrace. 

Lindsey quickly opened her car and entered it likewise her mum and drove out, letting out a sigh of relief. "Hope I did great darling," Angela asked. "Why are you here?" Lindsey asked. "You are welcome Lindsey, I see you got all the bad manners from your father, I just saved your ass out there and you can't even appreciate it," Angela said and Lindsey rolled her eyes. "How did you know my workplace?" Lindsey asked and Angela snickered. "Looks like you are the only one who doesn't know about G****e Maps and you are now a public figure, I'm so proud to be your mother" Angela paused looking at her. "By the way, why didn't you wear your engagement ring huh?" She asked.

"That's because I'm not engaged to him," Lindsey said "But I saw_" Angela was saying when Lindsey snapped "Forget about what you saw Angela, I was there okay, the bride ran away and I replaced her things got a little messy and now his family is offering me a five years contract marriage to pay me $100,000 every month".  "What?, So what was your response," Angela asked looking at her but Lindsey didn't say a word. "Do you know how rich and popular you would get, you better say yes, you have a lot of loans to take care of and they won't take it easy with you now they know you are acquaintance with the Winslow family" Angela said. 

"Thanks to you, I have a lot of loans to settle" Lindsey snapped rolling her eyes. "I need to be somewhere, where should I stop you?" Lindsey asked. "Your house, I had a fight with Edward," Angela said and Lindsey raised a brow at her. "First off, you aren't staying at my house, Secondly who the hell is Edward?" Lindsey asked but got no response from Angela.  "Mum, did you divorce Richard?" Lindsey asked. "We weren't compatible so we decided to go out separate ways, that was like three years ago," Angela said and Lindsey's eyes widened. 

"Three years?, And you've been together with Edward for three years and you didn't care to tell me" Lindsey said. "No, there was Johnny before Edward, I and Edward have been together for just six months and his ex-wife is back," Angela said.  "Are you even my mother?,  because there is no genetic resemblance" Lindsey said and Angela scoffed. "Don't say that, you've got my eyes, taste and brains plus the whole beauty package" Angela said and Lindsey shook her head negatively. 

"You can log in at this hostel, I need to take care of something," Lindsey said stopping at a hotel close to the restaurant. "What happened to your place or_".  "Just cut the crap already Angela and don't go around causing problems and adding to my already existing ones, I will call you tonight or maybe tomorrow okay," Lindsey said and helped her open the door.  "You are such a bad daughter" Angela commented before getting off, she stood there thinking Lindsey would ask her to come into the car but Lindsey ignored her and zoomed off. 

She got to the restaurant and was directed to the private quarter by the receptionist. 

"You are late," Georgina said, her eyes fixed on her iPad. "I'm sorry, I had to take care of my_".  "Mother" Georgina snapped dropping her laptop for Lindsey to see, she was watching the video of what happened at her office. 'New York is so jobless' she felt a little embraced. "You have an interesting mother Lindsey," Georgina said. Lindsey smiled not knowing if she should take it as a compliment or an insult. 

"You said you can reduce the contract years," Lindsey said. "Five years isn't too much but we can go for four years," Georgina said "And the money_".  

"Oh, Lindsey meet Barr. Nelson Dean, our family Lawyer and he would be in charge of this contract" Georgina said and Lindsey turned to meet the young barrister and then Keith whose face was stiff. "Hi, I'm Lindsey Roach" Lindsey extended her hand to take his handshake.  "I know, you are quite popular now" Barr. Nelson said and Lindsey gave an awkward smile. 

"You can go through the contract" Barr. Nelson said giving her the contract. Lindsey glanced through it reading the important details. "$200,000 every month" Lindsey gulped.  "I do have my conditions" All eyes were fixed on her. 

"Go ahead," Georgina said. "I have a lot of debts to_" Lindsey was saying when Georgina cut in. "We already settled that.... Is that all?" Georgina asked. "When all this is over, you have to promise to let me go and won't tell me to refund anything," Lindsey said looking from Georgina to Keith, his face was still stiff and he was clear he wasn't in support of the contract. "Why?, What are you scared of?" Keith asked staring at her. 

There was silence for a while as they both engaged in a staring competition "Deal" Lindsey bitted her eyes looking at Georgina. "Deal, but you can't leave, until the four years are over," Georgina said and Lindsey nodded her head and signed the documents. "Welcome to your misery" Keith glowered after signing his name on the contract.