CHAPTER FOUR

STEPHANIE 

“Mom!” I called after closing the door behind me. I had moved back into the house, the day Dad got back from the hospital. I wanted to be there for him, to relieve my mother of some duties, since she had a job cleaning a well-to-do organization. Well, the other half of the reason was that it would help with minimizing the expenses of getting a nurse to stick around, since I studied nursing but had to drop out halfway, I could do whatever I could. 

“In here.” She called out to me. I followed her voice to the kitchen. She stood behind the counter making dinner for Dad. I went straight for a hug. I missed her despite the fact I visited on my off days. 

She patted my shoulder, returning the hug. “Well, you are happy! What is it?” I loosened my hold around her.

“I got the role of an assistant at ‘Your Home Your Haven’.” Her face broke in a grin once the news settled in.

“You got the job! Well done, honey!” She gushed.

“I never doubted my daughter for a second! I knew you would get it.” Dad’s eyes shone with pride as he rolled in on the wheelchair and that one sight of joy alone could compensate for all of my hard work.  

“I know, Dad. You always believed in me.” I leaned down towards him, giving him a quick kiss. He took my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. There was nothing more than a loving family. My thoughts ran over to how my new job would be and I couldn't wait to begin to start saving up to pay for my dad’s medicals and surgery. 

**************

“I need those documents right now. And here’s the draft. Make the necessary changes and bring them back to me.” the HR said, sliding the file across the table.

“Sure.”

It’s been a week since I joined this furniture company as the HR assistant and to be honest I had some inefficient subordinates. I was left under a lot of work pressure but I knew that I was going to make this work, I had to. I didn't have a helping hand as a newbie. 

I hadn’t yet had the time to get well acquainted with colleagues and judging by the way I rushed off as soon as work hours were over, the possibility of this happening sounded pretty far-fetched.

I leaned back in my seat to relieve my neck which hurt from sitting straight for hours. My phone rang only a second later. It was an unknown number. I waited for the person to speak first, something I have always done.

“Edward Dan on this side. Am I speaking to Ms. Smith?” The familiar, authoritative voice filled the brief silence. Edward Dan as in Anna’s father. I remembered that name but what I didn’t remember was any unfinished business that he could call me for.

“Speaking. How may I help you?” I heard some shuffling on the other side.

The reply came out rather quick and unhesitant. “I would like to see you at my office. Tomorrow.”

That’s it? He wasn’t even going to offer a reason behind the request he made that wasn’t even a request in the first place.

Figured I should just ask myself. “Can I know why?”

“No.”

I pulled the phone away from my ear and blinked at the audacity of this man.“Excuse me?” I chuckled, disbelievingly.

“I’m afraid that it’s a bit confidential to be discussed over a phone call.” 

Why was I having the feeling that it wasn’t something good? As far as I could recollect there was no possible horizon where our interests might meet, let alone a confidential talk.“I’m getting a little apprehensive here. What is the matter?” I asked once more, hoping I would get something to feed my curiosity.

“I’ll tell you that once we meet.”

 It was concerning that he didn’t even say that I needn’t worry. Then again the short interaction with him didn’t exactly put him forward as genial. I sighed in annoyance and tapped my right foot on the floor.

“Not tomorrow, I wanna meet today,” I demanded. A day’s wait seemed like too much work. I needed to sleep at night and my curiosity had reached a level where it wouldn’t allow me to.

“Well, that can be arranged.” He said after a second of deliberation. “I’ll send you my car.”

Yeah, thanks! My mother taught me better! I cannot risk getting kidnapped “I'll get a cab. Just send me the address.”

“When should I be expecting you?”

I glanced at my watch. “Does four sound good?” It's better, that's when I get an hour off.

“It does. Alright then.” 

I hummed before hanging up. Pressing my lips together I regarded the shit ton of work I would have to complete if I were to leave for two hours and meet this Edward Dan. 

          I hurriedly finished my work and taking permission I got a cab and headed to his office. It was a skyscraper and I couldn't guess how many floors or what part was his organization. Or did he own everything? The Sign said Dan Realty. I was in awe of the luxury that fed my eyes and filled my nose. The abundance of staff around. If I wasn’t worried about the promised chat, I would have drooled over the expensive interiors. I sighted a receptionist and walked up to her.

“Excuse me. I am here to meet Edward Dan” The middle-aged lady in the reception looked up to give me a disinterested once-over. “Do you have an appointment?”

“I guess. Can you check in with him? He asked me to be here at four.” After directing a long assessing gaze at me, she nodded.

“Can I get your name?”

“Stephanie Smith.” Another nod. She spoke over the phone before hastily keeping it down.

“Mr. Dan is expecting you.” Thanking her, I took the elevator which stopped at the required floor with a ding. Since the moment I had set foot inside the building, my mind had been racing with all sorts of possibilities. I just wanted to get it over with. Had I done something wrong? Or was something wrong with Anna?

I knocked at the door to the CEO’s cabin and heard a gruff come in. There was that god-like man, seated behind his table, his eyes completely trained on his laptop screen. If I said he looked handsome that day, he looked devastating in formal clothing. The fitted navy suit did nothing to hide his defined biceps and muscular shoulder.

I could go for hours by just looking at him but that wasn’t why I was here in the first place.

He looked up at me and a flare of something familiar went through his eyes.

“Ms. Smith.” He nodded curtly and gestured to take a seat without taking his eyes off my face. His unfaltering gaze had left me feeling conscious.

“What do you want to discuss?” I asked once I had taken a seat. I pushed the hair behind my shoulders. He let his eyes linger for another few seconds before picking up a file from his desk and sliding it towards me.

I raised a brow in question. “What is this?”

“Read it.” He said. I didn’t like his attitude. He behaved as if he was the one signing my paychecks.

Without giving it much thought, I picked up the file and started reading through the pages and to say I was appalled was an understatement.

“I’m sorry, is this some kind of a joke? Because I’m not in the mood for it.” My mouth twisted into a humorless chuckle.

“Good thing. I don’t joke.” He lifted his shoulder in a casual shrug.

“You mean this is exactly what I think this is.” I slammed the file on the desk. His eyes followed my movement before they traveled back to my face.

“A marriage contract? Yes.” He calmly acknowledged contrasting the state of mind I was in.

 This wasn’t even on the list of prospects that I had imagined could be the reasons for the meeting. “What does this mean?” I gritted through my teeth.

“This means that we are going to be married for two years and-“

“I can read.” I gritted the words out, stopping him in the middle of his unhelpful explanation. He spoke as if he was explaining his work schedule for the day and not a whole ass marriage!

“Good for you!” I could bet that he was trying to get a rise out of me with his infuriating remarks.

“Why in the world will I marry you!? I don't even know you” The way my voice still sounded composed surprised me.

“Because…..” He trailed off as if looking for suitable words. “I need you to.” He offered.

I stared at him unblinking. It took everything in me to not round the table and slap him across the face. Forcing a breath out, I stood up to leave.

“Wait! I’ll explain.” There was the sli

ghtest sense of urgency in his voice.

“Save it. I’ll leave.”