Chapter 3

Agatha’s pov

Mr Blackwell stands in front of me looking as intimidating as he was when I first saw him this morning.

“miss evans i’m glad I saw y…..have you been cryingf? he cuts himself his eyes narrowing on my face.

“No” I lie wiping my face with the back of my hand, “what are you doing here sir? I ask trying to change the topic

He narrows his eyes noticing my not so subtle change of subject “ I came to look for you” he says casually “you..came looking for me? I ask pointing to myself

“yes…. Now get into the car so we can talk and you can tell me why you’re crying” he says. “i’m sorry sir but I start work  by five and I have to catch the bus, so if you’ll excuse me” I say trying to move

“I can drop you off and we can talk after you close from work” he tells me, his face serious

I stare at him in shock “i‘m sorry sir have i done something wrong? I ask wondering why he insist on having a discussion with me

Or is this about him asking me to marry him? “ look sir if this is about what you asking me to marry you...i didn’t take it seriously and i’m not upset” i say looking up to him

“i assure you miss evans i wasn’t joking when i asked you to marry me…i don’t joke” he says, his serious face matched his solemn  tone.

I shake my head “ you can’t be serious…with all due respect Mr Blackwell I have work and i’m going to be late” I say walking away.

I get to work at exactly five and immediately go to the back to change into my uniform, which is a blue t-shirt with the diners logo at the top left

“Hey you… how was work? Claire asks coming to stand by side.

Claire started working at joe’s after her freshman year and I joined a year later after my father died and I had to drop out of school.

I think about my boss and his weird proposal of marriage and the new $150,000 bill I have to pay for kaylee’s treatment

Shaking my head I open my mouth to tell her about my unusual day when “hey agy you’re needed at table seven” Roy a collegeau calls out.

”I’ll tell you about it later alright” I say to Claire and she nods. I quickly tire the apron around my waist and pick up my pen and note and make my way to the table.

Table seven is located at the dim part of the diner, so I don’t see the face of the person seated, “Good evening sir, welcome to joe’s diner what would you like to order?

“it must be exhausting having to repeat that phrase all day” the deep voice of my boss  reaches my ears I stare at him in surprise

“Mr Blackwell what are you doing here? I ask after getting over my shock “ I recall telling you we had a lot to discuss” he lets out

“i’m sorry Mr Blackwell but these are work hours and I can’t entertain any visitors” I state “when do you close? he asks

“By ten sir” i say , he nods “okay i’ll wait” i look at him incredulously and before I can say anything else “and i’ll have a bottle of sparkling water” he adds

I nod and go to get his sparkling water and give It to him. I try to focus on work despite the nerves that are firing in my body at the knowledge of my boss waiting for me at my second job.The evening goes by without any interesting occurrences

“wow…. Who’s the hottie? Claire says as she comes out of the kitchen  and notices Mr Blackwell “some dude who’s been here for hours.… only ordered one bottle of sparkling water” roy states

“really?…. Is he waiting for someone? Claire questions “ yh….he’s waiting for me” I answer biting my lower lip Claire blinks at me

I can see the question in her eyes so I explain to her and tell her about his “marry me” phrase and how he came looking for me at the hospital. “wait how did he know where you work and what hospital you went to? Claire asks

”I didn’t even think of that… do you think he’s stalking me? I ask her fear replacing my anxiety

“i’m sure he’s not a stalker” she says trying to sound reassuring “ just go talk to him…. Hear what he has to say” she adds

I change out of my work clothes and make my way to his table, the diner is almost empty save for a couple of teenagers and of course my boss.

“here agy take this” Claire says giving me a pen I give her a questioning look “you know just incase he is in fact a stalker and tries to harm you…..and if you need help yell chicken” she lets out

I give her a look of disbelief, she was crazy how was I going to protect myself with a pen, I shake my head at her and continue towards the table.

“Ah miss evans glad we can finally talk” I nod my head and wait for him to continue

Seeing that I wasn’t going to say anything he continued “As you may know my visit isn’t for pleasure or work… i’m in town to find a wife”

“ Yes I heard that….but don’t you live in LA why can’t you find a wife there? I ask “and what does this have to do with me? I question in exasperation

“it does concern you miss evans because you’re the one i’ve chosen to be my wife” he says his voice dripping with arrogance

“Well Mr Blackwell I reject your proposal and I will not marry you… I don’t even know you” I say already tired of the conversation

I move to get up but his commanding voice stops me “sit down miss evans” he says his voice calm but full of authority

“Trust me I know what I need to know about you and that’s why you’re the best candidate…. I read your file and I’ve watched you work”  he says

“And we’ll only be married for a year and in exchange of marrying me…..i’ll take care of your sister’s treatment an….  “how do you know about my sister? I cut him off

”Like I said I know all I need to know about you….i ran a background check on you after I saw your picture while trying to familiarize myself with the staff at Blackwell hotels before my visit” he says

Like it’s normal for your boss to run a background check and choose you to be his wife.

“so what you’re saying is you saw my picture, decided I was best candidate and ran a background check on me? who does that? I ask upset and irritated that he pried into my private life.

“like I said miss evans yes, you’re the best candidate and it’ll be a marriage of convenience that’ll last for a year” he states giving no reaction to my anger

He’s crazy I think to myself as I stare at him, but so am I because i’m actually considering it. Especially if I was going to get the money to pay for my sisters treatment

“but why me“ I ask “don’t you usually date models and socialites?

He gives me a long look before he answers “ well in my grandfather’s will he clearly stated that having one of my “arm candies” as he likes to call them as a wife is not allowed”

“that’s absurd….what if you’re in love with her? I ask “I don’t fall in love miss evans” he answers his tone sharp

I nod “so I marry you for one year…and in exchange you’ll help pay for my sisters treatment?

“yes” he nods “okay I take a deep breath “what is expected of me if i’m to marry you” I ask wanting to know what i’m getting myself into

“you’ll live with me in my house for the duration of the marriage…we’ll try to show up as a loving couple to the public…you’ll meet my family, the rest of the stipulations will be stated in a contract you’ll sign before the day of the wedding” he explains

I nod my head spinning from the information “okay….i have to ask” I say he raises an eye brow telling me to go on

I swallow feeling embarrassed “do we…uhm are we going to…you know” I play with my nails chipping the polish, a nervous habit

He scrutinized the action his jaw ticking like it made him mad and I immediately drop my hands to my lap “spit it out miss evans I don’t have all day” he states

I blush “are we… going to have to sleep together? He doesn’t even bat an eyelid like he expected me to ask

“Well miss evans we will sleep in separate rooms, I like my space and I’m sure you’ll like to have your privacy” he declares

“okay….so what do we tell people if they ask? I question “we’ll just tell them it was love at first site, I saw you at the hotel and I was enraptured by you, we went on a few dates and proceeded to get married” he conveys like he already thought about it

“So miss evans do we have a deal? He asks  stretching his arm out, I think about Kaylee I’m doing this for her only her, I could do this it was just one year

I put my small hands in his ridiculously large ones, a small zing of electricity goes through my body and I look up at him to see if he felt it too

But his face was blank, “yes  we do” I say, he nods standing up “my lawyer will send you the contract tomorrow, go through it and sign” he instructs

I nod my answer thinking of how fast my life was changing and then I remembered “uhm Mr Blackwell when is the wedding? I ask

“Tomorrow“ he says already making his way out of the diner.

Wait!! Did he just say tomorrow? Oh fuck my life