Chapter 1- The Proposal

Tammie's Point of View

Tammie Daniels was pacing around her apartment, beside herself while trying to wrap her head around the call she had just had from her father. Time was ticking away, and the business was in trouble. She had been working her back end off on this charity gala, but now everything seemed so unimportant compared to saving her daddy's company.

The unexpected ringing of the doorbell forced Tammie to open the door to find a man in a sharp suit holding a briefcase. He introduced himself as Robert Martin, lawyer to Collins Blackwood. Tammie's heart raced. Collins Blackwood was a billionaire known for his business skills. What could his lawyer possibly want with her?

"Ms. Daniels, thanks for seeing me," Robert said as he stepped inside. "Mr. Blackwood has an offer for you.

Tammie's heart skipped a beat. "An offer? What kind of offer?"

Robert opened his briefcase and placed the open edge at a level where papers soon followed into formation. "He said he wants to assist with financial problems facing your family."

"Help how?" Tammie asked.

"He's willing to give you the money you need," Robert explained, "but there's a condition."

Tammie's hands shook. "What's the condition?

Robert said, "Mr. Blackwood wishes to marry you. You would arrange a marriage in return for his help."

The room began to sway. "Marry him? That's insane."

"I must tell you, Mr. Blackwood is not joking," Robert said. "He has told me he is prepared to negotiate the actual terms.

Tammie took the papers, feeling overwhelmed. How could she marry a man she hardly knew? Her father's business was at stake, and she needed to think of that.

The following day, Tammie went to see Collins Blackwood in his office. He was tall, nicely dressed, very serious-looking, and seemed to be many years older. As they shook hands, Tammie's nervousness got the better of her.

"Ms. Daniels, appreciate you comin'," Collins said calmly yet coldly. "Have you perused the proposal?"

"I have," Tammie responded, trying to sound put together. "But I wanna understand more. Why do you want to marry me?"

Collins leaned back in his chair, observing her. "My father wanted me to ally through marriage to further both our families' interests. Your family has a valuable business, and this marriage will benefit us both."

Tammie was frustrated. "And what about the personal side of this? What do you expect from me?

"This is a business arrangement," Collins said matter-of-factly. "The personal aspects come second. We are looking at the financial and strategic gains that come with it."

Tammie felt a pang of disappointment. She had at least expected some sympathetic words of condolence, of empathy. But her father was in ill health, and the business needed to be saved.

Her lawyer ended the meeting with Collins and handed her the contract. Tammie glanced at the document, feeling the weight of the decision she had to make. She had until the end of the day to decide.

 Her lawyer unveiled the contract after the presentation ended, and one look at it and Tammie knew she weighted her decision on her shoulders until the close of business.

Upon arriving at the hospital, Tammie tried not to break down in front of her father. Her mind wandered back and forth to the contract and the hard decision she had to make.

After this, deep into the night, when Tammie had left the hospital, there was a new message from Collins's lawyer saying that there had to be one final meeting regarding the contract. Time is running and she'd have to make the decision by now.

Tammie was in the dark room, all alone; thoughts just made her feel breathless. She had to make a firm decision, whether to say 'yes' to Collins's proposal or 'no'. 'Yes' literally would save her family's business, but 'no' might not favor her at all.

Ring riiinnnn--- Tammie's heart almost leaped out of her chest hearing the second ring. She moved, pulling the door open, to see her interviewer, Collins, holding a bouquet, which did nothing for his dull expression and made her even more nervous about his sudden visit.

Before she was able to say anything at all, Collins got into the room. "Tammie, we have to talk. I've got something important that I haven't mentioned to you."

Tammie's heart was racing wildly. What new information could this be at this point from Collins? The night was not over and was going to get even more complicated for Tammie.

Her mind raced and Collins entered her apartment with a bunch of flowers that didn't fit with her imagination. She led him to the living room, trying to cool her nerves.

"Thanks for coming," Tammie said her lips, trying to sound calm. "What is it that you need to tell me?"

Collins' countenance became as sober as Tammie ever remembered as he took a large breath. "I do realize this business proposal of a marriage seems so unlikely and cold, Tammie, but there is more to it than that."

She sat on his couch by this time beseechingly. "And what would that be, I would like to know?"

Collins sat; his face said it was serious. "There is something my father wanted before he died. He wanted me to secure the future of our family through this marriage, but he also wanted this marriage to bring you and me something more."

Tammie squinted. "And what is that 'something more?'

After a pause, Collins said, "He thought that a union like this might bring about stability, happiness, under other circumstances. He didn't want it to be just a cold, business settlement. I didn't understand it then, but now I see what he meant.

A thousand thoughts swirled in Tammie's head, and becoming Collins's wife was something that both repulsed and titillated her. The pressure of her father's deteriorating health and the failing business were still so raw. But Collins put a meaning in his words that insinuated something above mere strategy.

"Why tell me all of this now?" Tammie asked her voice firm but filled with doubt.

"Because I want you to know I'm not asking for a business deal," Collins said. "I want us to have a real chance at something better, despite how this started."

Tammie looked at the bouquet of flowers on the table, a symbol of the personal side Collins was hinting at. "And if I say yes, what happens next?"