Chapter 2

" Ana! "

Startled, I looked up at my boss, Xander, and raised an eyebrow questioningly.

" I called you severally but you didn't hear. Why are you so out of it today? You even look so tired. " Xander said worriedly.

I gave him a weak smile, " I'm fine. Just in my thoughts."

"Are you sure? It's not about your creditors, right? "  He mentioned carefully.

My eyes widened slightly, " What? No. No, it's not about them. I'm fine really."

Xander shrugged and headed to the kitchen.

Sweet Tooth was a bakery shop where I did one of my part-time jobs as a waitress.

It was not really big, although they had their busy days, like on weekends.

Maybe because of the sweet, savoring smell of pastries and cakes being baked in the kitchen.

Or because of the warm, cozy feeling I always got whenever I stepped into the shop.

Or probably because of the owner, Xander, the nicest boss I've ever had.

I just really loved Sweet Tooth. It felt like home there and my time there was like a breath of fresh air.

Xander knew about my debt, and because of that, he paid me a little higher than the other workers.

I would forever be grateful to him for that kind gesture.

But no matter how much Xander paid, it still couldn't pay off my ten million dollars debt.

Was I really going to be sold off?

The gang didn't look like they were just saying words when they threatened me.

I had been racking my brain since dawn came, for a solution but none was forthcoming.

One week.

Where the hell would I get ten million dollars in one week?

I tried picturing the items in our house I could sell off but except for the TV which sometimes malfunctioned, the refrigerator which was an old model and won't amount to anything tangible, and the worn-out couches and mattress, there was no single valuable item in our tiny apartment.

A palm gently touched my shoulder and I jumped.

"Jesus Christ!" I exclaimed.

"No, it's not Jesus Christ, it's Xander." My boss grinned.

"Do you want to come into my office for a while?" He offered.

I threw him a confused look.

"No offense Ana but you look like death and I don't want you to scare my customers away. And you have been wiping that part of the table for over five minutes." 

I opened my mouth to apologize and assure him that I was fine but he cut me off.

"No, you're not fine. Contrary to what you think, Ana, you suck at hiding your emotions. You are not fine. There's obviously something that is seriously bothering you and it's okay if you do not want to talk about it but go into my office and give yourself a break." My boss finished with a sympathetic look and the dam broke.

The tears came rolling down my face as loud sobs escaped my lips.

Luckily for me, nobody else was in the shop except for the other worker, Danny.

Xander quickly led me to his office.

Minutes after I had calmed down, Xander reappeared, holding a cup of iced coffee. He handed it to me.

I muttered a " thank you."

" I'm sorry." I finally said.

" Sorry for..." My boss looked confused.

" For breaking down like an elementary school kid in the middle of your shop in broad daylight. God, I'm so embarrassed. It's okay if you deduct from my pay, I-- "

"Can you shut up for a sec, Ana? " He cut off my rambling.

Huh?

"First of all, it's okay to cry. Adults cry too. There's no need to be embarrassed because you did what normal human beings do. And I'm not deducting shit from your pay, so kindly shut up already."

I didn't know how to respond to that.

After some moments of silence, I spoke up.

"They have given me one week. "

Xander shot me a confused glance.

"The loan sharks. My creditors. The money has increased to ten million, Xander. "

Xander mouthed "Fuck."

I gave a sad smile.

He looked at me for a while, " Shit, there is more."

" They have threatened to sell me off..." I trailed off at the end.

"What?!" Xander yelled. 

" What the fuck Ana?! That's fucking illegal. Report them to the police for human trafficking immediately! "

No, not the police.

They would find out. And I would literally go to jail for dealing drugs.

Definitely not the police.

Or was a jail cell better than being sold to some unknown sick people?

"Ana?" Xander called,  interrupting my train of thought.

" I don't think so. I think that would backfire , considering I also borrowed money from an illegal source and all.... " I finally replied , and Xander looked like he was reasoning with me.

" I might have a solution for you Ana. " 

My boss said and I dropped the cup of coffee and sat up.

" You do?! "

I was desperate.

Any solution that would pay back my debt of ten million dollars was going to be a miracle and should be added to the Seven Wonders Of the World.

I would take anything at this point.

Anything to pay back my debt.

••••••••

"A what now?" 

"A contract marriage." 

" It's like a convenience marriage where--"

I cut him off.

" I know what the definition of a contract marriage is, Xander. I'm--- I don't understand. What do you mean by-- Just elaborate, please. "

It was Xander's turn to put down his cup of coffee.

"I have a friend. Actually , he's my best friend. He has a situation at hand and is looking for someone to hire as a wife . It is like a matter of life and death , his inheritance is on the line and he might end up losing it. " 

Xander paused and looked at me to gauge my reaction. 

I was too busy trying to digest the information he was throwing at me.

What does hiring a wife have to do with losing an inheritance?

" He's offering a hundred million dollars. "

I froze.

A hundred what? 

" What?! Why is he going as far as offering his whole inheritance just to hire a wife? "

Xander chuckled , making me raise an eyebrow.

"Ana , I promise you , a hundred million dollars is not even up to a quarter of his whole inheritance " 

Wait, what?

That makes him a.... billionaire?!

Xander cleared his throat, " Do you know Howard Inc.? "

Howard Inc.? 

"Howard Inc? As in Howard Construction,Howard Motors, Howard-- " I tried guessing.

" Yes,that Howard! My best friend who needs to hire a wife is the grandson of the founder. "

I gave him a blank look and waited for him to tell me it was one of his weird jokes.

"You....are not joking?"

" God, Ana, I'm not joking! I'm damn serious here! "

" You want me to act as a wife for the grandson of the CEO of Howard?? The Howard Inc??? Hell no!"

As I kept tossing on my bed, it made a creaking sound. If Diane was around and not gone to wherever she goes at night, she would have made a fuss of restlessness and chased me out of the room.

*Hundred million dollars?!*

That is ten times the debt I was owing.

The money was more than mouth-watering but I couldn't do what they were asking me to.

Pretend to be the wife of a multi-billionaire??

I don't belong in that world, I'm pretty sure I would be discovered and thrown out the very second they see me.

But I needed the money. Or else by this time next week, I might be on a ship bought and paid for.

I cringed at the thought.

Xander said his friend wanted to hire someone to act as his wife because it was a matter of life and death.

My situation was also a matter of life and death!

How bad would acting as a wife for an unknown multi-billionaire be? Well,very bad. I would pretty much embarrass myself.

But no matter how bad it may be, it could never be as life-threatening as being sold off by human traffickers because I couldn't pay the debt I owed them. 

I could end up dead. Literally.

I stretched my arm towards the side of my bed and flicked the bed lamp on. 

I picked up my phone and dialed the number.

After several rings and I already thought the receiver would not answer the phone, Xander's sleepy voice resonated through my phone's speaker.

"Ana? It's two in the freaking morning!" 

" I'll do it. The contract marriage. "