Chapter 3

"She doesn't deserve you Jack, do you want to drink yourself to death. Let's go home" Edward says

"Edward I just wish this happened in a dream, it would have been a relief. How so I begin to look for a woman to marry in less than a month?" Jack whispered, he looked like someone who has just seen a ghost. 

" It's already getting late, sir. I think we should be leaving now. The organisers are trying to shut the place"

Jack didn't reply to her. Edward nodded and told her to give them sometime. After what felt like an eternity of Jack immersing himself in a pool of self pity, he got on his feet.

"Why would Beatrice, do this to me. Has she being deceiving me about loving me? " 

"Jack leave this questions for later. We need to leave now" Edward takes Jack's arms in his and guided him out. Jack was drunk

"Edward, you don't understand. I loved her, I gave her everything.why would she do this to me. Does she know if I ain't find a way out in the next few days. I'll be doomed"

Edward had has told Briana to go home and return the next day. He told her she needed to rest well because organising this event has taken a toll on her the most and it was unfortunate it ended like this.

****

Braina couldn't go straight home that night. She had to go to the hospital to check on her mother. Her mom was undergoing chemotherapy. She was diagnosed with stage three Cervical cancer.

Braina has tried all she could to make sure her mother gets the beat treatment and at the right time. They had used up their life savings. 

Her father doesn't have a job anymore and her sister who was due for college was stuck at home. 

Braina felt like a zombie. She was becoming slower in everything she did as the day passed by and Jack Fernando was not helping matters. He was adding more pressure on her.

If things were going well, she would have quit this damn job but no, she needed the money this job provided desperately. 

"Braina you are here?" her mom speaks  

"Hey mom, how are you doing"

"Aren't you supposed to be at home? Your sister is here. You should rest more often Briana"

"Am fine mom, how are you too, I just wanted to check on you mum before going home," Briana replied to her mom.

"WaxUp baby girl" She face her younger sister 

"Am fine sis, is just that am really tired of staying home, all my friends have gone back to school" Stacy said

Her mom looked worried, she then held both of their hands, Briana knew what her mom was about to do, she quickly cut her off.

"Stacy, have I not warn you that you should not talked about your school infront of mom, have told you that am already working towards it, just exercise a little patient" Briana replied

"Alright, have heard you sis"

"And have you eating mum" Briana asked 

"Yes my dear" her mum replied

"And you stacy" she face her sister and asked 

"Yes sis" Stacy replied

"Alright I will be on my way home now, so guys should take care of yourself" Briana said

Alright, take care too, her mom replied.

Briana goes back home, and she couldn't even have enough sleep. All the incident keeps flowing through her mind, she keeps wondering why Beatrice would have rejected the proposal, and she also feels sorry for Jack. He may be a jerk but he's a good man sometimes.

********

JACK FERNANDO HOUSE

Jacks up in the morning miserably, his friends is still sleeping, Jack sat down in the couch in the sitting room, he was confused if what he should do next, suddenly a thought just flow through his mind, 

"Yes I think I know what to do next" Jack murmured ,

He was about to leave the sitting room then his friend walk up to him and greeted him,

"Jack, good morning, hope you are good" Edward asked 

"Am not fine, how do you expect me to be fine when am at about to lose everything have worked for" Jack replied 

"Jack just calm down" Edward replied

"Sit down please, I think have gotten a solution to my problem" Jack said, looking somehow happy

His friend was staring at him and confused,

"What is that Jack"

"Good,let me explain myself, I think since is hard for me to find another person to marry because there is no time anymore , I think I can just look for a girl that would just pretend to be my wife for the next 6 month and when I finally confused my dad that am serious, I will get hold of the property and I will end it there, what do you think", Jack said

"And you think your dad won't find out about it"

Edward said 

"No that's not the problem, the problem now is how to find a girl" Jack said

"Do you have anyone in mind" Edward asked

"Not at the moment " Jack replied

It's already past 8 and Briana has not reached Jack home, she normally comes to Jack house before going to the office.

Edward looked at the time and see that it already past 8

"Why is Briana not here yet, I think maybe the stress she go through yesterday was really much for her" Edward said

Jack was standing at one corner brainstorming on how to find a girl to get in contact with, but as soon as heard Edward talking, he turned to him and started smiling. Edward was confused and didn't know what had come over him.

"I think have gotten a girl" Jack said

"And who would that be" Edward asked

"It's Briana" Jack replied

Edward look furious and surprised, he wasn't expecting Jack to choose the only girl he's in love with,

"And y would you do that, she is your secretary man" Edward said trying to divert Jack attention from Briana 

"Yes I know, that's what makes a perfect option for me right now" Jack said

"You know let's dress up and pick her up from home" Jack added

"And when was that started" Edward asked looking confused, he saw that Jack is somehow serious about the whole Briana stuff but couldn't do anything to stop him.

He knows that he is frustrated, if he should tell him now that he's in love with her, he would look like he is not a good friend.

They both dressed up and zoomed off.

******

BRIANA HOUSE

They reach her house, her dad was outside the house watering their flowers, he's so much in love with flowers, as soon as Jack driver stopped in front of their house, Briana dad stop what he was doing because knew something is off , this is the first time this kind of luxurious car would pack in front of their house.

Jack and Edward came down from the car, they greeted the man.

"Good morning sir" both if them in chorus

"Good morning my son's " how can I help you"

Briana's father asked because he doesn't even know the boss of his own daughter, talkless of meeting with him once.

We are ………… Edward was about saying something,

Suddenly a lady comes out and it happened to Briana,

"Dad, do you know where stacy could keep my red bag"

She doesn't even looked up, she was busy combing her tangled hair, she has to wash the hair because her boss has comoakin about it earlier

"have been searching for it since and couldn't find it", she continues with her talk

"And why do you have to wash your hair this morning, I thought you normally wash it three days interval," her dad asked 

Both Jack and Edward are standing observing what is going on.

"That my stubborn boss complained about my hair earlier today that's why I had to wash it dad" Bruay replied

Jack feels u comfortable hearing that, Edward wanted to call Briana so that she would know they are there but Jack caution him not to.

So dad……..

She finally finished untangle her hair and finally turn to her dad, she open her mouth but couldn't talk, she saw both Jack and Edward and she uses her hand to rub her face, Like am I dreaming 

Edward quickly cut her off, 

"Briana you are not dreaming" 

"Do you know each other " her dad asked 

"He is my boss I usually talked about" Briana replied

"Hope no problem, why are you here, sorry I didn't recognize you both" Her dad said 

"No problem sir, since we have never come here that's why" Jack replied this time around 

"Why are you here sir" Briana asked 

We came……

Edward was about telling her that they came to pick her up but Jack cut him 

"We came to see one if our business partners in the neighborhood so we think we could check and pick you up" Jack replied

"So thoughtful of you my son" her dad replied

"So go and get your bag, her dad faces her

She knew something was off , Jack does not have any schedule meeting for this morning, 

She entered and come out holding her pad and notebook,

"Why are you holding that with your hand, why not put it inside a back" Edward said

"I couldn't find my back this morning" Briana replied

Let's go, don't worry Jack said 

They all enter the car and drive off, Jack orders the driver to take them to a mall, Jack excuses himself and enters the mall while the rest of them stay in the car and wait for him.

After about 10 minutes, Jack came back, holding a beautiful Gucci bag and a nice human hair, he then give it to Briana , she was confused 

"Why would you buy me this sir, She asked

"Take it as a compliment and thank you for helping me yesterday, even it turns out like that you still try your best to make it work, thanks you so much " Jack said

Briana was so happy and surprised that her boss has really changed over night,first gift she would give her for the past two years she has being working with him 

"But this are too costly" Briana replied

Edward was not happy with the whole scenario, he just confirmed now that Jack is serious with what he said.

"Don't worry, and besides you need it, have you forgotten you are my secretary and you can't keep following me wearing that, so just remove it and use this one, also keep your phones in the bag." Jack said

Briana wore the wig and she looked amazing, Edward does not utter a word in the car because he notices Jack keeps staring at Briana at the front.

  

*****

AT THE FERNANDO COMPANY

They finally arrived and everyone greeted Jack and he keeps smiling this time around, everyone was surprised that what could have happened from yesterday night till this morning, Edward goes straight to his office 

Jack and Briana enter their office and Jack was feeling restless, he wanted to talk about his plan with her but couldn't know how to go about, 

Briana notice he wanted to say something but he would keep quiet again,

"Do you need anything sir" Briana asked 

Jack quickly think that this is the best opportunity,

"No, please come sit down"Jack replied

Briana reaches his table but keeps standing and Jack offers her a seat, she sits down .

"As you know I don't like beating around the bush, I always go straight to the point" Jack said

"Okay sir , no problem " Briana replied

"I want to have a marriage contract with you"

Briana was looking so helplessly

.

"I don't understand sir" Briana said

"You know that my father asked me to get married in just one month and since Beatrice Has done her worst, I don't want to lose my father's property too. That's why I came up with a plan, since you are the one closer to me, I couldn't think of any other person.

"Both you and I will pretend for 6 month that we are married and when I eventually take over my father's property, I would give you 40% of everything and go our separate ways"

Briana was about to talk before Jack cut her off,

"Just go home and think about it, you don't need to give me your answer now , I know you need this money too, so that you can take care of your mum's treatment and send your sister to school, you can also live a happy life."

"But sir how do you know all this about me sir" Briana asked

"Don't worry about that for now" just give me a positive reply 

"I don't know what to say sir" Briana said.

"It's okay just take your time" Jack replied 

Throughout the day at the office, Briana does not feel comfortable around Jack, she couldn't look into his eyes, she is very shy at the same time speechless.