THE ARRANGEMENTS

The next Saturday morning, Sandra woke up with a mix of excitement and curiosity. the event of the week had left her eager to meet Caesar. As the clock struck 10 am, Sandra picked up her phone and dialed Caesar’s number following the instructions he had given her during their previous conversation. the phone rang for a few moments until a smooth yet authoritative voice answered on the other end.

‘good morning Sandra, Caesar greeted his voice exuding an air of mystery.

‘good morning to you too’ Sandra responded.

 ‘well I am glad you called, I’ve been looking forward to our meeting. The restaurant I have in mind is called ‘Enigma’. Meet me there in an hour and let us see where this journey takes us.

Excitement and intrigue swirled within her as she jotted down the name of the restaurant. She wondered how the conversation was going to go. With butterflies in her stomach, she quickly got dressed and headed out the door.

As the sun set over the city, Caesar arrived at the luxurious restaurant located in the heart of the metropolis. The establishment exuded elegance, with its dimly lit interior, soft jazz music, and an ambiance and an ambiance perfect for both intimate and official conversations. Caesar dressed in a tailored suit. Exuded confidence as he made it to the reserved table, adorned with fresh flowers and flickering candlelight.

Moments later, Sandra walked through the restaurant’s entrance, captivating everyone with her grace and poise. Her short-fitted gown accentuated her confidence. Indeed Sandra is a very beautiful lady, even at the age of 29 she has never for once accepted the compliment with ease as she always sees it as a way of deriving something from her. The only man she has ever adorned his words was her ex, but unfortunately, she regrets every day for falling for them. 

Sandra was immediately captivated by its enigmatic aura. The restaurant exuded an atmosphere of mystery. She was led to a secluded corner table where Caesar awaited her. His piercing gaze filled with anticipation and intrigue.

‘good evening Sandra, it’s a pleasure to see you again.’ Caesar said with a warm smile.

Sandra reciprocated ‘Likewise Caesar, sorry but had to dig up a little about you owing to the event that occurred the other day

They both settled down in their seat as the waiter arrived to take their orders for appetizers and drinks. Caesar ordered a fresh glass of red wine while Sandra ordered opted for refreshing sparkling water.

As they savored their refreshment, Caesar extended a file containing a document to her.

She opened it quickly while reading it to confirm if it is going to be five million dollars as payment for just one year of pretending to be married to him. On seeing it boldly written in the document she asked.

‘but why are you doing this? I mean don’t you have anyone like a girlfriend you could propose to or marry?

Caesar chuckled gently upon hearing the question.

‘ I thought you said you have done a little digging on me. Then you must know the answer. You look smart enough.’

Feeling a little awkward she couldn’t answer, she then replied.

‘just thought I could learn more from you don’t think. since I am gonna be marrying you for one year.

Sighing deeply. ‘ read that contract well Sandra and tell me if you are up for it.’

She relaxed back on the chair deciding to go through the document before she signs.

‘ it says here that all the money will be paid immediately after the contract ends, though I will be receiving like half of the money first then the rest afterward.’

‘ well, you are only allowed to sign only if you are up for it.’

Sandra took a deep sigh, thinking of how she would dodge the bank for a year. The money is a lot and deserves the risk. 

Caesar on the other end sat down quietly observing her with a fixed look on her face. Knowing fully well she was going to sign it, he spoke.

‘ is the money too small, I could increase it if you want’ Surprised he said that himself, he didn’t bother looking up from the meal he later ordered. 

‘ you can increase the money.?

That’s what I said, miss’

’10 million dollars. because I am going be abandoning my life for a whole year to….’

Without allowing her to finish he said,’ Deal’

With a mix of excitement and emotions, she quickly signed the papers.

Caesar spoke. ‘ will tell my lawyers to fix the adjustment and forward a copy to you.’

‘thanks’ was all she could say.

There will be a press briefing at the mansion tomorrow. My driver will come to pick you up tonight. don’t bother taking anything, you will be going shopping afterward.’

Sandra replied ‘ok’.

‘good then. Cheers to one year’ Caesar said raising a glass.

Cheers’ Sandra responded with anxiety.

The grand conference hall of Caesar's estate is buzzing in anticipation as journalists and reporters from various media outlets gather to witness this pivotal moment cameras flash, capturing the opulence of the surroundings as they eagerly await caesars arrival.

Caesar known for his astute business acumen, steps forward projecting an air of calm and authority with Sandra standing close to him dressed in an expensive fitted long gown that enhanced her physical structure. He addresses the room, acknowledging the rumors that have circulated about his sexuality and thanking the press for their presence. He then proceeds to debunk the claims with honesty and clarity, asserting that he identifies as heterosexual.

With the press attention firmly fixed upon him, Caesar gracefully segues into introducing  Sandra as his wife. he emphasized the bond they have developed ever since they had gotten married but had decided to keep it a secret because he doesn’t want his private life involved in the press and it's so u fortunate to introduce his wife this way to the general public. Immediately, all eyes and the camera turned to Sandra who was already getting uncomfortable while thinking about what her parent would say if they were watching this.

Sandra steps forward, radiating elegance and confidence as the room falls silent. She expresses her attitude to the press for granting her the opportunity to clear the air concerning her husband's rumors. Sandra highlights the significance of their union, not only for themselves but also as a representation of the complexity of human connections that go beyond societal expectations.

Gaining more confidence, she spoke.

‘thank you all for honoring our invitation. As much as I am happy to be introduced to the world, I am also very disappointed that the media has used the liberty that my husband is a public figure to bring him down by spreading fake rumors about him. It is true what he had earlier said. My husband and I have been married for a few months now after dating for a few months. A secret marriage to be exact. I told him that’s what I wanted and fortunately, that’s what he also wanted. We have been living peacefully until it started to hurt a fellow. Well as you can all see, my husband and I are still standing strong and will continue to stand stronger no matter the rumor so please, I appeal to you all today to please give my husband the honor and respect he deserves. I believe he has done so much already by providing good services for the good people of Silicon and beyond. So once again, my husband is not gay, and will never be gay. Thank you.’

‘she is really good’ Caesar spoke silently, surprised by the way she spoke.

Together, Caesar and Sandra answer questions from the press, demonstrating their unity and authenticity. They speak openly about the challenges they’ve faced, the lessons they’ve learned, and their unwavering commitment to building a future together. Their words resonate with the press as they convey the message that love and companionship can manifest in unexpected ways.

After about two hours of the press briefing, the press eventually left.

Sandra, standing outside the terraced balcony pondered about everything that just happened. She never knew she could put up such an act despite what she was going through. Feeling good with a sudden burst of laughter that echoed in the darkness, she gradually felt relieved after a long time. maybe this was what she needed after all.

‘you did pretty well tonight. Was quite amazed by your performance. Caesar spoke from behind with a deep yet smooth voice that could calm a disillusioned spirit.

‘ oh, thank you’. Sandra replied embarrassed by how she had laughed earlier.

‘ there is no need to be embarrassed. it's needed once in a while. Caesar spoke after noticing how flustered she was.

‘ besides we haven’t spoken about you’. Caesar said curiously.

‘ oh, there is nothing much to know about me. I am just Sandra. Just plain Sandra James.’ She said suddenly feeling downcast.

Caesar looked at her for a flickering moment before replying to her.’ No one is just a ‘just’ you know.

Sandra straightened and looked into his eyes and for the first time, she noticed the color of his eyes. a sharp glassy sea color type of eyes that seemed like he is penetrating deep into your soul. And somehow that night, it shone kinder brighter. Wondering why she is just noticing for the first time, she began questioning herself on how many more things she hasn’t observed yet in her new home. Will probably take that up as an assignment tomorrow.

‘ well, there isn’t much to know about me’ Sandra said putting her head down. ‘ all I can say is, my life is not in perfect shape right now. messed up.’

‘would you like to discuss it?’ Caesar replied.

‘ no,  not something I would like to talk about.’ Suddenly thinking about her parent. ‘ I would love to go in now. See you tomorrow  Caesar. And I should have said this to you earlier, but thanks for allowing me to do all this. You don’t know how it's gonna change my life around again’

Sandra turned and went to her allocated quarters below the hall as Caesar continued staring at her.

Sandra on getting into her room, shut the door behind her. Unzipped her gown, removed her underwear, and went straight to the shower.

Sandra stood beneath the soothing cascade of warm water, the sound of its steady flow providing a comforting backdrop to her thoughts. As rivulets of water trailed down her body, memories from her past flooded her mind, transporting her back to a defining period in her life.

The spray of the shower awakened recollections of Sandra’s determination and unwavering spirit during her struggle to pursue sculpting. It was a passion that had ignited within her at an early age, an art form that captivated her imagination and allowed her to express her deepest emotions.

As the water enveloped her, her thoughts traveled to the time when her family had turned their backs on her dreams. they couldn’t fathom how their daughter, destined for a conventional path had chosen a creative pursuit .rather than embrace her aspirations, they chose to abandon her, leaving her alone to navigate the challenging world of sculpting.