Chapter 3

The Decision and A Surprise Camilla stared at the napkin in her hand for a long time. She was torn between accepting it and saving her pride but she knew her mother's life was worth more than her pride. She left the cafe and walked to the bus stop, her eyes still fixated on the number in the paper. As she boarded the bus, she saved the number and then looked out the window, still thinking. She considered calling Paige and telling her all about it but she realized that if she eventually agreed to do it, it would be a breach of the contract because that kind of thing was meant to be confidential. By the time she got home, she was exhausted and hungry. The only thing she had taken all day was coffee. She decided to order pizza and just when she thought the delivery man was at her door, she discovered it was Paige. "Hey, girl!" Paige pulled her into a warm hug. "I'm so sorry. I wish I could give you the financial support you need." "It's alright," Camilla smiled wryly. "I ordered pizza. You hungry?" "Yeah, but I'm paying." Camilla only shrugged. "Everything will be alright," Paige said with a pout, walking deeper into the house."Try not to think too much about it." "Right," Camilla mumbled. "Hey, what's that?" Paige picked up the napkin on the sofa. "A number?" She smiled teasingly. Camilla snatched the paper from her hand. She wanted to tell her it wasn't important but suddenly, she found herself blurring out her predicament. "After I was done talking to you on the phone earlier," Camilla began. "A guy walked to me. I think he heard our conversation." "Oh?" Paige was walking into the kitchen with Camilla following behind her. She grabbed and glass and filled it with water, taking small sips from it at intervals. "He said he could give me the money. Solve my problems was the word he used actually." "Oh?" Paige had her eyebrows raised in surprise. "Why on earth would he do that though? That's a lot of money. He must have a reason that's not good. I'm sure he is one of those loan sharks that have a crazy interest rate." "He'll only give it to me if I marry him," she blurted. "I'm sorry what?" Paige spat the water out of her mouth due to shock. She began to cough, holding her chest. When she had recovered from her shock, she said, "Marry you? Is that some kind of joke?" "No. He said I'll be solving his problems if I do," Camilla shrugged. "I don't see how but he wants it to be some sort of contract marriage. I'm free to do whatever I want with my life provided I live with him and I'm married on paper. I can even get in a relationship but it must be secretly." "That is crazy," Paige whistled. "It is," Camilla agreed. "Is he like some billionaire or stuff?" "Dunno." "Are you going to do it?" Asked Paige, setting the glass of water down. "I don't know!" Groaned Camilla. "I'm desperate!" "Maybe you should," Paige sighed. "I don't want to give you bad advice or tell you something you'd regret doing but that seems to be your only option." "It is my only option. I wish the situation was different." "Me too." Paige was concerned for her friend. "But before you agree to sign any contract, do your research about him well. Also, read the contract thoroughly." "Right..." The doorbell rang. "That must be the pizza," Paige said. "I'll get the door." After the two of them had eaten, Paige was the first one to fall asleep on the sofa. Camilla on the other hand took one last glance at the napkin that would determine her fate and despite the coffee that she had binged on, she slept like a baby— not bothering to change her clothes. The next day, when she awoke, the napkin was still in her hand. She groaned rubbing her eyes and sitting up, thinking about the man that had approached her at the cafe. She looked at Paige's sleeping figure and sighed, then looked at the paper once more. There was no other way she could get the money so she gave him a call. Logan picked up on the first ring. "I knew you'd take up my offer," he grinned. "I've asked my lawyer to draft up a contract. Let's meet up tomorrow night to discuss things." "How the hell did you know I was the one?" Camilla asked, her morning voice was hoarse. "Only a selected few have that number and their numbers are saved. You're the only stranger I have my number to and I knew you'd call." His voice has a boyish grin to it. "I'm Logan, by the way, I didn't give a proper introduction yesterday. What's your name?" "Camilla," she whispered. *+*+*+*++*+* The day had finally come and even though Camilla was physically prepared, she wasn't sure she was mentally prepared. She was resuming her new job today and she also had to meet up with Logan in the night. She stared at herself in the full-length mirror on her wardrobe door. Her hair had been neatly put into a ponytail and she added a hairpin so her attire was not plain. She was wearing a black fitted dress with no design of any kind and red stilettos. "Here goes," she whispered to herself, picking up the tote bag she had bought for work purposes. She arrived at the office fifteen minutes earlier than she was meant to resume and sat in the small office just outside her boss's office. She had gotten a job to be a secretary. She hoped that her boss would not be one of the old men who hit on their secretaries all the time but when she saw her boss walk in, she froze and wished she had not made that prayer. Donned in a dress shirt that hugged his muscles sexily and suit pants, Logan walked into the office.