Chapter 6

I can't believe I'm doing this. I'm actually going to meet my dead brother's old fraternity brother, who I have not seen or spoken to in years.

He said he had an offer to make me, and I'm drowning right in. Anything could help me at this point.

I'm hoping he will give me is a job. That suit he was wearing today didn't look expensive, neither did the watch he had on his wrist that only made the tattoo around his wrist more pronounced.

I was nervous as I pulled up into the abandoned parking garage. It's late at night, and it's passed dark out. I had realized I have watched far too many horror movies. It's never a good idea for a woman to be walking around a garage late at night when no one is around to hear her scream.

It is unclear to me why we couldn't have had this conversation during the day. Instead, I feel like I'm doing something shameful, sneaking around at night when no one is around to see.

I walk towards the elevator and notice a man still sitting inside the small security building on the side.

Sucking in a breath, I walked up towards the building. “Hi. I'm here to speak with Mr. Diavolo.”

“Name?” the older man asked me as he laid down the book he was reading before I interrupted.

“Macy Campbell,” I mumbled.

I hope the man didn't think I was here for anything too horribly. I mean, I couldn't blame him if he did. What woman comes to a business building around nine pm asking for a rich man?

Not a respectful one, that's for sure.

“Yes ma'am. Mr. Nicholas asked me to keep an eye out for you,” the man said. “Please sign here.”

“What am I signing?” I asked curiously. My grandpa always told me never to sign my name on anything that I didn't know what I was doing it for.

“Just a visitor log,” the guard grunted.

I scribbled my name messy on purpose. If something went wrong tonight, I don't want anyone to know about this little nightly visit of ours.

“Right this way, ma'am. Mr. Nicholas will be waiting for you,” the man said, and pressed the up button next to the elevator.

“Thanks,” I mumbled, once again feeling nervous.

Our first meeting after not seeing each other for years didn't go very well. He was a rude asshole to me until he figured out who I was.

God knows what even made him remember me.

Could have been my sassy attitude. I have always been told by my grandma that I could skin a chicken from its feathers with my sassiness.

I bit my bottom lip as I waited for the elevator to reach the top floor. A cold chill spread over my arms causing to shiver and wish I had brought my jacket, or maybe it was just the nerves that has the hair on my arms standing up.

The anticipation of meeting Nickolas again was almost overwhelming. He still looks damn good. His firm jaw, chiseled body, still made my body want to be touched by him. I guess that old crush was lingering deep inside me even after all these years, and seeing him again only triggered it.

The elevator door dinged open, and when I looked up, my eyes locked with Nickolas. He was standing there, hands in his pants pockets and smiled when he saw me.

“I didn't think you were going to show up Macy,” he said, and stepped aside, allowing me to step out of the elevator before the door closed.

“Well we both know I have little of a choice but to hear about this offer, Nicholas,” I whispered, and tucked my hair behind my ear. “Shall we get started?”

“In a hurry? Have somewhere to be?” He chuckled and raised his eyebrow while waiting for my answer.

“No, just ready to hear about what you wanted to speak to me about. Today's been a long day. My grandmother all but forced me to leave her at a nursing home,” I sighed as my heart squeezed. I still feel bad about it.

“Well, my offer will help your grandma,” he told me and waved his hand towards the hall. “This way.”

I nodded my head and followed behind him, and couldn't help but look at how nice his ass looked in those black dress pants.

Jesus Macy, stop acting like a Jezebel.

He led me towards his office, and I almost tripped in the doorway. Goodness. Just how much money does this man have? Art filled the spaces on the walls. His dark brown wooden desk took up half the wall in front of a big open window, and he even had a small kitchen in the corner.

“How have you been?” He asked as he took his place behind his counter. “Please sit,” he added when he noticed I was still standing.

“I've been okay. You?” I asked as I took my seat and placed my purse on the top of the black leather chair next to me. “Nice office,” I commented as I started outside his window, the bright city lights laminating through into the room.

“My mother decorated it,” he chuckled. “I've been good. Just busy. I'm trying to take over my father's company. I'm sorry I haven't been in touch.”

“Don't be sorry. I understand. Life happens. We move on,” I shrugged, not upset at all. I genuinely understand that he stopped coming around, and it wouldn't be fair to be to hold it against him.

“I'm glad you understand, Macy,” he smiled. “The reason I invited you here is that I have a problem myself and figured out a plan that could help us both out tremendously.

“What's the plan?” I asked, thinking maybe he was going to offer me a job. Men like him have personal assistants and secretaries. I have never held an office position like that before, but I'm willing to learn.

“I'm going to just ask you a few questions. You can answer them or decline, but I have to let you know the answers will depend on if I can offer what I have in mind.”

“Alright,” I hedged, not understanding what questions he could possibly ask.

“Are you in a relationship?”

“What?” I asked, shocked and confused. “What does my relationship status have anything to do with this?”

“It just does. You are welcome to decline, but it will affect-,”

“No. I'm currently not in a relationship,” I whispered, embarrassed. What woman my age wouldn't be in a relationship already? Me. One that has been far too busy taking care of my grandma to even spend time with friends.

“Are you seeing anyone?”

“Nope.”

“Are you on drugs?”

“Excuse me?” I hissed, not thinking I heard him correctly. Do I look like I'm on drugs to him? I mean, yeah, I'm a little skinny, but it most certainly isn't because I'm taking any narcotics.

“It's a simple question,” he shrugged.

“No, I am not taking any drugs,” I snapped.

“Are you sleeping with anybody?”

“How is that any of your business?”

“It's not, but I need to know for this to work out,” he sighed, frustrated.

“No, I do not have time to sleep with anyone. I maybe out tonight to be here, but I'm in bed by this time.”

He raised his eyebrows and frowned. “You still have that sassy mouth of yours.”

“And it only gets sassier when my time is being wasted,” I snarled and jumped out of the chair, ready to leave.

“I'm sorry if those questions upset you. I wasn't trying to pry into your life, but what I'm going to be offering you has a few rules, and I needed to know if you could meet the requirements.”

“What is this offer you keep talking about but not mentioning,” I sighed, and threw my body back into the chair, frustrated.

“I need you to become my wife,” he announced and looked at me with an awkward grin.

“Your what?”

“My wife,” he repeated.

“I know what you said, I'm just confused on how you think it's okay to ask someone to marry you after not speaking to them for years,” I grind out. “Is this some type of game to you? Are you having fun?

“I assure you, I am being serious. For me to take over my family company, my father is forcing me to settle down. He wants me married. I'm offering to pay for all your grandma's medical bills, her medication, and the lung transplant whenever that day comes. All you have to do is agree to my terms."

"Which are?" I asked cautionly and confused as to why this man is having to ask a person he barley knows to be his wife when I know a man like him as plenty of options in the wife seeking need.

“Which are?” I asked cautiously and confused why this man must ask a person he barely knows to be his bride when I know a man like him has plenty of options in the spouse seeking department.

“You will agree to become my wife. We need to be engaged by Christmas-,”

“That's just a few months away,” I informed him like he didn't already know.

He can't be serious.

Would his family even believe that?

“Trust me, I'm aware,” he sighed. “We will only require to be married for a few months afterward. Once I get complete ownership over the company, you can demand a divorce. I will take the blame and give you five million dollars.”

“Five million?” I choked on my spit.

That's a lot of money.

A lot of medical bills that I can pay off.

“In addition to giving you five million when the contract is over, I will pay for your grandma's lung transplant. You will not be allowed to work because you will have to attend events with me and, being that is one rule, I will pay for your grandma's medications and anything else she will require until the contract date ends.”

“Are you for real?” I urged softly, my heart threatening to beat out of my chess as my pulse spiked.

His offering me everything I need for my grandma. I just have to agree to his terms for a couple of months.

Can I do this?

Should I do this?

“Well. What do you think? You want to become my wife?” He urged gently and pulled a piece of paper out of his drawer.