Chapter 7

While Nickolas's offer was extraordinarily generous, I told him I needed at least a day to think about it. I couldn't stop feeling like I was prostituting my body out for money.

I mean, I incidentally was, just not in the way that, well, the other types of ladies do, and if my grandma ever found out, she wouldn't be too pleased with me.

I'm not going to lie. That money is sounding pretty darn good to me right now, I just need to think about it a little more. I would sign myself away for months.

My life will turn into chaos with the media hounding us about the engagement and being dragged along to events with boring, stuffy nosed people wanting to make more money.

Nickolas explained to me just what exactly he would expect of me during our little contract time.

I have to stay at his house. I will have to help him host dinner parties for significant, rich families, and I will always have to look my best while doing it.

A CEO's fiancé is expected to maintain a certain appearance, and he will demand I uphold the expectations set forth for me. He also told me that while I will be held to those expectations, he will be free to do whatever he wishes.

He made sure I knew fully that what is between us is strictly stated in the contract. Not only that, but he will be allowed to bring women home, and I will be forced to turn the other cheek.

I also had a minor problem with that. As soon as I saw his handsome face again, that small crush I had years ago came back full force, and images of me pleasuring myself to him only made that contract sound like a bad idea.

I'd be stuck in a house with him, hearing him having sex with other women, and I'm not too embarrassed to admit I'd feel that, and it would probably upset me.

I don't know if I can truly keep my heart out of this arrangement. I was already halfway in love with him years ago. I'm actually scared I will fall even more in love with him, and when the contract ends, sure, I'll have the money, but I won't have him. I just don't know if I can separate this from my heart.

I decided to go visit my grandma the next morning. I need to make sure she knows that just because she forced me to let her live her, it doesn't mean I'm going to act any differently than I was before.

I'm going to want to make sure she was being taken care of, if her medicine was being given to her at the correct times, and of course, I wanted to make sure they were all treating her well, because if they were not, it will be my turn to force her hand

“Mae Campbell,” I told the lady who was sitting behind the front desk.

“Yes, she should just be finishing up with her breakfast,” she told me and motioned for me to go ahead into the building towards the cafeteria.

“Thanks,” I mumbled and looked around. The elderly people sitting around drinking coffee and talking looked relatively happy, I guess that's a good sign.

As soon as I turned the corner, my eyes landed on my grandma, and I was pleased to see she was sitting at a small table laughing with another lady while showing her a scarf she was making.

“Hey grandma,” I whispered and wrapped my arms around her shoulders. “Are you doing okay?” I asked, pulled out a chair next to her, and sat down.

“Of course. They are taking excellent care of me, dear. You don't need to worry, I promise you. Renee, this is my daughter Macy. Macy, honey, this is a friend of mine from high school Renee. We were just chatting, haven't seen each other in years,” my grandma explained, I watched as her smile brightened, and the breath I didn't realize I was holding slowly slid out of me.

“Mae here was just showing me a scarf she was making you for Christmas -” Renee had started to say, but quickly raided her hand to cover her mouth. “Oh goodness, look at me, never can keep my mouth shut.”

“It's fine,” my grandma said and patted Renee's hand. “Macy knows I make her a new one every year. She would be expecting a new one anyway.”

“I really would,” I giggled, and as I giggled, my heart squeezed inside my chest.

How many more scarves will my grandma be able to make me?

Will she be here next year to make me one?

She thinks I lose the ones she makes me every year for Christmas, but what she doesn't know is, I keep them all inside a box just in case. Those scarfs are made with love from her, and I never want to lose them. I know they are just silly scarfs to some, but to me, one day, it may be one of the few things I have to remember my grandma by.

I closed my eyes and inhaled a shaky breath. “Okay lady. I know you got the gossip. Spill the tea,” I joked, needing to change the subject to something light, and I know my grandma always has some tea to pour over.

She really is a sweet, little, old gossiping lady.

I sat and listened to her, explaining that they have a couple here getting married. Not legally, because one has dementia and isn't in her right mind.

The couple gave the staff so much hassle about getting married, and wanting to be in the same room, the staff decided to humor them just to make them stop.

“Are you married, dear?” Renee asked, and I almost choked on the apple juice I was drinking.

“Oh no, ma'am,” I rushed, feeling embarrassed.

“I have been telling her she needed to find a boyfriend. I won't be here forever. I have to know she is taken care of-,” my grandma launched in on her favorite topic, me finding a relationship, but her words were cut short as she started to cough. Her body shoved violently as she shoved her hands against her mouth.

“Are you okay?” I murmured and patted her gently on her back to help her cough up whatever her lungs needed to come out.

“Yes dear, I'm ok-,” she started to say, but again, those words were cut short by another harsh round of coughing.

“Do you want to go back to your room for a while, grandma?” I asked gently, worried that she was pushing her body too much.

“No, I am tired of being stuck in a room-” my grandma whispered.

“You don't need to worry anymore, grandma. I found a man” the little white lie slipping through my lips, just wanting her to worry less about me, and more about herself right now.

“Oh really? Tell me,” she ordered, and her worried frown has now been replaced with a bright smile.

“You remember Nickolas?” I asked her, trying to keep my tone even. “He came into the clinic the other night, and, well, we went to dinner and things led in the right direction. So you never know, I could have a boyfriend soon.”

I feel bad for lying, well, not technically lying. When I witnessed how much worse my grandma's coughing had become, I made up my mind. I will sign the contract. I will agree with this arranged marriage. I'll do anything to have more time with my grandma.

Nickolas P.O.V.

I'm fighting the need to throw my whiskey glass into the fire. My father keeps dragging on and on about the topic of me finding a wife.

I informed him I had been looking for a woman that I might like, and I tried my best to keep any information about Macy to myself, but it was proving to be difficult.

“Sweetheart, I wanted to have a nice family evening. Dinner was lovely. Let's not ruin the night. Nickolas knows what he must do, and he will,” my mom told my dad gently and kissed his cheek. “I know you are worried about the company, but if he must marry, I want it to be with a woman he can at least be a little happy with.”

Just as I thought she was sticking up for me, she goes and ends with that. My mom is a very strong-minded person and has her opinions, but she never interferes with the company. I just wish she could understand me and would be on my side for once, but I know that's asking too much.

“I can't just let it go honey, if I give an inch, the boy will take a mile. He thinks I don't read those silly gossip magazines. He is seen with a new woman every other night. It needs to end, and if he wishes to take over the company, he will end these tiresome childish games.”

"You both do not need to worry. I met a girl the other night at the vet clinic when the Beast needed to be seen. She is a lovely woman, I think you would both approve," I informed them, but really, I was speaking directly to my dad.

"I'll want to meet her soon," he grunted, narrowed his eyes, and looked like he truly didn't believe a work I had just said.

"I'll set something up soon. Just remember it's new, and we don't want to scare her away," I told him and drank the rest of my whiskey in one sip. "Thanks for dinner, mom. I'm going to head home now. I'll speak to you both tomorrow."

Now, I can only pray Macy will make the right decision for us both. I gave her my address. She knows where they find me. The ball is in her court. I don't need to beg her. She is the one who needs money. I could find any girl in the city.