Life Comes With Choices

Isabella Knight POV

"Thank you for helping me with the orphans today, Bella." The headmistress expressed her gratitude.

"You don't have to thank me, I had a good time baking with the children." I smiled at her.

"May you be blessed and good luck with the opportunity of working overseas, the kids are going to miss you." She escorted me to the front doors of the orphanage.

"I'm going to miss them too and please remember to give the toddlers their gifts when they wake up." I touched her on the shoulder and she nodded.

"Absolutely. They will be so happy, but they won't get to see you." She exhaled, sadly.

"I will try to stop by tomorrow." I reassured her as we stood at the front doors.

"Have a safe trip." She told me, opening the doors and I nodded, exiting the orphanage to fetch a cab on the streets.

************

"Didn't you see him?" Pearl, my beloved best friend, asked as we both walked towards the bus stop and I sighed for the second time.

She grinned, amused.

Pearl and I have been best friends since high school and she's literally a big sister to me. She's twenty two years old and we both work in my Mom's pastry shop as waitresses.

Most times, I would bake cakes, cupcakes, donuts, breads and other pastry products for the shop. I even make homemade coffees, ice cream which is my most favorite and icing along with a lot more.

My dream is to become a full-time Chef and I recently received a one time opportunity to work overseas in a five star restaurant in Chicago. I've my diploma certificate, bachelor degree and I even mastered the work experience of becoming a Chef, so I should be departing in a week.

"Pearl...not this again...you have been rambling about Justin Antonio Martínez ever since I stepped foot into the shop, which was hours ago...and yes, I think I spotted the smug look on his face." I recalled, completely annoyed.

"I don't know why you dislike him, he's so...famous, rich, handsome and fucking hot...oh my gosh...you should've seen the way he smiled at me." She responded, dreamily glancing up at the clear blue sky.

My forty seven year old Dad has been working as a fashion designer at the Martínez industry for over ten years, but he recently got fired a few days ago for a reason which he refused to discuss.

Justin is an arrogant, filthy rich and cold hearted devil in the form of an angel. He lives in this city, but he tends to travel a lot according to the monthly magazines which my Dad tends to bring home from time to time.

He's a twenty five year old bachelor, a millionaire and he has it all. The perfect Greek God figure in limited edition of the human physique, he's typically a Sex God to most women.

He has the money. The absolute pitch perfect family. The fame and he clearly gets any woman or celebrity he desires. Everyone sees him as a breathtaking handsome Fashion Icon though he really is, but I see him as a cold bastard.

"He's just some cocky rich dude who doesn't give a shit about anyone, but himself." I told Pearl while running a hand through my hair.

She shrugged, "Don't judge the book by its cover." She became poetic as we stood by the bus stop.

I knew she had a point, so I changed the topic, saying, "So, aren't you going to tell me details about the feedback on my new receipt for the homemade coffee?"

*************

"Mom, are you home?" I entered the living room, but only to notice a guy sitting on the sofa.

"Honey, you're home." My forty three year old Mother greeted me as she slowly came forward.

"This is my youngest daughter." I realized my Dad was sitting in the sofa chair and the guy nodded, turning his attention to me.

"Isabella, this is Noah, my Boss's assistant." I stayed quiet as my Dad did the introduction.

The guy was wearing a dark brown suit and he seemed to be within the early age of 20s or older. His short brunette hair was formally combed over with a side part and he had chestnut eyes.

"What is he doing here?" I asked, since my Dad only got fired a few days ago.

Noah chuckled, softly.

"He's just here to discuss business for the Boss." Dad seemed to be warming up from his depression of losing his job as he relaxed in his seat.

"Well, let's get started." Noah suggested, placing a pair of black rimmed glasses over his eyes and my Father nodded for him to proceed.

"Has Jean returned?" I inquired about my twenty three year old sister, who's a fashion model and my Mother shook her head.

"I will fetch a jug of lemonade for you both." Mom genuinely suggested, but as she was about to head out of the living room, Noah refused.

"There's no need, Mrs. Knight." He rejected, glancing at the watch on his wrist and my Mother slowly nodded in response.

"As I was about to say…" Noah briefly began to speak as he straightened his glasses and I turned to exit the living room, quite uninterested.

"My Boss is willing to pay you a contract of two million dollars to let this girl get married to the assigned offeror in terms for a period of six months, you will also be able to return to your job and you won't have to worry about repaying your loan." I heard Noah saying and I curiously turned to see Noah showing my Father an image from an IPad.

I raised an eyebrow as I tried to process Noah's words precisely and my Father glanced at my Mother before his attention was fixed on me.

What loan?

"W-what?" My Father abruptly returned the device to Noah, standing up from his seat and I narrowed my gaze at my Mom.

"That's my daughter...I can't...can't sign this contract and no matter how long it takes." My Father raised his voice, caressing his forehead.

"Bella isn't ready for marriage and this feels as if I'm selling her, she has dreams to fulfill as a Chef and I can't do this...I just can't." He shook his head, inhaling a deep breath and Noah closed his eyes for a moment, fixing his glasses.

I was surprised when I heard my name, but more confused since I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

My heart was racing as I tried to find the right words, "What?" I snapped at Noah and he opened his eyes, looking at me as if he was more concerned about the contract.

"Dad, you can't do this to me." I shook my head, taking a step away from their presence and Mom sighed as she sat in the sofa chair.

"We do need the money, but I don't know what to do...I just don't..." Noah interrupted my Father's mumbling.

"Sign it or leave it and just remember the offer of marrying a daughter to a millionaire doesn't come every day." Noah insisted, he placed some papers on the coffee table along with a pen.

"Who's the offeror and why is Mr. Martínez paying for the fulfillment of this contract?" My father gazed at Noah as if he was considering the contract and my breathing tightened in my chest; I couldn't believe my own Father would trade me for his desired benefits.

"That's classified until the wedding day." Noah pointed out, "Don't you want your job back?" He started feeding on my Father's loss and depression, like there was a different person speaking on his behalf.

I didn't have to wonder why he's Justin Martínez's assistant, it seems like they both crave on people's weaknesses just to get what they want.

"I know you have been sitting at home for the past few days now, doing absolutely nothing." Noah continued, his voice concealed with manipulation and determination as he removed his glasses.

Who is this guy, like really?

"I...I will sign it." My Father desperately fell into his trap like a moth to a flame. Noah slipped out a phone from his jacket, placing his tablet into the briefcase which was beside him on the sofa.

"Dad, how c-could you?" I asked, my voice slowly breaking as I stared at him in disbelief.

He refused to make eye contact.

"Give me a sec." Noah walked into the other room with his phone and Dad examined the papers on the coffee table.

"If you didn't manage to owe that company so much money, this wouldn't be happening now!" I watched as my Mom began to point, angrily at Dad and I tried to catch my breath.

"I don't even know what you did with all that money." She sobbed, frustratingly throwing her hands into the air.

"Bella, I'm so sorry." She told me and I felt as if the world was caving onto me, I could barely breathe.

"You and you look around." I heard my Father speaking up and I took a seat on the sofa, feeling the end of my one time career opportunity.

"We are living in this house and getting fed every single day because of that loan, plus...I can't lose this opportunity again, if I do, I will lose everything else." I heard him saying.

I silently glanced at him, "So why can't anyone understand?" He was getting pissed off as the tension in the room was thickening.

I watched as he quickly signed a section of the papers on the coffee table and he released a deep breath, looking at my Mother. Noah returned to the living room and he looked at me with slight sympathy on his face.

"It's great doing business with you, Mr. Knight and you don't have to worry about the wedding preparations." Noah told my Father, taking up his briefcase.

"The Boss will be in charge of everything and the wedding will be kept this Sunday." Noah declared as he straightened his jacket and I rolled my eyes.

My Father nodded, staring at the contract papers before handing it over to Noah and he received a check in return.

Theoretically, two days from now I will be marrying a complete stranger; this can't be happening...

"Bella." Mom gently touched my shoulder, standing beside my seat and that's when I noticed Noah was long gone.

"Mom, I can't do this...I will lose the opportunity of working overseas." I shook my head.

"You have to do this for everyone's sake, Bella, you will get that opportunity again, I promise." I slightly glared at Dad as he spoke.

Mom sighed.

"The contract is just for you to get married for six months only and in the name of the offeror, but you both are going to get divorced after the 6th month." He explained as he came closer and I looked the other way.

"He won't be able to touch you in any sexual way and if he does it without your consent, we can always get him arrested." He continued.

"So just bear with the circumstances and I know Noah, he's a good person, just like my Boss, so he wouldn't endanger me or my family." He tried to encourage me, holding my hands

I stared at him, blankly, then I came to realize that the marriage is just for six months only, so I would eventually return home.

I just have to deal with this undeniable situation and help my parents out of their debt, since they both would most likely lose everything including the pastry shop, if my Father completely stops working for the Martínez industry.

Life comes with choices?

But, my main question, why is Justin Martínez paying for the wedding preparations and taking charge of the marriage?