"Yes, I want to apologize for being late. It's not an excuse, but I had to ask for permission from my job and..." She trailed off as she realized she was rambling.
"Please, sit down. Would you like some coffee? Tea?" He asked in a nervous tone. "Water, please," she pleaded, having run too much. "You can get comfortable on the couch, and we'll move to the table later." Gisela nodded, walked in that direction, and elegantly sat down on the cushioned couch, crossing her legs. The silky red fabric rose a little, offering Adal a good view of her smooth, athletic legs, or at least that's what her body showed to any pair of eyes trying to delight in them. "Snacks?" He asked politely, trying to be cordial. "No, thank you," she shook her head. "Are you sure?" Adal insisted, trying to be a gentleman. "Yes." Totally perplexed by the woman he didn't want to have any physical contact with, he started to bring her a glass of water. They looked at each other for a moment, letting the silence prolong. "Setting aside what happened yesterday, you're the person Lucero recommended to me and who knows the reason for the meeting." "The whole thing seems crazy, but I came here to do the contract." "Don't you believe in marriage?" She shrugged before answering, "Marriage is unnecessary. Don't worry, I'm not looking to fall in love." "Commitments last a short time." "Maybe," she responded, changing her posture and crossing her legs again. "That's why we need to determine when everything will end, and if it's not too much trouble, I can know when the wedding will be." "We don't have time, the wedding has to take place as soon as possible, considering this weekend." "I see..." "It's all just business!" Gisela was left breathless upon hearing Adal's words, the person she had been dazzled by a couple of hours ago. "Let's sign, there's no time to lose," exclaimed Gisela, standing up and eager to end the conversation. A strange expression appeared on Gisela's face. Her features tensed, although she regained her composure afterward. "We can get comfortable." "Is this the contract?" Adal nodded. "Go ahead." Adal slid the documents across the shiny wooden surface. It took several minutes for him to examine the contract, minutes he used to analyze her. The strong attraction he felt irritated him. Gisela wasn't his type. She was too voluptuous, too direct, too...real. He needed the security of knowing he was safe from any emotional outburst if she didn't get her way. "I agree, you want a trophy wife, but without the sex." "Exactly," he affirmed without hesitation. "That's good since there are many men who benefit greatly from marriage." "How so?" "They enjoy regular sex and companionship." Gisela narrowed her eyes again and bit her lower lip. "Why don't you tell me how much money I'll get from this marriage?" "One hundred and eighty thousand euros." "It's a lot of money," she begins to cough after feeling like she was choking on her own saliva. "That means it's a deal," he says with a grin from ear to ear. "Where will we live?" "In my house, and as my wife, you'll need a wardrobe to match, you'll receive a monthly allowance, and you'll have access to my personal advisor." "I don't care about that, I just want us to start and finish as soon as possible." "Of course, one more thing, for the time being, we'll put our love lives on hold. We can't take any risks that could harm us." "I'll do my best." "No one can find out about this agreement," Adal becomes agitated just at the idea of others finding out about the fraud they'll commit, paranoia sets in. "So we'll have to pretend that we're madly in love. You'll have to come to dinner at my house to make the official announcement. Understand that everything has to be convincing." "I don't like complications. Please, I don't want many parties. I'm terrible at that," Gisela began to get nervous. She didn't like the idea of lying and acting. "Well, I'm sorry, but it's part of the deal." "Anything else?" "We'll have a wedding. Everything will be real, for everyone around us, it will be real, the romantic love that every couple desires. Do you understand?" "I had planned a courthouse wedding, something simple. It's better not to make a scene." "I was thinking of a white dress, an outdoor wedding, with my family," Adal questioned with his eyes wide open. "I don't like weddings." "We have something in common, but as you know, we both need this marriage, and if you're not willing to do it, you can leave," Adal's patience is running out. He's afraid she'll back out because she knows too much. "Understand that I'm marrying you for business reasons." "Believe me, I don't like this either, but if we want others to think that this is real, we have to play a role," she bit her tongue. She was about to say to hell with everything. It was obvious that the two of them had a purpose for this marriage to be successful. "Okay, but before you sign the contract, you can continue reading it. After you sign, we'll plan the wedding and everything else." Everything sounded simple, but it wasn't, as words and actions are different to the point of not going hand in hand. Gisela was very scared. She didn't want to get married, and especially not under these circumstances, but she needed the money because she was sure her mother would call her again to ask for more. "I want to talk to you about sex." "Sex?" she said, unable to believe what she was hearing. The word came out of his mouth and bounced around the room like a shot. She blinked but refused to show any emotion on her face. "You see, we have to be very discreet with..." for a few seconds, Gisela fell silent. She didn't want to talk about a topic that made her uncomfortable, but at the same time, she felt the need to make it clear that she wouldn't sleep with him. "Discreet? I already told you that for the time being, neither of us will do anything. Understand that I have to protect my reputation." Gisela still didn't understand why he didn't marry his girlfriend or another woman who was on his level. "I understand."+Gisela+ It took me a long time to decide, my pillow didn't let me think much, since it came to my mind that my grandmother will need more money for my father and his needs. Lucero's words kept going through my mind until I hit rock bottom and felt that my only way out was to sell my life to the devil, to that old man who would get me out of all my problems. However, I never imagined that the person I was waiting for was the same person I crashed into in front of the café. I remember perfectly what I said before she left the apartment; I told her that I would marry her boss, that I had no choice but to sell my dignity because I have nothing. Desperation has driven me to make that drastic decision. Her response was that everything I do is out of the love I feel for my parents, showing that I am capable of anything to not leave them on the street. Today, while at work, I received a sudden call from Lucero, telling me that my meeting would be today and that I could not make excuses or
I grabbed the pen and immediately signed the damn contract; at this point, it's useless to make things difficult for myself. "Okay, it's signed. Now, can you tell me what comes next?" I slid the document and pen to his side. "I expect a copy of this document, as I don't want to deal with a fraudster or someone who wants to harm me." "What?" He opens his eyes wide. "That must be a joke. I would never hurt you or deceive you. Remember, this is a business deal, and you can't tell anyone about it except for my secretary, who recommended you." "My intentions are not to offend you. I just want to be straightforward." "Yes, that's direct. I don't know what indirect is," he babbles. "What did you say?" "Nothing," he shakes his head. "The next step is that I'll give you this card, so you can send me messages. You'll receive information about everything we'll do from now on." "Perfect. If you need another meeting, please schedule it after work, as I doubt they'll give me permission to le
"I know now!" he exclaims after snapping his fingers. "I'll let you go with my secretary. Why is he trying to be nice?" This time it's not bad to accept, I want to talk to Lucero, I'm afraid of the next step and the lies I have to tell to achieve the damn marriage. He wants me to quit because I can embarrass him or ruin the plans. Oh, I want to scream because I got into this out of desperation for not having money, for sending everything to my parents and having the expenses here consume me. The relationship I am creating with this man is very peculiar, although it can be said that it is a business and that everything will soon end. Yes, this is what I wanted, to have the money to help my parents, to obtain economic stability and thus I can go to my place. Yes, it's not a bad idea to return to where I was born, with the money he gives me, I may live well for a while, all while I find a job or there is also the possibility of going on vacation. "Yes, it's a good idea, I need to ta
"My boss is a man of principles and unintentionally I have heard that my boss has a huge penis, I can even assure you that it must be up to his knee," she closes her eyes while biting her lower lip. My eyes pop out of their sockets to the point that my mouth is open with a little drool, simply because my imaginative side has already captured it. I am not a saint, so that morbid imagination excites me. "You're exaggerating," I give her a pat on the arm, taking the liberty of having more confidence with her. "If I weren't committed, I wouldn't hesitate to accept the deal, but it wouldn't be for money, I would propose that he give me a night of passion," she purrs near my ear. She's a pervert! "Sometimes I feel like his body is screaming for a daring woman to want to possess him, to leave him on cloud nine," she bites her lower lip. "Do you want to be with him?" "No, I can't, but don't worry, I occasionally betray my sweetheart in my dreams, and that's why I'm asking you to be brave
"Yes, mother, I kept it so hidden that now I have to bring it to light. I wanted a little time because relationships take time, but oh well, now it's time to introduce her to the whole world." "In that case, I'll catch up. Today, I have all the time for you. I'm going out with my friends right now, and they'll all help me with the organization and everything since there's no time, my love." "I like that, mother," I give her a kiss on the cheek to say goodbye. "Don't hesitate to tell me the details," I wink at her, walk away from her, and before asking more questions, I leave. "Alfonso, take care of my son and make sure the lawyer doesn't have any tricks up his sleeve. I'm sure he'll try to find a way to trap us in the will, all to make us lose everything that belongs to us." "Understood, Mrs. Müller," Alfonso responds while nodding. My mother leaves the office with a smile from ear to ear. I don't like lying to her, but in this case, I couldn't avoid it. I resume walking, head t
"Is it over? No, the party hasn't ended yet, and don't worry about your clothes. I'll send them to the dry cleaner tomorrow. But before that, can I see your room? I don't mean to be disrespectful, I just want to know a little bit more about you." "Why?" "Because I'm interested in you, Gisela. I need to know your likes and dislikes, and you need to know mine." The last word makes a knot in my throat. "Okay, maybe next time. I can see that Lucero intimidates you. I just noticed that a moment ago. Don't be angry with her. From the time I've known her, I can say that you're the first woman she's had a conversation with that's more than just work-related." "I know. Sometimes I act selfishly, and that leads me to loneliness, trying to push away people who want to help me." "Do you know what I did when the two of you were in the kitchen?" he asks, and I shake my head. "I apologized to that gentleman. I couldn't confess to him what I proposed to Lucero because it's a secret that few of u
Oh, I saw it already, without fear of success, I am heading towards it, even though my legs want to betray me. "I've taken the liberty of ordering a bottle of wine, I hope you don't mind," he stands up and, like a true gentleman, helps me get comfortable. "Here are our glasses." From what my eyes can see, he was waiting for me to open the bottle. With great curiosity, my eyes watched him as he poured the pale liquid into the crystal glass. "Why are you so calm?" "Excuse me, are we celebrating something?" God, how do I tell him that I don't drink, that I'm a little new to this alcohol thing? "Yes, first because I have a proposal for you, which is practically a surprise, and second because you resigned," he says as he directs the bottle towards my glass. It can't be, I knew this man would think my boss would accept my resignation quickly. I am paralyzed as he raises his glass high, waiting for me to join the toast. "I'm sorry, but no," finishing saying no, his face changed radica
***Ready, I've already signed! I stand firm for whatever comes, I didn't expect such a juicy proposal, in my mind and heart I must remember that this is a job, that it's not real, and that the day will come when all this will end. I will smile about all this, I will be free, and my plans will be amazing. Last night, I was thinking that my parents shouldn't know about my wedding because they will want to meet my esteemed husband. I don't want to involve him with Adal's family, it's not an excuse or embarrassment, I'm not ashamed of where I come from, on the contrary, it's so they don't have to deal with this lie. My parents mean everything to me, I don't want to lie to them. I hope Adal doesn't try to involve my family in all of this, it's enough with me, there's no need to go as far as involving my family. For my parents, I will continue with my work life, and relationships still haven't happened for me. God, I'm so scared, and my jaw is on the floor. I thought I could be strong