Chapter 36

"Hey, Lila. Can you come over here?" I asked, crossing my legs while sipping from the juice

box.

"I already left home and I'm heading to your house right now. I'll be there in a few seconds, or a minute. Bye, I have to check something in this stupid car." She groaned.

"Thanks, babe." I ended the call, dropped the phone and juice box on the table, resting my head and legs on each arm of the chair and resumed watching the television. I had lost interest in the movie long ago but I hadn't turned it off due to the situation at hand ringing in my head.

Nikita chuckled. I glanced at the dining chair she had pulled to sit in a corner of the living room. She was grinning from ear to ear and her face was crimson.

"What's going on?" I lifted an eyebrow at her.

She glanced at me, still grinning. "It's Dash."

"Your loverboy? This isn't the first time you're smiling because of him. I'm certain he's not a one-night stand person." I smirked.

"Definitely not, I'm really interested in him." She returned her gaze to her phone.

"I'll assume he's rich."

"Yeah, duh." She scoffed. "Would I ever date a broke dude? Anyway, he's also charming and I believe I've fallen madly in love with him."

"Or his money?"

"Both, shut up." She waved a hand dismissively.

The doorbell rang. Was it Lila? I prayed so.

"Nikita, please answer the door." I pleaded.

"Why can't you answer it?" She frowned.

"I have a sprained ankle." I pouted.

"You've been walking all day long, now you remember your ankle is sprained because of the doorbell?" She rolled her eyes.

"Just answer it!" I snapped.

She sighed and rose to her feet, sauntered to the door and opened it after unlocking it. I paid close attention to the door, surprised that Lila could be here so soon.

"Hi." It was confirmed that it was Lila but Nikita slammed the door shut and turned around. "Why is she always here? Doesn't she have a house?" She returned to the chair.

"You're so mean." I shook my head, sitting up straight

Lila reopened the door and strolled in, wearing a frown. "Nikita, what was that for?"

"That's for taking my perfume home and shattering it!" She soat.

"I thought it was Imogen's."

"It's still mine and you broke it, it's gone. A rich dude bought that for me as a gift, it cost a fortune but you destroyed it."

"I'll repay the money for the perfume if it's not above what I can afford." She suggested.

"I don't need your money."

"Then what do you need?!" She threw her hands up.

Nikita didn't say a word but returned her gaze to her phone and her smile returned.

Lila stared at her in bewilderment but shook her head and ambled to me.

I pulled her to sit beside me. "You must've heard the news of Mr. Hawthorn's company being set on fire, right?"

"I guess so, I don't think I paid attention to it. What's wrong?"

"I caused the fire. There were candles around because the idiot was trying to propose in his office, then I wanted to view fireworks. You know how much I love them, right?"

"Yeah, so?"

"Then I made the curtains catch fire which spread throughout the company." I summarized.

"Gosh, that's crazy. That's a huge loss for him." Pity filled her face.

"He said I was going to repay the loss, a sum of Forty Million dollars." I said.

Nikita burst into laughter. "Where on Earth would you find such an amount of money?"

"I know right? Hames agreed to pay it on my behalf."

"What?!" They exclaimed in unison.

Nikita got up from the chair and ran to us to crouch in front of me. "Is he crazy or something?"

"He's only paying it on the condition that I'll get married to him." I announced and Nikita burst into laughter again.

A grin formed on Lila's lips. "Wow! That's great. It's a win-win. You don't have to pay the forty million dollars though it isn't entirely your fault, and you'll also get married to Hames Hendrix."

"You're so lucky. What was your response?"

"I agreed but I'll divorce him immediately after the wedding." I folded my arms across my chest.

I received smacks from both of them. "Are you crazy? Why would you divorce him?" Lila frowned.

"Ouch." I yelped.

"Yeah. Why? If you won't accept to stick with him for his money, you should at least be with him because he loves you." Nikita also frowned. "You're wasting such an opportunity. I can assure you that you'll never find anyone who'll love you as much as he does. Has any of your ex-boyfriends ever loved you for two years or was ready to do what's equal to throwing forty million dollars away for your sake? You're fucking crazy, girl."

"I agree with Nikita for the first time. Hames clearly loves you and you're being stupid. He has come to me countless times to ask about you, directly or indirectly."

"He has? How does he know you?" I lifted an eyebrow.

"Probably from Kade, duh. Kade knows we're best friends. Please receive my advice and be with me, whether or not your marriage will be rushed.  If I had someone like Hames who'd love me this much, and wants to marry me, I'd marry him in a blink of an eye."

"Me too. If you don't agree, and leave this hot piece of cake, I'll do plastic surgery to look like you and be with him on your behalf." Nikita said with a serious face.

"Yeah, me too. That's how much you have to be with him because millions of ladies are wishing to be loved by Hames. He's the type of man we've always dreamed of marrying. Don't let this opportunity slip." She held my shoulder with pleading eyes. "Please."

They sounded so serious about their words. Gosh, was I really being stubborn?

The doorbell rang again.

"I'm not getting it this time." Nikita said, standing up straight.

I rolled my eyes at her and rose to my feet too. "You're so mean." I slid my feet into my bunny slippers, pulling my mid-thigh-length gown by the hem since it folded way too upwards.

"I don't mind being mean." She shrugged.

I rambled to the door and opened it. I was quite shocked to see Hames standing in front of me.

"Hames? Why are you here?" I asked with my eyebrows furrowed in befuddlement..

"Can't I pay a visit to my future wife?" He chuckled. "Anyway, I'm here for you. We have to choose your wedding dress right now." He grasped my hand and began pulling me gently.

"Wait!" I stopped him. "I can't go now."

"Why? We don't have enough time."

"I have to change my clothes." I took my hand from his grasp to fold my arms across my chest.

"What's wrong with your clothes? You look great." He shrugged, scanning me from head to toe.

"You don't like me wearing short dresses that are revealing." I reminded him of that.

"When did I ever say that? You look great in this dress." He stared at my chest.

"My face is right here." I rolled my eyes.

"I know, but you're—"

"Okay, I'm changing this dress." I waved a hand and turned around.

He held my wrists, automatically stopping by movement and made me face him again. "It's really okay, soon-to-be Mrs. Imogen Hames Hendrix." That was very weird to my hearing; I couldn't stop myself from cringing. "How is your sprained ankle? Do I have to carry you—" he attempted to lift me up my feet.

"No!" I stopped him, holding his hands. "It's fine, you don't have to carry me again."

"Okay, let's leave."

"Won't you meet my friends? They are in."

"I'd love to but we won't have enough time. When we return, I'll meet them." He pulled me with him, and to his car.

"You could've at least given me the chance to wear sensible shoes." I got into the car then he did the same.

"I'll buy you a new pair, remind me."

***

I came out of the changing room for the umpteenth time. "Is this okay now?" I sighed.

"Nah… not exactly. It's really good on you but I want the best." Hames said, plopping his chin between his thumb and index finger.

"I could've designed the best exclusive wedding dress for her but you said there isn't enough time." The slender woman said. "Should we move to a different session?"

"That would be perfect." He clapped and rose to his feet.

"Hames, is it necessary? It's just a one-day ceremony without so many guests. Don't make such a big deal about it."

He strutted to me with his hands behind him. "I have to make a big deal about it. My bride's wedding dress has to be the talk of the Town." He lowered his head to whisper to me, "it would've been such a big deal for you too if your heart were in it. You have to pretend to be happy. People, including this woman, should believe you're happy about this and we're the best couple." He raised his head and gazed at the woman.

"Please wear your original clothes again." She said to me.

"Okay."

"Babe, would you like for me to help you out with changing your clothes?" He asked.

I frowned but quickly forced a smile at him. "No, thank you." I feigned sweetness in my tone then left for the changing room again. Choosing a wedding dress was probably going to take forever.

***

"You aren't even married yet and you're acting like you're already pregnant." Nikita complained while tapping me, driving me out of my sleep.

I stared at her in confusion, trying to understand what she had just said. "Uh?"

"Silly, your phone has been ringing but you've been sleeping all day long like a pregnant woman."

"My phone?" I noticed it in her hand.

"Yeah," she handed it to me, "your husband won't stop calling. Can't he wait till you get married?" She took her leave.

I called Hames. He answered immediately like he was expecting me to call at that exact time.

"Imogen, jeez. Did your phone run away from you?"

"I was fast asleep."

"Oh," he said. "I'll need to come to my house as soon as possible."

"Is anything wrong?" I asked, yawning.

"No. I'm about to finalize the payment of forty million dollars and will need your signature on every page. Please be here soon. Should I send a driver over or pick you up myself?"

"No, I'll be there soon." I ended the call abruptly. This was so stressful. I couldn't wait for these to end.

***

The taxi brought the car to a stop. I got out of it and paid the man.

After a few security checks, I was permitted in. I strutted to the main door and clicked on the doorbell.

"Fingerprint and face scanned, please come in." An electronic voice from a speaker said and the door automatically unlocked and opened.

I was surprised about that but got in anyway then the door automatically shut. Creepy.

Where was Hames? I walked to take a seat on a couch, waiting patiently for Hames to stroll down the stairs.

"Hi, Miss." A woman who was obviously a maid said. Her sudden presence and voice startled me.

"Hello. Where's Hames?" I asked.

"He's in his office upstairs. He had mentioned earlier that I should direct you there when you arrive. May I?" She wore a polite smile.

"Oh, an office at home." I said, rising to my feet.

"Yes." She nodded.

"Okay, lead me there." I returned her smile.

She started walking and I followed behind her till we stopped in front of a black wooden door.

"He's in. Goodbye." She said with a polite bow and left.

I knocked on the door.

"I don't need the coffee anymore." He yelled from inside. Once again, I was startled.

I knocked again. "It's me, Imogen."

I heard loud sounds against the floor. It seemed like he or something fell or it was my imagination. "Come in." He replied.

I turned the doorknob and got into the office. I had expected a small office but this was equally as big as an official office in a company.

"You don't need permission to enter anywhere in my house. Please come." He wiggled his fingers.

I ambled to him and sat on the chair beside his. "What do I have to sign?"

"The final documents." He took out a big file. "Every page."

"Every page? That's a lot of work."

"We've signed more pages than this at work, don't you remember? Have you suddenly forgotten your job as my secretary because you haven't been going to work for some reason? Wait, I didn't give you permission to go on leave."

"You did."

"When?"

"Shh." I shushed him, taking a pen from him and began signing on every box that had 'Imogen Mark signature'. I was trying my best to be as fast as I could be.

Hames leaned back in his chair, staring at me with admiration singing in his eyes. "You're so beautiful, I can't believe you'd be mine soon. It feels like a damn dream."

I didn't reply to him but continued signing it.

After about a billion minutes later, I was finally done with signing every page. I dropped the pen with a sigh. "Whoa, I'm done with it. Can I go now?" I asked Hames who hadn't stopped gazing at me.

"No, you can't leave yet." He rose to his feet and picked the signed documents, walking towards a machine I wasn't interested in knowing.

I waited for another billions of minutes till he was done with whatever he was doing then he returned to me. "Phew, that's settled."

"I thought Mr. Hawthorn was going to be present here. I was ready to let him know that it was mainly his fault and not mine." I frowned.

"He doesn't have to be here. I'll finalize everything with him tomorrow, before our wedding in three days."

"Why didn't he have to be here? I thought it was related to him."

"In a way, yes."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"That's our contract. We can't proceed with this without verifying it with a contract."

"Gosh! The contract definitely had so many clauses! What were they?" My eyes widened.

"Yeah, a lot. I was surprised and glad you didn't read it. That's so unprofessional of you but I'm really excited about it. It stated that we'll get married and I'll pay Mr. Hawthorn forty million dollars on your behalf, and many other clauses that give me the right to you. You'll have to fulfill every duty as a true wife, you'll pretend to the public that our marriage is perfect, we cannot get divorced till after 30 years of our marriage," I gasped. "I can touch you anywhere and anytime I want to and you won't stop me, I have every right to make love to you anytime and anywhere I want."

I gasped again. "Oh God,"

"There are many more clauses. You'll be given the chance again to read it after our marriage. For now," he smirked, "just know I have every right to you as my wife starting now."

"Where's the stupid thing? I'll tear it to pieces." I stormed towards the papers but he held me back.

"Don't be stubborn. I already scanned it and sent it to my lawyer. The contract is officially sealed now and I've made photocopies of it. Nothing can be changed. You'll have to follow it and you can't breach the indefinite contract."