Cole took a small and gentle sip of his warm unsweetened espresso briefly closing his eyes as he savoured its pungent yet fruity taste. He faintly smiled with satisfaction against his cup then put it down on the black marble coffe-table. He looked up straight into the ardent topaz-brown eyes that were staring at him expectantly for the past few minutes.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhspWVjfMzj
"Marry me," he said directly intertwining his hands.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXw0ULgm7ob
Bexley - who was sitting on the ivory-white chesterfield sofa opposite to him - instantly froze at his statement. She kept her usual countenance but the surprise in her eyes betrayed her. A ghostly smile fleetingly appeared on his face as he realised that he had managed to disconcert her for the first time. Bexley was an unobstrusive young woman of an exceptional forebearance, discipline and detachment. It was highly difficult to unsettle or intimidate her even in the most awkward situations, so sparking off such reaction from her however little it was, was a great feat for him. Bexley held his gaze as she tried to gauge his seriousness. She blinked several times, completely confounded to see no mischief in his cold charcoal grey eyes. The man was not joking at all. Bexley slowly leaned against the backrest of the seat, her limbs regaining their mobility. She folded her legs and licked her lower lip before finally speaking after a long moment of utter silence, "You cannot be serious,"752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5yIJ3PS5Fj
"You know I am,"752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuawk2SlzRB
"And May I know where this ridiculous idea comes from?" she asked crossing her arms against her chest.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkI2RWp6HM
"From my love for you, of course," he answered with a glint of amusement in the eyes.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvW30f12Ac
"I don't think so, sir"752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPt2ydJrrV3
He suppressed a smile. She knew him too well. That was exactly why he chose her and no one else. He got back his earnestness and said, "You're right. I'm not in love with you. Actually, I need your help," he paused shifting on his seat, "My grandmother is sick...very sick to be honest," he said looking down at his cup absentmindedly with a frown on his face, "She's probably going to," he cleared her throat, "die in few months perhaps in a year, so refusing to die with regrets, she made a list of the things she wanted to do or see before leaving us. Do you know what her first wish is?" he asked lifting up his gaze to his housekeeper, "To see me getting married," he scoffed shaking his head in disbelief.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7dLoAnxcC
Bexley uncrossed her legs now understanding the reason behind his sudden and nonsensical proposal.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vlvFgxZBj
"So I lied to her," he continued, " I told her I had a girlfriend that I loved and wanted to marry but didn't propose to her yet. So here's the thing, Ms. Hamilton," he pinched his lips together, "I need a bride and I know you need money to pay your midwifery school. We both have something the other wants, so let's make a transaction. You stay married to me til my grandmother's death and in exchange, I'll pay your tuition fees for the next two years and will give you five million dollars after our divorce. I've heard you always wanted to go around the world, this money will surely help you to fulfil this dream, doesn't it?" he paused again, "So do we have deal, Ms. Hamilton?"752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PbwMkGGbY
She slowly got up and looked at him straightening her long and shapeless black skirt, “I’m sorry to disappoint you sir, but it is with regret that I have to decline your offer. Now if you will excuse sir,” she bowed and walked toward the large opened sliding door, but the man wasn’t ready to throw in the sponge so easily.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9jmazwXu1
“Ms. Hamilton, wait,” he clutched her arm.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqyexohprt
Bexley stopped and pivoted towards him, her right brow high above her eye as she glanced at his hand on her arm. Cole quickly loosened his grip and scratched the crook of his neck.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNKzihAkMS
“Look,” he said, “I know what you’re thinking right now, but I really need your help,”752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRWeYtO1qR
“But I already gave you my answer sir,” she replied calmly.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6emMkPPuAd
“Please, Ms. Hamilton,”752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnkCe9uvk4
“I have the attic to clean sir,” she turned her back on him but he held her back again by posting himself in front of her.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedo9DB3iqh
“What do you want for this service, huh? Do you want more money? Please just tell me,”752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfRQLhzT0Q
“Don’t insult me sir,” she retorted unable to keep her indignation for herself, “You think that because I’m not wealthy as you are I will stoop so low? You think that because I’m a plain housekeeper I will sell anything for money?”752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95Gzd0Zdz5
“It’s not what I meant,”752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLq1viwHVOv
“It’s precisely what you meant by asking me to involve myself in such a shameful project,”752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzv7NWYLgrN
“Ms. Hamilton, I know it sounds silly, but please. I need you. My grandmother is sick and this is the last gift I want to give her before she dies. Can’t you understand that?”752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdHB3oerVE
“I perfectly understand your feeling, Mr. Ramsden but I won’t sell something as sacred as marriage to you or anyone. Marriage is not a business transaction,”752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73fpZT2CUQ
“I agree with you but now, I got no choice,”752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JpgyyDu2O
“You had the choice to not lie to your grandmother and yet, you did. According to your story, she didn’t force you to make this absurd decision and she obviously didn’t force you to marry me. You brought this predicament upon you all by yourself sir and I’m sorry but I won’t help you,” she finished categorically.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwedb3QGwD
Then, the doorbell echoed in the entire house.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0JDt7zmHX
“I’m going to answer the door,” she announced before getting out of the room.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUR2be4sQp
Bexley opened the white entrance door with bevelled glass panels and saw a black-eyed woman with cinnamon skin and chestnut-brown kinky hair that fell on her shoulders in a voluminous wild mane.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLU4HUN8pET
“Ally?"752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhx0fuza4Z2
“You!” she spat pointing her finger at her face threateningly as she moved forward causing Bexley to step back, “How could you stay out all night without warning me first?"752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxiTPzwb5j
“Sorry, it’s a long story, I’ll explain to you later at home, I promise,”752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGzenvXW8B
“You couldn’t at least answer your phone?”752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6ZVEvx6XF
“You know I always shut off my phone when I’m working,” 752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdJfsFd8I9
“Ms. Hamilton, who is it?” a voice asked in her back.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbJnkeZhVt
Bexley turned around to respond but the woman forestalled her.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJHL5Oa4LI
“Hi, I’m Alyssa Hamilton, Bexley’s older sister,” she introduced herself offering her hand for a handshake.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1qQjOqyWB
Cole smiled awkwardly and shook her hand.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RPUHUdmUd
“You’re Ms. Hamilton’s older sister?” he said, bemused as they noticeably didn't share any physical resemblance at all.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2xEOWAbCC
“Adoptive sister,” she specified to justify the difference between them and thus respond to the implied question hidden behind his comment,"I'm sorry for barging in your house like that, but Bexley didn't come back home last night and your house was the first place I thought about,"752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7ry7tGDpX
“Ah, I see. Well sorry for that. I'm the one who asked her to stay since it was too late for her to go back home. I hope you're not mad,” he smiled.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54LT8Gb3MS
"Not anymore,"752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjea77ss3T2
"Good. Would you like something to drink? Coffee, perhaps?"752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSMnZmdIhi
“Su-”752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW79ta2aanZ
“No, she has to go home,” Bexley interrupted her sister pinching her discreetly on the nudge, “Right, Ally?”752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbTAIT3cRG
“No, not at all,” Alyssa stated ignoring her sister’s silent demand then looked back at Cole, “So, where is that coffee?”752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlrBoAKN1e
***
Bexley was dropping the steamy black drink from the coffee pot into a mug when she heard peals of laughter coming from the lounge. She sighed rolling her eyes as she added two pieces of brown sugar in the coffee and stirred them in with a teaspoon. Bexley joined them afterwards and handed the cup to her sister.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpZiRZcWyR
“Here,”752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6hKY26Dnh
“Thanks,”752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWt19toeyij
“Ms. Hamilton, your sister was sharing a very funny anecdote about you and some hair-removing cream,” he told her mockingly.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEo0qaPsQH
“Did she?” she said giving her sister a side look.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU50lWq81Zm
Bexley chocked off her displeasure, not because her sibling just revealed an embarrassing episode of her childhood, but because she shared it with her boss. She didn’t want him to get curious and find out more about her family past. She was probably overreacting to this, but she knew well that prevention was better than a cure. She didn't want to take any risk.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEACOH7iVlY
“Alyssa,” Cole started and Bexley almost winced, annoyed by the man's sudden familiarity toward his sister, “I was planning on coming at your house this week, but since you are here, I want to share some important news with you,"752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WpyyxlW3O
“What is it?”752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoOdz16ye1
Bexley quickly aimed her gaze at him and spotted a smirk on his face. She tensed up guessing immediately what he was about to do. That foxy man! He wanted to compel her to accept his offer by asking her hand to her sister, but Bexley was determined to not let that happen. Bexley suddenly turned to her sister and making an excuse for her to go back home, she cut off, “Ally, I forgot to tell you. Maggie called me at lunchtime break yesterday. She said she would stop by today around ten to give me my notes back and I told her you'd be there to take them,”752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpM0xSITem1
“Damn, Becks. Can't you do without them for now? Your head's gonna explode with all the information you're storing up,”752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGYqCprSEB
“Ally, please. I didn't plan on sleeping here or on forgetting to call you. You know I need to pass this exam at any cost,”752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqHPbpyUnR
Bexley hated to lie to her sister especially by using her study as a pretexte, but the situation coerced her to do so. It was the only way she found to send her away and avoid to be stuck in her employer's game.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf90LStsmT8
“Ugh! I hate you sometimes,” she groaned jumping from her chair and threw the strap of her handbag upon her shoulder.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0eQWDRPYX
“Thank you, you're a treasure of a sister,”752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQL3uZT3SL1
“I know, I know," she smiled then brought her attention to Cole, "Cole, I’m really sorry but I have to go. Maybe next time?"752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkkaEjcN3h
“Sure,”752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTZJ5QEnOi
"It was a pleasure meeting you,"752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FeKn3KtDq
"The pleasure was mine, Alyssa,"752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Ls6a3j1sE
“See you at home, sweetheart,” Alyssa placed a quick peck on Bexley's cheek and stormed out of the room.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVpVvUJT04
Bexley took the two empty cups on the table as Cole narrowed his eyes at her quietly in the meantime.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjqpKiXVtU
“Wise move,” he said.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyssnwbPrz
“I know,” she returned, the shadow of a proud smile lingering on her face.752Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOeDhUtU9D
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