CHAPTER
RENÉE
When the sick Mrs Crown said I should give her all the romantic details of how I met her son, spurts of shocked cough escapes my throat.
I glance at Vanda for help but he stares at me so cynically, like he is sure I'll be able to lie my way through it.
This man don't know me at all, I think with dread. A lie like this can make me stammer and stutter.
I turn to the older woman who is staring at me so expectantly. "Erm..." I begin, swallowing nervously, "You see...." I can't think of a single way I will say I met this cold man romantically.
"We met on a business trip." Vanda states at last, his eyes on his mother. "Renée stammers about it because of the memories we made there...." He trails off meaningfully.
What? Did he just insinuate that I.... that he and I.....! My cheeks colored.
His mother beams at me. "That's so nice. I feel so happy right now."
My throat is suddenly dry from what Vanda said to his mother, "Can I get water, please?" I asks throatily.
"Of course, get water for her, Vandy." His mother extends.
Vanda nods, turning to the other side of the room, he walks to it and withdraws one canned water. He comes to me and hands it over.
"Thank you....baby." I add as an afterthought when I notice the way his mother is watching the exchange with excitement.
Vanda almost trips over his own foot but he catches himself in time.
His mother beams at me as I uncap the sealed water and proceeds to drink it.
"So, my daughter. I know it's probably too early right now but I can't help asking.....Are you pregnant?"
I choke on my drink and sputter the water everywhere, followed by some series of coughs.
"Oh! I'm so sorry, my dear." His mother amends, looking so sheepish.
"It's okay, mother. You just took me unawares that's all." I reassure her, "It's too early and erm..." I think of what else to say but my brain fails me.
Vanda comes to the rescue again.
"We are hoping for a baby. We are not so sure yet but in no time we will be sure." He says with a flat face that looks so unconvincing.
This man is a very very good actor, I observe.
Half an hour later, we are back in the mansion.
During the trip we didn't say a word to each other and it was just fine with me. It didn't take long for the doctor to come and dismiss us, saying that it's time for the sick woman to rest.
Back in Vanda's study, he walks to his chair and lowers himself down on it.
"I'm worried about my sister, Mr Crown. Venice can't stay on her own for too long, she will be worried no matter how hard your man tries to convince her not to be." I voice out.
He stares at me for a full minute and then, "What about my money, Miss Adams?"
I shift uncomfortablely where I stand. "I'll think of something, Mr Crown. I'll try to repay—"
"Let's make a deal, Miss Crown." He states flatly.
A deal? "What's the deal?"
"We will get married and you will be my wife for the duration of time my mother..." He pauses slightly, finding it hard to say. "...my mother will be alive. Afterwards, we get a divorce."
The shock I feel is written all over my face and I know that I've gone pale because I can feel the coldness of my own face.
"What?" I can only ask...my voice in a whisper.
"You heard me, Miss Adams. I'm not into a habit of repeating myself." He says curtly.
He is serious! He is really serious...!
"Why would I want to marry a man like you, Mr Crown? When I think of marriage, the man I envision is nowhere near your almighty being." I say flippantly but my inside is trembling.
He pinned me with cold eyes, "Don't get cheasy with me, Miss Adams. Trust me when I tell you that you're not the kind of woman I would ever want to tie the knots with either."
That isn't supposed to affect me but it did. I glared at him.
"When I set out to find you this morning, I never thought of a situation like the one we are in right now." He continued, unperturbed.
"My mother is dying, Miss Adams. And I want to give her the best last moments so that she can leave a happy woman." He stared at me with eyes so cold I would have frozen right there if his words haven't already accomplished that.
"I...." I begin to say.
He cut me off. "Some things are far more important than money, Miss Adams, and this is one of it. You agree to be my wife for this duration, we show my mother that we are happy couples in love so that she can have the peaceful death she deserves, afterwards we get a divorce. You will be free again...without a single debt."
He holds my gaze then and added, "What do to you say to that, Miss Adams?"