A Deal With The Billionaire

A DEAL WITH A BILLIONAIRE

(A Contract Marriage)

EPISODE ELEVEN

THEME: A contract marriage

CONNECTICUT, UNITED STATE OF AMERICA

CHRISTOPHER CRAWFORD APARTMENT

It was in the morning. Christopher rolled to the right side of the bed. He yawned but closed his mouth abruptly after he felt a sharp pain in his head.

Christopher opened his eyes fully and winced in pains as he sat up on the bed slowly. He saw Benjamin staring at him with a tray filled with blended fruits and toast in his hands.

“You are awake.” Benjamin walked closer to the bed and handed him a glass of blended fruits.

“It is good for hangover.” He stated.

“Hangover? Hold on, why are you here?” Christopher demanded when he noticed that Benjamin wore his T-shirt.

Benjamin screwed up his face. “You don’t remember?”

Christopher blinked in confusion before sipping from the glass of blended of fruits.

“Oh! You are so ungrateful! How can you not remember anything after what you put me through last night?! First, I tried calling you, the next minutes you are in Idaho getting drunk at a pub and-” Benjamin pointed at his best friend as he stated everything Christopher did last night.

Listening to Benjamin rattling on about the happenings at the pub, memories of what happened with Jessica also flooded his mind’s eye too. Slowly, he brought the cup down from his mouth as everything replayed in his head.

“Look at my forehead, I even hit my head because of you and now… I can’t do my modeling gigs. Look, I am even here instead of posing in front cameras and make myself some cool cash.” Benjamin recounted but Christopher wasn’t even listening to him.

Jessica: This should end. I can’t do this with you anymore. I take back my promises. Let us break up.

Her words echoed in his mind. Tears clouded his vision and immediately it streamed down his cheeks.

“Are you crying again?” Benjamin settled down at the edge of the bed. He had noticed Christopher’s change of expression and he knew Jessica was on his mind again.

“You are such a crybaby. I would have made a video and showed it to the world that the tough looking director of Crawford Corporation is a softie and lover boy. I am sure your workers would be interested but this is a serious situation as I shouldn’t be joking about it.” Benjamin heaved a sigh.

Christopher wiped his tears with the back of his palm after Benjamin took the glass and set it down the tray sitting on the bed side drawer.

“Maybe. Just maybe. I am not good enough for her.” Christopher said in a tight whisper.

“You are wrong. You are more than good enough for Jessica. For any woman. Do you need a long list or short list of how great you are, Christopher Crawford?”

Christopher shook his head in disagreement. “She said… no in the end. She never considered marriage with me.”

“What? So why the hell have you been dating for more than four years now?!” Benjamin demanded.

He was getting furious even as things seemed to be falling apart Christopher. His world was crumbling down at the realization that he may never get to fulfill his dream of being a chief executive officer at Crawford Corporation.

“I did everything. I tried to make her see that we are meant to be. I confess that she rules my world and I want to spend the rest of my life with her.” Christopher ran his hand through his hair.

He couldn’t help thinking about it or even block out the images of Jessica in his head. She has been in his life for over a decade. He has loved only her for more than ten years so how could be possibly get over her?

“Listen Christopher, you don’t need to keep crying over Jessica!” He snapped. He was supposed to be comforting but he is annoyed to see Christopher crying like a little child.

“I told you that Jessica loved her job more than anything in the world!” He pointed out.

“You don’t need to rub it right to my face. Her decision to not marry me and the sudden break up are enough reasons to prove that she loves her job. I don’t blamed her though.” Christopher rested his head on the bed board.

“Jessica should be blamed. She is crazy to have said not to you! I can’t believe you got drunk and did crazy things because of her. You are even crying like a baby. Seriously?” Benjamin tried to keep his voice calm but couldn’t help it.

“I love her so much. I still do despite the rejection.” Christopher admitted.

“Cut the crap, Christopher!” Benjamin stood up. Annoyance was clear in his tone.

“I can’t take this anymore from you. Christopher, you must be out of your mind! You are crazy! How can you still be in love with her after she picked her job over you? I can’t believe you. Didn’t you state the plan of not standing in her way?” He demanded, grimacing in anger.

Christopher avoided making an eye contact with his best friend. “I did. I made it clear that she doesn’t need to quit her job because of the marriage.”

“So what? She still turned you down and even broke off the relationship!” Benjamin turned away to catch his breathe.

Benjamin couldn’t handle the sadness on his best friend’s face. He was trying to comfort Christopher but it wasn’t working. Nothing would work at this point. Benjamin knew all along that whatever Christopher felt for Jessica was real. He hasn’t seen Christopher with any other woman aside Jessica Campbell. He has a true sense of love and loyalty for her.

Benjamin just didn’t expect Jessica could go as far as breaking off the relationship. It baffled him and couldn’t relief his curiosity. He was having a feeling that Jessica has a hidden reason for not marrying Christopher.

He turned to look at his best friend again. “She said no because of her career or job. All right.” He felt pity for him. “It is fine but time will tell. I know someday we’ll find out the truth. But I hope you get over this because nothing is worth what you are going through at this moment.” He tried not to sound mean.

“Things are falling apart because I am not having things in my favor. I mean, my super woman said no which means that I can’t be able to claim my possession.” Christopher fiddled with the bedsheet.

Benjamin sighed. “What do you plan to do?” He asked.

“Nothing much. I am so worried about my father’s health. I am his only heir and I have to relief him of his duties at the corporation but I have failed at meeting up with his condition.” His words depicted more pain.

“I know how much you care about those around you, Christopher. I know how much you love Jessica and your family. Plus you have been preparing for this position for a long time. At-”

Christopher interrupted him. “A lot. I have done so much to prove to my father that I can handle things at the corporation. But it is a pity that I can’t get what I want. My plan is to tell my dad to make Matthew the CEO while I retain my position of being the managing director.” Christopher sighed in resignation.

“What? You want to give up your position for Matthew?! Never! You will become the CEO and no one else.” Benjamin countered.

“How? I don’t see myself getting married anytime soon.” He murmured.

“Listen Christopher, at this point you need to brace yourself up. Try to forget about Jessica and let us focus on getting your possession.” Benjamin didn’t have to brainstorm anymore. He already reached a conclusion last night.

“Do you have a solution? Or an idea of how I can meet the condition?” Christopher asked as he looked straight at his best friend.

Benjamin nodded. He was that person who always has a solution. And he has been a solution provider to everyone around him especially Christopher enjoying most of it.

“I have an idea and I am certain it will work out if we find the right person for it.” Benjamin said.

“Tell me about it.” Christopher tapped on the bed, gesturing to him to sit down.

“You see,” Benjamin sat down at the edge. “It is nothing hard.” Christopher was anxious. “And it is a simple task.”

“What is it?” Christopher asked.

“A contract marriage.” Benjamin responded.

“What?!” Christopher’s eyes widened in shock and surprise.

Benjamin had stayed up all night thinking about how to help his best friend out of the situation. And he came up with the only thing that had occurred to him.

“A contract marriage with a few rules. All you have to do is find a woman to sign the deal with you and you pay her.” He tried to explain what he had thought of over night.

“No. I can’t do it. I don’t want to fall in love again. I don’t want to be with another woman.” Christopher disagreed.

Benjamin hissed. “You don’t have to fall in love with the woman. It is a simple and easy contract marriage. You set the rules and the woman acts according to your rules. You can call off the marriage anytime. But if you can’t do this, then I don’t know how you can claim your possession.”

Christopher tried to think of the possibility of finding a woman that would act as his fake bride and even agree to his rules. Will any woman ever agree to sign such a contract? He was confused about this new plan.

“Wait, Ben, I am not sure I can do a great job at finding a woman that would be willing to meet my parents in two weeks time and even get married to me. And what if my family finds out the truth?” He asked.

“There are women who do it for the money. And about your family, they can never find out. All you need to do is pretend to love her the day you introduce her to your parents.” Benjamin clarified.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

“Okay. I can try. But how much do I need to pay the woman?” Christopher asked again. He was desperate and eager.

“About fifty thousand dollars.” Benjamin answered.

“Really? I’ll pay a hundred thousand dollars. Can you help me?” He held Benjamin’s hand and gave him a puppy face.

Benjamin cringed and let go of the hand quickly. “Come on, Ben, I don’t have any woman aside Jessica and-”

Benjamin raised his hand up. “I don’t want to hear you ever talk about that woman again! If you want me to help you find a woman you need to brace yourself up and forget about Jessica Campbell.” He said in a harsh tone and stern expression.

“Her rejection has broken my soul. So I’ll try to get over her.” Christopher nodded.

“You better do.” Benjamin stood up.

“Are you leaving?” He asked.

“Yes, I have to pick up your car at Bell Rush Pub. All thanks to you I can’t go for gigs.” Ben eyes him with a feigned annoying look on his face.

“I am sorry, Benjamin. I owe you a lot if this plan works out this time.” Christopher flashed him a small smile.

“Trust me. I won’t find you another Jessica Campbell.” Benjamin joked as he walked away.

Christopher chuckled. “You told me not to mention her name.”

Benjamin stopped at the door. “You better erase that name from your head this minute!”

Christopher laughed as he hopped out of the bed. “Okay buddy. See you later!” He motioned towards the bathroom while Benjamin exited the room.