Chapter 4

"what are you doing here?" Lindsey asked immediately he opened the door. 

"Can I come in?, you wouldn't want people to see us like this" Keith said. 

Lindsey sighed opening the door widely for him to enter. 

"So, how did you know my house? And most importantly why are you here?" Lindsey asked. 

Keith looked from the blonde-haired lady, who couldn't take her eyes off him, and then to Lindsey "Mother wants to see, she asked I bring you to the villa immediately" Keith said. 

Lindsey chuckled "Why?, your family couldn't keep the promise of not posting the pictures on the Internet and now your mother wants to see me, what for?"

"Actually, that's the reason she sent for you, I really don't have all day, Ms. Roach, I think we should get going," Keith said glancing at his wristwatch. 

Lindsey looked at Leen as if asking her if she should go, Leen nodded her head, approving of it. 

"And our $50,000 deal?" Lindsey asked folding her arms. 

"I sent that to you this morning, Didn't you receive the alert?". 

"I haven't checked my phone yet, I will be back in a while," Lindsey said and ran upstairs. 

She quickly switched on her phone and scrolled to the message, "Yep, I got it" she smiled at the credit alert. 

She checked her missed calls, most were from her family, then some unknown numbers which she was guessing most belong to the reporters, and then she also got a call from her workers and schoolmate. 

"Everyone is suddenly calling me" She sneered putting her phone done, she went into the bathroom to do her morning routine. 

A few minutes later, Lindsey walked downstairs putting on a brown turtle neck long-sleeve blouse tucked into a short black shiny leather skirt, she had a long black heel boot and then her black blazer to match. 

Her long hair was packed in a stylish ponytail style which looked pretty on her. 

"Don't tell me you are looking pretty for me" Keith said and Lindsey chuckled. 

"I always look pretty, besides I need to look good for the paparazzi, I don't want ugly pictures of me flying around the internet," Lindsey said picking up her car key. 

"That wouldn't be necessary" Keith stared at her. 

"What?"

"I came with my car, so you don't need to bring yours too," Keith said now looking at her hand. 

Lindsey gave him a weird smile before dropping her car key. 

"I will be back in a jiffy" Lindsey turned to Leen. 

"Yeah, no problem, your house is save," Leen said. 

She watched Lindsey and Keith as they walked out of the house. 

The drive from her house to the Winslow family villa was quiet and Lindsey couldn't be more grateful. 

She can't imagine being in a conversation with Keith, what was she going to say, she was weak at keeping conversation and that has ruined most of her work and personal relationships. 

Just as expected, the paparazzi were gathered in front of the Winslow villa waiting to get a gossip to put up in their blog.  

A Rolls-Royce Extended slowly droving into the villa

‘NONE’ It looks like the license plate of one of the Winslow sons. The reporters became thrilled and rushed towards the Rolls-Royce.

The license plate number belonged to Mr. Keith Winslow, the third son in the family and the reason for the extra public attention. 

The Winslow family were among the very few famous and wealthy families with their license plate number in New York

The door of the Rolls-Royce was open, and Keith got out of the car first.

"Wow. Mr. Keith" The reporters swarmed forward like flies that smelled blood, but the security guard was fast enough to lock the gate against them, so they were forced to stay outside the villa. 

By the car, Keith helped Lindsey out of the car, he knew quite well the paparazzi would be taking pictures of them so he tried his best to be romantic, at least for now till the family decides what they would do about the new development. 

Lindsey felt a bit relaxed seeing Georgina’s warm smile, she had heard about the Winslow family and knew every member of the family. 

Unlike most of the rich wealthy families, the Winslow family kept a high profile and was always on the internet. 

The little smile on Lindsey’s face disappeared when she behold the stiff face of Mr. Pete, who was staring deeply at her without blinking an eye. 

Lindsey smiled nervously clenching her wet palm. 

"Welcome Ms. Roach, you can seat" Georgina ushered her in. 

"Thank you" Lindsey sat down, the couch was soft and relaxing but Lindsey was too nervous to relax. 

"About yesterday, I'm sorry I couldn't keep my promise, I did send them the offer but they turned it down, the news was juicy to them and they couldn't let it slide," Georgina said. 

"Hope you didn't encounter any of the reporters in your house?" She asked. 

"Not at all, but they got my I*******m handle" Lindsey replied politely.

"Yeah, I noticed the numbers increased, you must be happy" Tiana snapped. 

Lindsey stared at her not knowing the perfect reply, the whole family was there, well aside from chairman Winslow, their grandfather, everyone else was there. 

She felt intermediate like she always does whenever she attends the Roach family function, having all her uncles, aunties, and every other member of the family remind her that she was part of the family by mistake. 

"The family has reached an agreement, since Sophia Hales is nowhere to be found" Georgina paused looking at Lindsey, who lowered her head to the ground, avoiding eye contact with anyone. 

"You should become Keith's wife" Lindsey gave her a sharp glance. 

It seems she wasn't the only one surprised by Georgina’s statement, everyone else aside from Thalia was. 

Keith stood up staring at his mum, he gritted his teeth in anger. 

Georgina was exaggerating when she mentioned it was a family decision, it was her and Thalia’s decision. 

"Mum, I can't possibly marry a stranger" Keith spoke with disgust. 

"You proposed to her Keith, didn't you know she was a stranger?" Georgina raised a brow at her. 

"But it was more like a deal, I paid her to stand in for Sophia" Keith tried justifying his actions. 

"I know that, I don't have amnesia son" Georgina turned to Lindsey who was still speechless. 

"Why are you quiet Ms. Roach?" Georgina asked. 

Lindsey inhaled "I... I can't marry your son". 

"No one is telling you to, let's say we are still on the deal, The family would you two times, the first contract amount every month for five years, after which you both can choose to divorce or continue with the marriage," Georgina said. 

Lindsey's eyes and ears widened "$100,000 every month" she gulped down, collecting the money for five years she would kiss poverty goodbye plus being the wife of Mr. Keith Winslow would expose her to so many opportunities. 

"What do you say?" All eyes fall on Lindsey. 

Lindsey stared at every one of them, the offer was good but she was still scared, saying yes would mean she would become a member of an elite family and her life could be more difficult. 

"We don't have all day" Thalia spoke staring at her. 

Lindsey turned to Keith, everything about him showed he was angered and wasn't in support of what his mother had said. 

Aside from Chairman Winslow, Mrs. Georgina Winslow was the second highest authority, not even her husband Mr. Pete Winslow could question her authority let alone her children. 

"I'm sorry Ma'am, but I can't do it" Lindsey said firmly. 

Georgina was a little shocked by her decision, she had thought she would jump into it like every other girl would. 

"Is the contract years much, let's make it four years then or better still we could increase the money to 3 times huh?" Georgina persuaded. 

"I'm sorry ma, but I don't think I'm the right woman for your son, I'm too bizarre and local for your son, I suggest you find someone from an elite for him" Lindsey said. 

"Ms. Roach_" Georgina wanted to go further into convincing her but Keith stopped her. 

"She said no already mum, don't push it," Keith said. 

Georgina raised a brow at him "I shouldn't push it, I have to deal with the Hales family regarding their missing daughter who was supposed to be your wife and you also want to deal with a scandal of you breaking up with a lady you broke up last night or perhaps introducing a new bride on your wedding day" Georgina snapped angrily standing up. 

Keith was quiet, he felt a pang of regret, he should have just told everyone that Sophia ran away, it would embarrassing but he wouldn't have been in a much bigger mess of him on the verge of getting married to a total stranger. 

He had asked her to fill in Sophia’s shoes because he thought his family won't approve of her and let them break up but he was wrong. 

The atmosphere became tense and Lindsey was uncomfortable, she didn't want to be in the middle of an elite family drama, the Roach family drama was suffocating enough for her already. 

"Erhm_" she stood up adjusting her dress, and all eyes fall on her again. 

She gulped down not knowing how to put the sentence to be less offensive or rude.  

She continued "If that's all, I need to get going now, Tell me when your family is ready to call off the engagement"

Georgina stared at her stunned by her aura, she smiled as she found her pretty interesting. 

"Here is my card, Call me when you change your mind, we are willing to compensate your boyfriend," Georgina said as Thalia handed over the card to Lindsey. 

"You can take her home now Keith," Georgina said heading upstairs.