A deal with a stranger

Silence stretched taut in the room for a minute, everyone was completely speechless. Mr. Brook was devastated after her unanticipated announcement. He stood, staring at Gwendolyn, who hadn't realized what she had done. She hadn't noticed how awkward everyone was staring at her, waiting for her to explain what was going on. 

 

  “Did I hear what you said clearly?” 

Immediately her right hand stopped after she realized everything. That was an impulsive outburst. She chewed on her lower lip, looking at her father standing in front of her. “Dad, that's not what I mean?” 

   “Then explain everything to me.”

Parting her lips to defend herself, Mr. Whitlock interrupted. “This isn't happening? Edward, I'm disappointed. Did you invite us here to humiliate us in front of everyone? How could you? Austin, we're going home. You're not going to marry her. She can't be my daughter-in-law.” Mr. Whitlock seethed fiercely. He hit his hands on the table abruptly then rose. 

Austin was completely dumbfounded. He stared at her without knowing what to say. Then suddenly he burst into hysterical laughter. “Him?” He narrowed his eyes at the young man, and a mockery smirk plastered on his face. He couldn't believe Gwendolyn would choose another man over him. To make it worse, a commoner that he couldn't acknowledge. Although the man was physically luscious, for that alone he was envious of him. “What a joke.”

  Gwendolyn approached him in an irksome manner. “Now that you know I belong to someone else, could you kindly leave with your parents? I'll rather become a nun than marry you.” 

Now she didn't care about their status, not even his parent's presence anymore mattered, after all, they were intruders in her house. The grudge she harbored against Whitlock could never be soothed. She pointed at the exit, gesturing to them to leave.

Mrs. Whitlock shook her head with disappointment, she was nearly speechless. “You are shameless, aren't you? I'm out of here.” She took her purse on the table and then stomped out. Mr. Whitlock followed his wife.

 Edward attempted to walk after them. “Mr. Whitlock, please wait.” He called out. Mr. Whitlock ignored him completely without turning back. 

Austin looked at her briefly before speaking up. “You'll surely pay for this.” He assured her before going after his parents. The night was a total disaster.

Edward returned to the living room. He met everyone standing. Kathryn walked up to him. “Honey, what did he say?” Perturbed, she enquired. 

Gwendolyn swerved to look at her father. She was going to explain everything to him now that their guests had left. “Dad…”

He ran a hand on his face, whimpering with frustration. “You've decided to embarrass me in front of everyone, Gwen. How could you do this to your father?” He couldn't believe everything he heard, he thought it could be his nightmare. However, it was a reality. 

   “Dad…”

  “Do you have any idea of what you've done tonight? Do you know the business hasn't been doing well lately? I got a warrant of payment three weeks ago, Austin was the only one that turned up.”

“Edward, let's talk this out please.” Kathryn intervened, trying to assuage his anger. 

He abruptly turned to her and leveled her a grimace. “You stay out of this!” He snapped, skipping a step close to Gwendolyn.

Looking at everyone one after the other, Katherine sighed softly before turning around and walking away.

   “Do you have to shut her out?”

  

   “She's not even your mother. You wouldn't have become like this if Beatrice was alive.”

 Her eyes welled up with tears the moment he mentioned her mother's name. “Don't bring her into this, Dad. Do you even care about how I feel about arranged marriage? You didn't ask how I feel about it before you invited his parents here for dinner.”

   “Of course I care about you. I just don't have a choice. Mr. Whitlock wouldn't have agreed to support the company if Austin hadn't told him that you're his girlfriend.”

   “He ended things after I caught him cheating with my assistant. He didn't apologize for what he did yet he broke up with me in public.” She reminded her father. 

Ruffling his hair, he scoffed softly. Everything she was saying didn't matter to her, but what he wanted. “Now he wants you back. Isn't that what you want?”

With a shake of head, she skipped a step away from him. “I loved him but life goes on. I won't go back to my past.”

   “So you're going to keep that bastard you're carrying? Who's he anyway? Do I know his parents?” He paused briefly. “Look at me, Gwen. You'll have to accept Austin. Tomorrow, you'll apologize for being insolent.”

   “And you put your company first before your daughter? Because I know that's the only thing that matters to you now, not what I'm saying.”

Edward skipped a step close to her, he put a hand across her face as he tilted his head. “I need to know if you're lying or not, you'll go see my doctor tomorrow. If truly you're pregnant, you'll have to tell Austin you're not pregnant. It'll be our secret till our deal is completely sealed then we'll figure out what to do with the child you're carrying. Goodnight, princess.” He pecked her cheeks before walking away.

Disappointed and heartbroken were the perfect words to describe how she felt. Although the pregnancy was a lie, she never imagined her father telling her to lie just to save his business. She slowly took a deep breath, soothing her nerves before veering around. “Let's go.” 

She walked ahead of him, as they arrived at the car park. She unlocked the car, and both of them hopped in then she drove out of the mansion. Instead of driving him to the police station, she turned in the direction of her house. It was a ten-minute ride before they finally reached their destination.

Throughout their ride, Gwendolyn was happy that he didn't start a conversation with her. She was exhausted and wasn't ready for any sort of interrogation. She thought he would never understand her situation no matter how she explained it to him. 

As the car came to a halt, both of them hopped out of the car. She looked at him one last time before gesturing to him to follow her in. She inputted the password, and they entered when the door unlocked. She switched her heels with slippers and then headed to the living room.

  “Water?” 

  “No.”

 She put both hands on her waist, standing in front of him as she was composing her next sentence. “I don't even know what to call you. Shouldn't we think of a name?” She proposed a suggestion, and a light grin scrunched her lips.

  “A name for me?”

  She nodded. “There's an artiste I adore a lot, his name is Zayn, or do you like Nicholas?”

  “You don't even know my name?” Puzzled, he lifted a brow.

Shaking her head vigorously, she pouted her plump lips. “No, I don't.” She replied with no remorse. 

   “Not even where I came from?”

   “I think I might have an answer to that. The countryside, that was where I found you.”

He strolled around her living room, admiring the interior decorations. “In the morning I heard you telling the doctor you don't know who I am and tonight you also told your father that you're with my child. What's the truth?” He queried calmly. He halted abruptly, turning around to look at her, his steady gaze was fixed on her while awaiting her answer. 

“The truth remains that I'm with your child. Since you don't know who you are, you need my help. If I help you regain your lost memory, you have to help me stop my marriage.”

  “That's manipulation.”

  “I'm not cheap but if I need to appear cheap to stop this marriage, I'll do anything. What do you say?” She peered into his eyes eagerly.

“Why do I feel like you're trying to take advantage of my situation?”

  “I have something to offer you. Money? I'll give you anything if you're going to help me.”

“I'm sorry, I don't think that's the kind of thing I'll do.” He turned around to walk away, then she spoke up. 

  “Please, I'm in a desperate situation.” 

  “I think you should listen to your father. I think maybe the man has truly changed.”

  “Yes, you should be thinking. He's the worst human being ever. I don't want to marry him.” She walked up to a sofa, slumped onto it then crossed her legs. “I hate being beholden.”

  He contemplated for a while. The lady he was looking at was more helpless than he was. His mind was against his decision, nevertheless, he knew he was indebted to her for saving his life. He wasn't someone that liked to be in the spot he was right now but what option did he have? He looked at her one more time “Let's call it even. I'll help you out to pay off my debt.”

Gwendolyn stood up and then sauntered to him. She extended her hand for a handshake. “Deal. It's nice to meet you, Zayn.” 

Instead of taking her hand, he returned his hands to his pockets. “I'm sorry but the name sounds awkward.”

Slightly hurt by what he did, she withdrew her hand and faked a smile. “You'll get used to it.”