“Yes, good morning Mr James…oh you sent it to my email already? Alright, thank you for helping out in such a short notice…have a nice day”.
Jaden hung up the phone and placed it on his desk. He stood up and walked towards the printer in his office, he printed out a few copies of paper.
He went back to his desk, cleared his throat and picked up the intercom.
“Matilda come to my office, now”.
Knock
“Come in”.
“Good morning sir”. Matilda greeted politely.
“We already saw each other this morning, why greet me again? Sit”.
Jaden said with his commanding voice, ushering Matilda to sit.
“I thought about your request from yesterday, and I put one and two together and I figured I can't just help you without collecting anything in return”.
Jaden paused to study Matilda's face.
She looked pale, and anxious. Matilda was anticipating the condition her boss was going to throw at her.
So many thoughts ran through her mind, she bit her lower lip out of anxiety.
“Here”. Jaden flipped the printed paper to her.
Matilda's eyes almost bulged out of the socket, when she read the content of the paper.
Her lips trembling “sir, this…this is talking about a contract relationship. Between you and I sir”.
Matilda was bemused by the situation, bewildered and confused; she kept looking at Jaden's face to seek an answer.
“Alright”.
Jaden said as he sat further in his seat.
“You're not new to this, you know my father always makes me go blind dates and I hate it”.
Jaden stomped his fist on the table which made Matilda startle.
“But what has this got to with….” She pointed at the paper as she spoke “ what has it got to do with this sir?”
Jaden leaned back into his seat and cleared his throat.
“Now, this is where you come in. I need you to be my fake girlfriend”. He said in a commanding tone, rather than a request.
“I need my father to quit bothering me about bringing a woman home. If you agree with everything that's in that contract, I will give you any amount you want, without paying it back”.
Matilda just kept staring at him, she did not know what to say. She was dumbfounded.
“Can you say something?” Jaden queried, with his squinting eyes and arched eyebrows.
Matilda jolted back to reality.
“Sir can I please think about this before I respond?”
Jaden let out a mocking laugh, throwing his head backwards as his whole body shakes from the laugh.
“Do you have a boyfriend or something? Well, it's not like you have a choice anyway”.
Matilda's face turned white from the shame, she felt ridiculed.
“I do not have a boyfri…”
“Trust me, I don't care. All I want to know is, if you're in or not”.
Jaden said, throwing both of his hands in the air to show how little he cared.
“And like you said, I'll give you time to think about it. I should get your reply by tomorrow evening”.
Jaden stood up from his chair and was walking towards Matilda.
“But sir…”
Before Matilda could finish her sentence, Jaden moved over to where she sat and bent down to make direct eye contact with her.
“Are you complaining?”
He asked with his voice deeper than usual.
“No sir..no”
Matilda could feel his breath close to her face, her heart started to race. She stared at his lips, and back to his face.
When she realised what she did, she immediately jolted out of her seat.
“I'll be…I'll be leaving now sir”
Matilda ran out of the office without even waiting for a response.
She held her chest, reflecting on what just happened.
“No no, I can't possibly have feelings for someone like that. It's just…just the situation”
Matilda walked to her desk breathing in and out to calm herself.
****************
Matilda dropped the book she was reading when a text message popped up on her phone.
She sat up in her bed.
Hello baby girl.
Diane, how are you?
I'm good babe, I should be asking you that. What's up with Niki's surgery?
Well, I actually asked my boss for an upfront payment of my salary.
What did the arrogant dude say? I know he said no.
😅No Diane, he asked for something back in return.
And what could that be?
He wants us to fake-date for a while.
Wow, that's crazy babe. What did you say? Did you agree?
I already decided to say yes to him tomorrow, I'll do anything for Niki.
Alright babe, please just be careful. I'm sleepy now, we will talk later. Goodnight love.
Good night Diane, talk to you later.
Matilda dropped her phone and laid back in her bed, she closed her eyes but sleep was not coming. She kept tossing in her bed all night.
**********
Matilda did her usual breathing technique before going into Jaden's office.
Her heart started beating faster again, she held the door handle but it felt like all her strength left her.
Eventually, she opened the door and went in.
“Sit down”
Jaden ordered her, pointing to the seat in front of him.
“I uhm…I came to tell you my response concerning the…the contract”.
Matilda's hands were already shaking, she put them in between her knees to prevent it from being obvious.
“I will do it sir, I'll be your girlfriend”.
“Point of correction, it's a “fake girlfriend”, emphasis on the"fake ".
Jaden said with his hands making the quotation sign in the air.
“Yes..yes, of course sir”
Matilda's face became red from the embarrassment, she cut the eye contact they had held for a while.
Jaden picked a pen from the table, and began to sign. He tossed it to Matilda, indulging her to sign.
“I don't know where to sign sir, there's no.. there's no space for me to sign here sir”.
Matilda spoke in a quiet tone, looking at Jaden and then the paper.
Jaden sighed and rolled his eyes, then stood up and stood behind Matilda's back.
He bent down, his face almost touching hers. Matilda could feel his breath once more, his breath smelled of mint.
His shoulder brushed over hers slightly, which made Matilda flinch a little. Her eyes met with his, and she could not look away.
Matilda became lost in his blue eyes, like an ocean.
“Stop staring at me and sign here”.
Jaden pointed to the paper and scoffed as he stood walking back to his seat.
Matilda adjusted herself, she held the pen but it was shaking a little. She managed to sign and passed it back to Jaden.
“Here's your copy of the contract”. He passed a paper to her.
“We're officially business partners, ain't we?”
Jaden asked stretching forth his hand to give Matilda a handshake.
Matilda immediately rose up and took his hand, his hand was so soft and larger than hers.
Deep down, Matilda did not want to let go. Jaden gave her hand a little squeeze, and Matilda bit her lower lip unconsciously.
“And what type of treaty did you both sign that needed a handshake to seal it?”
Both Jaden and Matilda's gaze moved to the figure that just came into the office.
“And what the hell do you think you're doing here?”
Jaden inquired angrily, his jaw twitching.
Matilda immediately withdrew her hands from Jaden's, as Tiana walked towards them.Matilda scanned Tiana from head to toe and did a quick check. She looked so pretty in the off shoulder gown she wore, exposing her flawless skin and collar bone.From the way she walked and carried herself, Matilda knew she was from a wealthy family.“Relax, alright. I don't bite”.Tiana laughed as she stood beside Jaden, she began to rub his shoulders.“Take your hands off me woman”.Jaden pushed her hands off his shoulder, his eyes becoming bloodshot from anger. Tiana held her hands up in defence“Okay okay, I will back off. At least, you should offer your guest a seat”.She drew a chair out for herself and sat, heaving a sigh.“You are not my guest, I did not invite you here. By the way, what do you even want here, in my office?”Jaden asked with his face in an irritating form, mashed up together like someone that just ate a bad fruit.“Well, I'm a shareholder of your company so…”“Point of correcti
CHAPTER 6Matilda picked up the books from the floor and stood up from where Tiana threw her.Squeezing her eyes shut, she winced from the pain. She had a cut on the back of her left hand, it was caused by Tiana's push.She looked left and right, to see if anyone had witnessed what happened. The last thing she wanted right now, was to be the talk of the office.Matilda raised her head to prevent tears from falling, it's still working hours, and no one should see her crying.She sat on her seat and logged into her laptop to continue working. She tried to drown herself into work, to take her mind off everything that just played off.The intercom on her desk rang, it was Jaden.“Come to my office”.Matilda buried her head in her hands, hoping Jaden did not call her to lash out at her too. She had had enough for today.She stood up and adjusted her clothes, she used a little napkin to take dust off her clothes.She proceeded to Jaden's office.Matilda knocked thrice and there was no respo
“Good evening sir”“Good evening Matilda, I'm sure you know why I'm here”. The landlord adjusted his glasses as he spoke, squinting his eyes through them to have a proper look at Matilda.Matilda held onto the door handle very tightly, she looked down at her feet to avoid his intense gaze.“You promised to pay this week, Matilda, I have not seen anything from you yet”.“I'm sorry sir, I…I will definitely pay before the end of this week, please just give me a little more time”.Matilda pleaded with her bright eyes shining in the dark, she pouted her mouth in expectation of what the landlord might say.“Well, the end of this week then. Do not let it get past this week”.He raised his finger in a warning sign, and stared at Matilda for a while before heading down the stairs.“Thank you Mr Wells, I'll definitely pay before next week! Have a good night!”Matilda yelled back at the landlord as he headed back to his quarters. He waved his hands at her without looking back.She locked the do
“This is…this is wrong sir”Matilda forcefully pulled away from his tight grip, wriggling her hands with so much power.Jaden scoffed and pushed her off of him, using the back of his hands to dust his shirt like she had stained him of dirt.“Do not flatter yourself, nothing will ever happen between us”. Jaden spoke like he was giving her stern warning, sizing her up and down with a look of disgust.Matilda felt a sharp pin was poking her all over her body, she wanted the ground to swallow her up and escape this embarrassment.Jaden puts his hands in his pockets and begins to pace about that basement.“I have played my part, you got your money. Now it's time for your first mission”.Matilda watched him as he blew off dust from the shelf he was standing next to.“What could that be if I may ask sir?”His eyes moved from the shelf back to Matilda, he cleaned his hands.“Meeting my father, this Saturday to be precise”.Matilda's heart almost came out of her chest, the thought of meeting
“You've got to put that down Tiana, don't do this”.Mr Brooks pleaded with Tiana, and started to move closer to her.“Do not come any closer, else my blood will be all over the floor here”. Tiana threatened, her eyes red tearing up with tears, she held out her hand, the broken glass in the other.Jaden ran and took Tiana's hand, he threw the glass away. She fell into his arms and started to cry.“Please Jaden, don't leave me…please”.Tiana looked up and met Jaden's gaze, he pushed her gently off his body, and made her stand straight in front of him.“Look Tiana, you're a great woman, but I do not love you okay?”Jaden tapped on her shoulders lightly, and looked at her for a few seconds before leaving for his room.Tiana fell to the floor and wept profusely, holding her chest tightly as she screamed her lungs out.Mr Brooks went over to where Tiana was and hugged her.“Please Tiana, please. Let me tell the driver to send you home. I'm sorry”.Tiana kept screaming and kicking the floor
Matilda placed her hand on his chest and tried to push him away, his grip was stronger.She could taste him, he tasted like mint. He kissed her so gently, allowing his tongue to move swiftly in her mouth. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to enjoy it.The feeling did not last long as Jaden pulled away from her, fastened his seat belt and put on the ignition.Matilda touched her lips and looked at Jaden, he was acting like nothing happened. She felt like she was being taken advantage of.“Sir why…why did you do that?"Jaden was focused on the road ahead of him, he acted like Matilda was not there. Her words fell on deaf ears.“I already told you there were some things we needed to practise, so stop making a fuss about the situation”.Jaden changed the gear as he spoke, with his gaze still fixed on the road.Matilda hugged herself, as she looked out the window. The last thing she wanted to look at now was Jaden's face.Jaden swerved and put the car to rest, which made Matilda's ga
“Look dad, she is my girlfriend and I love her”.Matilda looked at Jaden in bewilderment, her eyes almost popping out of the socket from hearing Jaden's words.She has never been in a romantic relationship before, no one has ever asked her out even in high school or college. So, hearing Jaden say he loved her, gave her butterflies in her stomach even if she knew it was all fake.“You love this woman? Your secretary?”“Yes dad, I do”.Jaden's next action was something no one would have predicted. He went over to where Matilda was, and held her hands.It felt like cold shivers ran down her spine, as she felt his hands envelope hers. He dragged her close to his body, to assure his father that they were a real thing.Jaden put on a fake smile, and nudged Matilda. He spoke through gritted teeth while smiling.“Smile Matilda, smile”.Matilda immediately wore her “this is my best smile” type of smile. She wished there was a mirror around, to see how she looked right now, with the fake smile
“Did you just slap me?”Jaden placed his hands on his face, his eyes blazing with fire. His voice sounded like thunder.Matilda's lips trembled, she could not believe what she just did. Her hands were shaking.“Sir..sir I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me. It's just that, you can't just kiss me whenever you want to”.Jaden grabbed her by her arms again, his hands were almost penetrating her skin. Matilda winced in pain, a tear escaped her eyes.“I can kiss you and touch you whenever I like, the contract never said otherwise. Now clean those tears and get into the car. Am I clear?”His voice bellowed in the dark, the light of the night penetrating his eyes which made them glow.Matilda could not speak, she cried silently. Jaden let go off her arm, and went into the car. The tears gathering up in her eyes, made her vision blur. She struggled to get to the car, and as she was walking, she accidentally stepped on her dress and it got torn.She got into the car and Jaden did not bot