Chapter 1

I sat in the reception area as I thumbed through a magazine while I pretended to read, but the truth is, I couldn't concentrate. I could hear my heart beating loudly against my chest and feel my hands tremble. I couldn't rest ever since I made up my mind to come to Sean for help. I've been waiting for a week for this appointment and now that it's happening I'm starting to have second thoughts. I could turn back right now and forget I was here.

"Mr. Sean is ready to receive you now if you're ready" I look up to find a petite, blonde, young lady saying to me. She must be his secretary.

"I am very much ready" I jumped up.

"This way" she motioned for me to follow her and I did. We walked down a long hallway and then turned before she stopped in front of a door with the tag 'CEO, Vikings Co. ' boldly carved on the door.

I can't believe this is happening.

"You can go in now," the lady says to me, indicating she's not going in with me.

"Thank you"  she smiled and turned back.

I watched her walk down the hallway we just came from before I turned the doorknob and opened the door.

Sean was looking down, his head buried in a heap of documents as he flipped through them. He spoke before his head came fully up. "Miss Simpson, it's nice to…"

Then he froze when he saw who had come into his office. His eyes fixed on mine, taking me in. There was a flash of surprise in his eyes for a second but it was quickly replaced by anger.

The last time I saw him, I was breaking up with him while he begged me with tears in his eyes, the same pair of eyes that are staring at me three years later. Opting not to look him in the eyes any longer, my gaze traveled down to his large hands and the veins protruding from them. His face looks exactly the same way I remember but his body had changed. Hell, a lot of things have changed.

His chest is way broader than the way it used to be and I could see them stretching his shirt from where I was standing. The first two bottoms were open, revealing the hairs on his chest.

"What are you doing here?" His voice was cold, It held no emotion. I take that as an excuse to sit since he doesn't look like he's going to offer me one.

"I'm... I'm here for business" I stuttered.

Technically, I'm here to ask him to help me with some funds. Last year my mum was diagnosed with lung cancer, stage 3, and had to go into chemotherapy. I lost my job a couple of months ago and all I have left with me was spent on her treatment. I'm two months behind and the hospital had called in threatening to stop her treatments if I don't pay up.

Sean is the last person I know who could help me out. I feel ashamed of myself for turning to him now after what I did to him.

"I see," he says, not breaking his gaze away from me.

"Yes," I swallowed.

"My secretary put you on the morning list, saying it is urgent. I wonder what it could be"

"It is," I confirmed. My heart is pounding louder against my chest.

"My mom," I started to explain.

"She's been battling cancer since last year. I lost my job not quite long and all I had was used up on her treatments. The hospital has started calling in for payment, or else they will stop her treatments." I say looking him in the eye.

He nodded and urged me to continue. "So"

"I need some money, I'll pay it back once I can get a job," I say finally.

I waited.

One second

Two

Three

Seven

Ten

Then he broke out in laughter while I eyed him.

Did he think this is funny?

"What makes you so sure I will help you?"

"I…" I stopped, forcing myself not to break down in front of him.

" I don't know. I have no one to go to for help, you're the only person I could think of…"

"It's been three years, Katara," he says, his voice holding meaning. I winced as the sound of my name rolled off his lips. He never called me that. It's always been, Katie.

He's right, it's been three years and a lot of things have changed.

"I know, '' I whispered. I closed my eyes while the event that happened flooded my memory.

I opened my eyes to find him staring at me, his expression emotionless. I couldn't tell if he was angry at me or not.

We were like this for a while. Just staring at each other. No speaking. I waited for him to say something–anything, but he did not.

That's it, he's not going to help me. I shouldn't have come here in the first place.

"I think I should leave." Standing up, I pushed the chair back hurriedly and grabbed my bag, running for the door. I felt like an idiot coming in here to ask for his help.

"Katie" His voice stopped me in my tracks.

That name, if only he knew how much I yearned to hear him call me that again.

I heard him push back his chair and stand up. I turned and watched him as he circled the mahogany desk and stopped when he got to where I was

standing.

"Who says you could leave?"

"I thought of you…" I thought you weren't going to help me because I dumped your ass three years ago. But I couldn't say that.

"... aren't going to help you?" He completed and I nodded.

"I will." He announced. He watched as my eye flickered in excitement and I looked up at him to see if he meant what he just said.

"Really?"

"Yes, but only on one condition"

I stayed silent and waited for him to continue. I'd do anything he asks as long as he's willing to help me.

"You marry me," he says finally.

"What? Marry you?"

"Of course, it's going to be fake. The company shareholders want me to get married to keep my inheritance, something about a will my late father left before he passed on. So, I'll agree to help you if you can pose as my fiancé" he explained.

"What makes you think I'm fit for this job?"

"You were once my girlfriend, it'll be more believing when I say we got back together than to find a new person" That makes sense, I never think about that.

He went back to his desk and pulled out a drawer and I watched him bring out a small velvet box.

He handed over the box to me. "I'm not going to impose it on you, you can get back to me whenever you make a decision, but make sure you're wearing that"