"Marry me" he repeated. "You need three hundred thousand dollars and I need a wife for three months. Just three months and you'd have three million dollars in your bank account."

He kept quiet and watched me. The internal battle within me was much. I needed this money but marriage? Wasn't that a little too far?

I wanted to disagree but a greater part of me wouldn't let me so I nodded.

Foolish, right?

I know. Desperate times call for desperate needs.

"I agree." I say with a bit more determination than I might have wanted. "I don't have a choice sir. I will marry you."

Timothy broke into a smile and chuckled. I froze.
For the first time in my four years of being his secretary, I have never heard him chuckle.

Did I bump my head somewhere?

"Good." He said and sat straight to look at me well.

"Where do I sign?" I ask, only to wish I hadn't asked because he broke into a fit of laugther.

In his laugther, he pulled open his drawer and pulled out a file. He gave them to me saying, "Sign them. But-" he paused to look at me. -"you'd be moving in with me till the contract is over. Agreed?"

I nod, already bringing out the papers from the file and grabbing a pen from his penholder.

"Agreed" I reply. "Can I use this?" I motioned the pen and he nodded, keenly watching as I scribbled my signature on the documents and returned them to the file.

"If I may ask, why do you seem to be in a rush?" He asked an I could sense his sincere curiousity but I couldn't satisfy it.

"Personal issues, sir. I'm sorry." I mutter and hand him the file.

He took them and stare at me for a minute before saying, "Did you read through the papers?"

I nod. "I read the headings. There was a marriage contract and a certificate of marriage from the bureau." I reply to see him smile but not say anything.

"Why did you call sir?" I asked. Now that my aim had been achieved, I remembered he had called. My day was looking better already.

"Well, I called you for this-" he waved the file and shrug. -"didn't know it'd be this easy."

I sigh and decided not to think it deeply. He actually wanted to ask me to marry him for three million before I came? No wonder he was smiling when I agreed.

"I'd take my leave now sir." I say and stand up.

"When do you plan on moving in?" He asks, already returned to his laptop.

I reach for the handle and turn it. "One week. I need to buy my housekeeper before then."

He hummed in response and I stepped out. Back in my office, I began to think of how to bribe and buy Maggie. She would most likely not let me leave so, I figured a business lie was the only way around this.

I remained lost in my thoughts until lunch time came and Rhea, a colleague from the marketing team, came to drag me for lunch. She shreiked for joy when she saw the pasta Maggie had packed in the lunch box.

Rhea and I were Maggie's biggest fan. We had always believed that Maggie should have gone to a culinary school but Maggie says we're only blinded by food.

Disagree at your own risk.

*****
The next week…

"Do you have to go?" Maggie asked, reluctant to let go off me.

It had taken me all the white lies of the world to get her to agree. Though, there were a few truths: I told her I would be able to keep the house if I went on this trip. I also told her that I would be going with my boss and would be safe.

We were still caught up in our hug when we heard a car's horn from outside. I look up at Maggie and smile faintly.

"Time to go Maggie. That's my boss."

Maggie sniffled back a tear and pulled me in for one last hug before walking me out the door. We reached outside to see Timothy dressed in a blue suit and shining under the ten a.m sun with a faint smile.

"Hello, you must be Timothy, Eve's boss?" Maggie asked calmly and Timothy nods with a light bow.

"Yes, madam."

Maggie nods and let the driver take my luggage before walking to where my boss stood.

"Take care of her. Or, I'd have your head for dinner!" She blurted out sternly and Timothy withdrew sharply.

I nudged Maggie with my elbow and grit my teeth. "Maggie, you're scaring the man."

Maggie was about to speak when Timothy beat her to it.

"You don't have to worry, Maggie," he said, looking me in the eye. "Eve's in safe hands."

I lower my head as my face flushed red. My heart tingled with his promise. He even called me Eve, not the traditional Yvette. It's the first time he did that and I liked the way it rolled off his tongue.

After five more minutes with Maggie, we got into the car and Timothy's driver, Micheal, hit the road. Instead of heading to the airport like Maggie would be thinking, we made a beeline to the Timothy Sylvian's home.

*****
After one hour of an awkward journey, the car drove into a large but modest looking two storey building. The building was painted with a combination of gray and white.

As the car pulled further into the compound, I noticed two huge dogs at the side - German Shepherds to be precise - and my heart fell to my stomach. I had always been scared of dogs. They didn't run further than their chains and I was a bit relieved.

Timothy seemed to have noticed my tension so he gave my shoulder a light squeeze as the car came to halt in front of the main doors. I shuddered at his touch but still managed to smile.

"Dogs huh?"

He noticed. I nodded and he smiled as we stepped out of the car. The driver stepped out too and took out my bag from the trunk. He was about to walk open the main doors when Timothy told him not to mind as he would do it.

Without a word, Micheal gave Timothy the luggage and entered the car. Timothy pushed the door open and I was instantly captivated by the warm and beautiful setting of the living room.

Everything in the room was white and sparkled. The couches were neatly placed and everything shone. As we walked up the stairs, I kept feeding my eyes.

"There's something else I think you should know." Timothy said and I froze. I had a feeling it might not be good. "Let's get you settled in first."

I nodded and was about to take a step when the main doors went wide and a loud voice came from there.

"Timothy Austin Sylvian, I'm home!"

I look down to see a petite looking lady - maybe my age - walking and chewing a bubble gum noisily.

Timothy leaned in and his warm breath sent a shiver down my spine. "That's what I was gonna talk about, Tricia."

"That?"

I look at him for a second before looking back at the multi colored haired lady downstairs. I smile and was about to keep on walking when I heard her gasp and the walking and chewing stopped.

"Timothy, you brought a girl home!" She exclaimed like she had seen the Lord Almighty. "Am I hallucinating?"

Timothy hissed and pulled my hand to keep walking. "Go do something else, Trix. Maybe play with your toys or something."

Tricia began to run up the stairs in her heels till she caught up with us. She spun me around and cupped my face in her hands.

"Sister-in-law?"

I look up at Timothy with questions in my eyes. What the hell have you told your family?

Timothy smiles and walks away with the bag, leaving me with the girl who looked like a hippie with rings in odd parts of her ears.

Don't they hurt?, I wanted to ask but kept shut and nod instead.

I gasp when she pulled me in a breathless hug. So much strength from a petite one like her.