The Marriage Proposal

Bety woke up to see many missed calls from grace, she quickly dailed her number... After few rings the call was answered "Betty what happened? I've been calling all through the night" grace said immediately she picked the call, "am sorry Gracie I was sleeping too tired, what happened"? Betty questioned while yawning she still had sleepy eyes. "Babe there is an emergency" grace said almost immediately.

Hearing the word 'emergency' Betty's eyes opened, "what? Don't tell me you've missed your period already, Gracie this is not the time to have babies, while she kept ranting grace said "hold your horses young lady your imaginations these days are crazy, this emergency is not about me but you and please am not pregnant enough with your wild thoughts" grace yelled at her.

"Easy girl, you'll make me deaf with your shouting and how is the emergency about me, what happened?" Betty asked sitting upright. "Betty I don't know how you'll take this but your house have been put up for sales by your uncle and buyers are coming" grace said.

Betty tried to understand what grace just said and that's when it struck her, "WHAT? OMG she couldn't say any other thing, is my fate playing tricks on me? Grace what am i going to do? I can't let that house go, it's the only thing left by my parents that's our home, we had Soo many good memories there, Betty didn't realise when she started crying.

"Please calm down girl we will think of something okay? Grace tried to pacify her, I will call you when I think of something okay"? Saying that she ended the call

Betty fell on her bed and started crying, is this going to be my fate? When I found hope again now this?

This house has been intact all the while I was jobless now that I got a good job the house is up for sale? Do I have badluck or what? Please mom and dad help me, what am I going to do? She cried bitterly knowing she had no one who she could ask help from and can't ask this kind of favour from grace, she had done too much for her already.

Her phone rang again, seeing the caller she picked it up immediately, "babe have you thought of anything yet" grace asked Betty, wiping her tears she replied "No" " and you were busy crying huh? You shoulf stop being a cry baby anyways I thought of something and I think is gonna work".

Betty replied "realy? She saw a glint of hope until she heard the unbelievable, "why don't you ask your boss for help, tell him to loan you some money and you'll pay off with your service to him, what do you think?"

Like as if quenching a flame from a candle Betty's face darkened, "Gracie you know I can't do that, what if he doesn't have enough money? Betty tried to reason with grace.

"What! Are you hearing yourself? Have you still not known whom your boss is? Do you think he can't afford that amount of money? It's the CEO of Victoria Empire we are talking about here, he can give out that amount of money 10 times and still not be shaken, you've the opportunity to ask from such a person and you're speaking nonsense, baby girl think about it or watch your house go forever" grace disconnected the call immediately.

Betty thought about what her friend had said, she might be right, but what would be think of me? I just worked only for few days and I'm already demanding this kind of favour? He might think am only desperate for money.

********************

Betty arrived at the office, she wasn't looking okay, she ran into Rita, without blinking an eye at her she walked pass her, "you darn wench, because you're the boss P.A you now think you're high and mighty huh? I'll make sure you regret coming into this company" she said with gritted teeth.

Betty made a slight knock and entered into the CEO's office, she didn't think that the boss would be there already, it looked like he was waiting for her, Betty said to herself " why would he wait for you? He is just working".

Benjamin was waiting for her patiently he knew that somehow she would have found out about the news of her house and then he would render his helping hand, when he saw her coming he pretended to be focusing on an important document even when she came into the office he pretended not to know.

"Good morning Mr Benjamin" betty greeted making a polite bow, "miss betty good morning how come you are here so early"? looks like you are enjoying your job here, alright you can report to your office now I'll call you when I need you" saying that he continued going through the files. He decided to play a mind game, "she would call my attention in 3....2.....1....

"Erm Mr. Benjamin can I have a word with you please?" He smiled inwardly. Then he raised his head with a serious look. "What is it about Betty?

She was contemplating whether she should tell him or not while she was delaying he got impatient "please Betty you can see how busy I am right? She's gathered courage and she walked to him and kneels down.

when she was walking towards him she looked like an angel he was mesmerized by her beauty she had slender figure the dress she wore give details to her beautiful body.

She knelt down why ? He felt pained, he feared that this exercise might bring scratch to her fragile skin, "please Betty stand up" like an obidient child she stood up and went to the sofa and sank in, she was scared she looked down at her hands and she began playing with her fingers.

She took a deep breath, "sir I know it's still early and I haven't worked enough yet, but sir I have an emergency that has to do with money, will you be Soo kind to loan me $10 million dollars? Even though she knew the money wasn't enough she just have to try her luck.

"What? Do we look like a loan shark to you that you can ask loan from us anytime you wish? He asked pretending to be angry. "Am sorry sir it's an emergency, but you're not giving me for free, I will work for you until I pay up.

Benjamin stood up angrily "young lady does this company looks like a joke to you? You're barely one week here and you demand such an amount? He began pacing the room.

Betty knelt down again to plead, "please sir consider me, I promise I won't leave this company until I clear the debt, the car and house that comes with this position if is possible keep them since I don't have any need for them, I only need the money. I had no intentions to ask this kind of favour from you, this emergency just came up" she kept rubbing her palm together as she pleads.

Benjamin was backing her as he was staring outside through the window, when he turned and saw her kneeling it broke his heart. "Miss Betty please sit down, if someone walks in here they might think you're begging for your life" he said softly, "sir that house is part of my life, i am sorry to disobey you but I won't stand until you have agreed to consider my request" Benjamin looked at her knee that had already turned red, he pitied her.

"Okay stand up let's talk about it" Betty looked up with her big deer eyes that had turned red from crying, but anyone could see how sincere and innocent it looks, she was happy her eyes could tell. She sat down with a big smile.

Aftet few minutes of silence he said "what do you need $10 million dollars for anyway? He knew the house price was higher than the amount she called, he wondered why she didn't call the real amount, "I want to get my family house back else it will be gone forever, she said almost crying again.

Benjamin knew how important the house is to her, he don't want to stress her emotionally anymore. "Okay I'll help you" hearing that her eyes brightened like a baby who was given a candy, "thank you sir, thank you very much. I promise to give my 100% to you and this company" she said excitedly.

"Hold on first, miss Betty I'll be helping you on one condition" he said staring at her face to see her reaction, but Betty being Soo excited she said "sure sir, I will do anything for you what is it?" Waiting to hear a commom request.

Hearing no response, Betty suddenly looked up and saw him with Such a relaxed posture, betty thought he looked like a king, his eyes were sharp but beautiful, and he was staring closely at her.

Betty was too afraid to look at him, she panicked and looked away, she thought why isn't he saying anything or has he changed his mind? Many thoughts came flooding into Betty's brain.

Then suddenly she heard his voice "marry me Betty, we can get the marriage licenced and go to the courthouse and be wed"

"What? Can you not be serious? I don't know you too well and you want me to marry you? No, thank you". She looked away and saw two men walk in and they meant business. "Um what are these men here for?" She asked with shaky voice, "they are here to witness" Benjamin answered.

"Witness what?" She questioned again, "well if you don't accept the proposal, they will be the witness to how you tried to rob the company of $10 million dollars, so your choice marry me or spend your life time behind bars"

Betty Suddenly felt cold, she felt like as though cold water has been emptied on her body, she muttered "what have I gotten myself into?"

"Um sir, don't do this okay? Forget the favour I asked can you?" Betty said, there was no expression on the man's face. She couldn't figure out what he was thinking, "this just doesn't make sense!" She thought.

Betty Suddenly got angry, she stood up from the sofa and took her bag, she grabbed it as she was about leaving; she missed her step and lost balance and almost fell to the ground.

Benjamin who had been careless, rushed over to her and stretched out his hand he clapsed her shoulder and hugged her in his arms before she fell. "Just let me go!" Betty shivered with fear.

Benjamin looked down unwittingly and saw her big round eyes staring at him. Her cheeks were red with anger and her eyes were dark. He loved looking into her eyes, he could feel all these emotions stirring inside of him. Feelings that he had never felt for anyone before, he took her back to the sofa and made her sit comfortably.

Now let's talk about a deal. "What deal? Betty big eyes stared at him cautiously.

"My grandfather wants me to get married, I don't like it but they think am gay, although am not ready. If you and I stay married for 10months after that I would get back your family house and set you free with a good reward.

Betty frowned "why me?

Benjamin suddenly smiled....