Chapter 15

She nervously swallows, her small hands clutched into fists at her side. Then she slowly looks up at me. Before today I never actually believed that shy girls still existed. I thought they were extinct or maybe nonexistent. But that must be because I've grown used to being around a particular brand of women. And they are in no way like this timid little girl who won't even look at me. 

And I like that. I don't know why but I do. There's something exciting about her..... vulnerability. I want to extort it. And I know that makes me sound like a sociopath but I honestly just don't care because it's true. 

" I'd really like to help you but, I just can't.... sorry, " 

She hurriedly maneuvers around me and dashes out the door. Leaving me standing there wondering what just happened. And how she could say no to such an offer. And she was Arden's last pick so I have to make this work. Though now I'm not so sure that's the only reason why I'm actually doing this.

Either way, I will make her agree. I'm Gabriel bloody Germaine and I always get what I want. And right now, there's nothing else I want apart from her. I need to know whether that's how she truly is, always shy. Or perhaps it was just some sort of trick. 

She looked genuine but you could never really be sure. 

I've been so used to hypocritical women who only want me for my money. And I always preferred the spicy ladies. The ones with the tough spine and who act a little crazy at times.

But.... Layla. 

Even her name is lovely.

And I want to test out her innocence. And if it's sincere.....well, let's just say that I probably won't be in control of what I do afterwards. But for that I need her close. And to get her close I need her to accept my proposal. That however doesn't bother me. All I need is a little time. And the patience that I was born without. Though for her, I'm pretty sure that I can find it in me to wait. 

                          💮🌼💮🌼💮🌼

" No Gabriel, I told you to just let me handle it! "

" Relax Arden, I'm certain that my plan will work. All you have to do is remember the story I told you and stick with it. "

" You want me to lie! "

" Stop making it seem like such a huge deal, besides, yours won't be the first marriage based on deceit. "

" I'm not okay with -"

I cut the call. I honestly don't get why he's so worried. All I want us to do is lie to a pretty girl who won't know any better. And she'll definitely agree to marry him afterwards. 

After the encounter with Layla yesterday, I realised that she seems like a decent person. 

So I'm going to use that against her. 

I'll pretend that Arden knows nothing of my plan to get him a wife. And that it was all my idea as his very concerned friend since he's extremely devastated. 

But I'm afraid she'll find that part hard to believe since she saw him happily laughing and mingling yesterday. But I could always say that he was trying to distract himself from the immense suffering and worrying that he's truly going through by being forced to marry because of a business arrangement. 

She'll definitely feel sorry for him and want to help. It's why pity exists. 

And if she doesn't agree then I'll just have to make something else up to convince her. Maybe I could say that his father only has two years left to live or something like that. It will give me a chance to practice my acting skills. I have often been told that I could easily qualify for Hollywood. 

I pull in to the driveway outside the convenience store where she's supposed to be working. It only took me five minutes to learn everything about her. Layla Kendrick, twenty two years old. Father died when she was nine due to heart failure and her mother committed suicide a week later. 

Clinical depression they termed it. 

After that she lived with her grandmother who passed away just a year ago and has been alone ever since, it's quite a sad story if you take time to think about it. But that is time I lack so I'll just stick to the reason why I'm here. 

I park my car and get off. This is one of those dangerous neighborhoods that are always flooding with ex-convicts and drug dealers. And I'm certain that at this very precise moment there's a burglary going on somewhere. And next to the bulgraly is probably an abandoned house where someone has just been shot dead. 

It makes me fearful, not for my life, but for my cars safety. I just purchased the seven million dollar ride last week and I surely don't want to find all my tires and seats missing. 

Looking around, I sigh. Unhooking my sunglasses from my shirt I put them on, then I walk towards the entrance to the store. 

And the closer I get, the faster my stupid heart beats. I didn't have any sleep last night, my mind being too overwhelmed with thoughts of her. 

And none of them were civilised. I don't know why but all I want is to see her again. There is a very pleasing calmness to her, and this is also the very first time in my life that I've actually thought about the sane woman for more the a few hours. 

A world record if you ask me.