A Deal With the Devil

When I came to, I was lying on the couch. My mother was fussing over me, and Junior stood nearby, leaning on the door-frame; looking confused.

"Did she faint because of me?" he asked, half-joking, but his ego got a boost by the thought.

"No," I muttered weakly. "I fainted because of your cologne. It's too strong."

His smirk returned. "Noted. We aren't married yet but, she is already ticking off things I need to change."

Mrs. Numero leaned over me, her face a mix of concern and excitement. "Oh, darling, if this is how you react to meeting him, we'd better stock up on smelling salts."

I groaned, covering my face with the nearest pillow. My life was officially a sitcom, and I was the punchline. The man I am to marry to save my family from ruin is the man who scarred me for life. Isn't that just perfect!!! I could remember that particular night clearly, every scene flashing in my mind eye with each look I took in his direction.

Junior didn't recognize me. He didn't seem to be pretending? Or was he just so good at acting? After making my life a nightmare for my first two years in board school, he just stood there looking at me like some kind of a stranger who had magically grown two heads. Oh, fate was a prankster. I couldn't manage to keep a boyfriend because I was scared of any man touching me. Every time, I came intimately close to a man, I remembered what he did to me in that dark, empty classroom, with only the sounds of rain and thunder to bear witness. But here he was -- living his life. 

"So, how do you like my cologne now? I changed into dad's clothes," he asked with a smirk, leaning against the door frame, one hand in a pocket and the other cradling a glass of wine. 

I couldn't stand him but, one thing he probably hadn't realized was I wasn't that scared little girl from board school anymore. I wasn't going to let him intimidate me. "Still too strong. But I suppose it matches your personality—overpowering."

"Ouch," he said, clutching his chest. "She has claws. I like that." He looked at his mother, throwing her a nod like some code conversation and then she giggled in return, quickly whispering something to my mother.

"You won't like it for long," I muttered beneath my breath.

"I didn't catch that.." He tilted his head.

"Nothing." I plastered on a fake smile. "I need some air, excuse me!" I announced to everyone in the room and headed outside. I didn't know where I was headed, I just knew I needed to get away from the same room as he. I spotted a garden at the far side of the estate and headed there. The mix of fragrance from the various assorted flowers was a delight to my nostrils but, I could not enjoy their nasal caresses. Why didn't I find out who my parents were pairing me with before I agreed? I had said 'yes' the instant they told me that was the only solution to saving Wita, my dad's furniture company that had been around since before I was born. I just couldn't stand my dad's failure. He put his blood and sweat into Wita. What am I going to do?

I found a soft spot on the garden floor, covered with some dry tree leaves and grass; not minding my dress which my mother spent days picking out, I sprawled on it and searched my brain for a way out of this mess. I must have been sitting there for a while with my eyes closed, sorting through my brain for a way out because when I opened it, I saw Junior standing over me, looking like a smug stupid billionaire heir.

"So, what's on your mind? - Let me guess— me?"

I sat up quickly shifting my self away from him. "I can't marry you."

His smirk faltered for the first time. "What?"

"You heard me," I said, looking down at my feet. "This— This is a terrible idea. I don't like you, and you clearly don't take anything seriously."

He stepped closer, and I shifted further away from him, my position on the ground not giving me adequate advantage to get further away. "I must say, this reaction is unusual. Most women would do anything to be in your shoes."

"I am not most women," I shot back.

"I can see that," he probably had noticed how quickly I kept moving away from him because he took a seat on the ground but made sure there was at least a foot distance between us. "Benita, - I'm not exactly thrilled about this arrangement either. I am a businessman about to enter a world where I only matter because my father ruled it. Marriage is the last thing on my mind but if I plan on making my own name, I gotta do what I gotta do,"

"As always, everything is about you and what you want" I retorted, my voice rising. "Well, it's not my problem. It's yours and I don't give a rat's ass about your problem."

"You speak like you know me… Let me refresh your memory, your family is about to lose everything. The only thing that can save your family is the Numero name, not even a loan will help your dad. People trust the Numero brand. So let me put it to you this way," He raised an eyebrow. "Bankruptcy or marrying a stranger who smells great?" His lips lifted in a half smile, his effort at making light of the situation applaudable for him.

I looked at him for a moment knowing he was right. I was trapped. "You don't even recognize me, do you?"

He blinked, confused. "Should I?"

I fought back the tears stinging my eyes. I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction. "Why me, though? You're rich, handsome, I'm sure you have hundreds of women to choose from."

"I'm going to forget you didn't sneak a compliment in there and just answer your question. My mum doesn't trust me. She thinks I am going to bring home a lady I met an hour ago at the club. She is probably right though." His tone was light.

"So, you are a mommy's boy. The 'I will do whatever my mommy says' type,"

"girl, you're giving me whiplash. First, you say I look good enough to eat and in the next breath, you throw mockery in the mix. – uh," he sighed heavily, "I just don't have the motivation to argue with her on this. We… have a … uhm… complicated relationship," It seemed like he was uncomfortable talking about his mother. Every word was a struggle to get out. He shook his head quickly and continued "Look, let's cut to the chase. How about we make this some kind of business contract?"

"What do you mean?" I asked, curious.

He sighed deeply. "we get married for one year."