My high heels clanged on the marble floor as I hurriedly walked or "mindlessly" would be the right word.
To where?
Well, I was the most talented employee of my company, so of course I had to meet separately with the new boss of my company.
This was what I was thinking after the new Ceo specifically asked to meet me. Of course, I also knew how wrong I was.
Before I was so desperate to meet my wife but now? Yeah, not so much...
When I said I was really convincing, I meant that I threw a blank check on her face. Because of course, money speaks, but the amount also speaks, dammit...
Yes, I offered her money in return for her favor and asked her to decide the amount after she got through with the wedding.
My thought was that she would ask for, like, my few months of salary, but now?
I wasn't so sure anymore because that would not even be her pocket change, it seemed.
Anyway, before I was in distress because of my wife, but now it was because of that same wife, but in a different kind of distress. Maybe my job was also in danger—
No, I didn't think so, but maybe?
I stopped in front of the translucent glass door and quickly rubbed my palm on my pants as they became sweaty.
"Wow, so Miss Perfect can also feel nervous."
I flinched and looked back. There stood a middle-aged woman who was the head secretary of… my boss and was looking at me with a warm smile.
Mrs. Berson was in a high position—directly under the Ceo—so I met her most of the time and became quite close. She was a good person and treated me well as well.
"Haha, of course."
I laughed nervously and quickly grabbed the door to leave that embarrassing moment but I halted there and soon a voice came from inside as the door was slightly opened.
"Come in."
Suddenly, not only my palms but I also felt my back soaked with sweat. Still, as professional as I was, I walked confidently inside.
But that didn't last for very long because soon I became stiff after I heard her.
"How have you been, darling?"
What?
I snapped my head up and looked at the handsome figure before me. Leaning on her large desk, she was smiling at me like...like...
She was my wife?
"Sorry?"
Maybe I heard wrong.
Anyway, the wife I was searching for for five days was standing before me. I met her some time before, but now I was finally alone with her. Before, I was wondering what I would say to her and actually thought of many things, but after knowing who she was and listening to her—or seeing her?—I forgot everything.
Seeing my dumbfounded face, she stood up straight and started to walk towards me with a little frown on her forehead as if she was worried.
"What is it? Did you not want to know in the office that we are married?"
"Huh?"
Who was this woman? And more importantly, what was she saying right now? Did I forget something? No, I didn't think so, then....
Too many possibilities started to form in my head.
Was she aiming for this all along? Did she fall for—no, maybe that was the way to make me—
Many stupid things came into my mind, but I was also puzzled as she stood so close to me. That was definitely not how a boss would act.
Anyway, all those absurd thoughts originated because she was acting like my wife.
"I—I am sorry, President, but...I think there is some misunderstanding."
Right now, I wasn't even breathing. I feared that she might have felt my breath on her face. That was how close she was standing to me.
After seeing her listening to me, her smile dimmed as her face started to become serious.
I thought maybe I could deal with this version? As I was confident in my negotiation abilities.
"I didn't ask you to marry me but to pretend to be my fiancé. So, I think we are not married."
The Ceo office was big with a set of lavish lounges before the main office, which was also very large. But from the distance where I was standing, I could finally see the name tag placed on the table. The name that I was desperately searching for for several days.
Alina Kingsley.
Yes, a Kingsley. So, it didn't make sense for her to accept my deal—if the deal was what we have—based on money from someone like me. So the only possibility she went through with all this was because maybe she misunderstood me and thought I really was asking her to marry me.
Why did she want to marry me? Though that was also another riddle that I had yet to solve, it still somewhat, moderately, or comparatively made some sense to me.
"But I signed the marriage certificate, so we are married, are we not?"
She tilted her head, and her blonde hair tilted to the side as well and slid off from her shoulder. Her brows were raised as if she were surprised, but I somewhat knew that she wasn't.
I stared back at her without restraint as my nervousness started to disappear.
I forgot one thing about her, and that was how good she was at acting. She completely adapted to my wedding environment and even exchanged pleasantries with the guests. So what was the possibility that she wasn't acting right now?
I say a zero because I might have lost my mind for some time, but I wasn't stupid.
Marrying me without wanting back anything except for the money that "I" promised? And then ran off with the marriage certificate? It was clear that what she needed was a marriage, like I needed a fiancé at that time.
Ah, fuck!
This was stupid.
We stared back at each other without saying anything. I would have said something, but I wasn't sure if I should be speaking right now. After knowing we used each other.
And just then, as if realizing that her acting wasn't working, she sighed and folded her arms as her face turned all serious.
"Haa, fine, but I remember you saying that you will pay me."
I was scared because the situation I was in could very well be the end of not just my career but also my whole life, but at the same time I felt like I really had a footholdto stand on. So I calmly replied to her question.
"Yes."
"How?"
"How much do you need?"
What was this turning into? A business deal? Good. Because I was good at it.
She squinted her eyes before smiling a little bit.
"Andrea, was it?"
It seemed like she also didn't know my name. That was what I wanted to say, but she definitely knew that—I was sure of that at least.
"Yes, Andrea Patson."
I was barely keeping up, but I need to be confident in these types of situations. The moment you showed desperation, the moment you would lose the deal, but damn, she was really a tough opponent.
"Right, Miss Patson, are you asking me the price of hiring me as your pretend fiancé?"
Not only did I feel my confidence wane in her comparison, but she also knew that she had an upper hand in this deal.
"Y—yes?"
Suddenly, I got that nagging feeling like at my wedding, and the word "price" rang in my ears.
"The price value of a person is determined by their talent and their status. I don't have a habit of pretending to be other brides, so I don't know about the price. So how about you tell me what should be the price of hiring me—Alina Kingsley's price?"
Every time she spoke the word "price," it felt like an explosion going off right in my ears, and what? Did she know that? I mean....
"You said 'price' too many times."
"Yes, I did."
Damn, she was good.
...very good.
But at least...
"She didn't even deny it."
That was just too much confidence, if I say so myself, right?
"What is it?"
During our whole conversation I didn't move a little and stood straight, and just like me, she too didn't move and stood still.
"Umm, I don't know the price."
Just like her, I too didn't have a habit of hiring people to be my fiancé, but if I were to say that, then I would only be making a fool of myself.
But as the time was passing by, I could sense her presence intensify more and more. Now, I didn't have a feeling like I could have an upper hand.
Of course, she too would be good at negotiating if she handled that failed business. Suddenly, the universe started to feel against me again.
"Hmm.... Then that's going to be a problem, you see."
She raised her hand and put her finger on the outline of her lips as she was in thought.
Unlike before when I met her in the elevator, she was calm, too calm actually, like she had already had control over the situation.
Pissed me off...
"Alright."
She snapped her fingers. A sharp sound echoed loudly inside the office before she folded her arms back.
"I have an idea. How about you pay me the same way you hired me as?"
"Like what?"
When I asked that, she smiled at me as she replied, and I hate to admit it, but it was beautiful.
Damn it. Using her good looks in the negotiation? That was cheating.
"Of course, as a bride."