CHAPTER THREE

"You're such a vile person!"she spat out with as much venom as she could muster.

She felt her eyes sting with tears and her throats constrict in discomfort.

No way was she going to let him win.

She wouldn't let him.

So with a defiant stance,she stood from where she sat,glaring at him.

"This conversation is over,Mr.Micheal.Thank you for coffee "with that she walked out leaving a very confused micheal thinking through the points that may had lead to this very moment.

Never in a million years had he seen this coming.No one had ever attempted to walk out on him or end the conversation until he was done. 

He pulled out his phone and dailed.

His secretary picked up at the first ring.

"Doris,I want you to do something for me.Its about Alina"he spoke.

* * * *

On her brisk walk home, her mind reeled and her heart picked up a few more beats unable to calm the sensation that had washed through her with her encounter with her boss. 

She had never thought this day would go this way but she was determined to take this as a bad dream that she wanted so desperately wanted to forget.

"Am so sorry Alina but I have been authorized to not give your mum any additional treatment until you've cleared out your outstanding bills."the older man clad in a white hospital lab coat said apologetically.

She gripped his arm frantically as he turned to leave.

"Please,my mum won't be able to stand the pain for another week.she needs her prescription."She pleaded.

The doctor shook his head emphatically but she knew he couldn't do anything. He was just following orders.

Something seemed off .There was no way that they would be turned down.They were on government assistance and as such,had a credit bill for hospital expenses. No matter how much they owed,they were not to be turned down.

"What's going on,this has never happened before "she asked confused. 

The man hesitated to respond but eventually, he leaned in closer to whisper.

"I don't know who you offended but It must have been someone very very high up,even higher than the hospital director.Our orders came from higher up"he whispered and scurried off into the patient wards leaving her standing by the entrance confused and lost.

Immediately it clicked.

Her frown deepened.Who does he think he is?

She stormed off out of the hospital,took a cab and drove straight back to the very building that her rejected her.She knew in her heart of hearts that he would be waiting and she was right.As soon as she arrived,she was ushered into the elevator up to his office on the last floor by security. 

She was then shown his office and was led right into the lion's then.They led her in and locked the door behind her leaving her standing there so out of place in this fully furnished expanse of his office.

Her poor choice of outfit that consisted of her faded jeans and crop top that hung loosely along her belly,exposing just a little bit of skin a huge contrast to the beige leather furniture that decorated the room.

He stood,facing the floor to ceiling glass windows overlooking the city.They just stayed in complete silence for a good minute or two before she couldn't take it anymore.

"I know what you're doing"she spoke up impatiently.

"And am here to tell you that it won't work"she added and waited for his response but he said nothing. He just stood there gazing out the window in silence. She opened her mouth to speak but stopped in her tracks when he began to speak. 

"Do you know how fleeting life is?"he finally spoke up.

She frowned in confusion.

He whipped around and was facing her now before she could say anything .

"You know my offer will change your life. It would help your mum.Who needs love when you could have money,fame and power."he argued. 

"Micheal,you might not need it but I do."she retorted.

His lips eased into a smile at the way she said his name.

"Where is love now when you need it?"he asked.Staring into her eyes a silent challenge in them.

"Why are you doing this?"she cried. She threw her hands up in fustration.

"Marry me.that's the only way I will make this all go away"he answered.

Later that evening as she walked arm in arm with him clad in a tight red dress as he led her through the crowd, her mind wondered to her mother.And how her mother would feel if she knew that her daughter had sold herself just to get her to fly to Japan for her spine replacement surgery.

She felt her body tense as his huge hand splayed across her waist as he shielded her from the cameras and flashes that had surrounded them.He pulled her into his body and the scent of his strong cologne wafted through her.He smelt so good with a combination of mahogany and an earthy scent she couldn't recognize yet still made him feel like a real man .They were able to wrestle their way into the reception area that had been blocked off from unregistered paparazzi and reporters.

"I'm sorry for the discomfort. It wasn't easy to arrange this last minute. "He whispered closely.she felt the hairs at the back of her nape stand on edge.

"Come,lets say hi to our guests"her spine stiffened as he wrapped an arm around her waist again and led her towards the crowd of expensive looking people that had directed curiously glances their way from the moment they had made their entrance.

As she went through the motions,greeting and smiling so much that she feared her face would crack,her thoughts drifted to her mother being taken care of by someone who was not her.Although,she had been reassured by her impressive resume that she had had a great deal of experience with being a home nurse and taking care of her patients.

"Alina, meet my mother"his voice broke through her internal musings just as they approached a beautiful blonde woman clad in shimmering diamonds and a velvet green dress,her hair was laid beautifully behind her neck.

She gulped. Nervously clutching and releasing her purse as she watched the woman walk over to them.Her eyes trained on her.