Marriage contract(chapter 25)
At King hotel reserved room for VIPs,both Lucas and Jennie sat,they were the only people in the room,Jennie was nervous but Lucas was more nervous,they sat there without talking for two minutes it was getting awkward."Lets order our food" he said to break the akwardness,"okay" both ordered their food,their food was served after few minutes," You said there is something important you wanted to discuss with me sir" Jennie said,Lucas looked at her nervously and cleared his throat "let's eat first then we can discuss afterwards and you can stop calling me sir,weren't at the office" he said,Jennie nodded her head and began eating.The food was delicious,he kept stealing glances at her as she ate "delicious?" he asked with an amused smile she nooded,she was really hungry and ate all her food,once they were done they each ordered drinks to their liking,he choose wine and she choose to have an orange juice she was pregnant and couldn't drink alcoholic drinks ."I need you to do me a favor as a friend and not as your boss" he said drinking all the wine in his glass,he needed it to reduce his nervousness "I'm sorry for the way I talked to you the other day,I know you were concerned,I shouldn't have talked to you in that manner","it's okay I understand is that the favor you were asking me?"she asked."No the favor I wanted you to do is....let's get married" he said nervously,she was shocked after she heard what he said,she looked at him with a face saying what did you just say,she thought she had heard him wrong or maybe he was joking but he didn't look like he was joking was he serious she thought,seeing this Lucas become even more nervous "What I mean is let's have a contract marriage" Jennie was silent for sometime to digest that shocking request,after recovering from her shock she asked "why?".
"My grandfather wants me to get married in order to get my inheritance but I don't even have a girlfriend" "you don't have a girlfriend?" she asked suprised,he was every woman's dream man,he was handsome and rich too why wouldn't he have a girlfriend or does he have a terminal illness or is he homosexual and doesn't want to come out of closet she thought. Seeing her in deep thought he hurriedly said "I don't and there is no one who would help me except you,I don't have female friends so I hope you would help me I really need my inheritance as soon as possible " he said pouring wine to his wine glass."Why the rush?,marriage isn't child's play you should be patient and wait once you have a girlfriend you can marry her and later get your inheritance" she said."I know marriage is a serious matter,but first listen to me,I was supposed to get my inheritance once I'm thirty but my grandfather changed his will,now I have to get married in order to get my inheritance,I need it for personal reason that's why I need your help,we can register our marriage through a contract and once I have my inheritance we can divorce" he said."But why me though?" she asked there would be alot of beautiful women willing to marry him why her?,she was his secretary and they had not known each other for a long time "you're understanding besides my grandfather knows you,he keeps asking me how you're doing,he really likes you alot,he will be happy once we marry so you are suitable for the contract marriage" he said.
Jennie understood his situation but she couldn't agree to marry him,she sighed "I'm sorry but you will have to find someone else to help you sir " she said,Lucas was suprised by her rejection though he had expected it,since the time she had worked for him,he knew she wasn't like other women,she was capable,sufficient and independent she won't be easily charmed but her rejection hurt him,he has never been rejected infact he is the one who does the rejection,rejecting those women who shamelessly threw themselves at him.He gulped the entire wine in his glass "why? is there something wrong with me" he asked,he hoped she was rejecting him for other reasons "no,you're perfect everyone would want to marry you, the reason I can't help you is because of my own issues" she said."You don't have to worry,this marriage won't cause you any problems,you just need to sign the contract once I get my inheritance we can divorce,I'll tell my grandfather we divorced because we aren't suitable for each other no one has to know about it,in return you can ask me for anything money,assets anything you want I promise to give it to you" he said. The offer was tempting but she couldn't accept, she was already pregnant how can he marry her even if it's a contract once he knows about her pregnancy he won't insist on them getting married she thought."I can't and even if I want to it's impossible because I'm pregnant" she dropped the bomb.Lucas was shocked after hearing what she had said,he looked at her confused "What?!" "I'm pregnant so I can't help you,you should find someone else to help you I'm sure alot of women will be willing" she said.Lucas was silent for about five minutes,pregnant?how?she was not married,he had never seen her with someone else,she didn't seem to be like the women who would sleep around so how is she pregnant?,and why doesn't he know about it?,why is she keeping it a secret?did his boyfriend abandon her and their child?,or did he die because of an illness or accident?",Lucas couldn't stop thinking,coming back to his senses he asked "how?".
"It's something I dont want to talk about" she said with a hurtful expression,how will she tell him that she was pregnant and didn't know the father of her child,that she was druged and spent a night with a stranger,that she was broken beyond repair,that she was betrayed and hurt by her loved ones,that she had ugly wounds and past.She didn't want to tell him all about her ugly past,she didn't want him to pity or feel sorry for her,he had helped her by giving her a job and that was enough,she had promised to return the favour but she couldn't agree to his request.Seeing her like that made his heart hurt and his chest tightening,he knew there were secrets she was hiding,she must have gone through hell, that explained why she is always alone,hardly interacting with others,always with a professional smile but not a friendly one,those nightmares and her phobia he thought. He wished he could hug her and protect her,set her free and heal her wounds,but that would only scare her,he needed a more suitable approach for her to open up."Is the pregnancy the reason for you to refuse?" he asked,Jennie was suprised she thought he was going to ask alot of questions because of her pregnancy but he seemed to understand she wasn't ready to share."Yes" she replied "if you aren't married or has any relationship with the child's father there is no problem" he said.
Though he was hurt by the fact that he won't be her first love,he didn't mind even if she was pregnant and even if she had a boyfriend he would do whatever it takes to be with her,he felt strongly attracted to her and though he has never admitted it,he was in love with her.Jennie was shocked,that wasn't the response she was expecting ," I'm really desperate,I trust you and your pregnancy isn't showing no one has to know about your pregnancy,I'll take care of everything all you have to do is sign the contract and I'm not forcing you if the pregnancy is the reason for your refusal don't worry I don't mind that you're pregnant if it's okay with you let's sign the contract " he said.Jennie was silent for sometime,she didn't know what to do or say,"give me sometime to think about it" she said,hearing this Lucas sighed in relief "take as much time as you want,i'll be waiting for your response" he said.
Lucas was seating on the couch with a glass of whiskey,he kept thinking about Jennifer,he was suprised he never knew about her pregnancy and angry at himself he had been overworking her,making her get from work late,giving her loads of work while she was pregnant. He knew how delicate pregnant women are,no wonder he found her sleeping countless times,she always looked tired and pale.He wanted to know what happened to her,what changed her,he wanted to know all her sufferings,he wanted to stand by her and support her,"I'll protect you this time,I'll never let you go" he said gulping all the whiskey in his glass.Love makes people do crazy things,he was willing to marry her though it was a contract she was pregnant and he wasn't the father,he was willing to love her and her unborn child despite everything.