Chapter 8

No!

That was just unacceptable.

"I want to see the boy." He insisted, pretending to demand his right. "If what you are saying is true. And he is my son. I want to be a part of his life."

Truthfully, he did not care if the boy was his or not. He was more interested in the bigger picture at this moment.

Recently, he found himself in a complicated position that he needed to fix fast. But by some luck, this woman came at the right time, like the answer to his problem.

"You can either come and ride with me on the way to the hospital or take the bus." He shrugged his shoulder, appearing not to care.

"It is your choice." He was not forcing her to do anything she did not want to do. But it did not mean he would not try to get what he wanted from her.

He believed there were other ways to achieve his goal other than force. He just had to explore her weakness and use it to his advantage.

"Why are you doing this?" She finally asked, looking frustrated and irritated at the same time. "Why pay his bill if you don't believe Oliver is your son?"

"Why offer to marry me when I know you always hated me? You don't make any sense." She stepped back as if hesitating, probably debating whether to stay or run.

He guessed he could not blame her. Her assumptions were almost accurate. He admitted to ruining her plans to marry his brother.

"Ok. Let me be frank with you." He could not see any reason to conjure a story to satisfy her curiosity and create some fantasy. He believed the brutal truth was better in this situation.

"I help your son because I am not a complete monster. I fund many charities that aid sick kids. Therefore, paying for your son's operation was no big deal." He did not need to know if he was his son or not.

"And my offer to marry you had nothing to do with any romantic notion or because I want to build a family. It is purely business, not love." He could see that she was attentively listening as he read the reaction in her eyes.

Recent events had forced him to reconsider marriage. He urgently needed a woman to play the part of his wife. And so far, she was the only viable candidate.

He could not say she was perfect, but she would do. And he supposed her son could be the icing on the cake. Even if he was not his son, who would dare to question him if he said he was?

"What?" She looked at him wide-eyed and confused. "I don't understand." She seemed more puzzled by his explanation.

"Let us just put it this way. You need money. I need a wife. It will be a simple transaction where we will benefit both from this marriage." He simplified, hoping that would suffice for now.

"We can discuss this more at another time. But, as of now, the chopper is waiting to take us to your son. Are you coming or not?" He offered his hand to her. She could take it or not. It was up to her.

After a minute of silence, she finally spoke. "Let me just be clear. Thank you for helping with my son's bill. But it does not mean I am accepting your ludicrous proposal."

"I have no plans of marrying you." With that said, she did not take his hand. Instead, she walked passed him and climbed the stairs to the rooftop.

"Fair enough. But I hope you will reconsider it. I promise to give you a more than reasonable deal." An offer that she would find hard to refuse.

Based on what he had heard from the doctor handling the boy's case, her son would need more treatment for his full recovery. That meant more money that she did not have.

Soon, she fell into silence, busy with her thoughts, while he also quietly worked on his phone, reading messages and texting replies.

Only the roaring engine of the helicopter filled the passenger cockpit, making conversation not an advisable option.

Still, he barely noticed the loud noise as his mind wandered to the woman beside him. He could not help but have mixed feelings, finding her fascinating and infuriating.

Logic and instinct had always guided his every decision, leading him to where he was today. And based on his assessment, Ms. Jules Morgan would be an ideal wife.

He did not have to pretend to love or even like her. All he had to do was to pay her to act the part. He did not even need to sleep with her to have a child since she claimed they already had one.

After a few minutes of flying in the sky, he detected something was wrong.

"Are you ok?" He could not help but notice how she closed her eyes tightly and formed a fist on her side. Even her breathing was shallow, as her chest unevenly moved up and down, a sign of someone about to have a panic attack.

"No." She barely said in a whisper. "I guessed I am not used to flying…" She admitted, slightly stammering with her words.

He extended his hand, covering hers as he attempted to calm her. He could feel the coldness of her skin against his as she trembled in fear.

"You have nothing to worry about." He assured her, slightly hesitating to comfort her. But it was not working. It seemed like it was getting worse.

Eventually, he placed his arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer and feeling her stiffness against his body.

But, after a while, he felt her tension dissipate as she gradually calmed down.

Her eyes remained closed, but he could feel her heartbeat slowing down until they both seemed to settle down in a comfortable stillness.

However, something about her was making his blood boil. Was it anger or something else? He could not tell at the moment.

He guessed seeing her unexpectedly after all these years had brought back to life some of the things he had already buried in the past.

"Oh, I am sorry." His mind suddenly returned to that moment where he had first seen her.

She smiled and apologized for bumping into him. He noticed she was drunk as she staggered to walk, almost falling again the second time. Fortunately, he was there to catch her before she found herself slipping on the floor.

Of course, he had seen her pictures before, but this was the first time he was up close to her personally. He guessed she was more beautiful than on paper or the electronic screen.

But her looks were not what caught his attention. There was something else about her that had his mind working overtime. A theory that he would like to explore.

"Let me help you." He said as he pulled her up back to her feet.

As she moved impossibly closer, clinging to him with her remaining strength, her scent suddenly bombarded his senses, mildly intoxicating him.

He guessed he enjoyed the perfume she wore as he breathed the air around her. It was far less overwhelming than he was used to. It was sweet and fresh.

"I am sorry. I am not usually this clumsy." She apologized again, slurring her words while she attempted to stand up. "You can let…" She paused as she hiccupped. "... go of me now."

At her request, he slowly lifted his arms away from her body, but barely a second passed, and he grabbed her again.

"I don't think that is a good idea. Let me help you. Where is your room?" He asked, wondering why she was wandering around the hotel alone and drunk.

"Upstairs."