I'm in

Bang, bang bang

The sound of the bang at my front door propelled me to open the door. The person won't just stop knocking and the person wouldn't even consider knocking like a normal human, more still use the door bell or an intercom.

I rub my eyes as I get off the bed in annoyance.

You might be wondering why I live alone in a 4 storey building and still have to answer the door, clean the house and do some certain things myself...it's because I like living in a large house...alone, weird I know and I like serenity and can hardly stand humans...although sometimes I do hire cooks and cleaners for a day. I peek through the glass door and I see Marvlyn. Like how the fuck did she know where I lived?!

I rush to the bathroom and rinse my face and mouth, taking a towel from the rail, I dry my face clean and rake my fingers through my hair. Then I look my face in the mirror....side view, front view and whatever view you can look your face in the mirror. It was so important I looked nice....

I take the elevator....YES, the elevator. I can't deal with long stairs so I've an elevator and an escalator and stairs. I only take the stairs when the power supply's down which is NEVER. It's just an emergency exit.

I step into the elevator in my bathrobe and press the first floor.

Ding! The elevator door chimes open and I step out. I walk towards the door and open it.

"Uh...come in". I say to her and she steps in.

"Uh...y...your house looks....elegant". She says after settling on the sofa.

"Thanks". I say to her and join her to sit too.

"Uh...I'm kinda thirsty, can I get a glass of water or something?" She says and arches her brows at me.

I'm bad at entertaining guests in my mansion...I see what she's doing. Perhaps I'd fix her a cup of coffee. I thought.

"Oh right". I say and stand.

"I prefer hot please".

I squint my eyes at her.

"Hot?" I ask. Like who visits someone and requests hot water for a drink?

"Yes. I suppose you understand what I mean".

"Yeah....right. Yes I do". I lie.

"What do I mean?"

"Uh...a glass of hot water?" I say and she leans forward.

"Can you drink hot water?" She asks.

"Uh...no. It's weird".

"Right. Fix me something". She says.

"Coffee or the hot water?" I ask.

"Espresso dummy!" She says.

I look at her evily....she was getting onto my nerves...just this morning.

I walk into my kitchen to fix her espresso but my espresso machine wasn't there.

I quickly make her coffee instead and put my cookie in the oven to bake.

"Uh....she stole it". I say to her while walking into the living room with two cups of coffee in my hands.

"She? Who? Stole what? I said espresso not coffee". She says after taking the cup from me.

"I know. She stole it....my espresso machine. Probably why I made coffee instead". I say.

"She?"

"Yeah. Maid I invited over to clean the house. Apparently, this isn't the only floor in the house....there are three floors right on top this one, probably why I didn't notice the disappearance of the espresso machine until now. I don't usually stay or come down here". I say.

"Uh...you stay here alone and don't have any helps whatsoever...I mean this mansion's fucking big!"

"Yeah, right". The oven makes a little noise signaling it's done. I exit the room to the kitchen.

I put on the gloves and take the tray out of the oven and let it cool a bit before turning the cookies into a flat plate which I carry in my hands to the living room. She was staring...standing looking everywhere like she was surprised, she didn't even know when I walked in, she didn't know I was here.

"I made cookies". I say and place the cookies on the table.

"I was just...."

"It's fine".

"You bake?" She asks.

"Yup. Go on, have a bite".

"Thought baking was for....middle class people and.... we're probably the only ones that can cook. Middle-class and poor. Hope you didn't add seasoning into it". She says.

"Wait what? Seasoning?" I ask.

"Relax, I'm just teasing you".

"Yeah. Finish up".

"Mm...tastes really nice, I must admit. Didn't know you can cook". She says and I clear my throat and chuckle.

"What's that?" She asks.

"Uh....not really". I say.

"Not really what?"

"I can't cook. I only know how to make coffee and bake cookies and biscuits". I say.

"Not bad". She says.

"I've a lot of questions going on in my head but I'd just stick to two. Why are you here? Not that I ain't happy you're here but why'd you come? Secondly, how'd you know where I live?"

"Which should I answer first?" She asks.

"Any of your choice".

"I wanna take a tour around your house and only then can I answer you". She says.

'Really dude?' I thought.

"Fine". I say.

I take the plates to the kitchen and we both exit the room together.

"Wanna take the elevator or the escalator?" I ask.

"The lift". She says and we enter the lift. I tap on the third floor.

My room was the 4th floor and I really didn't want her to go there.

"So, about how I got to know you live here....find out yourself Jason. I'm smart". She says.

"I know that. Now say it".

"I said to figure it out yourself". She says.

"You gotta be kidding me". I say.

"No I'm not". She replies.

I grin at her.

"Fine, I saw your credit card". She says.

I keep my cool. The door chimes open and we both step out.

"Don't touch anything". I say.

"Whatever. I'm here because I've decided to do it". She says as she glides her hands through the painting on the wall. Then she grasps on to a golden jug.

"Whoa....look at that. This is magnificient! It can buy me a whole country 🤭🤗". She says.

"What happened to don't touch anything? Gimme that". I say.

"It's pure gold right?" She asks as she accidentally falls my diamond watch on the floor.

🤦🏻🤦🏻"Yes it's pure gold and that's enough of touching. Can you just see and not touch?" I say.

"No".

"What happened to don't touch anything?!" I ask as she takes the glass bowl full of glass fruits from the table, then my glass bear falls onto the floor and shatters.

"Oops. Sorry". She says.

"That's it. To the living room now!" I say.

"I'm not a kid asshole". She says.

"Can you get your damn ass downstairs?"

"Ew, no. I'm taking the escalator". She says.

"Whatever". She says.

She isn't even apologetic about what she did. It's as if nothing happened. That cost me millions of dollars.

I join her in the living room to discuss with her and there she was going through my stuffs as usual.

"Have you always been like this?" She asks looking at my photo album of Mason...my twin. Yes I'm a twin. A picture of Mason with some other hotties.

"Give me that!" I yell taking it from her.

"Have you always been like this? Going through people's stuffs without permission?"

"Why paraphrase?" She asks.

Apologize already. I thought.

"Can't you apologize for all you've done?!" I ask.

"Oh, you see now how it hurts huh?! But you're arrogant and you hardly apologize". She says.

"Well, it's all in the past. First off, you show up at my house uninvited and insult me for asking what you'd like to have cos what you wanted was absurd, then you go on to suggest we take a tour around my house just to answer 2 darn questions and then you touch my stuffs even when I clearly told you not to. You also destroyed something that worth a lot to me, as though it weren't enough, you go through my stuffs without permission and ask me if I've always been like this....and still you're unapologetic about the situation like what the fuck?" I say.

"You wanna hear I'm sorry huh?! Well, Jason, I'm sorry to disappoint you but I won't be apologizing". She says and crosses her legs. Her right leg on top her left leg.

"So, why don't we get down to business instead of making a fuss out of nothing in particular?" She says.

I give her this hard stare before agreeing to talk about her being here. Thank goodness she's accepted it. I'm so gonna make her pay for this.

"If you insist. Why the sudden change of mind? Miss Starling Carolina Marvlyn?" I ask.

"How's you know all my names?"

"So, about how I got to know all your names....find out yourself Marvlyn. I'm smart". I say.

"So we paraphrasing huh?" She asks.

"Maybe". I say.

"You gotta be kidding me". She says.

"No I'm not".

She stares at me angrily.

"I guess this is where paraphrasing ends Ms Carol. So, why don't we get down to business like you said earlier instead of asking how I know all your names". I say.

"I wanna do it". She says.

"Do what?"

"Be your pretend fiancéé".

"Why so?" I ask.

"I just wanna do it. You want me or not?!"

"Well, that's okay. Means you're agreeing -".

"To your dick head rules, yes". She says.

"It's not dick head". I say and she raises a brow at me.

'Vira, call Naomi'. I say to the system in my domotics. Just know I own a smart home.

'Calling Naomi'. She replies.

"Sir?" Naomi says.

"Come to my house immediately". I say.

"But I've no idea where your house is sir".

"I'd text you the address". I say and hang up. I text her the address immediately.

"This is.....super cool". She says.

"Yeah".

"I wanna do something naughty". She says.

"No...no...no. Were not together, just pretending". I say to her.

"Relax, I'm speaking of truth or dare". She says.

"Pff". I scoff. "That's a child's game". I say.

"No it's not. It depends on the players and the way they ply it. Tonight, we play naughty". She says.

"Shoot". I say.

"It's gonna be sort of boring.... we're just 2. But we'd make it fun". She says.

"We'd start it by getting to know each other before getting naughty". I say.

"Okay....whatever. You lie, you eat soap. You don't do the dare, you pay me $900,000. Applicable to me". She says.

"Ew no. I can't eat soap and also, I can't stake $900,000 in a mere game. Let's play it fair. You lie you get to do all I say for a day, you don't do the dare, I punish you however I like. Same as me". I say.

"Whatever. Fine but the dare...it ain't nice. We'd take one of yours and one of mine. We take your consequence for the lies and we take my consequence for the dare. Let's bet it down. $100,000". She says.

"Fine. $50, 000". I say.

"That's poor!" She says.

"$20,000". I say.

"Much poorer. 75". She says.

"10". I say.

"72!"

"5".

"🥺🥺Fine!😒".

"So, Vlyn, how old are you?"

"It's not how it goes. You ask t or d first". She says.

"Yeah I forgot".

"We gotta figure out who starts first".

"I suggest according to first letter of our names".

"Brilliant. So you go first". She says.

"Truth or dare Marvlyn?"

"Truth".

"I already asked".

"I'm 20. Truth or Dare Jason?"

"Truth".

"You have a huge crush on me".

"Ew, no". I lie.

"You lied Jason! And what do you mean by ew?! That's it. I'm done playing this game". She says.

"You're so childish". I say.

"Whatever Jason. About me....I'm 20, I've three best friends... Cherry, Trevor and Cole. I'm a graduate of Oxford university with a degree in fashion designing. I own a house at the ghetto...tell me about yourself".

"Why at the ghetto?" I ask and she pulls out a stick of cigarette and lighter from her pocket.

"You smoke too?"

"Yeah I do. And I chose the ghetto cos I can afford it. Houses at the ghetto seems to be much cheaper". She says.

I swallow hard.

"Why'd you dye your hair?" I ask.

"I didn't dye it. I'm brunette from birth, not a red head. I sprayed it red for the wedding that day. Actually, I don't know if my hair's brunette or black it's a composition". She says.

"Uh...okay. So I'm 24. I already told you I'm a CEO. Family's at Miami. I've two best friends...annoying ones. Hermione and Quavo". I say.

"Okay. I saw your countenance change when you saw me with that photo album. I'm sorry I went through your stuffs and did a little damage to your stuffs. But, why's that album so important to you?"

"A little?" I ask.

"Well, not a little but I'm sorry. The album?" She asks.

"Not what we're here to talk about. It's nothing. I was only upset you were snooping that's all". I lie.

"If you ever wanna talk, I'm here. You can tell me literally anything". She says.

'Naomi approaching'. The system says.

"Naomi's here. She's my PA and she'd take you shopping right away".

"I'm not ready. Can I go next tomorrow please". She says.

'Vira, call Naomi'. I say.

'Calling Naomi'.

"Sir, I'm at the door". Naomi says. 'Vira, open'. Naomi says.

'Opening door for Naomi'. Vira says.

'No! Vira, close doors'. I say.

'Closing doors'. Vira says.

'No! I said open... Vira'. Naomi says.

'Master says close'. Vira says and shuts the door.

"Naomi?"

"Sir, Vira won't let me in".

"I know. I'm sorry for disturbing you, go home. I'd get to you on Friday. I'd increase your pay as compensation". I say.

"Okay". She says and I hang up then I watch her walk away through my glass window.

"We'd have this conversation tomorrow at Nickella's over a glass of champagne and probably food". I say to her.

" A date kinda way? I see...it's the first way to making him believe we're together".

"Yeah".

"I'd appear in a royal blue tux and hope you appear in a lovely royal blue gown too". I say.

"I really need to get going". She says.

"That won't be necessary. I said you have to move in remember?"

"Yeah....but I don't have any stuff here, no clothes, no makeup".

"It's all here. I got it prepared, it's top notch...top class, so you look classy". I say.

"But I love my clothes".

"Not saying you'd not wear your clothes, but I'm saying you have to look classy enough for his approval. I already contacted some make up artists and hair stylists that'd get you ready and classy looking for any occasion. And there's only one boutique you go shopping at. Millicent's". I say.

"Millicent's?! I can't afford that". She says.

"I'd give you an allowance of $900,000 and I hope you utilize it well. I already opened a store for you...a boutique of your own to be precise. You've to show my parents that you're well to do". I say.

"I am well to do and I don't need a botique". She says and I clear my throat.

"Fine. No boutique then".

"Mm".

There was silence in the room for about 2 hours. I was starting to fall for her....but I couldn't show it...not just yet.

Her phone rings breaking the awkward silence.

Marvlyn's call

"Cherry?"

"I'm so sorry, I won't be back till heaven knows".

"Trevor?"

"Oh...that. Business baby. I won't make it there not tonight".

"Where I'm spending the night? Nevermind baby, I go it all sorted out".

"I'd text you later. I'm sleepy". I say and hang up on her.

The conversation was all one sided to me(Jason) who was listening as I couldn't hear what Cherry was saying.

End of call.

"That's my bestfriend Cherry. Wanna know if I'm gonna return". She says.

"Yeah. You're sleepy? I'd show you to your room". I say and she follows behind me.

We take the escalator this time. We arrive in front of a white door, I gently push it open and she walks in.

"If you need anything....just call me or tell Vira". I say and shut the door.

I was on my way to the elevator when she called me. I spin around.

"Thank you but ain't we gonna stay in same rooms? We're pretending right, let's spice it up". She says.

"I've mine. In the house we don't have to put up a lotta pretence. Go to bed already". I say and grins before walking into the room.

I'm tired already.

I walk into the elevator and press '4'. The door chimes open few minutes later and I step out. I walk through the hallway to my room. I shut the door behind me and walk up to my bed. I take off my slippon and lay on my bed. 'Vira, turn off the lights, turn on the air conditioner, open the curtains'. I say.

'Okay master, turning off the lights'.She says and the lights go off immediately. 'Turning on the air conditioner'. Just then the cool air from the conditioner seeps into the room slowly filling it. I loved the air. 'Opening the curtains'. She says and the curtains open...light rays fill my room in the blink of an eye. I roll to the other side of my bed and try to get myself to sleep but it was quite impossible to. I sit up and scroll through my apps, then pictures. I'm not the picture type so I don't have much pictures.

I turn on my laptop and cue in my password.

I type some things in it and do some adjustments on the project I'm working on for a while. I quickly recall the files Naomi sent to my office this morning...I had taken it home to review its contents.

I slide it out of the file jacket that lay on the bedside table. I quickly go through the papers before stuffing them back in the file jacket. Right, I had a contract to sign with the biggest content making organization. I quickly go through the papers once more and then I sign it and stuff it back into the jacket again. I take out my phone to call Naomi.

"Come pick the papers first thing tomorrow morning. I already signed it". I say.

"Alright. I will". She says.

"Do have a nice day". I say.

"You too, sir". She says and I hang up.

I keep.working on my project...probably reviewing my employees projects to see which is best. Along the run, I start to doze. I open my eyes immediately and shut my system down and place my laptop on top the table as I re coil myself on the bed before drifting off to sleep.