CHAPTER TWO

"I can't believe this!" Emily gritted her teeth as she stared at the notifications in her mailbox, and the weekly bills reminder. 

"Rent is due this month…and mom is running out of medication." She whispered absent mindedly while staring at the computer screen. Already, she had spent the little money that she had on getting the necessary medication for her mother, and offsetting part of their debt.

"Emily? How are you today?" A soothing voice called from behind. 

The blue eyed woman had forgotten that she had left her room partially open, so her mother had walked in.

"Emily? You okay?" The older version of Emily Quentin raised a brow, wondering why her daughter's eyes were fixed on the screen. 

"Geez mom! You scared me!" Emily shivered as her mother's cold hands warmed her shoulder. When she swirled round and noticed how frail the illness had made her mother, tears welled up in her eyes.

"You seem so lost. Is this about Eric?" The woman wondered.

"Hell no. I moved on long time ago since he decided to leave town." Emily quickly blinked away the tears.

"Then what's that about? You're worried about something." The woman was sure of it.

"I'm fine mom. How do you feel today?" Emily held her breath, still staring at her mother's fragile frame. The woman was hurting so badly and there was nothing much she could do except get more medications.

"Just the headaches…" The woman smiled weakly.

"I'm so sorry mom!" Emily couldn't hold back her tears. She leaned closer and pulled her mother in for a hug. Her worst fear was losing this woman. So she had to do whatever it took to keep her alive.

"I should be the one apologizing for becoming a great burden to you." The woman sobbed quietly.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang.

"Expecting somebody?" Emily asked, then pulled away slowly.

"No, could be May?" Her mother wondered.

Emily scoffed and moved towards the door. May was mad at her, and would be for a long time.

"What is this?" She found a shiny blue parcel with a note that read: I'm picking you up at 7. Wear these.

Hurriedly, Emily opened the parcel and found a pair of black stilettos, a flowing red dress with a high slit by Prada, and some sparkling white diamonds. 

"Now that's classy! I guess it ended up at the wrong front door." Unknown to her, her mother had come along.

Emily grinned, "Yes. I'll find a way to return it." 

"Great. I'll be taking a long nap from 6." Mrs. Quentin winked, trying to cheer up. That's all she did most of the time anyway.

"Thank God!" Emily exhaled sharply. Now she would have more time to work on how to break the news to her mother. 

Once she got back to the room, she quickly dialed Taylor. 

"You shouldn't be calling at this hour. The less privileged have no idea how time works, and that's why they are poor most of the time."

"Then why not marry someone of your own class?" Emily blurted angrily.

"Did you get the package?" Taylor ignored her.

"Why did you extend the days of staying married in the contract? And why did you just send some random person to drop a parcel without telling me?" Emily was desperate for answers.

"Because…frankly, you look shabby and helpless. You need the money and I need a fake wife. Now get dressed and stop complaining about the opportunity many would kill to get. I pick you at 7." 

"Hello? Hello? Taylor? Geez!" Emily sighed, feeling horrible that he had cut the call on her. 

Tears stung her blue eyes as she realized that time was running out on her debts. Without money, she was nothing. 

"I hate that I have to go through with this!" Tears splashed against her cheeks as she sobbed, but she had no choice. 

  ***

"Walk faster!" Taylor barked while in the black car. 

"These heels hurt as hell!!" Emily wobbled like a duck until she reached him.

He had come to take her to show his family. Already, he had announced to his extended family that he was bringing home his soon to be bride.

"Where are you taking me?" Emily did her seatbelt and shut the door.

The billionaire didn't answer. He started the car and drove through the dimly lit night of the low cost neighborhood.

"You know…for this to work, we actually have to look like a real couple." Emily tried to break the silence.

Taylor ignored her. Instead, he leaned forward and turned on the radio, not minding that it was too loud.

Soon, he drove through a huge gleaming golden gate of the Hawthorn mansion where all his siblings had gathered to meet his bride to be.

"It's so beautiful here…" Emily smiled as she peered through the window.

"Yes it is." Taylor stole a glance at his fake wife-to be. He thought that she was exceptionally beautiful tonight. 

"You're going to meet my family. So you need to make this as real as possible. Or we both lose out." Taylor scowled.

"Alright…" Emily sighed.

As planned, he got rid of the frown and forced a smile while getting lost in her alluring blue eyes.

Emily's heart raced. How handsome he looked! But she quickly reminded herself that this was only an arrangement and that he was a devil!

"Come on out honey," Taylor opened the door and gently helped his lady out.

"Thank you dear." Emily took his hand, to the admiration of the standers by.

He led her gently through the hallway of the mansion until they found everyone at the dining table.

"You're…late!" Anna Hawthorne was about to criticize her younger brother when she stopped halfway.

"She's so beautiful!" A smaller voice whispered.

The Hawthorns had to pause the dinner and stare at Taylor's exquisite bride.

"She looks like a model." Willow Hawthorne whispered, she was the gossip of the family. 

"You've made me proud son!" Taylor's mother quickly fetched a serviette and wiped her teary eyes.

"Good evening everyone, meet my fiancé Rosella Martins." Taylor forced a smile, then gently kissed Emily on the cheek.

"Good evening," Emily was irritated that he had to change her name.

Once the introductions were over, they were seated at the table with each other. But Emily observed a slender man that shared a slight resemblance to Taylor. He didn't utter any word, but only threw angry frowns towards her.

"So…how did you two meet? Taylor doesn't bring just any woman home." Anna raised a brow.

"Um…I…we…" Emily stuttered, not knowing what to say.

"A coffee shop!" Taylor cut in. 

"What coffee shop is that?" Rainer, his older brother stared at him.

"Sunders." Emily said.

"Sunders? That's cheap. Taylor doesn't drink cheap coffee." Willow scoffed.

"Well…because of Emi…Rosella, I do." He smiled.

"What do you do?" Anna stared directly at the blue eyed woman.

"She models for Elle." Taylor cut in.

"You don't look good together. I don't see this union getting anyway." The slender man, Anthony Hawthorn blurted out and walked away from the table, leaving everyone confused.

"Anthony! Now that's unfair!" Mrs. Hawthorn snapped at her other son.

"Let him be mother. He is simply jealous." Taylor scoffed at his half brother. 

"He is right. I do model for Elle and other prestigious magazines." Emily knew that was an expensive lie. What if they wanted to check her out? 

"Frankly, you two don't seem too much in love. Why the hurry to get married?" Anna fired. Emily shifted uncomfortably as she recalled the words of the other brother that had just left. Was it that obvious they weren't in love? Something had to be done to make it believable!

"How would you know that?" Taylor shifted closer to Emily. 

"I have to make this as real as possible. Sorry." He leaned closer and sensually whispered into her ears.

"What?" Emily didn't know what was coming.

Without waste of time, Taylor cupped her face into his hands and engaged her in a passionate kiss.