Chapter 3 — Right Decision
Dana POV:
"Pleasure is all mine, dear future wife."
I still can't believe I said yes to a marriage proposal from a perfect stranger. What in the world was I thinking last night? Everyone that knows me well knows I make very rash decisions sometimes but this? This has to be the craziest thing I have ever done in my entire life. I mean, I don't even know this guy. All I know about him is his name, Blake Davies, and that's where it ends.
I have to be the biggest moron on this planet earth. How can I just randomly get into a conversation with this guy, put my mouth in his stupid business instead of getting back to my work and next thing I know, he offers me millions of dollars to marry him and like an idiot, I said yes. For all I know, I could have been dealing with a psychopath last night and yet, I agreed to marry him.
He even went as far as paying me ten times what I normally get paid at the nightclub just so he and I could talk at a quieter place, and I actually did follow him just because of my greed. Now the problem isn't even about the fact that I said yes to him, it's about whether or not I actually regret it and if I want to actually take back my answer.
"Wait a second, Dana, I'm confused. What do you mean by you're getting married? You don't even have a boyfriend you fool." Samantha Shay, my best friend mocks, obviously not believing a word I said.
Samantha and I go way back. We've known each other since we were in high school, and we've been best of friends since then. Amongst of all the people I called my friends, she understood me the most and she has always helped me the best she could during difficult times. She even taught me everything I know about being a nail artist and she also helped me get the shop at the same salon she worked.
"I know it sounds crazy and all, but I swear, it's the truth,” I tell her, and she quickly frowns.
"What the hell did you do this time Dana and why in the world does it involve the word marriage?" She whispers harshly, pulling me by my arm aggressively and walking me to the inner room for staffs. I stare her at blankly for a while, wondering how I'm to explain this absurdity to her. I mean, how do I begin to tell her that some gay rich dude wants me to be his fake wife for a few years, so his family can stop bothering him? Does that even make any sense out loud? And to top it all off, I agreed to participate in the madness.
"I know that look, Dana, and I already know that whatever you're gonna tell me will make me want to beat the daylight out of you, but you had better not try to cut any part of it out. Tell me what the hell you've gotten yourself into this time!" she snaps furiously as if reading my mind.
With a sigh, I say, "Listen Sam, I know you might beat the shit out of me, but what I'm about to tell you, please do not tell anyone else.”
She frowns. "Stop with the drama and start talking. It's not like that many really care about your business,” she hisses, and I roll my eyes at her before I start to explain everything that went down last night. The expressions on her face kept going from bad to good to confused to surprised till I could no longer detect what category of emotions the look on her face belonged to. She stares at me attentively with curious eyes as I explained how I was offered five million dollars to be a fake wife for five years. I tell her how the five million is only payment for my agreement and according to him, I'll get much more than that once we get married and I'm legally his wife.
"Okay, I'm not sure how I'm supposed to react to any of what you just said but just so we're clear, some random rich as fuck man offered you five million dollars for simply agreeing to be his wife, am I right? She asks, I nod positive.
"Holy shit!" She gasps with wide eyes, and I stare back at her, trying to understand what exactly was going through her head at the moment.
"I know it sounds absurd Sam but when he mentioned that amount of money, I couldn't help but think about how much that money was gonna change my life. Imagine getting that amount and more for simply getting married? I mean, normal people get married for free and I'm getting paid to do it! I don't even have to worry about giving him kids or anything like that. Can you imagine how much burden this will take off my shoulders?" I blurt out in an attempt to reason with her and something about what I said cracked her up.
"W-what's so funny, Sam?" I ask confusedly.
"Nothing exactly. I'm still just trying to take in all you just told me. I still can't believe it!" She exclaims in excitement, suddenly engulfing me in a life-threatening hug.
"Firstly, I can't breathe Samantha and secondly, I'm going to assume you're not exactly against my decision?" I mutter the last part in a question like way and she quickly releases me from the hug that almost took my life. This is what I get for having a really tall best friend, who weighs a lot more than I do.
"Against it? Do I look like a witch to you sweetie? Why would I be against it? You made a decision to become a millionaire my darling and if anyone ever tells you were wrong, send that motherfucker straight to hell! You have three siblings to worry about my dear and opportunities like this don't come every day,” she says reassuringly, and a sudden feeling of relief engulfs me. I guess getting the approval of my best friend really meant a lot to me. I would have felt really shitty about my choice had she scolded me instead.
"I'm so happy you said this Sam. You have no idea how much your words helped me. I'm still a little confused though on what to do next cause honestly, this is all so weird. He's from a really wealthy family Sam and I doubt I can actually fit into his world,” I blurt out and she immediately smacks me on the head.
"Ouch,” I whimper.
"I should smack your head more but be thankful I'm in a good mood. Who cares if you don't fit it? The idiot asked you to marry him, Dana, and I'm pretty sure he already knows you're not as overly cultured as those richie rich people. And guess what, sis, you don't even have to be. You can both just decide to play the love story of the rich guy and the poor girl. Be yourself with them and let them know how much you've struggled all your life till their son showed up. Those rich people love it when their daughter-in-laws suck up to them and idolize them, and that, my dear, is exactly how you'll win their hearts,” she explains and although I understand where she's driving at, I wasn't really in agreement with it.
"I get your point, but I think there's something you're wrong about. The part where you think they'll actually like my shitty life story. People like them always want daughter-in-laws they can brag about. They enjoy having daughters who can match their class so they can show them off and I'm not that person. I didn't even go to college Sam and to top it off, I'm still illegal in the country,” I remind her, and she sighs.
"He knows all of this doesn't he?" She asks.
"Well, yes. I explained a good part of my life to him, and he assured me that he would take care of everything and that I shouldn't worry myself too much over anything,” I reply, and she scoffs.
"If he already said that, why the fuck are you still stressing over it? He already told you that none of that actually matters to him and that he would handle it so why are you still on the edge so much? Stop stressing yourself and let your Richie rich fiancée take care of everything for you,” she says and I'm wondering how she can be so confident when I'm freaking out over here.
"I'm still nervous Sam. What if he finds a better girl out there and changes his mind? There are thousands of better-looking girls out there who would accept his proposal without even thinking twice about it,” I say to her, and she quickly flicks my forehead with her finger.
"Stop talking or I'll slap you, Dana. Firstly, you are fucking beautiful, never forget that and secondly, he already asked you and you already accepted. I doubt he'd want to go around sharing his story to every girl out there. It's obvious he's desperate Dana which means, he doesn't have time to play the role of a prince in search of his bride. So, stop with the stupid if's, but's, and maybe's cause very soon, you're getting married, and you need all the confidence in the world right now,” she encourages, and I pull her in for a comforting hug.
"Thanks for the encouraging words, Sam,” I say to her.
"You're welcome my dear friend. Now, enough of all this and let's get back to work before madam catches us. We wouldn't want her to lose her nails in our faces,” she jokes, and I chuckle a little before we both get back to work.