Chapter 24: A NEW CLAUSE ?

“What!” Callum exclaims walking away and heading for a secluded area far away from the rest. They were making the last stop for some other accessories Martin said they would need for Sophia, and the three of them were picking or deciding on the right color shade when this call from the investors came in. Callum walks into the men's room and shuts the door behind him. “What do you mean you have to be there? You think I am faking my own wedding?” Callum asks a frown taking place on his face.

“Not at all, Mr. Kennington, but we would just have to avoid anyone raising questions about the genuineness of this marriage in the future. We want to clear all doubts.” Came the voice from the other side of the line. “I mean, that is if you still desire to have this deal as yours. You still want that, right? I would hate for it to go to another when you have been so promising and -

Sighing. “What must I do to clear every doubt your people have about this marriage?” Callum asks running his left hand through his hair. “How do I convince you all this is real?” He asks. Callum could feel him smiling at the other end of the line, and he knew immediately he was going to regret whatever answer the man had.

“We have picked a church of our choice were you two will have to be married in.” The man begins from the other end. “We will have their priest officiate the wedding together with another priest we will be flying in from Paris in an hour. Together they will both officiate the wedding with some of us present. Once that is done, everything will be settled. Tomorrow, you sign the deal, and voila!”

His left hand fold into a fist. This was going to be a problem, a big problem. “What is the name of the church you have in mind?” Callum asks.

“We have not decided yet, but the moment we do, we will send you the address. Rest assured we will do that before it is time for the wedding.”

Lies! He knew a lie when he heard one. They were intentionally delaying the name of the church until it was too late for him to be able to do anything. This was a big problem.

“Is that going to be a problem?” The man from the other side of the line asks. “Should we be worried -

“Just let me know the address on time to avoid stressing my wife. That is all the problem I have. Anything other thing, is your concern not mine.” Callum says ending the call.

Damn it!

This was a bigger problem than he knew. A real priest? With another from Paris. Two priest? Damn it! Sophia had only agreed to this because he had told her he will get a fake priest to officiate the wedding. She had only agreed because he had said it would be a fake wedding, with a fake priest, and a fake certificate. But what now? Things will have to be real? A real wedding, with a real priest, and a real certificate? Aside Sophia, even he was finding this a bit problematic. Was he really ready to make this sacrifice to get this deal? Get married for real?

Callum runs his hand through his hair one more time. This was crazy! He knew it, he knew she would walk away from the deal if she learns of this new development. What will he do? Sighing, he opens the door and begins to walk out of it, heading back for where the rest were. He will tell her the truth, and then let her decide what was going to be the next step.

By the time he arrived at where they had been formerly, he could not find any of them. “Sophia?” He calls looking around. “Sop-

“Callum.” Came the voice from behind him.

Callum turns around and finds all three of them walking towards him from a different angle, his eyes fixed on the lady in the middle. He watched, as she walks forward with a smile on her face. No! There's no way she will accept to go on with the deal if she learns it will no longer fake. No, he knows that. Watching her now, he knew she would easily walk away from this deal now and no amount of money he offers her again will get her to accept it. It was luck she had even accepted it in the first place.

She stops in front of him. “Where did you go?” Sophia asks stopping right in front of him, her eyes scanning his face.

Putting on a smile, Callum shakes his head, making his decision at that very moment. “Nowhere, just a visit to the men's room.” He says. “Are you done?” He asks.

Nodding her head. “Yes, yes we are done.” She leans closer to him, “Do not say yes to any other request he may have. Say yes one more time, and we may never arrive at that wedding hall on time today.” She says leaning back.

Callum chuckles his eyes watching her. “I see he has you tired already.” Callum says taking her hand as they begin to walk away, Martin and Mira follow them.

She yawns. “So tired I am already thinking of taking a nap before -

“You know that is not going to happen, Sophia.” Martin says from behind them.

Callum stands next to the two priests, with Ethan standing behind him. They had send the new location thirty minutes to the time for the wedding, just like he had suspected. They had brought the Pope, the highest priest in Paris, they had brought him all the way down here. Damn people.

Now as he stood, glancing at his watch one more time as he waited for Sophia to arrive, he prayed a silent prayer. That Sophia will not recognize the priest for who he is. It was his biggest heart prayer right now as he stood inside the church. What if she arrives and recognizes the Pope? What would be her first reaction? Curse at him and expose everything to everyone here? No. They had signed a Non-Disclosure Agreement, but he doubted that would be the only reason why she would not say a word.

Callum sighs. Somehow, he believed she would not disclose anything to anyone even though this falls through and fails. Was he right to believe that? What if he was completely wrong? What if she arrives, recognized the Pope and Priest, and caused a scene? She was not some naive nobody after all. She was one very knowledgeable.

He was still lost in thoughts when he saw the door to the church open.