"I guess the surprise has already hit you"he observed.

Unable to speak,she nodded her reply.

"I know that this may come as a shock to you but you were highly recommended "he continued.

She frowned in confusion.

"What is that supposed to mean?"she asked skeptical of his intentions.

With a wide grin on his face,he leaned in closer across the table.

"I have a proposition for you"he said.

"What proposition?excuse me,but am trying to wrap my head around the fact that am sitting across from the owner of the enterprise I work in.Wait,was this even planned?"she blurted out.

Her mind going in different directions trying to piece everything together.

He straightened up now.And gave her a once over before opening his mouth to speak.

"This meeting was purely coincidental.Although I can't say,we wouldn't have met either way.But am glad it happened sooner rather than later."he explained.

"So what do you want from me?"she asked .

"I just want to propose something to you"he declared.

"You've said that already"she interrupted.

"That's how serious I am about it.So hear me out"he ordered.

Her eyebrow raised in defiance and her lips puckered in a pout .

He would be lying if he said he didn't find that so attractive about her.She was everything he was looking for.Inquistive,curious,a little fisty and respectful.And her body made his blood boil.She had curves in all the right places and judging from the peach stripped tshirt she wore and the body hugging skirt she wore,she wasn't afraid to hide that fact.

Goodness, he was feeling his insides boil for this woman unlike anything he had ever seen.Thats why she was perfect.

"Marry me"he said without a doubt in his mind.

Her folded hands fell to her sides,her mouth stood agape as she stared at him wide-eyed and in shock.

"What?!"she exclaimed.

He watched as she blurted out laughing.

"You're joking"she said in disbelief.

He leaned back in his chair with folded arms to stare straight into her eyes.She gulped .

There was no way that she could escape this now.

"And why would you want 'me' to marry you?you don't even know me."she stuttered looking around as if the word itself was an abomination.

"Because I want you" he answered firmly.

She stared at him with shock.She opened her mouth to speak but no words came out.

From her facial expressions,he knew that this was going to take a while.So to break the awkward silence, he raised his hand up to signal the waiter.

At this point,they needed to the ice.The waiter took their orders and was back almost immediately with the light lunch he had ordered for her.

"You should eat up.Apart from coffee,they make a mean batch of sandwiches.They're really good,try it."he advised.

She grimaced but obliged either way.

He smiled at her blind obedience.He liked her naviety.He liked her childlike trust in him even though she didn't know him and his preposterous idea but she didn't react violently or cling to him because of his money upon knowing his dentity,just like a few other girls had tried to do when he had offered them the choice as well.

He knew he needed it but he wasn't desperate to think that all girls would be compatible with him that's why he ran the search in the first place.

After she had eaten a good portion of the sandwich which was good,she would need it ,if she was to keep up with him. He wanted a woman who was unashamed about eating and had a good appetite.

She looked up from her half eaten sandwich.Clearing her throat,she finally spoke.

"Am sorry sir,I may not know why you would want to do this or why you would even think I was a good match to be your wife,but I would have to decline."she replied.

"I know that I may not have much or the fact of me never being in a relationship ..."she trailed off.

His eyes widened in shock.He felt his smile grow wider much to her confusion.

"...but I can't marry you.You see,love will always be a big part of my life.I grew up in a not so loving home so I wouldn't want to repeat the same mistakes my parents did."she finished.

His lips pursed in thought.

"Would it help to say that I am attracted to you. You're beautiful"he responded.

She felt her cheeks flush with excitement but quickly recomposed herself.

He almost chuckled at her cute expression.keyword,Almost.

He has never in his entire life being refused of anything except once.And that was a very long time ago.And he didn't handle rejection well.

Of all the girls to reject him,it had to be her.All the girls he had interviewed had accepted on a whim,some had feigned innocence but he knew what they were really after.who wouldn't want to be his wife.Which made it even more confusing that she was refusing his offer.

It was a great deal.

"I don't think I've fully explained what's in it for you?"he negoitated.He was grasping at straws now .He knew from the determined pout to her lips that she wasn't changing her mind.So with a deep frown,he resorted to the only way he knew would work.

Playing nice so far hadn't gotten him anyway.So with the proud set of his shoulders and his folded arms,he stared her down and proceeded to talk to her with his really good business skills.its why he was known to be a ruthless billionaire and a very successful businessman.

"Alina Sanders ,a very hardworking young lady,25 years of age ,graduated top of her class,is ambitious and driven and is very passionate about working.She lives in an apartment 10 blocks away from the company on the 10th Avenue in Brooklyn. Lives with her retired mother who is currently in need of surgery for her reoccurring spinal cord injury. Is on bed rest and is constantly in and out of the hospital. "He recited smugly.

He paused to raise an eyebrow at her.

"You are in a great deal of debt young lady.With your student loans and stacked up hospital bills,i don't think you will be able to last a week without a job.besides, it's been a while since you filled out your mum's prescription."he added.

"How dare you?"she sneered mortified.

He eyed her from underneath his lashes .

"Now,do you reconsider or do I continue?the choice is yours.Either way I win..."he said victoriously .

She gulped.Her eyes darting around the room for someone to intervene. But it seems there was noone.

"You're such a vile person!"she spat out with as much venom as she could muster.

She felt her eyes sting with tears and her throats constrict in discomfort.

No way was she going to let him win.

She wouldn't let him.

So with a defiant stance,she stood from where she sat,glaring at him.

"This conversation is over,Mr.Micheal.Thank you for coffee "with that she walked out leaving a very confused micheal thinking through the points that may had lead to this very moment.

Never in a million years had he seen this coming.No one had ever attempted to walk out on him or end the conversation until he was done.

He pulled out his phone and dailed.

His secretary picked up at the first ring.

"Doris,I want you to do something for me.Its about Alina"he spoke.

* * * *

On her brisk walk home, her mind reeled and her heart picked up a few more beats unable to calm the sensation that had washed through her with her encounter with her boss.

She had never thought this day would go this way but she was determined to take this as a bad dream that she wanted so desperately wanted to forget.

"Am so sorry Alina but I have been authorized to not give your mum any additional treatment until you've cleared out your outstanding bills."the older man clad in a white hospital lab coat said apologetically.

She gripped his arm frantically as he turned to leave.

"Please,my mum won't be able to stand the pain for another week.she needs her prescription."She pleaded.

The doctor shook his head emphatically but she knew he couldn't do anything. He was just following orders.

Something seemed off .There was no way that they would be turned down.They were on government assistance and as such,had a credit bill for hospital expenses. No matter how much they owed,they were not to be turned down.

"What's going on,this has never happened before "she asked confused.

The man hesitated to respond but eventually, he leaned in closer to whisper.

"I don't know who you offended but It must have been someone very very high up,even higher than the hospital director.Our orders came from higher up"he whispered and scurried off into the patient wards leaving her standing by the entrance confused and lost.

Immediately it clicked.

Her frown deepened.Who does he think he is?

She stormed off out of the hospital,took a cab and drove straight back to the very building that her rejected her.She knew in her heart of hearts that he would be waiting and she was right.As soon as she arrived,she was ushered into the elevator up to his office on the last floor by security.

She was then shown his office and was led right into the lion's then.They led her in and locked the door behind her leaving her standing there so out of place in this fully furnished expanse of his office.

Her poor choice of outfit that consisted of her faded jeans and crop top that hung loosely along her belly,exposing just a little bit of skin a huge contrast to the beige leather furniture that decorated the room.

He stood,facing the floor to ceiling glass windows overlooking the city.They just stayed in complete silence for a good minute or two before she couldn't take it anymore.

"I know what you're doing"she spoke up impatiently.

"And am here to tell you that it won't work"she added and waited for his response but he said nothing. He just stood there gazing out the window in silence. She opened her mouth to speak but stopped in her tracks when he began to speak.

"Do you know how fleeting life is?"he finally spoke up.

She frowned in confusion.

He whipped around and was facing her now before she could say anything .

"You know my offer will change your life. It would help your mum.Who needs love when you could have money,fame and power."he argued.

"Micheal,you might not need it but I do."she retorted.

His lips eased into a smile at the way she said his name.

"Where is love now when you need it?"he asked.Staring into her eyes a silent challenge in them.

"Why are you doing this?"she cried. She threw her hands up in fustration.

"Marry me.that's the only way I will make this all go away"he answered.

Later that evening as she walked arm in arm with him clad in a tight red dress as he led her through the crowd, her mind wondered to her mother.And how her mother would feel if she knew that her daughter had sold herself just to get her to fly to Japan for her spine replacement surgery.

She felt her body tense as his huge hand splayed across her waist as he shielded her from the cameras and flashes that had surrounded them.He pulled her into his body and the scent of his strong cologne wafted through her.He smelt so good with a combination of mahogany and an earthy scent she couldn't recognize yet still made him feel like a real man .They were able to wrestle their way into the reception area that had been blocked off from unregistered paparazzi and reporters.

"I'm sorry for the discomfort. It wasn't easy to arrange this last minute. "He whispered closely.she felt the hairs at the back of her nape stand on edge.

"Come,lets say hi to our guests"her spine stiffened as he wrapped an arm around her waist again and led her towards the crowd of expensive looking people that had directed curiously glances their way from the moment they had made their entrance.

As she went through the motions,greeting and smiling so much that she feared her face would crack,her thoughts drifted to her mother being taken care of by someone who was not her.Although,she had been reassured by her impressive resume that she had had a great deal of experience with being a home nurse and taking care of her patients.

"Alina, meet my mother"his voice broke through her internal musings just as they approached a beautiful blonde woman clad in shimmering diamonds and a velvet green dress,her hair was laid beautifully behind her neck.

She gulped. Nervously clutching and releasing her purse as she watched the woman walk over to them.Her eyes trained on her.

All eyes were on them now as they watched the scene unfold.She had heard many stories about mother in laws and how they were always opposed to their son's choice in women.Always.She'd seen them in all the telenovelas her mum had loved to watch before she got too Ill to watch anymore.

"Don't be worried about my mother "his words had played over and over as she watched the beautiful older woman walk over to them with her entourage of women that seemed judgmental from the looks and stares from around the room.

Her thoughts drifted to the events of this evening...

"I don't understand whey you have to plan this huge party .Its completely unnecessary."she had cried out as she sat in his office memorizing information about the important people that were going to be there at the party he was arranging for them.

It sounded absurd at first.She had not seen the need to publicly announce their engagement when this was meant to be shortlived.

"I cannot wed without showing my family and people who I would like to marry and what better way to take away the agony of waiting for their approval when you can just shock them with the news"he suggested.

It did make more sense but the nerves were still there.she would be lying to his mother and who knows how many people he had invited to this party.

"Son,who is this?"the older women's soft voice brought her out of her reverie.

She gulped as the woman observed her.Her hands unconsciously wrapped around her thighs where the short dress stopped midway.she hated this dress,she wasn't used to this kind of expensive outfits but he had insisted,stating that she had to look the part if she had to play the role.

As if she had been programmed,her face lighted up in an awkward smile.but if the frown on her beautiful features were any indication,then it meant that she didn't like her at all.Her shoulder drooped a little in silent defeat.

But to her surprise,his mother's features relaxed and a wide smile formed on her lips,her arms stretched out wide and she enveloped her in a bear hug.

She chuckled as she released her.Alina straightened up,making sure to drag the gown a few inches downwards without exposing her chest to the world.Micheal must have sensed her discomfort because in the next minute,he had his arm wrapped around her waist reassuringly pulling her into his side.

She felt his strong grip on her waist as he squeezed to soothe her.She looked up at him gratefully for his silent support at the very least.As if reading her mind,he nodded in response.

His mother watched as the couple exchanged glances and her heart warmed at the sight.She had thought that her highly successful son would never be able to settle down after what had happened to him In the past.She had been silently praying that he would let go and finally settle down and it seemed like her prayers had been answered.they were so in love with each other.

"Finally,there is someone to pin his frivolous escapades with numerous women"his mother joked.

"Yes,ma'am I will make sure of that."she responded as she eyed him in silent humour.

"Mum,why don't you just have a sit,you seem like you've had a few too many drinks and the event hasn't even started yet "he commented.A little annoyed.

He held her firmly and led her toward the couch that had been installed next to the decor at the back of the room.She gave him a hand and she walked beside them as his mother held her hand tightly as if she let go,she would disappear.

After she was seated,he signaled for a waiter to come over and they did a little too fast as she observed.almost like a slave would act towards their master.

"Get me a glass of water and something to help with a hangover "he ordered.

The waiter nodded and scurried away disappearing into the crowd.

Micheal turned to his tipsy mother who had her hand firmly around her own.

"Mum,you have to stop drinking"he cautioned.

"Well,if your 30 year old unmarried son texts you after many months of not speaking and suddenly invites you to an event he organized, it calls for some drinking,don't you think?"she replied,slurring her words.

He sighed and plopped down unto the couch next to him.After a while,she sat up resting her head on his shoulder while she slept peacefully.

Sometime during the whole exchange,the waiter had come by and dropped the tray of what he had been ordered to bring and had been dismissed.

She watched silently as his mother rested peacefully on his shoulder with all her trust and faith put into this one gesture.Her heart and mind called out for her mum.when would she be able to do this again with her mum.she wondered and silently prayed for the umpteenth time that night for everything to be alright and for her mum's surgery to go well.

"Come on,its time to address the guests"he rose and stood in front of her with his outstretched hand,towering majestically over her as his chestnut hair glistened under the bright overhead light.

She took his hand and he led her through the sea of curious people and up the podium.Taking the microphone in one hand and holding her hand in the other,he addressed the crowd.

"I know all of you here,do not know why I invited you here.But let me clear all your doubts.This is Alina Sanders, my finance and my soon to be wife."the crowd erupted in an uproar.There were murmurs and stares from all around the room.She gripped his hand tighter.

"The confusion is imminent but I do not want this to affect the love of my life.I know I don't need your permission to do this but i felt that this is the perfect and the right moment for us."he ended.

And before she could register what was going on,he had her hand in his and one knee on the floor.She gasped in shock reflexively retracting her hand but he was faster.He gripped her hand tightly,still maintaining his composure and slipped the ring unto her finger.The flashes that escalated after that were insane.

He stood ,shielding her with his body as he stared down into her eyes.His gaze bore deep into her soul.And as if reading his mind,she shook her head.Her hand came up to his chest to stop him.

"No,this wasn't part of the plan"she whispered,Her voice was so low that he barely registered.

"It was...in mine"and with that his lips collided with hers.