Seraphina's Point of View

I don't feel like eating all day. My stomach is a tornado of furious butterflies. As soon as I think about tonight, my hands shake again.

"Sera, are you okay?" Tony asks mid-lunch rush. "You've already dropped three plates."

"Sorry, Tony. I'm just exhausted."

But I am not fatigued. I am frightened and excited and confused simultaneously. Someone in a very pricey-looking suit is offering me two million dollars. Things such as these cannot happen to women such as I.

I woke up the entire day questioning whether I dreamed everything. Perhaps I dozed off at the workplace and experienced the coffee spill and money and gray eyes in my dream. Perhaps all these did not exist.

Then I glance at my phone and spot his text message again. Meet me tomorrow night, same place, same time. Come alone.

It's real. He's real. And tonight I'm going to find out what he requires from me.

The diner is nearly deserted when he arrives at midnight. He's dressed in another pricey suit, one blue. His hair is fabulous again, as if he just emerged from a high-stakes destination.

"Hi," I say as he takes the same booth as yesterday. My voice is strange and squeaky.

"Hello, Seraphina." He glares at me. "You came."

"You knew I would."

"I hoped you would." He pulls out a huge folder from his briefcase. "Coffee first, then we talk."

I take him black coffee with hands that barely shake. He does not spill this time, which is great by me because I would really die of humiliation if I ruin another suit.

"Sit," he says, just like yesterday.

I step into the booth on his other side. The folder lies between us like a slumbering animal.

"Your name?" I spit out. "I gave you mine, but you never said yours."

"Adrian Kane."

The name rings a bell, but I don't know where I've heard it. "Kane likes the giant corporation?"

"That's my family business. I'm taking it over now."

My jaw drops. Kane Industries has locations throughout the city. Half of the building projects in Manhattan bear their logo plastered across them. The guy isn't merely wealthy. He's crazy wealthy.

"Why are you here?" I managed to get out. "Why are you speaking with me?"

"Because I need your assistance." Adrian takes out the folder. "And you needed a financial assistance."

There are documents inside the folder with minute writing. Official documents that appear serious and legal. At the top of the first document are words that stop my blood.

Marriage Contract Agreement

"Marriage?" I hardly say it. "You want me to marry you?"

"For one year." Adrian's tone is matter-of-fact, as if he's discussing the weather. "It would be a business arrangement. Nothing else."

I look at him. "You're crazy."

"Maybe." He doesn't exactly smile. "But I am desperate, too."

"Why? Why do you need to get married?"

Adrian is by the window and looking out at the rain. "My grandfather left me his business in his will. But with conditions. I have to be married within thirty days, or it goes to my half-brother."

"That's crazy."

"Yes, it is." He returns to stand before me.

I browse through the pages. So many new words. But I noticed the number two million repeated repeatedly.

"Is this real? All this?"

"Very real." Adrian takes out his phone and displays something on the screen. "I made my lawyer work all night to get this together."

"Does your lawyer know about it?"

"He thinks I've lost it. He might be right."

I read the first page again. The words whirl around like they're desperate to get away. "What would I have to do?"

"Live with me in my penthouse. Accompany me to business functions. Pretend to be married and in love with me when other people are present." Adrian ticks off on his fingers. "That's it."

"That's it? Pretending?"

"Just pretending." His eyes darken all at once. "I know this sounds insane, Seraphina. But I'm running out of time."

I think of Mom in that hospital bed. Of bills mounting up on our kitchen counter. Of working three jobs and still short enough to save her life.

"What about when the year is up?"

"We get divorced quietly. You take your money and leave. I will keep my company." Adrian hunches forward. "Nobody gets hurt."

"But what if someone discovers it's a scam?"

"They won't. We'll be extremely cautious."

I turn to the back page. Space for my signature at the bottom. Beside Adrian's name in swirling black script.

"I need time to think about it."

"How long?"

"I don't know. One day? Two days?"

Adrian has a firm head-shake. "I don't have two days. You have to tell me by tonight."

"Tonight?" My voice rises and in terror. "That's not enough!"

"It has to be long enough." He sets his arm across the table and sets his hand on top of mine. His hand warms and smooths like expensive lotion. "Seraphina, I know this is insane. But sometimes insanity is all we have left."

I glance down at the hand covering mine. His are smooth and long, no cuts or calluses like mine. This man has never gone without knowing how he was going to be able to afford medicine.

"Why me?" I ask. "You could marry anyone. Rich girls who would jump at the chance."

"Rich girls are too nosy. They want romance and true love and all that." Adrian's grip around my hand becomes tighter. "You need cash urgently, and I need a wife urgently. It's perfect."

"Perfect for you, perhaps."

"Perfect for both of us." He releases me and takes out a pen. "Sign the contract, Seraphina. Let me save you."

I look at the pen. It is silver and heavy, worth more than I've made in a week, maybe. If I sign, it's all different. If I don't, Mom will die.

"What if I'm not any good? What if I'm awful at lying?"

"You won't be bad at it."

"How do you know?"

"Because you'll have to be good at it. Your mother's life depends on it."

His words hit me. He always manages to say exactly what he needs to in order to make me do what he wants me to. He knows something about Mom.

"that's not fair," I gasp.

"life isn't fair." Adrian thrusts the pen at me. "But sometimes we get lucky and make it better."

I take up the pen. It weighs heavily in my hand, like gold, not silver. The pages of the contract rustle in the air from the diner's antiquated air conditioner.

"If I sign it, what is next?"

"You move into my penthouse tomorrow. We will marry within a week." Adrian scans my face. "And your mother receives the finest medical treatment money can offer."

My heart beats so hard that I'm sure it will shatter my ribs. This is crazy. Getting married to a stranger is what movies are for, not life.

Life, though, is Mom getting ill day by day. Life is working until my feet bleed and not even being able to purchase something. Life is seeing the one I love most in the whole world die day by day.

I put the pen down on the paper. My scribble appears tiny and pathetic alongside all the big, proper letters.

"There," I whisper. "It's done."

Adrian smiles for the first time since I've known him. "Welcome to the family, Mrs. Kane."

Mrs. Kane. The name tastes strange and terrifying and incredible all at once.

"What if your grandfather's ghost returns and isn't pleased with our marriage being real enough?"

Adrian's smile disappears. "Then we're both in trouble."

Seraphina's Point of View

We are in a risky situation, both of us. These words echoed continuously in my mind, resembling loud sounds from a church while Adrian returned the documented agreement into the storage folder. The feeling of holding the valuable writing tool still made my hand vibrate.

"Precisely, what sort of dangerous situation? " I inquired.

"The kind that can devastatingly alter life. " Adrian securely fastened the case with a clear snapping sound. "Although, let's remain optimistic that it doesn't escalate to such a degree. "

I had the urge to seek further clarification, but he was already rising to his feet. Like tossing away insignificant funds, he placed another one hundred dollar note onto the surface.

"I will come and get you at 6:00 PM tomorrow," he stated. "Gather all of your possessions. "

"Every single thing? However, I had thought this was merely a staged act."

"It is an act. However, it is vital for it to seem genuine. " A tinge of apprehension mixed with seriousness was noticeable in his grey eyes. "We cannot afford to take chances, Seraphina. "

He headed towards the exit point, paused briefly, and turned back. "Just one further thing. Avoid mentioning any aspect of this to others. Not your circle of friends, not those you work with. Absolutely no one."

"What is my mother included in? "

"Especially, refrain from telling your mother. "

Following his departure, I was now alone among messy coffee vessels and the aroma of stale oil. For a prolonged duration, I sat inside the seating area, intensely staring at the currency equivalent to one hundred dollars. I was merely an exhausted service employee the previous day. I am about to become the spouse of someone with extreme wealth this evening.

The prospect makes me experience a rising sensation of vomit.

I completed my workday as if in an unconscious state. Each patron gave me strange looks, seemingly able to discern that I had just consented to participate in something outrageous. As Tony bid farewell for the night, I was nearly about to inform him that I would not be returning for work tomorrow. But the statement remained unsaid.

Arriving at the medical center around 7:00 AM, the atmosphere was serene. I entered the lift, heading up to the fourth level where my mother had been staying for the duration of three weeks. An odor of cleaning agents and grief lingered in the area.

"Sera? " Mom's pronunciation was faint and raspy. "You're arriving before the usual time. "

"I had trouble getting to sleep. " I sat on the furniture next to her resting place. She seemed noticeably fragile with each passing day, similar to gradually vanishing. "How is your condition currently? "

"As if I've been impacted severely by a transport truck. " She attempted a grin, but it failed to reach the vision. "The medical professional desires to engage in dialogue with both of us during the current day."

A feeling of unease immediately hits my stomach. "In reference to which matter? "

"Concerning the process of operative intervention, my beloved. We must make some significant choices. "

An hour later, Dr. Peterson entered the room with a collection of unfavourable details. He is a caring person with comforting vision, however, on the current day, he seemed weary and saddened.

"The state of your kidneys is declining," the doctor stated, seated in front of us. "We are required to perform the surgery within the next two weeks; otherwise. . . "

His statement was left unfinished, though it was unnecessary for him to complete it.

"What will the cost be? " I questioned, despite my awareness of my inability to afford it.

"Accounting for all expenses, it will be approximately three hundred thousand dollars. "

The color drained from Mom's face. "Three hundred thousand dollars? "

"The insurance coverage will offset a portion of it, but not the full amount. " We were met with a sympathetic gaze from Dr. Peterson. "I realize the sum is substantial. "

"That's practically three million," Mom said softly. "We simply don't possess that amount. "

My thoughts drifted towards the agreement contained within Adrian's briefcase, an agreement amounting to two million dollars – sufficient not only to fund Mom's medical treatment but also to provide for our future financial needs.

"We will figure out a solution," I assured her, grasping her hand. "I give you my word, Mom. We will find a way."

Following Dr. Peterson's departure, Mom's eyes welled up with tears. These silent tears pierced my heart, causing me immense pain.

"I am so sorry, Sera. I feel terrible for being such a burden on you."

"Please don't talk like that! " I tightened my grip on her hand. "You are far from a burden. You are my mother. "

"But concerning the funds. . . We will never acquire that much money. "

"Actually, we will. " The words came out instinctively. "I have identified a means to acquire the necessary funds. "

Mom's eyes reflected a mix of anticipation and apprehension as she gazed at me. "How so? "

The urge to disclose the truth was strong. I wanted to explain about Adrian, the contract, and the fictitious marriage. However, his warning echoed in my thoughts. Do not reveal this to anyone, especially not your mother.

"I accepted a new position," I said, telling a lie. "It's a very lucrative job with excellent compensation. "

"What kind of employment offers such a high salary? "

"I will be the personal assistant to a wealthy businessman. " The fabrication came more easily as I continued. "He is a frequent traveler and needs someone to assist him. The salary is exceptionally high. "

Mom adjusted her position in the hospital bed. "Sera, dear, that sounds too unrealistic to be true. "

"It is genuine, Mom. I assure you, it's real. "

She scrutinized me for a prolonged moment. I observed her internal struggle as she attempted to determine whether to believe me.

"When will you begin? "

"Tomorrow. "

"Tomorrow? " Mom's voice conveyed concern. "That's incredibly soon. "

"He requires immediate assistance. And Mom, there may be times when I have to accompany him on his travels for work. "

"Travel where? "

"I'm uncertain at this point. Potentially everywhere. " I told another lie, but what other choice did I have? "The significant aspect is that we will have the necessary funds for your operation. "

Mom raised her frail hand and gently touched my face. "Are you certain about this, sweetheart? It sounds frightening. "

Scary was an understatement. Terrifying would be a more accurate description. However, as I observed my mother lying in the hospital bed, growing weaker with each passing day, I understood that I had no other recourse.

"I am certain," I reassured her. "Everything is going to be alright from now on."

I’m with Mom until visiting hours conclude for the day. We talk mostly about her surgery and her future dreams after she heals up. She says she wants to grow a garden and try learning how to paint things. These simple dreams don’t need much money to come true.

Leaving the hospital, my phone buzzes from a text from Adrian.

The car will be at your place by 5:30 sharp. Make sure you’re ready to go then. - Adrian

I see the time. It's already four in the afternoon, like a switch flipped. I have ninety minutes to pack and get ready to act like someone else.

My place, while small and old, strangely feels just like where I belong. I see the cheap furniture and the pictures all over the walls. Most were me and Mom when I was young and she was still very healthy then.

I stuff my clothes into a couple of bags. Everything I own fits really easily. This fact makes me feel inexplicably sad deep inside.

Right at 5:30, a black car stops outside my building out front. The driver gets out and comes towards my door.

"Are you Miss Wells by chance? Mr. Kane sent it to me just now."

He grabs my bags and opens up the car door wide. I've never had someone open a car door like that before. The seats are probably more than I pay for rent each month.

The city looks different from inside such a fancy car. It seems brighter, like the windows are made of magic and not regular glass at all.

We drive through parts of Manhattan that I've only seen in movies shown on screen. Giant buildings that look like they are trying to touch the sky up above. Stores with fancy names in gold letters shining bright. People wearing expensive clothes walk around like they own everything here.

The auto stops short facing the hugest place I have ever set eyes on. The chauffeur does the deed of popping my door open once more.

"Mr. Kane is sitting tight for you up top," he tells me now. "Go up to the tippy top using the lift."

I go into the entry room lugging my two small bags. All around are rocks, shiny gold stuff, and see-through lights. The guards stare at me like I don't fit in here.

"I'm here to see Adrian Kane now," I let him know then.

He checks his tech thing and says yes with his head. "Top floor. Take the lift over on the right side."

The lift ride feels quite long now. I watch the numbers tick higher and higher up. 20... 30... 40... 45.

When the doors split, I walk into a new world now. The top flat is bigger than houses. Big glass shows the city down below. Things like you'd find in a fancy house show.

"You made it here." Adrian shows up from a hidey spot in the flat now. He's not in a suit today, just pants and a white top that costs more than I make in a month still.

"Do you live in this spot?" I ask, while I look all around now.

"We live in this spot now." He grabs my bags like they weigh nada. "Come here, let me take you to your room now."

We walk down a long path, past rooms I can't even think of using. Adrian stops at a door way far at the end.

"This is your spot," he says, when he starts to push it open then.

Adrian's Point of View

I'm getting hitched tomorrow. The words float like fog. Seraphina's in her room, seeming spooky and lost.

"Tomorrow?" Her voice is quite small. "We just inked the deal yesterday."

"I said time was a foe." I peek at my watch. "We've got twenty-eight days. No time to lose now."

She plops down on the bed. It's big and barely dips. "This is really for real."

"This is actually real." I go to the glass and peek at the town. "My lawyer's in the hall at ten sharp. We ink papers, take photos, then finish."

"What do I wear now? My clothes are quite drab."

I spin back to her now. She stares at her hands, and tears begin now. I feel a pang for what I ask.

"There's a dress in that closet," I say now. "My helper got it this morning."

Seraphina goes to the closet and opens the doors. She sighs at the clothes inside. Clothes with tags that might scare her.

"Adrian, it's too much."

"It's a thing that's needed." I sit by the glass. "Folks want my wife to look right."

"Your fake type of wife."

"My wife. Fake or true, no one minds."

She grabs a white dress that's plain and nice. The type for hall if hitched for love.

"It's very pretty," she whispers.

"Give it a whirl. See if it is right."

"Right?"

"Right."

She slips into the bath with the cloth. I hear drips falling and boxes sliding. When she steps out fifteen minutes later, my breath goes missing.

The cloth hugs her just right. Her brown eyes pop, and her hair seems to burn bright. She seems lovely, youthful, unlike that worn girl from Tony's Place.

"What do you think?" she says, spinning slowly.

"Like some rich guy's dear bride."

She smiles, a first since she came here. "Is that bad, or is that good?"

"That's ideal."

My phone makes a small buzz with words. Marcus' name pops on the screen, and my joy fades out.

I hear wedding bells will ring. Congrats, dear brother. Eager to greet.

I stare hard at those words. How does Marcus know this now? Only my lawyer heard the tale.

"Adrian? What is wrong?"

I stare back. Seraphina eyes me, filled with fear. "Nothing. Just work woes."

But this is not a small thing. Marcus knows a thing, a bad omen. My brother lurks, eyes on me, for my fall. He finds out this deed is false, we're both doomed.

"Go get some rest," I tell Seraphina. "Tomorrow's a big day."

She nods, heading towards the bath spot. "Adrian?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you. Helping my kin. I know this is work, just a deal, but it counts."

After the bath door shuts tight, I call up my lawyer.

"Richard, a flaw now."

"Say what?"

"Someone spilled out the deed's details. My brother knows it all."

Richard pauses, not a peep. "How did he hear? Only my aide did."

"So, a soul spilled the beans." I roam around my lair. "This stays secret, Richard. If they deem this love unreal, I'm ruined."

"Perhaps Marcus just thinks so. Perhaps his facts are wrong."

"Marcus thinks not. He knows why he does things."

"What's my task, then?"

"Make tomorrow flawless. No mess, no fuss. Find the blabbermouth."

I end the call and drink hard. The dark sky has bright buildings. Marcus plots, I just know it.

My phone buzzes twice. A number unknown, how strange.

"Adrian Kane here."

"Hello there, Adrian." The voice sounds smoky. "I am Vincent Ashford."

My phone nearly slips. Vincent Ashford ruined my folks long ago. He made dad kill himself. I've yearned to hurt him since.

"What do you seek now?" My voice feels icy hard.

"I want to meet my new kin."

"What is your point?"

"Seraphina Wells. The girl you wed soon." Vincent laughs, a sad sound. "She is my own girl, Adrian. Did she not say this?"

The room seems to sway. My drink spills and shatters down. "That cannot be true."

"DNA is real, boy. I've eyed her for years, for contact to form."

"You speak lies, man."

"Do I know? Ask her 'bout her kin. Ask why her mom lied." Vincent lowers his tone. "Ask why she seems like her dad."

The line goes still. I eye the phone, scared of its blast.

Seraphina is Vincent Ashford's kid. The lady I am marrying the next day is my worst foe's kid. I'm paying two million to a lady from a family that wrecked mine.

I move to her room's door and eavesdrop. I hear water running in her restroom. She's bathing, preparing to sleep and get married to me.

Does she have any idea about this? Did she know who I am and what her dad did? Is it a plan to end what Vincent started fifteen years ago?

My hands vibrate as I return to study. On the desk sits a picture of my dad from my young age. He smiles and holds me. Six months later, Vincent Ashford wrecked our firm, and my dad killed himself.

I lift the picture and stare at my dad. "What do I do now, Dad? How do I trust her when she's his kid?"

But my dad can't speak. He's been dead fifteen years because of Vincent Ashford.

I am marrying Vincent's kid tomorrow.

I hear Seraphina's door open. Her feet are soft as she readies for sleep. She has no clue that things just changed.

My phone vibrates with text from Marcus.

Sleep well, man. The next day is very interesting.

I stare at the text, knowing Marcus knows who Seraphina is. He planned this, waiting for me to fall for his trap.

However, I am way too far to quit this thing now. The big day is coming up on the next day. All papers have my signature on it. And somewhere in the town, Vincent Ashford may be giggling about how great things are going.

I have another drink and sit in dim light, seeing city lights mix as one. On the next day I wed my foe's kid. What I wonder is, does she have any clue she may destroy the man who is trying to save her mom's life?