"Whoa! Breathe Sydney-what happened?!" My best friend's voice filled with panic as she asked in perplexity. 

"What's happening Syd?" She paused, "I'm beginning to get very worried-did someone die?" She asked worriedly.

"Okay, breathe....in, out, yes just like that" she says trying to get me stable. 

After inhaling and exhaling for a few minutes, the hiccups subsided and I could talk a bit more clearly. I started baring my heart out to Ava. 

"Oh Ava, my dreams are so shattered" I echoed. "Wait where are you?" She asked 

"I'm sitting in a toilet stall at an hospital" Ava shrieked as soon as I said that.

"Oh my God Sydney, I'm on my way now!" I could hear her car keys jingling hurriedly.

"Oh no I'm fine, well at least physically but my mental health is in shambles right now" I said, more to myself than her.

"I wasn't involved in an accident or anything like that" I assured her. 

"So what then is the matter?" She asked. I sucked in air before I started.

"Well technically, I have less than two years to either find someone to knock me up and pop out at least three kids from me or set up a GoFundMe account to be able to freeze my eggs" I said trying to sound humorous but sounding distressed instead. 

"Oh wow, you lost me at the popping out babies part. You know what, can you manage to get home yourself and call me as soon as you get home or do you need me to skip work and come pick you up right now?" She asked affectionately.

Pulling her from her job is the last thing I wanted to do because I know how demanding her job is and it would be selfish of me to do that. 

"Oh no no it's fine, I'll manage to get myself home then we can talk properly" I said reassuringly. 

"Okay babes, I'll order you an Uber and I will try to leave work early so we can talk face-to-face" Ava says sweetly.

This is one out of the many reasons I cherish our friendship, she is willing to drop everything to comfort me at any low moment. My heart instantly fills with gratitude. 

"Please hang in there babes, okay?, Let me know as soon as you get home, love you girl" she says.

"Love you too, bye" I said, my spirit lifting just a little bit since the minute I came out of the doctor's office. 

The minutes leading until I got home went by in a blur. I was lost in thought. I was brought back to reality when the Uber driver announced that I had arrived at my destination.

I got down and went into my apartment immediately. I just wanted the comfort of my home so I could cry as much and as loud as I wanted. 

I took out my phone and dialed Ava to tell her that I had gotten home. She picked up at the first ring, she must have been anticipating my call. 

"Babes I'm so sorry, I can't come over right now, I have a lottttt of work to catch up on. I had to sneak to the bathroom to even talk to you right now" She says guiltily, emphasizing the 't's' to tell me how much work she has to do.

Of course, I understood and couldn't blame her. She works at an investment bank and the job is so demanding that it requires her to work during the weekend sometimes.

"It's okay Ava, really. I know you really wish to be here for me" I said to her reassuringly. 

"So what's happening, Syd? I'm very worried about you" Ava says. 

"Well you know I had a doctor's appointment planned cos I wanted to run a general body test right?"

"Hmmm," Ava replied affirmatively.

"So I find out that my ovarian reserve is very low and I have basically less than two years before I am unable to conceive naturally. My only options now are either to start actively considering having a child or resort to freezing my eggs now so I can preserve them till I'm ready in the future" I explained briefly to her. 

"Oh my Gosh Syd, this is a lot to process" she says affectionately. 

"I think the egg freezing option is a very good solution for this situation" she suggests. 

"Well it would've been if it didn't cost twenty thousand bucks" I say.

"Holy shit!! That's a whole lot of money, Syd!" She exclaimed, shocked just like I was. 

"Oh my God, this is really a lot babes, I'm so sorry you're going through all this. It's honestly a lot" Ava says soothingly.

"So what do you think of doing?" She asked after a moment of silence.

"Well, I can't afford freezing my eggs so it's either I start talking about a child to Drake..... as he is the only man in my life right now and a man I can trust with my child as well, or I would have to give in to adoption. I don't think it would be as expensive as the egg freezing option" I say

"Do you think Drake wouldn't think of me as crazy if I ask if he could impregnate me asap?" I asked her. 

"Well judging from your guys' relationship over the years, the guy would do anything for you, he would be overjoyed to go on that journey with you, he's head over heels in love with you Sdy" She says confidently. 

"Hmm, you think so?" I wondered.

"I know so, Syd, have you seen the way he looks at you? He would gladly do it. I know adoption is the last thing you want to do. I know how much you really want your own kids and naturally for that matter. You've always talked about it since we were kids" She points out. 

"Right!" I say, remembering briefly about how much I used to yap about my future family growing up because I didn't really have one.

Dad was gone a few months after I turned 13 and Mom lost herself and hasn't found herself back up to date. 

"Okay, I'll talk to him" I tell Ava. "Matter of fact, invite him over tonight. I don't want you to be alone and sad tonight. You could use some company" she suggests. 

"I don't want to bother him"

"Who says you're bothering him, as if he ever complained about you bothering him?" 

"Well not really but still...." I trailed off. 

"Still nothing Syd, you have always been pushing Drake away even after he continuously proves that he's got you all these years but you still keep rejecting him" She paused.

"You know you would have to try and see for yourself to know he isn't like the other guys right?" 

"I know it's just that I'm so scared to ruin our friendship if things don't work out you know-he has really been a good friend to me and I wouldn't want to lose all that" I said, finally admitting my fear out loud. 

"Well you would still ruin the friendship either way if you don't give him a chance because he'll get tired of chasing and lusting after you and he would eventually stop and move on someday and it will hurt you so much for not trying at all and I know you like him, Syd. You always second guess yourself all the time and it isn't good for you." 

"Ughh! I hate when you're so right" I groaned while blushing. Ava laughs.

"Okay, okay, I'll give him a chance-but if it doesn't work out you're to be blamed" I said to her, pointing a finger accusingly at the air forgetting that she can't see me.

"I'll take that chance boo" she cooed playfully. "Oops...I have to go now Syd, call him and please take care of yourself okay?" Ava says hurriedly.

They must have noticed her absence at work by now. 

"Okay, love you girl " I say, hanging up. 

I let myself fall onto the bed from my sitting position, in defeat. I thought for a moment about how my conversation with Drake would go. I kept on playing different scenarios in my head.

I was lost in my thoughts when my phone started ringing. I picked it up and on checking the caller ID, it was the man whom I was actively thinking about, I couldn't help but smile. 

"Hey Beautiful" Drake says sexily as he usually does. That's his pet name for me. I catch myself smiling and blushing whenever he calls me that these past few months. I secretly liked it but I never told him that. 

"Heyy Drake" I replied trying to feign excitement but deep down, I wasn't feeling anything but sadness and worry- sad because it the whole situation and worried about how he would take the news I'm about to share with him. 

"How is my favorite human doing today" 

"Erm, actually there's something I want to share with you" I state, straight to the point because I was drained emotionally and was in no mood for pleasantries.

"Oh, what's wrong Sydney?" He asked worried 

"A lot is going on in my life right now and I'm trying to wrap my head around it, I'm about to ask you for a huge favour" I said.

There was a pause on his end and I thought for a second that he was distracted or wasn't listening to me, then I heard the jingling of keys. 

"Hang on Sydney, I'm coming to you right now. Gimme a couple of minutes, okay?" 

"Okay," I said blushing extremely hard. I didn't even ask if he could come over, I didn't have to ask-he would drop everything to come and comfort me whenever I needed it.

I couldn't stop smiling, he was too good to be true, that's why I have always been scared to change our friendship dynamic to more than friends. I'm scared I would lose this but I am getting to the point where I can't ignore my subtle feelings for him anymore.

I really want him and I know for sure that he wants me to, so why am I pushing him away? I question myself.

At that moment I promised myself to finally accept him. 

I saw him parking his car not too far from my apartment a few minutes after the call. I was so excited and positive that tonight would end in a good way for both of us.

I could see Drake stepping down from his car and walking to my doorstep. I couldn't help but smile as I saw him making his way to my door.

Drake has always been handsome, though not much taller than I am but tall enough for him to bend his head a little to kiss my forehead. He had a lot of girls chasing him in uni but he always rejected them and dreamily chased after me. 

I opened the door before he could knock. "Hey beautiful," he says, hugging me before I let him in. Seeing my red and puffy eyes, he worriedly asked.

"What's wrong, beautiful? Have you been crying? What's going on, Sydney?" He paused. "Does what you wanted to talk to me about have to do with you crying so much?" He asked painfully. 

I spent the next few minutes recounting details of how the doctor's appointment went. "Oh my God Sydney" he says shockingly after I told him everything. 

"What do you want to do?" He asked me, staring at me affectionately.

"Well, I definitely cannot afford to freeze my eggs. It's too expensive for me and would affect my finances" I said, then quickly added before he could respond " I really want to have children of my own, and since I can't wait that long, I'm thinking of doing it now."

I paused while muttering the courage to ask a question that might change everything.

"Would you like to be my sperm donor?" I asked, rushing my words and holding my breath.

"Sperm donor?" Drake asked frowning "What do you mean sperm donor?" He asked with a scowl on his face. 

"Well that's the only option I can afford now and-"

"Sydney" he called softly "if I'm to come in, in this situation, I don't want to come in as a sperm donor-how can you ask me that? I want to come in as your baby daddy, as your lover- not a flimsy 'sperm donor'," he gestured an air quote with his hands irritatedly.

On hearing this, my grin was very large and I let out the breath I had been holding.

"Oh really?" I asked my cheeks reddening. 

"Yes Sydney, I have always wanted you for the longest time and now that there's a chance for us to be more than friends then you ask me to be your sperm donor instead, I don't like that" he said with a serious expression. 

"I'm sorry Drake, I just didn't know how you'd respond to the news, I didn't want to outrightly ask to have your baby, I didn't know how you'd respond" I said quickly

"Hell yeah.... I'll be your sperm donor, I'll be your baby daddy, I'll be your lover, your boyfriend anything you want me to be Sydney" he says affectionately, holding my face in his hands.

"Even if you didn't ask me to father your child-which I would absolutely do in a heartbeat- you know I can always help you with anything you need. I can bear the cost of you freezing your eggs if you ever change your mind" he says lovingly and my heart felt warm with affection and gratitude that he would go that far for me.

I always knew he was rich but I didn't like asking him for favors that had to do with money.

"Look I know this is not the time for this but I can't wait anymore. I wanted to wait till tomorrow, that's why I asked to see you and to wear something nice. I wanted to take you to a fancy restaurant and officially ask you to be my girlfriend" he says, smiling sweetly. 

I was filled with so many emotions all at once. I was grinning so hard, my cheeks burning and shining a bright red. 

"Oh Drake" I blurted breathlessly. Emotions are choking my words.

"I want to be your boyfriend first before anything else, your baby daddy, and hopefully someday your husband". He says, looking directly into my eyes. 

I smiled sweetly and let him bring my face to his until there's barely any space left. When he brought his lips to mine, I smiled. He kissed me softly and after some minutes I broke the kiss and whispered to him. 

"Yes Drake, I will be your girlfriend" he smiled delightedly.

 He kissed me passionately, pouring into the kiss all the years of his feelings for me that he had been trying to suppress.

I was very shy and not into my feelings as much as Drake was into his because I still found it weird to be intimate with my closest male friend. I suddenly sprang to my feet, breaking the kiss. 

"Drake, I know the plan is to start trying for a kid but can we wait a bit? I need to prepare myself mentally and acknowledge the fact that we're shifting from friends to something much more" I said to him.

"As much as I love to devour you right now...I have to respect your wishes and follow in your lead, girlfriend," he said, flirtily. I giggled like a child.

Drake and I went to bed together. I made sure nothing happened.

For some reason I can't explain, my body and heart are refusing to open up fully to Drake. I like him for sure but I don't know if my feelings for him are passionate enough for me to spend the rest of my life with him. 

Am I just using him to get what I truly want? I ask myself, deep in thought before he stretched his hands and pulled me into his arms and cuddled me till I fell asleep.

I got to work a few minutes past resumption time because I slept through my alarm- it must be my body's way of resting after my terrific weekend.

My morning was rushed, I had to prepare hurriedly for work and still ended up arriving late. I rushed in, scared of the consequences of my boss arriving before me. 

While I was about to rush into my work desk, I saw Xavier standing beside my desk tapping his right foot on the ground, as if waiting for me. I was instantly filled with fear. He is going to be so furious. I entered meekly, my head bowed.

"Good morning Mr Crest" I said, my voice sounding very small.

"Is there really anything good about the morning?" He shoots at me, frowning. He looked down at his wristwatch. 

"This is 9:45am and here you are walking majestically like you own the place. I don't pay you to come to my company late" he says harshly, glaring at me. 

"I'm so sorry sir, it won't happen again" I apologized. He walked to his office after my apology without even saying anything else. I quickly stepped into my desk and started work for the day. 

I had been working and lost track of time so I almost missed lunch. It took my stomach rumbling for me to stop and check the time. I saw that I had sat through half of the day working.

 I was about to go grab lunch when I heard my boss's phone ringing, he picked and I could hear his conversation clearly. 

He sounded very respectful which was surprising because it is well known that Xavier is a very rude and unlikeable person. He must be talking to someone he holds in high regard, I concluded.

"Dad, I don't need a wife. I don't need someone entitled to half of my wealth" There was a pause, which must have been his dad responding but he was inaudible from my end. Then Xavier responds. 

"But we can find another way around it, it doesn't have to end with me marrying against my wish" 

"No I don't need a woman, I have lots of women on my beck and call and I don't need to be tied to just one dad" he whined. The back and forth went on and on till he sighed in defeat.

"Okay okay, fine, but I get to choose- I'll let you know my decision" he says defeated "Yes I heard you the first time, and tell mom I can literally hear her rejoicing over my predicament. Bye dad" 

I cannot believe I just heard all that. I was laughing quietly in amusement. I can't believe the big, scary boss is being forced to get married.

I stood up to go grab lunch, I had had enough entertainment for the day. 

******

XAVIER'S POV 

The day is almost gone and mom and dad keep suggesting unsuitable women to be my fake wife.

Mom even subtly suggested Bianca. Bianca of all women! I would rather die than marry Bianca even if it's fake, I thought to myself angrily.

Once this business deal is sealed, our wealth would also be permanently sealed-not like it wasn't before, but who says no to more wealth?

It changes everything and I am the one to actualize it by settling down against my wish- at least for three years. 

The truth was simple: the partnership hinged on one thing I didn't have. A wife. The European investors were old-school, obsessed with family values and stability.

They wanted a CEO who looked grounded, settled, and dependable. Not a bachelor who lived out of hotel rooms and changed ladies like underwear-at least that was how dad put it. 

Their board had asked-subtly at first, then directly-about my marital status. And when I  saw the hesitation in their eyes, I knew it was a dealbreaker. Three years. That was the length of the partnership, and the length of time I needed to look like a married man with a stable life.

I need a wife-not for love, not for companionship, but for business and I need to think and act fast before this deal slips off our hands.

Dad wouldn't forgive it. I was majorly agreeing to do it because of him. He built this company from nothing and I wouldn't do anything to jeopardize that for him even after he retired and left me in charge. 

I started to shuffle through the girls I had but none of them seemed suitable.

I mostly went after whores, who couldn't even play pretend wife. They would get too greedy and run off with my wealth.

While I was lost in my thoughts, I saw my PA walk into her cubicle and for a moment I imagined her being my wife.

After all, she has been my staff for years now so she should be loyal to me. She seemed really quiet and nice, I didn't think she should be seeing someone, I thought. Suddenly, I had a crazy idea to ask her. 

"Sydney!" I called out to her. She came rushing to my office. "Are you seeing someone?" I asked her authoritatively.

I saw her shift awkwardly from foot to foot, her cheeks reddening in embarrassment. "Erm no sir" she said quietly.

"Okay good" I said dismissing her. 

She is good looking, curvy, and full in appropriate places, she fears me and she wouldn't say no to me since she isn't seeing anyone I thought.

The plan is perfect. She would be my fake wife, I smile at the resolution I have come to. 

Picking up my phone, I called my lawyer to draft me a three-year marriage contract. While I was still on a call with my lawyer, I heard my phone beeping, another call from an unknown number was coming in. I picked irritatedly. 

"Hello baby" Bianca's voice filled my ear. I regretted picking up the call instantly. I had almost forgotten the lengths to which Bianca would go just to have my attention.

I had blocked her everywhere and even several unknown numbers she used to reach me but still, she found a way to reach me. 

"What the hell do you want from me, Bianca?" I said angrily. 

"That's no way to talk to the love of your life Xavier" she reprimanded me. "I am familiar with this hard-to-get game of yours, you'd pretend for a while that you don't want me until you see me without panties on" she said adding an extra ring to her voice trying to sound seductive, but it just aggravated me. 

"Bianca, I'm saying this for the last time, I want nothing to do with you, whatever we had is over and I don't want you anymore. As a matter of fact, I'm actually getting married. Move on and leave me the hell alone" I said curtly and without waiting for her reply I hung up and blocked her number for the umpteenth time. 

I let out a frustrated groan because that's how I always feel whenever it comes to Bianca. I have let her seduce me in the past but not anymore.

It's funny how I once genuinely loved the pathetic woman until I caught her numerous times sleeping with every man who breathed her way.

Everything I felt for her after was lust, I just wanted to keep sleeping with her, that's why I didn't end this sooner but I am now bored and couldn't be bothered with a psycho like her. 

My lawyer sent a hard copy of the marriage contract and I proceeded to drop it on Sydney's desk. Her cubicle was empty when I got there so I dropped it on her desk and went back to my office to round up for the day.

I had a steamy hot stripper waiting for me in my loft. I can't wait to do incredible things to her as soon as I leave this place. 

Just as I was clearing up my desk, Sydney entered my office, the marriage contract in her hands. 

"With all due respect sir, I hereby reject your offer. I can't do it" she says trying to appear confident but I hear the shakiness in her voice and I can see how she looks down without looking at me when she says it.

Before I could respond, she ran out of my office. I stood there stunned. 

"Did she just say no to me?"

"Who does she think she is?

"How dare she refuse me?" I said loudly to myself, extremely furious.

I left the office very aggravated. Who does Xavier think he is?..... To propose a flimsy fake marriage to me. Does he think I am one of his whores?

I wondered to myself. I hadn't even bothered to read the whole of the contract before I rejected it. 

I started to blame myself for saying no when he asked if I was seeing someone. I just didn't know what he was up to.

I was very startled by the question and because 'no' has always been my default answer to someone asking if I was seeing someone for the longest time now, I blurted it out–I was uncomfortable and I wasn't thinking straight when he randomly threw the question at me.

I haven't dated anyone in almost two years now. I instantly thought about Drake and how he would feel if he heard about all that happened and my part to play in it. I decided to keep it from him and call Ava instead. 

"You wouldn't believe what happened at work today" I said to Ava after she picked up my call. 

"Omg, what happened again in your dramatic place of work- there's always one drama or the other going on in that place" she says to me. 

"Well this one directly affects me" I huffed.

"You know what, I have little spare time on my hands. I should come over to listen to this, plus, it's been a while since we hung out. I'm bringing pizza!" Ava announced.

"Please bring ice cream too, I could really use some," I told her.

"Uh-oh.... this must be serious, for you to demand ice cream, this must be a lot" She responds.

"See you in 40 minutes babes" She says, I could hear shuffling in the background "Yeah bye" I say, hanging up.

Ava came a few minutes later, gathering me in a bear hug into her arms. 

"You've been through so much lately babes, I'm so sorry I haven't been present to pat you on the back" Ava says affectionately. 

"Oh don't be silly, I know you've also been dealing with a lot of pressure at work" 

"Honestly I have, it's been a lot of pressure on my end. My MD dumped another pitch deck on me this morning, and I'm already drowning in financial modeling."

"But weren't you working on that M&A deal?"

"Exactly! We're in due diligence right now, and the deliverables are insane. I barely finished the valuation last night."

"So basically... another week of late nights?" I asked. 

"More like another week of no life" She exclaimed rolling her eyes. "The deal flow has been nonstop. My pipeline is full, clients are calling every hour, and compliance wants an update by tomorrow." Ava whines.

"Whew. Investment banking is not for the weak." I concluded 

"Trust me, I've noticed. But enough about me, I came here for you today. What's up?" She finally asked. 

"Well my boss threw a fake marriage proposal at my desk during work hours today"

"Oh my goodness! You're absolutely kidding me right now right?" Ava exclaimed, wide-eyed in shock.

"I heard him the other day on a call with his dad, from his response, I could tell he was reluctant, he was refusing to get a wife but for some reason, he agreed after much convincing. It must be for a very valid reason because, knowing the kind of person he is, he doesn't strike me as someone who wants to settle down willingly." I explained to Ava

"I mean nnn" she dragged "You've told me all about his whoring episodes so I'm not surprised at all."

"So he, what?- wants you to be his fake wife?" she asked ludicrously.

I nodded and she burst out laughing. After laughing uncontrollably for several minutes, she saw I didn't join in her laughter, she finally turned to me and said, "So you aren't kidding really"

"Yes Ava, I'm dead serious, he actually pouched me like it was a legit business deal" I said still reeling from the shock. 

"He didn't even ask if you were seeing someone or something" she says.

"Erm actually...." I said shifting uncomfortably, looking everywhere else except her face.

"Oh my God Syd!, Don't tell me he actually asked you if you were seeing someone" 

"Well, in my defense, he practically summoned me into his office and demanded to know if I was seeing someone"

I changed my voice to a deep baritone to mimic Xavier "Are you seeing someone?....Okay you're dismissed".

I said, making Ava laugh with my funny way of mimicking Xavier.

"He didn't even give me a chance to respond before he went back to whatever he was doing like I didn't exist or like he didn't just ask me a very personal question" I whined.

"Well I heard him talking to you over the phone the other day and he sounded very scary, his presence physically must be pretty intimidating" She said, reasoning with me.

"What did you say though?" she asked.

"Of course I said no," I said matter-of-factly. "It's not like I don't have Drake's feelings to consider" 

"Well, you didn't actually tell him you have a man though" I glared at her. "What? It's the truth" she shoots back after seeing my expression. 

"Wait...." She said pausing "Would you have agreed to the proposal if Drake didn't come into the picture?" she asked inquisitively. 

"Urgh! I really don't know!" I buried my face in my hands, groaning. "I don't exactly know, I catch myself wondering how it's going to be married to my boss and I question my feelings for Drake so much"

"Don't you like him?" She asked confused 

"I do, I don't just know if I like him more, I mean to the point where I can say it's true love"

"You shouldn't rush yourself, Syd, feelings don't just rush to you, it's a gradual process babes" she said reassuringly. 

"I know but I keep getting this nagging feeling like something is amiss" I said softly. Ava left her sit across from me and walked to me, bent and held my hands. 

"Everything will work out fine, babes, you'd eventually get there, okay?" 

"Okay," I said finally. "Omg we've both been so caught up that we let a good ice cream melt" I said, eyeing the ice cream on the desk in my living room.

"We better dig in before it totally dissolves," Ava says, walking to the kitchen to bring spoons. 

We ate while catching up with a series of other things happening in our lives. We have been so busy lately that we barely have time to just sit and talk. 

"Are you staying here tonight?" I asked Ava after seeing how dark the weather is becoming. 

"Oh I would really love to but I didn't pack an overnight bag plus I have to be at work super early tomorrow" she says. She left several minutes after and I was left with my thoughts in my quiet tiny apartment. 

I thought of calling Drake but I decided to call my mom instead. I haven't heard from her in a while and I was starting to feel guilty about it. I dialed her number and she picked up when the call was almost going to voicemail. She often forgets she has a phone. 

She finally picks and I clear my throat. "Hey Mom-how are you doing?....how's Rochester been?" 

There's a pause on the other end of the line-long enough that I actually pull the phone away to check if the call dropped.

"Mom?" I say.

"Oh. Yes. I'm doing well honey. Rochester is fine," she murmurs, her voice floating like she's miles away from the room she's standing in.

"Are you doing well? Eating well?" I ask, trying to keep my tone light.

Another stretch of silence. I hear her exhale softly, like she forgot I was talking to her. "Mm-hmm. I'm... managing."

She always says that-managing. Never good, never bad.

I try again. "Did you get my text about visiting next month?"

She doesn't answer immediately. When she finally speaks, it's slow, unfocused. "I'm sorry, what did you say?"

I close my eyes. "Nothing. It's fine."

And just like that, the conversation dissolves into the same quiet I've grown used to- her body on the line, her mind somewhere I can't reach.

It has always been this way since we lost dad and I feel agitated that she is now a shadow of herself even if we both lost someone we loved. 

"I just wanted to check if you're doing fine," I said, trying to keep the sadness away from my tone. 

"Err...yes I'm good honey" she says slowly. I know the conversation is over on her end because she might just go mute if I talk to her further so I decided to put an end to the call. 

"Okay Mom, take care of yourself- bye" I said, hanging up.

I fell flat on my bed sighing, my mood ruined. I don't know why I keep expecting her to change all of a sudden. I should be used to her distance by now. I thought about ways to help her until I fell asleep. 

********

I woke up pretty early today, energized and ready for work. I left home earlier than necessary just so I could beat Xavier getting to work before me.

After my brief rejection of his proposal, I want to do everything necessary to avoid being the reason for his anger. I was simply in no mood for that today. 

I stepped into the office building, exchanging greetings with my colleagues. I quickly stepped into my cubicle trying to settle in for the day. I checked Xavier's office and I was glad when I didn't see him, thank goodness! I thought to myself. 

I drop my bag on my chair, then freeze.

There's an envelope sitting in the middle of my desk. White. Unmarked. Perfectly centered, like someone placed it there with intention.

My name is typed across the front.

I already know.

My pulse skips as I slide a finger under the flap and unfold the paper inside. The words hit me in one sweep, even before I could force myself to read them one by one.

"Termination of Employment."

My stomach sinks.

I scan the rest-employment ended effective immediately... final paycheck processed... return company property... Thank you for your service.

He even dared to say thank you.

The signature at the bottom makes my throat tighten. His name. Bold. Clean. Like this is nothing but routine paperwork to him. "Xavier Crest. CEO of TechUp"

I fold the letter back up with shaky fingers and sit down slowly, letting the weight of it settle.

So this is what "no" costs.

This is what happens when I refuse to sign a marriage contract with my boss.

I swallow hard, staring at the paper. It feels cold. Final.

Little did I know that my whole life was about to change and Xavier would bring so much chaos into my life.