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.

I was disheveled and trying to pull myself together when I saw Xavier strolling in with a bored expression on his face, two security guards walking alongside him. 

"Escort Miss Poe here out of these premises this instant" he said with no emotion to the security. I stood there, dumbfounded and tongue-tied. 

Just as the two large men were walking towards me to walk me out, I suddenly found my voice. 

"Erm, Mr. Crest can we please talk about this?" I asked quietly, trying really hard to control my anger. 

"There's nothing to talk about Sydney" He said simply, shrugging.

I couldn't help but notice how he referred directly to me for the first time and how smoothly my name rolled out of his mouth, making me love how he said my name. I scolded myself immediately and snapped out of my insane thoughts. 

"Please sir, we can talk about this" I said, hating the fact that I have to beg him.

"You have 15 minutes, I'm listening" He said, putting one hand in his pocket, waiting for me to instantly start speaking in front of everyone. I looked at him, pleading with my eyes to let us have the conversation properly. 

He wordlessly started walking to his office and I was stumbling after him, trying to match his long and fast legs. He got into his office, sat, and gestured for me to sit. I started to plead with him.

"Erm... sir... I don't think you have to fire me just because I said no to your propo-" 

"I didn't spare you 15 minutes of my time for you to tell me what I can or cannot do" he interrupted me curtly, waving his hand dismissively.

I sat up straight, gathering all the confidence I could muster,  I looked at him bravely and said. 

"No," I snap. "You don't get to fire me because I refused to marry you. That's abuse of power."

A slow smile curves his lips. Not warm. Not amused. Dangerous.

"You seem to misunderstand your position," he says. "You didn't refuse a proposal. You rejected a solution."

"A solution to your problem," I fire back.

He stands then, walking around the desk until he's standing far too close. I don't step back, even though every instinct tells me to.

"I made you an offer," he says quietly. "One that would've secured your future."

"You tried to buy me," I say. "With a contract and a ring."

His jaw tightens.

"You walked away from me," he replies. "And people who walk away don't get second chances."

I swallow. "You think firing me is enough to scare me?"

His eyes darken. "This city is small, Sydney. Especially our industry." He said with grave seriousness.

My stomach drops.

"I make one call," he continues, voice steady, deliberate. "Two, maybe. Suddenly your résumé stops getting callbacks. Interviews disappear. Interested firms decide you're 'not a good fit.'"

"Please don't do this," I whisper.

"It's already done."

The words land like a slap.

I straighten, forcing strength into my spine. "So you're going to destroy my career because I won't marry you?"

He tilts his head. "I'm giving you time to reconsider."

Silence stretches between us.

"I won't be forced," I say.

"Everyone is forced," he replies calmly. "They just like to call it choice."

I turn for the door, my chest burning.

"Think about it," he adds behind me. "Because the longer you wait, the harder I make it for you to survive without me."

My hand tightens on the handle.

This isn't over.

******

"I can't believe he would force a marriage on me!" I whined angrily to Ava on a phone call. 

"That's honestly a wicked thing to do. Plus, he threatened to make sure you don't get another job- why go through all this trouble when he can have literally anyone he wants?" she asked indignantly. 

"I honestly would kill to know as well" I rolled my eyes.

"Does Drake know?"

"Oh sure he does. I called him and said 'Hey babe! The girl you started seeing, not up to a month, is getting married to her boss who she hates so much, after she told you she wanted to have your child" I said sarcastically, face palming myself in disappointment. I have clearly gotten myself into a mess.

"I don't even know how to begin the conversation. I am the most terrible girlfriend ever!" I cried. 

"Oh of course not babes" She said reassuringly. "It's just going to be on paper right?" 

"Well, yes but....." I trailed off. 

"If at all you're going to agree to secure your career cos I don't see another way out of this -the Crests are pretty influential and you don't want him carrying out his threat and rendering you permanently unemployed" She says matter-of-factly.

"If you're going to do this, it should be on your terms. You should give him rules and regulations as well" She continued. 

"So you're saying I should agree to it?" I asked 

"Oh no Syd, I'm merely suggesting. It's up to you to decide"

"Hmmm," I thought about the whole situation. "Well if he could agree to me keeping my personal relationships, I suppose it might work. I would put it in my terms and conditions that I should be allowed to have my personal love life and all" I said. 

"Yes. But how about the whole sperm donor thingy?" Ava asked curiously. 

"If it's not too much to ask, I don't suppose he cares who I have a child for or not, we just have to find a way to keep it a secret from the public or make them think the child is his, right?" I asked suddenly unsure. 

"Hmm, I'm not sure how either of them would respond to the whole thing. You have to talk to both of them" 

"Yes, I guess, omg this is too much" I sighed, feeling overwhelmed and bothered. 

I was on my way home earlier than usual after the whole disaster at work. I had made a quick stop at the mall to restock on groceries. So I held my phone to my ear with my shoulder while juggling about five paper bags in both hands. 

"I can't believe there's literally a whole back and forth between my boss about getting married to each other. How are we even supposed to cohabit? It's so crazy" I said to Ava

I was in my corridor, struggling to get my keys when I was startled by a familiar voice. 

"Getting married to who?" I turned sharply, to see a frowning and very upset Drake, flowers in his hands. 

"Errr Ava, let m-me call y-you back-k" I said shakingly, feeling suddenly hot.

I dropped my shopping plastic bags on the floor and made an attempt to move closer to Drake and touch him but he took several steps back. It was like my touch could burn him. I immediately recoiled from the stinging rejection. 

"What. Do. You. Mean. You're. Getting. Married. To. Your. Boss?" he drawled out very slowly. Like he was talking to a toddler who had a hearing problem. 

"D-drake please I can explain. Please come inside, let's talk about this" I paused. "I promise, it's not what you think" 

"Then what the hell is it?" he asked lowly, his expression ice cold. "Sydney, are you getting married to your boss or not?" 

"Well I haven't agreed yet but I promise it's no-"

"I wanted to surprise you with flowers, but guess who was surprised instead" He said emotionlessly. Pushing the flowers into my body. 

"I don't want to have anything to do with a flimsy whore like you. Have a blissful marriage" He said and without turning back, he left, ignoring my cries and tears. 

Xavier has managed to take two things from me. My job and my relationship.