My face was buried in the pages of my book until I heard a masculine voice, calling for my attention. I was going to ignore him like I always do but it was Christmas Eve, a magical season to share love and care so I raised my head from the book and flashed the best smile I could manage.
This image
“Hi,” I said, and he pulled the chair out to have a seat. My smile immediately subsided. I dropped the book, facing the page I was reading on the table.
“Can I help you?” I asked.
“Actually, you can,” his fingers were interlocked with each other as though he was about to make a business proposal.
I leaned forward from my seat, staring deeply into his eyes and he took my look in without wavering which was unusual. People tend to get intimidated when I stare them down like that.
“I don't know but go on,”
“I know this might be weird. I might even sound crazy but this would literary change my life for good and yours for better if you agree to it,”
“Shoot,” I said, getting more interested in hearing the weird words from a total stranger.
“Marry me,”
“Excuse me?!” I arched a brow in disbelief.
“Marry me,” he repeated. “Just for the Christmas, I promise,”
I stared at him without blinking for a few seconds before chuckling and gathering my things, ready to leave.
“What? Are you leaving?”
“You sound like a nutcase right now,” I commented, and he nodded.
“I know, that’s right, and it takes just today to tomorrow to get me to an asylum if you do not go with my request,” he had pleading eyes and a desperate soul. He can’t even be serious.
“I’m sorry, I can’t help you. I think the asylum would though,” I said as I stood up, walking away.
“2 million!”
I abruptly halted, turning back to face him. “What?”
“2 million dollars to have you act like my fiance for a night,”
I am in a financial mess, one that took my home from me but I wasn’t this desperate. Was I?
I stared at him and only then did I realize he had one of the greyest eyes I had ever seen. Those eyes fit his facial features so well that I had to admire the fact that he looked good.
“Why me?”
“You’re the only lady in this restaurant reading message in a bottle,”
“The novel makes me a qualified candidate?”
“No. It makes me more attracted to you than any other lady in here,”
“So, yeah. A novel pulled you to me and now, I’m going to be your fiance for a night and get paid 2 million dollars. Sounds like a perfect Christmas love story to me,”
“So? What’d you say?”
“I’ll say, let’s see what two grown strangers can sprout,” I said and he smiled broadly, nodding.
“I’m Mathias Myers,” he stretched his hand out. I hesitated a bit before taking it, transfixing my gaze between his stretched palm and his face.
“I'm Veronica Gordon,” I replied, returning the smile.
“For the purpose of this agreement, you would be called Amy,”
“Amy?”
“Yes. Just Amy!”
After he took me out to shop for the most expensive dress I had ever had on and picked me up after with the fanciest car I had ever seen, I shouldn’t have been surprised by the view that was before me but I couldn’t help but be amazed at the mansion.
“Welcome,” a group of people that I can guess are his family greeted as we walked towards the entrance.
“Welcome, beautiful. We’ve heard a lot about you,” an old woman who I guess is his grandma said and everyone else smiled broadly and I returned it.
So have I. I have heard a whole lot about them within the hours I met Mathias and none prepared me for a wealthy ambiance that I was greeted with as we walked in.
Lawns of Christmas presents lined on the side and the whole Christmas decoration in the living room caught me by the throat.
“This is magnificent,” I uttered.
“So are you. I haven’t heard that word in a long time. Thank you,” his dad, I guess, said.
After jugs of hours with an introduction, dining, laughing, and jars of presents opening later, we sat in the living room, chatting.
They are the sweetest wealthy family I have ever met, especially his mum and his sister who noticed I wasn’t comfortable in my dress and offered me a much more comfortable one.
“What’s your favorite Christmas movie, Amy?” Cassie, Mathias's sister asked.
“Uhmm… it would have to be love hard,” I answered.
“Oh, you definitely have a lot in common with my brother. That's his favorite as well,”
“Then, you two should seal that with a kiss,” Nana said. Mathias and I shot her a shocked look.
“What?” we both exclaimed.
“Aren’t you two getting married? Why yell like this is the first time?” Nana said, grinning. “Come on. Don't be shy,”
There is no way I'm kissing him and I'm sure neither would he. There is no way I’m kissing a stranger, not even on Christmas Day. Not even Santa could make us.
My thought was interrupted when Matt stood from his seat and as I was lost in awe, Mathias walked toward me, causing me to almost choke on my spit.
I’m not doing this…I’m not!! I agitated internally with my eyes closed until I felt the softness of his lips against mine.