NAOMI'S POINT OF VIEW
"Fifty million dollars."The words echoed in my head.Surely.......I'd heard him wrong.
I stared at Xavier, waiting for him to smile, laugh, or tell me this was some bizarre prank but he didn't.
"You can't be serious."
"I am."
"No..."I shook my head slowly.
"People don't just offer strangers fifty million dollars to get married."
"They do when they have no other choice."For a long moment, neither of us spoke.The ballroom buzzed with whispers around us, but somehow it all sounded distant and I looked him up and down.
Perfectly tailored tuxedo,Calm expression,Confident posture.He certainly looked like a billionaire.Maybe billionaires really did solve problems by throwing money at them.
"I think you've officially lost your mind."A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"My best friend said the same thing."I sighed.
"Mr. Kingsley..."
"Xavier."
"Fine. Xavier."I rubbed my temples.
"Even if I wanted to help.....and I don't.....you can't expect me to marry someone I met less than an hour ago."
"I don't."
"Then why are we still having this conversation?"
"Because I think you're still listening."I hated that he was right.
"I need a wife," he continued calmly.
"You need money."I frowned.
"You don't know anything about me."
"No."
"But judging by your shoes, you've been wearing them for years."I looked down instinctively.
The black heels I'd bought during my second year of college had been repaired so many times I'd stopped counting.
"The stitching on your uniform has been redone by hand."I glanced at my sleeve.Mom had stitched that last month.
"And when your supervisor handed you the marriage documents, you held them like they were made of glass."
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"You care."His answer was immediate.
"You care about your work."
"You care about people."
"You stayed behind to help someone who couldn't offer you anything in return."He looked straight into my eyes.
"I don't need a perfect wife."
"I need someone I can trust."His words caught me off guard.Trust?....He trusted me? After barely knowing me?
"You don't even know my favorite color."
"I don't need to."
"You don't know whether I snore."
"I can survive."
"You don't know if I burn toast."
"I'll hire a chef."I blinked....Was he...Joking?A tiny laugh escaped me before I could stop it.
"There it is."
"What?"
"You smiled."I immediately looked away.
"I wasn't smiling."
"You were."
"I wasn't."
"You definitely were."
"This is unbelievable."
"It really is."For the first time all day...He actually smiled....It wasn't a broad grin.Just enough to soften the exhaustion in his face.
And somehow...That made him even more handsome.
Stop it, Naomi.I mentally slapped myself.He's your boss's client and he's asking you to marry him.....Focus.
"I'm still saying no."His smile disappeared.
"I understand."Relief washed over me.Finally....He was giving up but then another voice interrupted.
"She's refusing?"I turned.
The man who had brought me into the suite earlier walked toward us with two lawyers behind him.
He looked between Xavier and me before offering an apologetic smile.
"I'm Liam."He extended a hand.
"Xavier's best friend."I shook it politely.
"Naomi."
"So you're the woman who's making my best friend sweat."Xavier shot him a look.
"Liam."
"What?"He lifted both hands innocently.
"I'm just trying to help."He turned back to me.
"Can I have sixty seconds?"
"I suppose."He nodded gratefully.
"Thank you."He lowered his voice.
"They're lots of people here, let's go somewhere less crowdy"He said and began walking while Xavier and I followed behind him. I noticed I was receiving lots of stares and I quickly looked away.
"I know this sounds insane."He said immediately he stopped walking.
"It does."
"It is."I couldn't argue with that.
"But Xavier isn't a bad man."
"I never said he was."
"He won't force you."
"I know."
"And if you say no..."He glanced at Xavier.
"...he'll accept it."I looked at Xavier and he gave a small nod.
"I will."For some reason...That made this even harder.Because he wasn't trying to manipulate me....He wasn't threatening me.
He was simply asking and waiting.
My phone vibrated again and I frowned.It was another call from the hospital.
This time...Fear settled deep inside my chest and I answered immediately.
"Hello?"
"Miss Bennett?"It was Nurse Angela.
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry to disturb you again."
"Is something wrong?"
"We've just received an update from Dr. Hassan."I stopped breathing.
"The surgery has been scheduled."Tears immediately filled my eyes.
"That's wonderful."
"It is."
"But..."My heart sank.
"The payment must be completed within twenty-four hours."Twenty-four hours.
"Otherwise..."The nurse's voice softened.
"We'll have no choice but to give the operating slot to another patient."The world seemed to tilt beneath my feet.
"I..."
"I understand."
"We're sorry."The call ended and I lowered my phone with trembling hands.
My mother.....Twenty-four hours.Years of saving,Still not enough.I closed my eyes.No...There had to be another way,There had to be.
"Naomi."Xavier's voice was gentle.
"You don't have to tell me."I looked at him.
"But someone you love needs help."A tear escaped before I could stop it and I quickly wiped it away.
"I'll figure something out."
"You don't have much time."
"I know."Silence stretched between us then Xavier took one slow step closer.
"If you agree to this marriage..."His voice remained steady.
"...the fifty million will be transferred today."I stared at him.
"...Today?"
"Immediately after the ceremony."Another silence,Longer this time.My mind screamed at me to walk away but my heart whispered something else.
Mom.....I slowly looked down at the contract the lawyer had placed on the nearby table. It needed just my signature,One impossible decision.....One chance to save the only family I had left.
