Chapter 2 The Reluctant Agreement

Hmmmmm, how do I go about this contract marriage? Anna murmured. She was sitting beside her sick dad, who was lying on the bed.

She felt a slight touch on her hand - it was her dad.

"Oh, Dad, you're awake," Anna said, smiling. "The surgery was successful, and the doctor said you have to stay in the hospital for two weeks for more observation."

"My daughter, thank you so much. I've stressed you too much today."

"No, Dad, it's nothing."

"Anna, look at me. What's bothering you?"

"Em... Dad," she scratched her cheek, "I'm okay, don't worry yourself."

"No, I know you too well. You're my daughter, and I know when you're okay and when you're not."

Anna thought, I don't want you to know that I've lost my job and the ten million naira debt I'm owing my company.

"No, Dad, nothing is bothering me. Okay, let me go and get you something to eat."

"Okay, my dear," he said.

Anna stood up and left. She stood in the middle of the hospital hallway outside, gazing at the bright stars in the sky for fifteen minutes, thinking about the offer Felix made.

On her way, she brought out Felix's card, dialed his number, and when he picked the call, she said, "I'm ready to meet your friend," then cut the call.

Felix smiled quietly.

"Wassup dude, who was that?" Joan asked.

"You see, I told you she would agree."

"She said she's ready to meet you."

"Who? Me?"

"Yes naa. The Anna girl I'm telling you about."

"Oh... but I'm not ready to meet anybody now. It's so sudden," Joan said without thinking twice.

"Dude, stop. I've told you her story. She needs the money. At least have some human sympathy. I mean, I'm the one that persuaded her. If not, I wouldn't be here now."

"Okay, okay, I've heard you. I'll meet her."

"Alright," Felix said. "Have you texted her my address? I want to meet her in my office, not in my house. I don't want a total stranger in my house all of a sudden."

"C'mon dude, she's gonna be your wife soon."

"Please, Felix, be specific. It's just a contract marriage and that's it - period," Joan said angrily.

"Alright," Felix stood up. "We're gonna talk tomorrow after your meeting with her to discuss the remaining matters. And please, be cool and gentle with her tomorrow."

"Are you leaving or not?" Joan asked. "And by the way, you're not the one to tell me how to act towards her."

Felix left and shut the door while Joan increased the volume of his music and filled his glass with whiskey. He took a sip and nodded.

---

It was 6:00 o'clock in the morning. The wind was blowing through the curtains. A picture of Anna and her dad on her graduation day sat on the table beside Anna's bed. An iron bed, a comfy foam mattress, and a squishy pillow made the room warm and cozy.

A phone buzzed. Anna, who was lying like someone who had worked on a farm from morning till night, rolled on her bed and stretched her hand to check her messages.

She opened her message box and saw a message from Felix which said:

You will be meeting Mr. Joan in his office by 8:30 am. His company is Chanwell Real Estate. He doesn't like latecomers, so be there on time.

The journey is about to begin, she soliloquized while getting up from her bed to shower.

She stopped walking and thought, I have to first go see Dad at the hospital before going to that Chanwell whatever, and she smirked.

Anna wore a white shirt and black pants, with a little touch of makeup, her red heels, and a luxury Gucci bag her dad had gotten her for her birthday. She looked so demure.

Anna first dropped by a restaurant near the hospital to get food for her dad Zendeya. She bought a latte with a burger for herself. Immediately she entered her dad's room, her best friend Zendaya - who she had called to come stay with her dad - was already there.

"Oh bestie, good morning!" They hugged.

"Thank you so much, bestie. I've already got food for you both. I'll be back soon."

She rushed to where her dad was lying, pecked him on his forehead, and turned to leave.

"Bestie, bestie, wait," Zendaya called Anna. "Um... I thought you said you lost your job. Where are you going in a hurry dressed so elegantly?"

"Bestie," she hmmm-ed, "It's a long story, and I promise to tell you everything when I come back. For now, I'm in a hurry."

"Alright, if you say so."

A taxi dropped Anna in front of Chanwell Real Estate. She walked five steps toward the entrance and stood there for three minutes, staring at the company's name.

"I can do it. I know I can," Anna touched her chest while saying it. She walked into the company and went straight to the receptionist.

"Hello, good morning. I'm Anna, and I'm here to see Mr. Joan."

"Do you have an appointment with him?"

"Oh yes, by 8:30."

The receptionist dialed Mr. Joan's office line.

"Hello sir, Joan. The lady you have an appointment with is here already."

"Okay, bring her to my office."

"Yes sir."

"Excuse me, ma'am."

"Yes?"

"He said I should bring you to his office."

"Alright, dear, let's go."

Anna followed the receptionist and they entered the elevator.

The receptionist:

"Ma'am, I'm not being too nosy, but you've got to be careful around Mr. Joan. Everybody is scared of him. He doesn't like mistakes. I don't know the reason you're meeting him, though, but you have to be careful - especially if it's work-related."

Anna:

"Is he that scary? Anyways, thanks for the piece of information."

The elevator beeped.

"Ma'am, we're here already. Just walk straight. His office is the third and last door over there."

"But why aren't you taking me there?" Anna asked.

The receptionist laughed awkwardly.

"I'm sorry ma'am, but I don't want to see his face this early in the morning so my mood won't be ruined." She ran away immediately.

"Hey, hey, we are not-" but Anna looked back and the receptionist was gone. That's when she realized the battle had just begun.

With everything the receptionist had told her, she was no longer confident if she could face Mr. Joan alone. But since she was already there, there was no turning back.

She walked straight to his office. She knocked the first time - nobody answered. She knocked a second time - still no response. That's when she started believing everything the receptionist had said. She knocked a third time.

"You can come in," Mr. Joan said with a very deep, frightening voice.

Anna marveled. She pushed the door handle and went inside the office. A very tall man with broad shoulders was standing with his back to Anna. He wore a navy-blue German suit, perfectly ironed.

Mr. Joan turned around after two minutes. He was a very handsome man with thick skin, fair in complexion, with full, dark, shiny hair and dark brown eyes.

Anna stood like a lost soul, staring at Mr. Joan, admiring him.

"Hey, hello, Ms. Anna."

"Oh!" she shouted. "I'm sorry sir, I'm sorry sir!"

Mr. Joan frowned immediately.

"Please, I don't have time for this. Or if you're here just to admire me, you can get yourself a bed so you can lie down and stare at me properly."

He went back to sit on his executive chair.

Anna was so shy and ashamed of herself. She tried to lighten the mood.

"I'm Anna Delacruz," she faked a smile.

"I'm Joan, the CEO and founder of Chanwell Real Estate."

"It's nice meeting you."

They shook hands. Anna thought, OMG, why are his hands so soft like a baby's hand?

Mr. Joan immediately removed his hand from Anna's.

"You can sit over there," he said.

Anna sat down. There was a bit of silence in the office. Joan was busy going through his laptop, not minding that someone was sitting in front of him.

"Sir, please, are we waiting for anybody?" Anna asked.

"Yes. My lawyer will be here soon. Since we're going into a contract marriage, I think it's best for us to call a lawyer. He's also coming with the contract."

"So if I didn't ask you, you wouldn't tell me anything?" Anna murmured.

"Are you talking to me?"

"Ah ah, no."

"Better."

After five minutes, Joan's lawyer came in.

They greeted each other.

"I'm sorry for keeping you guys waiting. The traffic was too much."

Anna smiled. "It's fine. I haven't been here long." She looked at Joan's face, but he wasn't smiling or even a bit pleased.

"So, did you come with the contract?"

"Ah yes. I printed two because both of you need one, since it will be an agreement between the two of you."

"Okay, you can bring it out."

The lawyer brought out the printed contracts and handed them to both of them.

Joan dropped his own on the table while Anna was lost in thought, staring at the contract's do's and don'ts.