LOVED SEVEN

“Your terms are?” Cade asked as they dug into the meal in front of them.

“You want me to tell you now?”

“Is anything wrong with now?” he asked looking around, maybe she thought the place was not good enough to discuss those kinds of matters.

“Well, it seems rushed, what is the reason you are rushing?”

“I have to get married before I turn twenty-five in August to take over the company or else my cousin or brother might be the one to inherit it”

“And you are so interested in the company why?”

“Do you know how much effort I have put into the company? I slept in the penthouse at work for three months, how can I let someone else take over? I studied business administration instead of engineering as I originally wanted because my grandfather wanted me to. Should I throw it all away after coming this far?”

“Of course not, I can understand, I am sitting here now because my father already has everything planned out for my life” she sighed before taking a bite.”Maybe rich people do not have it as easy as they make it seem. Yes we live a glamorous life and spend a lot of money but we do work for that money”

“Those are actually smart words”

“Why are you so shocked? Do I look like a dimwit?”

“What? I did not mean that I am only acknowledging your…” he stuttered out of fear.

“Relax I am only teasing you. I graduated with honour and if you think I'm a dimwit then it does not automatically make me a dimwit anyway” Cade nodded, he decided not to speak any more if he did he feared he might implicate himself with a few words.

“So my terms are one we are not a real couple just because we signed a piece of paper. I don't believe in marriage, it is such a tacky inconvenience humans made up to hold each other down”

“I agree but then marriage helps us forge strong bonds and ultimately make us wealthier, what I don't understand is love, it makes no sense, the poor should love, and the wealthy have so much to do that there is barely any time for love” Cade interjected.

“And two” Ophelia went ahead wondering why he was agreeing so easily to her, why was he so desperate to get married to her. If he needed a wife any girl would be willing to do it. From the stares they had gotten since he sat down she was sure girls would be lining up to be chosen by him.

“We are the happy couple in public,” she said.

“Really? You want that?”

“Yes, why?”

“I don't know it seems like something you would not want”

“Oh honey, I might not be as popular as you now but once people know I'm back to the city my name will be popping up on every major media outlet. I can not let my name be associated with a bad relationship” she pouted and he nodded.

“That is fair enough, nothing a little acting can not solve”

She gulped and tilted her head to the side, it was not supposed to be so easy for him to agree. He should have his reservations about things. “Three, after ten years we both go our ways, I leave the country and you stay back here and after a while our names come up in the news that we are divorced and that it was amicable”

“Okay, anything else?” he asked. She could not hide her shock. He must have been really desperate to get married and own the company after all. He was so trusting and accepted all she had said.

“You want to still go ahead with this wedding even after I told you all of that?”

“Yes”

“Why?”

“I am curious what you are like”

“I can assure you that you won't like what you would get”

“That is a cross I am willing to bear”

“Do you have anything you are willing to add?” she asked. Maybe he might have an unreasonable request and she would want out from there. At least she would have a reason for calling it off.

“I do not, I am fine with your terms and any other terms you might want to add,” he said and she shrugged. They kept eating before she stopped suddenly and looked straight at him.

“What is it?” he asked uncomfortably wondering if he had soiled his face with the sauce as he ate. He used the napkin to wipe the corners of his mouth.

“Your looks,” she said pointing to his face.

“My looks?”

“Yes your looks” she said again. “I can live with that” she added tilting her head.

“So that means I am your type?” he asked with a smirk forming at the corner of his lips.

“Oh honey do not get your hopes up, you just have manageable looks” she lied. The ladies staring at him were not wrong, he was drop-dead gorgeous. He had the beauty a woman would be interested in seeing a man in.

“Well you are my type”

“I thought you do not believe in love,” she asked wondering how he had a type when he did not believe in love”

Cade wanted to respond and explain how but thought against it, it might be a lot of work to do so

“Let us get married”