Chapter 2: The Proposal

He took a deep breath looked into my eyes and said "I want you to be my wife."

Ok. Someday and I do mean I did think like every other girl, someday a handsome guy read 'prince charming' would say those words to me but never in my wildest dreams did I think it would be like this. It was supposed to be romantic not so crass and confusing!

"Are you serious? Is this a hobby of yours? Freak out strangers you meet at parks? I don't even know you!"

He looked at me exasperated.

"Look hear me out ok?"

I looked at him and any girl with common sense would've walked away but not me! No sir. I just had to sit there hanging onto everything he had to say.

"I come from one of the richest families here." I rolled my eyes.

That had to be the biggest understatement of the year. He ignored me and went on "I just graduated and now my parents want me to marry a 'nice girl' and settle down and take care of the family business. It’s either that or they cut my trust funds completely."

I am not exaggerating when I say that he actually pouted at that last part.

I looked at him amused and said, "so why me? I bet you have a girlfriend!"

At this he smirked and said "I have a lot of girlfriends. The problem is my parents won't approve of any of them. Besides, none of them would agree to divorce me later on."

He was brimming so much of self-confidence that I wanted to slap him. How did he assume that about those girls?

However, he continued, "Now my parents have never met you so even if you are a wild party animal they would never know! All they want is a mature girl who will make their son toe the line!"

I stared at him incredulously; seriously did parents like that even exist anymore? Well I guess they did.

"So" I started cautiously "what's the deal?" He smiled and nodded approvingly, "well nothing much. You have to marry me and after a year we get divorced with mutual consent."

I looked at him flabbergasted. A wedding is a girl's dream. Where she marries a man she loves. A guy who thinks his world revolves around her and here was this jerk trying to ruin it for me. I could've said no I really could but the problem was I really couldn't.

I was running out of time. "Ok." I said "but on one condition you have to pay me weekly or the deal is off."

He looked at me with a glint. "So" he said "what is it? I bet you are high maintenance and keep running out of money to buy things."

I turned around and almost slapped him again when I stopped. Let this arrogant jerk think what he likes I do not want his pity.

"Don't talk about things you know nothing about." I said coldly.

With that I got up and started walking away.

He followed, "we need to exchange numbers."

I gave him my number and saved his number as well. He then surprised me by offering to drop me home. He then justified saying if he we had to get this act right, we would need to share details of each other's lives.

I saw his car and let out a low whistle. It was a red high-end Porsche. We drove in silence and I spoke only to give him directions to my home.

When we reached, he wrinkled his nose and asked "do you live here?"

I didn't deem it necessary to answer that. Of course, I lived there and it was not in an expensive part of the town but still it was ok.

When my dad was alive, we lived in a better place and were certainly much better off.

He followed me inside and when I glared at him, he just shrugged and said, "look it has to be real. Like we have to really convince them we know each other and have been dating and love each other so much that we can't live without each other."

I wanted to punch him so bad. I just about controlled my urge. "Ok so you can leave. You know where I stay now." I crossed my arms and stared at him.

"Ok" he said, "but tomorrow we need to meet again and plan this thoroughly. You need to meet my friends and I need to meet yours. Also, we need to get to know each other."

I started having second thoughts. My heart started beating really fast and my palms started sweating. What was I getting into? I looked up at him and he must've seen the fear in my eyes. He was about to say something and I blinked quickly so he couldn't see the uncertainty in my eyes. I nodded and started walking towards the door.

Then suddenly he turned around and said "what? Won't you kiss me goodbye?" Before I could reply to that he pulled me and kissed me. He kissed me! It wasn't one of those soft romantic kisses. It was one of those passionate kisses the one that sends your blood rushing through your veins and all too soon it was over.

He smirked as he stared at me. That did it. I punched him hard.

"Don't ever try that again!" I spat and slammed the door in his face. I turned around waiting for my heartbeat to slow down.

Jude's POV

I stared as she slammed the door in my face. Ok she managed to land a punch on my cheek and it stung! Well she was one feisty woman. It’s just that as I was leaving, she looked at me with such vulnerable eyes...... looking back I realized that I kissed her on an impulse.

When I saw her sitting in the park with her wavy red hair flying, her green eyes lost in thought she looked like a little child. It was as if her shoulders bore the weight of the whole world! She was your average girl. Nothing outstanding about her looks really except for her eyes! They held a really sorrowful expression in them.

Yep she had really pretty eyes and maybe at another place and time I would've asked her out. She was a refreshing change from all the other shallow girls I dated. But not this time I couldn't afford to mix business with pleasure.

This deal we had had to be all professional. Or else I would have to deal with the usual mess when the relationship fails. Mine always did. The longest I was in a relationship since breaking up with Stephanie had been for 2 months, and then it got really monotonous. Stephanie, I thought with a pang, I blocked all her thoughts from my mind. I would not go down the memory lane.

Besides all the girls had ever been attracted to was my money. I hated my parents for the stupid condition they had put on me! No wait, I loved my parents it’s the condition I hated.

Don't get me wrong I am not one of those ungrateful brats. I love my parents it’s just that right now at this moment I wasn't feeling any loving feelings for them. I sat down in my car and looked around me once more. Seriously how could a girl survive alone in this neighborhood? It was dangerous. No wife of mine was staying here! Whoa! Hold it there buddy, she is going to be your pretend wife. And pretend wives can do whatever the hell they want! I gave myself a mental shake and zoomed off from there.

Once home I tossed my shoes in one corner and trudged about in my socks. I took off my clothes and went to the kitchen. It was almost dinner time. I saw a casserole left by my domestic help. Mrs. Bower was a blessing!

Sure, she nagged a lot but she was kind of my substitute mother this in the city. Most weekends I drove off to the countryside where my parents liked to live. I put the casserole in the microwave to heat it and switched on the TV.

As I flicked through the various channels, I found myself wondering had I done the right thing? Is Natasha the perfect girl for this job? Will she divorce me at the end of the year or will she cling on for my money?

That she needed money I didn't doubt. From what I could make out her conversation over the phone she already owed someone big time. Starting from tomorrow she was going to charge me fort her time. Somehow I felt myself becoming impatient for tomorrow to come. I had no intention of telling anyone that it was a planned wedding, not even my friends.....

Natasha's POV

God he was arrogant! But he was so freakin hot! Shut up Natasha! How dare he kiss me and that smirk of his like he had this belief that he was a gift to all the girls. I wanted to slap him but the best I could do at that time was push him out the door and slam it to his face!

I turned around and put my shoes in the shoe rack. I quickly changed into shorts and a singlet that I loved to wear at home. I went to the fridge and saw that I had just about a glass of milk. Well I guess that would have to do for now. It’s not like I had money to spare for a square meal. I found two slices of bread in the bread box and toasted it.

As I sat in front of the TV with my food, I contemplated about what I had got myself into. I thought about what my best friend Joanna would have to say about it and then I realized I couldn't. She would instantly disapprove. I finished my food and washed the dishes. I flipped through the TV channels but quickly switched off the TV as there was nothing interesting. I put on the radio and heard Ronan Keating's 'If tomorrow never comes....' I shook my head as I realized that was my sentiment exactly......