THE PROPOSITION
Aria Collins looked out the great black building at the office complex of Blackwood Enterprises and saw the glass tower shining through it in midday sun. She nearly fainted as she got the courage to step through the two revolving doors. The dented leather purse held tightly to her side holding all the papers—medical bills, notices of eviction and letters rejecting loans—that had taken her here to this very moment.
As she approached the front desk, the guard at the security checkpoint looked suspiciously at her, taking note of the single navy dress—the most formal of her clothes—and the wrinkled flats that had needed serious repairs.
"I have an appointment with Mr. Reed, " she said proudly, trying not to reflect the wavering fear in her gut. "Aria Collins. "
After getting a phone call and a visitor's badge, she was directed to the elevator. As she began to journey up the 40th floor, Aria quietly rehearsed her pitch again. This was her last chance—a loan from the undoubtedly ruthless (sometimes charitable) CEO Alexander Blackwood, who took her father's medical bills to a level that their insurance would not cover, and she knew what might save his life was beyond the reach of any experimental treatment.
The elevator doors opened to reveal a reception area that probably cost more than her entire apartment building and a well-groomed woman with a perfect hairdo and flawless makeup saluted her with tactful politeness.
"Ms. Collins? Mr. Reed will see you now."
Aria walked no further than the CEO's office, instead going to a conference room with floor-to-ceiling windows all the way to the city's skyline, a sight that briefly took her breath away—it was the hospital where her father, right now, was fighting for his life against a rare form of cancer.
"Ms. Collins."
She turned to hear the hushed voice, as if to see Edwin Reed, her CFO whom she'd been writing to. But instead she saw a tall man with broad shoulders and gray eyes peering through the doorway. Even from magazines and news reports she knew him by heart—Alexander Blackwood himself, his dark hair styled perfectly and his suit tailored for his athletic frame.
Aria's mouth went dry. "I—I was expecting Mr. Reed."
"I'm sorry, but I've changed my mind. "Blackwood shut the door behind him and asked her to sit down. "I noticed something in your loan application.
She plopped into a chair, gripping her purse tighter. "I don't get it.
"I looked at your situation personally, " he said, and stood there, taller than the tallest woman she ever saw. "Your father needs special treatment, but it is not covered by insurance. You have been turned down by seventeen lenders. You are going to lose your apartment. In spite of what you have accomplished academically, you have put off your graduate studies for the sake of working two jobs.
She blushed achingly at having her life put so clinically out in front of her face. 'Yes. '
"I know nothing of taking personal loans, Ms. Collins, " he finally admitted, finally sitting down across from her, taking out a folder on the table between them. "I do, though, believe in reciprocity.
Hope twirled in her chest, quickly tempered by worry. "What kind of arrangement? "
He kept his expression muted as he opened the folder, "I need a wife. "
Aria blinked, certain she'd misheard. "Excuse me?"
"A temporary wife, " he said, putting a document toward her. "For three years. "
She reeled back in shock at what he had said. "I don't -- why would you??? "
"Business reasons that don't concern you. " He made it very clear that further discussion of that subject would be inconsiderate. "What does concern you is what I'm offering you in return. "
With graceful fingers, he shoved another document across the table, a bank statement that was so colorful that she was a bit ill-advised. "Full payment for your father's treatment and aftercare. Clearance of all outstanding debt. A generous monthly allowance. And at the end of the three year term, a final balance large enough to enable you to finish your education and to establish yourself.
Aria's hands trembled as she reached out for the papers. "This is outrageous.
"It's a business deal, " he corrected, "one that covers most of your issues pretty well.
"By becoming your — what? Your pretend wife". The absurdity of this got her full circle. "People don't do this in real life. "
One dark eyebrow raised. " People with my power will do whatever they need to do to accomplish their goals "
She looked at him, trying to catch any clues that there was some kind of spoof or something. There were none, so she asked the obvious: Why me? You could hire an actress, or someone who —
"I need someone with credibility, " he snapped at him. "Your background check showed a certain intelligence, a certain toughness -- and above all, a certain intelligence to be discreet: You have no scandalous online presence, no history of seeking attention; you're all well educated enough to fit in my circle, and you're desperate enough right now that you deserve to respect our agreement. "
The clinical review of my suitability to him was like a ticked off. "So I'm desperate enough to be trusted? "
"Precisely." At least he didn't pretend otherwise.
Aria looked down at the contract, pages and pages of legalese that came to nothing but a swap of freedom for the life of her father. "What exactly does this mean? "
"I mean you'd stay in my house. Go with me to things I need to do. Go out into the world and show off your devout wife. " He leaned forward slightly. "This shall not include sex services, frankly. "
Her face was burned red by the honesty with which he spoke. "I wouldn't have signed up for that. "
Something in his eyes flickered like approval. "The contract provided for separate bedrooms and it clearly explained the limits of our arrangement. Essentially your job was to go out there and pretend that we're in an actual married relationship.
"And my father? My job? My life?"
"Your father will be moved tomorrow to the best institution of treatment, your present employment would cease -- your new position calls for availability; and your life... he shrugged slightly -- it will be slowed down for three years, then you'll be free to do whatever you want with money.
It seemed as if the walls were closing in behind Aria as she tried to think straight. Three years pretending to be married to this cold, rude stranger. Three years lying to everyone she knew. Three years out of the life she'd spent trying to live.
But her father would still live. And then she would be able to finish her degree with no heavy burden of debt.