by Cher Etan
A tall slim woman walked in, she had long blonde hair and hazel eyes. She was a woman past her prime judging by the crow’s feet around her eyes but that could just be white skin cracking. She looked vaguely familiar.
“Leila Masters?” she asked seemingly surprised as she stopped short at her doorway.
“Yes?” Leila said.
“Huh,” the woman said. “He didn’t say you were black.”
Leila frowned, “I’m sorry, is there a problem?”
The woman started and came forward hand held out in apology, “I’m sorry. You must think I’m crazy. My name is Jaime Leary, I’m Jonathon’s mother.”
Leila couldn’t help it, her face fell, “I see.”
“Do you?” Jaime asked.
“No, not really,” Leila conceded.
Jaime laughed. “I see why he likes you anyway,” she said looking her up and down. “You’re very pretty in a Nubian princess type way.”
Leila didn’t know whether to take offense or not so she said nothing.
“Can I buy you a cup of coffee perhaps?” Jaime asked her, further throwing her.
“Er..now?” she asked.
“Yes. Don’t worry, I told your secretary I’m from the foundation so it should still be considered a business meeting. And just in case you need to account for your time, I do have a check in my purse for you.”
Leila hesitated, her head was whirling and she wasn’t sure what was happening right now but she came out from behind her desk and followed Jaime out of the office.
They went to the coffee shop across the street. It was the middle of the day so the place was relatively empty. They both ordered cappuccinos and then Leila sat back and waited to hear what was what.
“My son told me what he offered you,” was her opening gambit. Leila nodded.
“It sounds…” Jaime said.
“Like high class prostitution? Tawdry? Like selling my soul to the devil?” Leila filled in for her. Jaime smiled.
“Yes. That’s probably what it sounds like to you if you’re anything like Jonathon thinks you are,” she said.
“And you’re here to white wash it? To make it seem all okay?”
Jaime’s smile widened, “I see why Jonathon likes you. And I guess you’re right. That’s my job. To make it seem all okay.”
Leila grimaced but said nothing.
“My son was always the popular kid; very athletic, handsome…he could have any woman he wanted.”
Leila smiled, “So why bother with lil ol’ me?”
“Shush your mouth and listen first. He could always have any woman he wanted…but he was no good at getting the woman he needed. This is the first time-“
Leila laughed, “Really? You’re going with the ‘you’re Ms. Right’ narrative? Save your breath; I ain’t fallin’ for that romantic bullshit.”
“You misunderstand me. This isn’t about romance. It's about choosing the right woman for your purposes. Jonathon tends to go with his heart on these types of decisions. It gets him in trouble. This time, it seems he’s using his head. The question is, are you?”
Leila sighed deeply and contemplated her cup of coffee, “My mother does need the care.”
“Uh huh,” Jaime agreed.
“And it's not forever,” Leila continued.
“Exactly,” Jaime said.
“Its not like I have a boyfriend who'd care,” Leila mused.
“Always a plus,” Jaime added.
“How am I having this conversation right now?” Leila asked totally bemused.
“When you strip it down to the bare bones, all it is, is spending some time with an extremely intelligent, funny, billionaire who also happens to be very easy on the eyes. On top of that, your mother gets what she needs. Anything else is simply extras, and you set the parameters for that. What’s not to like?” Jaime asked.
“Wow, you’re good,” Leila conceded.
Jaime inclined her head and smiled, “I aim to please. So? Do we have a deal?”
Leila hesitated then lifted her coffee cup. “We have a deal,” she said. Their coffee cups touched briefly and they drank to seal the deal.
*****
“Well?” Jonathon asked as soon as she returned.
“You didn’t tell me she was black,” Jaime said. Jonathon’s face fell.
“Will that be a problem?” he asked.
Jaime shrugged. “It’s a complication. Whether or not it is a problem is up to you two I guess.”
“It's not like…” Jonathon said hesitating to finish the sentence.
“It's not like you’re head over heels for her?” Jaime asked; it sounded like a challenge.
Jonathon shrugged, “Something like that.”
“Well anyway, she’s on board with the plan. Do you have the paperwork? We should get everything signed and sealed before she has too much time to reconsider.”
“Why does this feel like making deals with the devil…? And we’re the devil?” Jonathon asked pensively.
Jaime shrugged, “You can always change your mind.”
Jonathon shook his head. “I didn’t say I didn’t want to go through with it,” he said with a reluctant grin.
“Yeah,” Jaime agreed, her face impassive. “Anyway, you have the papers?”
“No. But I have the lawyer’s number on speed dial. He could email the papers in ten minutes.”
“Do it,” Jaime said and Jonathon picked up his phone.
*****
“Ms. Leila Masters?” a delivery guy said as she opened her door.
“Yeah?” Leila said inclining her head inquiringly.
“I have a package for you to sign for,” he said and Leila held her hand out automatically.
“What is it?” she asked.
The guy shrugged, “I’m just the delivery guy.”
“That’s what she said,” Leila joked with a laugh. The guy stared at her like she might be crazy and she stopped mid-laugh and shrugged. The delivery guy handed her the papers and she closed the door, wondering what the hell….
The first paper was a pre-nup, the second was a non-disclosure agreement. Leila stared at them, frozen in surprise. She and Jonathon’s mother had just agreed this morning to do this and already…
It was all very fast. Her phone went off just as she was about to freak out.
FOR THOSE ABOUT TO ROCK, WE SALUTE YOU
Blared from the tiny speakers and Leila glared; Sheila had been at her phone again.
She picked it up and looked at the caller ID; it was a strange number and she hesitated before picking up. But then she thought of the papers she’d just received and the possibility that the phone call was related.
“Hello,” she said.
“Hi Leila. Did you get the papers?” Jonathon asked.
“Yes, I did.”
“I’m sorry if I did it wrong. I didn’t really have a template for how to arrange a marriage of convenience,” Jonathon said. Leila laughed in spite of herself. The knot in her chest had somehow loosened.
“Yeah. Me neither,” she said.
“Cool. So we’re both stumbling in the dark. This could be a good thing,” Jonathon said.
“How do you figure?” Leila asked.
“I don’t know. The mistakes we make will be our own? We might get it right by accident?” he said. Leila found she was smiling from ear to ear.
“Great. So you want me to sign these or what?”
“That would be great,” Jonathon replied.
“Then what?” Leila asked.
“Then…we get married,” Jonathon said. He sounded like he was trying to break it really gently so she didn’t freak out. “I thought we’d go to the Attorney General’s office, sign some papers?”
“Okay…not exactly the wedding my mother dreamed of but…”
“You can have the wedding your mother dreamed of, and she’ll be healthy and able to walk you down the aisle and you’ll live happily ever after,” he said.
Leila laughed, “It�
�s a nice fairy tale anyway.”
“Absolutely,” Jonathon agreed.
There was a small silence on the line.
“Okay then, I’ll sign,” she said at last.
“Thank you Leila. I appreciate your help. Oh and look between the second and third sheets of paper on the pre-nup, there is a small ‘signing bonus’ for you.”
“What? Jonathon…” Leila began to protest.
“Just take a look,” Jonathon interrupted.
Leila shuffled the papers until she came to the right page. A piece of paper fell out and she leaned down to pick it up. She read the words but halfway through, her vision blurred. It was an appointment with a respiratory specialist at the foremost hospital in Georgia. They were expected there the following Friday, ten am.
“I don’t know what to say,” she said into the phone.
“Don’t say anything. I’ll be in touch okay?” Jonathon said.
“Yeah, okay,” Leila replied. She hung up, shuffled through the papers, read through them carefully. Her severance pay after a minimum of two years of marriage was generous. It got higher the longer she stayed which was an interesting twist. The care and treatment of her mother was not expressly stated, but then it was a pre-nup not a contract. It simply referred her to a separate one sheet document in which the nuts and bolts of their marriage contract was outlined. It was fairly comprehensive and she was satisfied that every contingency was covered.
“Well…good then,” she said.
She picked up her pen and signed all three documents, letting out a breath after it was done.
“There you go Leila, you just signed away at least two years of your life. Congratulations!” she said.
“What you congratulating yourself about?” Sheila asked wandering into her room and startling Leila quite badly.
“When did you get here?” she asked as a distraction.
Sheila shrugged, “Half an hour ago. I thought I’d check on your mom; didn’t expect you to be here yet.”
“I left work early. I figured I deserved a personal day after the stress of the past few weeks. Why am I explaining myself to you?”
Sheila laughed and shrugged, “You’re avoiding my question.”
“I was just congratulating myself on my upcoming nuptials,” Leila found herself saying.
“Say what now?” Sheila asked almost dropping the glass of juice she was carrying.
“Yeah. I’m getting married,” Leila said enjoying the look of utter shock on Sheila’s face.
“Who are you marrying?” she asked, totally stupefied.
Leila shrugged, “You’ll see. Now gimme some juice. I’m thirsty.”
Chapter 6
Raychelle was admitted to the hospital for tests so she couldn’t attend the wedding. That was fine, in fact, it was a relief. Leila could embellish at will if she wanted to when she told her about it. They went to the attorney general’s office that Saturday with Ken and Niall as witnesses. Leila thought about calling Sheila but there would be too much to try to explain. She figured this way was better. She’d present them with a fait accompli, come up with some reason why the wedding was just so rushed and then try to fake it for the next two years so they didn’t think anything was the matter. Still, it was going to be a struggle and she knew it. Her family knew her well; they would know something was off about this whole thing.
Still, she stood straight and true and said her vows clearly, stretched out her hand so that he could put a ring on it and smiled for everyone as the judge declared them husband and wife. When he said “You can kiss the bride”, though, she tensed visibly.
Jonathon turned to look at her and smiled. He leaned forward slowly giving her plenty of warning. And then his lips touched hers. His lips were chapped, and dry; his breath minty fresh though. His tongue touched her lips, gently exploring and they parted involuntarily. He didn’t try to deepen the kiss though, just sucked at her bottom lip and then let her go. It left her lips tingling inexplicably and she touched them with her fingers, wondering what the hell…
“Congratulations Mrs. Leary,” he said startling her quite badly.
“I’m keeping my name,” she whispered hoarsely back.
Jonathon shrugged his acquiescence and then Niall and Ken were there, talking loudly in their inexplicable cockney accents, patting Jonathon on the back and lifting Leila off her feet much to her chagrin. She squeaked in protest but they ignored her, pin wheeling her around the room and making the judge laugh.
“Okay okay you crazy kids,” he said flapping his arms in amusement. “Go take this party elsewhere.”
Jonathon grabbed her hand and pulled her away from Ken. “Come on,” he said. “I’ve a wedding breakfast waiting at the hotel.”
Leila hesitated wanting to refuse but Jonathon tugged her forward. “We have much to discuss,” he said in a low voice. Leila nodded and let herself be tugged from the room.
Ken and Niall did not come with them, much to Leila’s surprise. Mathews dropped them off at The Ritz where apparently Jonathon was staying.
“You don’t have a base in town?” she asked.
“Not yet. I mean obviously now we need to look for somewhere. My realtor is already on it.”
“I own my apartment; I like my apartment,” Leila pointed out.
“Fine. Your apartment will be waiting for you when our contract is over. Your mother can continue to stay there,” Jonathon said.
“She can’t stay alone!” Leila exclaimed.
“Of course she can’t,” Jonathon said handing her a folder. “I have a list of some really good nurses, specialist in respiratory ailments, for you to interview.”
Leila looked down in surprise at the folder, she opened it to behold the photo of a middle aged Hispanic woman, whose curriculum vitae was contained just underneath that. She turned the page and saw another photo, another CV.
“Wow. You’re thorough,” she said, impressed in spite of herself.
“Thank you. I aim to please. Now, about your job,” he said.
“What about my job?” Leila asked a tad aggressively.
“Are you happy where you are?” he asked.
Leila stared at him, “Yeah.”
“Okay then. Just checking. If that should change you’ll let me know.”
“I will let you know,” Leila said slightly perturbed. He was going to get her other employment or what? Had he expected that she would want to be a housewife? Leila looked toward the table where a lavish spread was laid.
“Shall we eat? I’m hungry,” she said moving toward the food. Jonathon followed her and they filled plates in silence. Leila went to sit at the table as Jonathon poured her some coffee.
“Are you freaked out?” Jonathon asked her eventually.
“Aren’t you?” she replied.
“Surprisingly not. I think we’re going to work out just fine,” Jonathon said placidly.
Leila laughed tiredly, “So now what?”
“Now…I guess you move in with me?”
Leila looked around the room. “Here?” she asked in disbelief.
“Just until we find somewhere suitable,” he qualified, covering her hand with his.
“And how long will that take?”
“I’m sure we’ll have somewhere soon. Maybe even by the end of the day. That’s the advantage when money is no object,” he said with a smile. “Oh you should know, I already sent my granddad a message that we’re married.”
“Great,” Leila said sarcastically.
“It truly is,” Jonathon said ignoring the sarcasm.
“There’s just one thing though,” Jonathon said slowly.
“What?” Leila said not liking Jonathon’s tone at all.
“We need to consummate,” Jonathon said looking down at his plate.
“What? Since when? That was not in the contract,” she protested.
“The marriage is not legally binding until it is consummated Leila. You know that,” Jonathon said. Leila stared at him, unabl
e to deny his words but looking for a loophole to propose.
“Your mother said that I get to decide how this marriage goes,” she said.
“Yes. And you do. But just for this one night, we have to go by the book okay?”
“Just one night?” Leila repeated.
“Yes. We consummate, and then you’re free to live as you please.”
“Promise?”
“On my father’s grave.”
Leila pursed her lips, “Fine.”
“Love the enthusiasm. So we should probably go back to your place and pack.”
Leila put up a quelling hand. “Plan B, how about we stay at my place until you find a suitable residence?” she asked.
“Stay at your place?” Jonathon repeated in surprise.
“Yeah. I promise you it's clean. There is enough space for your clothes…” she coaxed.
“I thought you’d want to stay in separate rooms. The hotel has a suite,” Jonathon pointed out.
“That is a point,” Leila said nodding. “But you said you’d have something suitable by Monday so it's not like we have to share for too long. One weekend.”
Jonathon looked at her like maybe she wasn’t in possession of all her faculties.
“Besides, mom is in the hospital this weekend so I can use her room,” Leila said triumphantly.
Jonathon snorted, “Okay then, if it’ll make you more comfortable, we’ll stay at your place. But this is the first time I’ve ever had a girl turn down a weekend at the Ritz Carlton.”
Leila shrugged, “There’s a first time for everything I guess.”
“I guess,” he said with a sigh. “Well, I better pack my stuff then…you’re sure about this?” he peered intently into her face.
“I’m sure,” Leila said with a smile. It was a no-brainer for her; she hated packing.
*****
Leila left Jonathon to settle in at her apartment while she went to visit her mother at the hospital. She was still out of it; they’d done an CT scan and chest X-rays on her during the night and so she hadn’t slept much. She was making up for lost time. Leila sat quietly with her for half an hour then went to seek the doctor out.
“Can I see Dr. Hatfield?” she asked his receptionist.
“Ms. Masters, we’ve been expecting you,” she said with a smile. “Come with me.”
The receptionist led her to an office where the good doctor sat studying some X-rays. He looked up and smiled at her.