“Okay,” I surrendered, “I will go. I am sorry if you felt uncomfortable. That was never my intention. Can we still be friends?”
I was hopeful as I asked; the question hung in the air for the three heartbeats of silence. In the end, all I got was a headshake.
"Thanks for putting up with me today. I needed the distraction," I said as I walked out the door. "Oh, and Agotia?”
“Hmm?”
“It’s okay to let someone else take care of you. Think about my offer. You don’t have to decide right now.”
Chapter fourteen
Agotia
Myheartthunderedatthe words Alex had just said while my head screamed at me for letting him walk out of the door. He was providing the perfect solution to all my problems. Even the teller at the bank had suggested that I find a rich husband. The one man I knew who could fill that position had offered, and now he was leaving.
My eyes slammed shut as thoughts swirled around me. I tried to sift through them and make sense of it all. It bothered me that he thought he could buy me with a new car or some other meaningless material good. On the other hand, marrying him would save my farm.
I had said repeatedly that I would do anything to save this place - did I mean that? I blinked my eyes open, and they immediately drifted to the ever-growing stack of red stamped bills. Maybe Alex couldn't buy me with a new car, but he certainly could pay for hot water, feed for my animals, and most importantly, the farm workers' salary.
“Wait,” I called, rushing outside after him. “Alex, wait.”
His pace slowed to a stop as he turned to face me, dejected hope in his eyes.
“Okay.”
“Okay?” he echoed, not understanding my words.
“Okay, I will marry you.”
His eyes widened, exposing a little circle of amber surrounding his dark chocolate brown irises.
"Are you sure? I don't want you to feel like you had been cornered but that you're making the right business decision."
His concerned tone made me realize I had done a complete one-hundred-and-eighty-degree flip in the past thirty seconds.
"I'm sure it is all things we can figure out together. I-I could use the help. I have less than a week to produce part of the money to save this farm. I am out of ideas and time," I confessed. "And if I can help you in return, I will feel better about involving myself in this arrangement."
He nodded and pulled out his phone. My brows lowered in confusion as I watched him tap on the screen a few times before holding the phone to his ear.
“Asta, take the next few days off until I sort out this problem. It should only take a few days." He paused, then continued, "don't worry about me. We can discuss it once we are all settled back at the lodge."
Ending the call, he looked at me with a mischievous smile, and I wondered what exactly I had gotten myself into.
"I think you need to tell me more about this entire story from the beginning," I told him.
Three hours and two cups of coffee later and I felt sufficiently caught up on the entire situation between Alex and Bridget. She was the definition of a crazy ex-girlfriend, from the rumors she spread about Alex to her stalking tendencies. When he finished telling me his story, it was clear why he felt the need to take drastic measures, such as fake marriage, to solve this situation. If I were him, I would do anything to get rid of her.
Part of me felt bad for Alex. It was clear to me that he honestly thought he loved her. It ends so poorly; his trust is broken, and it has to be painful. But he didn’t show it. Even as he detailed how he found out she was cheating on him, he showed no emotion. Being a billionaire businessman meant developing tough skin for any situation.
"So now that I'm aware of everything, what will we do next?" I asked, unfolding my legs from under me and rising to bring our empty coffee cups to the kitchen.
"It's late. There is nothing we can do now."
“I know that, but what about tomorrow?”
“We start by heading into town in the morning to run errands and sort through things. For now, let’s get some sleep.”
Too tired to ask for any more clarity, I deposited the coffee cups in the sink and then went down the hall to my bedroom. I started my nightly routine, halfway through brushing my teeth, when Alex strode to the bathroom. He stopped at the doorway, filling the entire frame as he leaned against it.
