“He said that?” Camila asked when she sat beside Joan on the floor of her mum’s hospital room.
Her mum was sleeping by the time they got there but she was glad that the nurses let both of them in. Now, they are sitting on the floor with a few snacks and ice cream they managed to sneak into the room while Joan talks about the offer that was made to her by the Santiago.
“Yes, I was a bit relieved that he didn’t ask for something nasty else I would have lost it” she threw some popcorn in her mouth and shook her head as that day’s event played in her head.
“He didn’t ask that but you manage to angrily tear his card and sweep it away” Camila remarked.
A frown formed on Joan’s face as she looked at her friend “He is too egoistic for his good. Like, the way he said those words were provoking” she sighed angrily “He was too full of himself ‘I don’t need a mistress, if I did, I don’t need to ask’ idiot” she hissed.
Camila chuckled lightly and earned a glare from Joan “Oh please, it’s too funny to let it pass without laughing,” she shook her head then stopped laughing and gave a serious look “It is an inviting offer but weird, what if you were some serial killer who kills rich handsome men for a living?”
Joan looked at her in disbelief and shook her head at her assumptions.
“What exactly are you reading that is giving you these ideas?”
“It’s a crime documentary darling, and it gives you a sense of security somehow” she shrugged.
Joan shook her head again then looked away from her as she thought about the offer. He is good-looking, no doubt but he was a stranger, she didn’t even get to know his name but she has never thought or seen herself doing something like this if she accepts his offer.
Her dad could get back his company, and things would change for them overnight if she decided to take this offer but then again it didn’t feel right to do so. She felt like, he would ask for a huge chunk of their company’s shares like most of the other investors asked when she went to them for help but he wanted her to just be his girlfriend. She didn’t know what to do now.
“Did you even get to know his name?” Camila’s question took her out of her reverie and she turned to look at her with her brows raised “His name, did you get his name so, we can check him online to be sure he is legit at least” Joan shook her head “Even his last name?”
“Didn’t think of that, to be honest,” Camila sighed “We just talked and I got invested when he was interested in taking dad’s company from the dust back to its feet and I didn't bother looking at his card when he said those words,” she shrugged.
“Well, you have nothing to be bothered about since he is probably not coming back after your outburst at him,” Camila said “Unless he is desperate” she finished.
“Way to make me happy bestie”
“You wouldn’t have me otherwise” Camila nudged Joan.
“I know,” she said in a small voice. “What if he comes back? What do I do?” she asked her friend, worry lines on her forehead.
Camila pats her head and then puts her arm around Joan’s shoulder.
“You are a very intelligent lady and I trust your judgment, so do what you think is right to do, for yourself and your dad’s company. Think about it and make the right decision”
Joan sighed “I love you, girl, thank you”
“Sisters stick to each other no matter what”
…
Santiago hasn’t been able to get any work done since his last meeting with Joan, he hasn’t stopped thinking about her and what decision she would make about his offer. He isn’t supposed to be bothered regardless of her choice, he could pick just any girl he wants but he didn’t know why he wanted it to be her for his ‘pretend girlfriend’.
He knew that he was a bit arrogant with his bragging and all of which he could help. It was a habit he had learned to keep over the years. To him, it was a defensive mechanism to use on ladies so that they think you don’t need them, well, he never wanted the past women he had been with but they still threw themselves at him even with how badly he acted to them.
But he thinks Joan will be different from them because of how she looks and behaves like, he has met her three or four times and it feels like he has known her for a long time. He was seriously hoping that she would reconsider and not mind his attitude towards her that day.
Today, he wanted to get his mind off her and just concentrate on work so instead of staying in his home office like he had been doing since that day, he decided to leave for work and as tempted as he was to head to the café, he thought that it was best he didn’t go now.
He just finished a meeting with one of the Russian investors his dad wanted to sign a partnership deal with for some months now and just like how it always ended, he was adamant about not signing the contract with them. It would be another milestone for their company if he agrees.
Letting out a sigh, he relaxed back on his chair and closed his eyes and not long, a picture of Joan came to his mind and somehow, he found himself smiling but the moment was short-lived because his assistant informed him about his dad waiting to see him.
He let out a groan because he knew what his dad wanted to see him for, now that hasn’t gotten a response from Joan, and with how downhill the meeting went, he feels frustrated with the whole situation. He told her to let his dad in and he sat up and then arranged the files on his table so that he could appear busy and his dad could leave him alone.
“Son” his dad said when he entered his office and walked towards him. Julian took a seat in front of his son then crossed a leg over the other as he sat back with a smile on his lips.
“Dad” Santiago acknowledged his presence then continued with arranging the files. He didn’t want to leave any room for discussion with his dad, he would get annoyed and the last thing he wanted was to lose it.
“You know why I am here” he states but that didn’t stop Santiago from what he was doing. “I have come to ask if you found yourself a wife yet?”
“Dad, I’ll bring a girl home soon” he mumbled.
“How soon? Well, lets leave that out, I have already found the right girl for you already” he announced and that stopped Santiago from opening his drawer and brought his shocked looking eyes on his dad.
“What?” he said the first word that came to his head. His dad better be kidding because… what?
He didn’t think his dad would go and look for some girl that he can marry after what he said to him the last time they talked. He did get a girl and it made him angry that he would have to be with some chick who would never let him rest because for sure, they would be like his other mistresses who can’t stand on their own aside being controlled.
That’s now what he looks for in a lady. He wants a lady who can decide for herself and who knows how to stand on her words because she is strong-willed and knows what she is doing, a lady that wouldn’t take being insulted just because you need power and influence from someone.
‘A lady like Joan’ the words echoed in his head and he agreed. He didn’t want a lady like Joan, he wanted Joan and wouldn’t accept this from his dad and just get with any girl.
“I told you I will find myself a girl soon, just give me more time” he said.
“It’s been a few weeks, how much time do you need? Moreover, you have nothing to worry about, it’s a long-time friend’s daughter you’ll be with. She is nice, well-educated, morally good and very smart.
“Smart to want to marry me” he muttered.
“What was that?”
“Nothing sir, please, I don’t need to be pressured about this issue, I told you I will bring my kind of girl home” he said sternly.
“I already told you, I will organize a day you both will meet and that will be it” Julian stood up “Don’t mess this up, this is your last chance or I will take everything from you” he said then turned to leave the office.
Once his dad left, he groaned then stood to his feet and kicked his table then paced about his room as he tried to suppress his anger.
“This can’t be happening” he muttered then kicked his table once more and almost got himself injured but he gained his composure and sighed then thought about what he needed to do for the week.
He checked with his assistant and saw that he was free till the next week and the day of his brother’s death anniversary is approaching fast, he takes his keys then made his way home while telling his assistant to move any upcoming meeting to next week when he will be back.
He needed a break from all these dramas and that was what he was going to get.