Chapter 8 Rejection

• “What?” She could not believe her ears. Her eyes were about to pop out, “Are you drunk?” That was the best conclusion she could come up with in her state of shock.
• She heard him chuckle making her frown.
• “No. I am not drunk. I know what I am talking about. I want to marry you.” He said with all seriousness he could muster. Her reaction was making him amused as much as it was making him nervous. He did not want to show her he was nervous about her answer. Damn! There have not been a lot of events in his life that made him anxious. He was a go-getter in everything, especially in the matters concerning women.
• Also, he did not see the point why she would reject his offer. But he was indeed anxious.
• “Are you out of your mind? Why would I marry—you?” She said it like it was the most unbelievable thing she had ever heard. In fact, it was exactly how she was feeling.
• “Look, I have an offer. You marry me for a year and I will take care of everything in your life including your mother. I know she is unwell. I am ready to take all the responsibilities that you are taking with you. I will pay you a certain amount annually even after the marriage ends. I just want you to pretend to be my wife for a year. That’s all.” He concluded his offer making her eyes wider than before. She had only heard something like that in movies or read it on books. Did it happen in real life as well?
• She could not shake off the uneasy feeling. She surely wanted to have a comfortable life and wanted to take care of her mother, but something about his offer made it unethical for her to accept. She had never lived a pretend life. Everybody around her knew she was a stripper except her mother since she did not want to trouble her with the fact that her daughter was doing something she would strongly disapprove.
• In short, she could not betray people by lying and pretending to be married to him. She could not do that. And her mother…She could not tell her she was getting married only to be divorced after a year.
• He was assessing her quietly while her expressions kept changing. He was hopeful that she would accept his offer. Why wouldn’t she? He had never made such a stupid offer. In return for a year, he was ready to benefit her for her whole life. He was even ready to negotiate on the annual payment to her. He would have never made such a foolish offer. If his grandpa knew he had made such an amazing offer, he would have died of heart attack on the spot.
• “I cannot accept this.” He heard her soft voice snapping him out of his thoughts. To say he was shocked was an understatement.
• “What?” He asked turning towards her with surprise and shock. He did not expect a negative answer to say the least. He was contemplating on what aspects of offer she wanted to change that was why he was anxious.
• “I can’t accept. Sorry. I would suggest you to find someone else.” She was ready to opne the car door when he stopped her.
• He had his hand on her wrist.
• “But why? I am willing to change the terms if you are not satisfied.” He had never been rejected in his life. It was hard to think that she had rejected his offer so bluntly.
• She softly pulled her wrist from his hand, “I cannot understand why you are making this offer when you don’t even know me. I also don’t know if you are serious or it’s a prank. Either way, I have my reasons for not accepting this offer. Good day!” She said before getting out of the car leaving a bewildered Thomas behind. He could not stop her even if he wanted to. He watched the gentle sway of her hips as she got inside the excuse of an apartment building. It was a bit astonishing to think she was the same person who made the wild crowd go wilder with her performance the other night. He had been shocked to know her in person and her lifestyle. She looked like a gold-digger who wanted nothing than a fancy lifestyle, but he found the opposite of his judgment that day.
• He was also surprised to voice out her reasons for not accepting his offer. He was hopeful till the last minute that she just wanted change in his terms.
• He started the car and thought for a way out. He was wondering what was wrong with his offer. May be, she did not like the way he offered her in the car and not in the office?! That sounded absurd to his own ears. She was a stripper. Even if he was trying to ignore that fact, it kept coming back to him. Why did she have such an unusual attitude?
• “I will find another way out. Whether you like it or not, you are going to be my wife.” He made a promise to her in his mind. He was a stubborn man, and she had challenged his ego by rejecting his offer without a valid reason.
• He headed to home to find a new way out. He could not rest until she gave in.
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• Olivia got inside the apartment where Amelia, her mother, was watching some show on TV.
• “You came back so soon.” She asked, surprised that Olivia had returned. She hardly spent twenty minutes with Thomas.
• “Yeah, he had to leave in emergency. He got a call from work.” She lied while pretending to clean the lounge. Her mother always picked up on her moods immediately. She was worried that she would ask more.
• “I thought you would spend some time. He looked so eager to meet you. Anyways, tell me about him.” She patted the spot next to her on the couch and asked her enthusiastically. Olivia laughed at the way her eyes were shinning with excitement. Her mother was still a child at heart, and she loved that about her.
• She chuckled before taking the seat next to her.
• “There is nothing like you think. He is just a guy I met at the club the other day.” It was half-true so she told Amelia. She did not want to raise her hopes. She could notice how she was excited after meeting him.
• “He could not be just a guy you met at the club. He looked interested in you.” She concluded with a smile, leaning back a little. Olivia could not help but scoff.
• “Mom, you are blowing things out of proportion. He had something important to discuss that was why he was here.” She informed getting up from the couch. She had a very—very long day.
• “If you don’t want to tell me, don’t.” Amelia was not buying anything she said. She shook her head with a smile and left for the kitchen to bring food to her mother. She was so glad that her condition was a bit alright after the last time she had her chemo. With every breath, she prayed for her mother. She was all she had.
• They had dinner together and Olivia made her take her medicines. She was sitting in the living room giving Amelia company while her mind was occupied with the thoughts of Thomas’s offer. She was yawning continuously which her mother noticed.
• “Go and rest, Olivia. I will also retire to my room in a bit. You have work tomorrow.” Her mother said making Olivia’s face drop. She had completely forgotten that her mother was unaware of the fact that she was fired.
• “Okay.” She said tiredly before getting up and kissing Amelia goodnight. She was mentally and physically tired. There was nothing that could give her a ray of hope.
• ‘But Thomas did make you an offer’ She heard a distant voice in her head as she made her way to her room.
• It was true that he had made her a tempting offer, but it did not make any sense. Why would he do something so huge for her in return for a year of marriage? And why would she accept the offer when she knew it was wrong and could be problematic? She could not afford any more problems in her life.
• She changed into her pajamas and laid on her bed staring at the wall. There were some days she had no idea what to do, but she always believed in her determination.
• “I will find a way out.” She tried to console herself. She would talk to Sana again. She would surely be able to help her.
• She had to find a job soon; otherwise, she and Amelia would be on the streets and her mother’s treatment would be affected. She would never let that happen.
• She would do anything for her mother. Anything!