My Fake Fiance's Brother

The price

"What?!" I ask the stranger that just proposed to me five minutes after we met.

"Think about it as a business deal. You are my fiancée for a year and I take care of all your worries. You won't have to work, deal with medical bills or anything. I'll even take care of your family if you have any." The feverish sparkle in his eyes makes me regret I dismissed the asshole from earlier. There are levels of crazy and this is above my pay grade.

"That sounds like you're going to sell me for organs so.... No, thanks." I answer and get up to leave. I wanted to spend the last minutes of my last year alive having some fun, not talking to a madman.

"Look. I know it sounds crazy, but I promise it's not. If you'd just listen for a moment, I..." The man follows close behind me as I try to find Tina and for a second I think, he'll just grab me. Nothing scarier than rich people that were told no. But fortunately, he just stays close behind, trying to tell me his name or something. I don't catch it, because just at the right moment, the cheers start, announcing the new year. Fireworks explode in the sky, defending everyone around. People rush to hug each other, shake hands like the fact that they have reached another year is some type of wonderful achievement.

In the mess caused by the celebration, I manage to lose the guy and make a run for Tina's house. She was nice enough to prepare her husband's little office room for me to sleep in, so I don't have to walk all the way home so I just lock the door and throw myself on the couch.

Disappointed in men seems to be a good way to start my last New Year.

And with the biggest hangover of my life seems to be an even better way to start my day on January first. This stupid disease is already messing with my body and it hit where it hurts. God bless Tina and her hangover cure that I don't even know when she placed next to the couch.

One glass of Sauerkraut juice later and Lili doesn't even notice that noises and lights are my biggest enemy for the day. I suppose she is too busy going on and on about the party and how they stayed all night to gossip and dance and make pizzas.

"Were there boys sneaking in?" I ask and to my absolute horror and surprise, she looks away, not answering. "Lili!"

"It was the boyfriend of one of the girls!"

"No! No! They travel in packs. How many were there actually?"

"Four..." She admits after getting increasingly red in the face.

"Four? Four teenage boys with gingerbread bells dangling in there? Did you scream fire like I thought you?"

"Eva!" Ah, the outrage in a teenager's voice when asked about things that she is mature enough to be doing, but not mature enough to talk about, apparently.

"I just want you to be careful. You are pretty, smart and funny. But you are also too kind and too soft-spoken for this world. Many people will want you, but not all will deserve you. I just want you to know how much of a catch you are and how much you deserve a guy who is aware of that."

"You say that because you are my sister..."

"Come on, Lili. You know me. If you were an ass I would certainly tell you." I counter and she laughs, the heavy weight of embarrassment lifting from her face and she tells me about some boy in her class. They talk a lot, but he is very focused on getting into a good university and doesn't have much time. But they plan to apply to the same places, so who knows.

"His parents have money, so he doesn't depend entirely on scholarships. Even if we get accepted, I might not be able to go. I looked at all the options of social programs, but they are picky about their applicants."

"Sorry for not being able to help more, Lili..." Is all I can mutter without my voice breaking. She's not even seventeen, but she has to worry about stuff like that. Because of this stupid disease. Because of stupid uncle John and his stupid wife, aunt Hilda. Because of our coward of a dad and push-over of a mom. Because I couldn't do more. Because...

"Who's that?" Lili's question breaks the cycle of horror in my head and I regain focus on our surroundings. We reached the entrance of our building and right in front was parked a black Range Rover shinning like it was bought yesterday.

"Oh crap!" I let slip out as I look at the guy from last night, leaning on to the car, glasses covering his still breathtaking pretty face.

"Do you know him?" Lili asks before I get the chance to grab her and run away.

The stranger looks up and smiles like we are old friends that just happened to run into each other at the supermarket. Not at all like I didn't even tell him my name last night and he already found out where I live.

Satlker!

Is this how I'll spend my last months? With a stalker?

"Hello, Eva!" Words poor out of his mouth like honey and with Lili next to me, I have no choice but to play along.

"Hello. What brings you here?"

"We didn't finish our conversation last night, so I wanted to see if you want to grab a coffee."

Like hell, no! I've watched enough movies not to have coffee with my stalker! But Lili is faster and probably thinking that my hesitation is because of her, she jumps to answer for me.

"She'd love to!"

Sister! I would sell a kidney for you, and you throw me to the wolves just because they are pretty?

"Great!" The stranger smiles while opening the door of his car. With my sister almost pushing me into the seat before saying goodbye like she's doing me a favor, I find myself with nowhere to hide from the mysterious stranger.

"What is wrong with you?" I ask once we are far away from Lili.

"I don't have much time to explain, but in the glove compartment is a box with ring. I'll give you ten thousand dollars if you play my fiancée in front of my family today."

Maybe the prospect of dying makes you more brave or more stupid, but in any case, before I tell him to go f**k himself, I open the glove compartment to see the little Tiffany & Co. box and what looks like ten thousand dollars... in cash.

"Just for today...?"

"Yes."

Apparently, I have a price, because in the end, I slip the ring on my finger and the cash in my bag.