Agreement with a billionaire

Prince Charming in disguise.

"My sincere apologies Laura, I have taken your time with my talks." Fiona apologies to Laura, while Adrian leaves the room to receive a call.

“It is absolutely fine Fiona. I enjoyed every bit of our conversation. Thank you for telling me and I will do to visit all the places you recommend.” Laura speaks with not once decreasing her level of gratitude to Fiona.

“You are such a humble woman. I’m glad you are part of Adrian’s life.” Fiona adds, taking Laura to bow her head slightly when tints off pink cascaded her cheeks. “Thank you for visiting me Laura,” Fiona extends her appreciation once again.

“Please do not thank me Fiona, I will do to come here often anytime I’m in the country. And perhaps, you can continue to tell me more about Adrian’s childhood, for I was beginning to envisage he isn’t human.” Laura says.

“As much as Adrian chooses to hide his feelings Laura, I can promise you that Adrian is someone you can rely on and put your trust in, for he never disappoints. He is caring, and sweet if he wants to be, but like I do tell him, the wealth he has seems to blind him once in a while and he chooses to become arrogant.” Fiona speaks to Laura as her tone comes soft, while Laura listens attentively.

With what Laura has heard about Adrian from his grandmother, she can’t help but begin to envisage of him disparately. Perhaps this may be a part of his scheme, for he knows his grandmother would never bad mouth him, yet, Laura doubts Fiona has anything to gain by lying to her.

“And I do see the way he looks at you,” Fiona adds, taking Laura’s attention to concentrate on the aged woman.

“Me? No, Adrian and I are just…friends.” Laura hesitate with the choice of her words, yet she can not find a better description for she and Adrian’s relationship than, friends. She can’t openly tell the aged woman, that her grandson offered her millions of dollars just for a necklace after being arrogant to her, then moved to ask her to be his fiancé and his wife all in a span of three weeks.

Definitely she can’t say such.

“Let me tell you a secret Laura,” Fiona’s tone dies down even more, taking Laura’s ears to perk even more. “Adrian has never, not once in his life introduced me to any of his friends before. Of course, I do know his male friends, but not a woman before, and not to mention of bringing her to visit me.” Fiona reveals to Laura, as Laura gaze calms to become softer. “You are different Laura, and Adrian sees it too.” Fiona adds, all while Laura remains silent not able to utter a word.

“I believe we should call it a night Grandma, you need to have your rest and Laura also, so she can leave for France tomorrow,” Adrian walks back into the room, taking the two pairs of eyes to stare back at him, whereas Laura still remains in a trance of what Fiona mentioned to her.

Perhaps, she judged Adrian wrongly, perhaps their first meeting was set off on the wrong foot which caused her to want nothing to do with him, perhaps she envisaged he might just be similar to her past, and perhaps she fail to realize that Adrian might just be a Prince Charming in disguise.

But all of it all is perhaps, for it is left for her to find out herself and make her decision.

“Of course. Have a safe flight Laura.” Fiona takes her attention back to Laura.

“Thank you Fiona. It was wonderful meeting you.” Laura moves closer to the aged woman, before holding her hand with hers, and caressing gently. “Please do take care of yourself.” Laura adds, taking Fiona to smile and nod gently before Laura moves even closer to place a kiss on her right cheek.

——————-

“My sincere apologies for missing your flight. It wasn’t my attention. For that I’ll have my jet take you to France first thing tomorrow morning.” Adrian apologizes as the two get inside the car.

“It’s alright Adrian, you don’t have to. I might just stay a couple more days here before I head back.” Laura continues to hide the fact that she is on a vacation.

“And won’t Lucien have a problem with that?” Adrian inquires.

“I’m certain we can come to an agreement. Also it is a plus, for there is still some looses ends which I could help him tie here.” Laura replies, while Adrian nods his head as a response. “Why did you bring me to see your grandmother?” Laura questions Adrian of what has been battling her mind ever since they arrived at the hospital.

“My grandmother suffers from a heart condition, which has brought about surgeries upon surgeries for the past five years and she was doing well with them up until a year ago when she fell Ill, taking her to go into shock. Apparently, the fall caused a rapture in her heart and another surgery was needed but this time it couldn’t last for as long as a month, so we optioned for a transplant. Before the transplant it was a fifty - fifty chance to her survival one which she knew, and for that, she began asking for the family heirloom, which is the necklace you posses.” Adrian begins, while Laura’s gaze begins to furrow at Adrian’s confession to her.

“I don’t know how it came into your possession, but that necklace has been in my family for centuries and never once faded and to those whom held the necklace can always differentiate between a fake and the original.” Laura listens attentively, while she and Adrian’s gaze locks before he continues.

“Knowing she has a chance of not surviving, there is a ceremony usually done to the first born males of the Alimson’s family where they pass down that necklace to be worn by their wives, and since my mother died at a very young age, Grandma and my sister are the ones closest to perform the ceremony for me.

She knew she may not make it till the day I got married, for that she wanted to pass it down to me before I got married, which is why she asked my sister for it which was in her possession. But, my sister handed it over to me one faithful day to hold on to it, since it will eventually be mine but unfortunately, it got stolen some months back and ever since I have been searching for it, for Grandma has never for one day stopped asking for it.” Laura’s gaze goes small and soft with remorse, such that she begins to feel guilty.

“Then I came to France for David’s wedding and while on the search for it, I found it with you. After searching for months I finally found it, and I would give anything to have it back, because my grandma needs to have it back, for there is no guarantee of her survival length, which caused my actions towards you and I flaunted my wealth to you face, hoping it would get you to release it, but unfortunately you didn’t and time was not on mine and Grandma’s side, so we had to proceed with the surgery, knowing quite well how it could end. Thankfully, she survived it.” Adrian ends, whereas Laura fights her battles as guilt overwhelms her that she takes her gaze away from Adrian.

But how could she have known? How could she have know there was such a deep story behind Adrian’s actions, when all he showed her was a man whom was only after a possession?

“Then…why did you ask me to be your fiancé and marry you?” Laura inquires with her gaze away from Adrian as she makes efforts to make sensibility out of her situation.

“Well I will be honest with you Laura, my reason are not pleasant to hear…”

“I still need to know.” Laura cuts Adrian off his words, while a sigh escapes his lips.

“I figured you also hold great sentiment for that necklace which is why I envisaged that if you could pretend to be my fiancé for a week, I will present you to my Grandma and she will perform the ceremony with you being there and still having the necklace in your possession and after that, we would figure something out as to why it didn’t work out between us while I return the necklace back to you and you’re free to live your life. But,” Adrian adds, as with his additional word, Laura takes her gaze back to him.

“But what?” Laura inquires.

“But now the situation has changed and Grandma wants me to get married and present the necklace before her heart gives out.” Adrian says.

“I’m perplexed, gives out how?” Laura questions worriedly.

“Gives out within six months.”