100 Days, My President

Chapter Two

"Are you toying with me? You're actually willing to pay such a hefty sum to a psychologist?" Amelia asked, taken aback by the surprising proposition.

"Your skills are unmatched, Miss Aurora. The moment I heard you were in the country, I seized the opportunity without hesitation. We are prepared to offer any amount you desire," Nick responded earnestly. Amelia observed him closely, realizing that this man was completely serious. But how could he be?...

Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the piercing ringtone of her phone. "Excuse me," she politely excused herself and stepped out of the room.

"Aurora! Where the hell are you?" she whispered into the phone.

"I'm terribly sorry, Amelia. I had an early flight. An emergency came up. I apologize for not meeting up with you. We can..."

"Wait, so you're no longer in the country?" Amelia interjected.

"That's correct. And I won't be back for a very long time..."

Amelia ended the call before she could say more. "She's not in the country," she murmured to herself, her gaze shifting toward the door she had exited from.

"If Aurora is absent... I could..." A sinister smile curled upon Amelia's lips as she regally strode back into the room.

Nick hastily rose to his feet upon her return, desperation etched on his face. "Just for 100 days, alright?" Amelia inquired.

"Yes, but there's something else," Nick replied, causing Amelia to furrow her brow.

"What is it?"

"You'll need to become his in-house psychologist. Since we can't afford anyone finding out about his illness, you'll have to marry him, Miss Aurora..." Nick dropped the bombshell, leaving Amelia staring at him as if she might faint.

"What?" she whispered, almost in disbelief.

"It'll be a sham marriage, purely for the sake of the media and our colleagues. I understand you'll be confined indoors, but we must exercise utmost caution. If people discover that you're living with him without a valid explanation, his secret will be exposed," Nick explained, while Amelia's grip on her bag tightened.

"This is..."

"Please, Miss Aurora... it's only for 100 days. There won't be any romantic involvement between the two of you. Just think of him as a roommate for the next 100 days," Nick pleaded.

"I'll consider it," Amelia responded, causing Nick to wear a grateful smile.

"That would be greatly appreciated, Miss Aurora," Nick expressed.

*********

"Please, come inside, Miss Aurora," Lydia, the maid in Donovan's Mansion, welcomed her with a warm smile as she assisted her with the luggage. Amelia followed closely, awestruck by the magnificence of the enormous house.

Curiosity got the better of her, and Amelia couldn't help but ask, "Does Mr. Adrian live here alone?"

"Yes, ma'am. Poor thing. His parents passed away in a car accident when he was just 10," Lydia replied with a sympathetic smile. "Please have a seat. Can I offer you anything?"

"Don't give me that, Nick! Your arrangement is utterly absurd. How do you expect me to marry a complete stranger? You didn't even inform me beforehand or involve me in the decision!" A deep voice resonated through the building, accompanied by the sound of descending footsteps. Lydia, recognizing the voice, turned around, while Amelia sat there in silence.

"Hi, Miss Aurora!" Nicholas's voice greeted her. Amelia quickly stood up, realizing that they had been arguing, unaware of the presence of others.

"Amelia?" Adrian eyed her warily. His gaze shifted from her luggage to Nicholas, clearly displeased.

"Really? You've already brought her here?" Adrian scoffed.

"Don't be rude to our guest, Adrian," Nicholas responded calmly. "Besides, it was challenging to convince her to come."

Adrian let out an incredulous chuckle, then turned to give Amelia a scornful glare before storming out of the house without another word.

Nicholas sighed, rubbing his temple. "And there goes your patient and future husband," he remarked, his smile tinged with nervousness and frustration.

"He's peculiar," Amelia nervously smiled.

"Ignore him. He'll come around. That's just his way of rebelling. Sooner or later, he'll come around. And I apologize for his rudeness earlier. Please don't change your..."

"I won't," Amelia interjected. "Insomniac patients are often like that—lack of sleep and all. It was just a joke." Nick nodded, appreciating her understanding.

"We are fortunate to have you, Miss Aurora," Nick expressed sincerely.

"No, I'm the fortunate one to have met you," Aurora thought to herself.

"I'll transfer 50 million dollars to your account later today. Lydia will assist you in settling in. And as for that guy who left earlier, he won't stay away for long," Nicholas assured as he exited the building.

********

Amelia's eyelids fluttered open, revealing a room that was no longer shrouded in darkness. Startled, she quickly sat up in bed and found herself face to face with an intense gaze fixed upon her. The person seated on the edge of the bed seemed lost in contemplation.

"How did you manage to enter?" Amelia asked, wide-eyed and astonished.

Ignoring her question, Adrian responded without a hint of hesitation, "How much did he offer you?"

Amelia scrutinized him carefully, attempting to gather her thoughts. "What do you mean?" she inquired.

"I mean, if you agree to leave, I can double whatever he's paying you," Adrian stated, a bitter chuckle escaping his lips. "We both know you're a fraud, Miss Aurora. You can't heal me."

Amelia pursed her lips, suppressing her anger at his brazen revelation. And then came his offer—to double the money. But beneath his tough façade, she detected a flicker of fear, a vulnerability he attempted to conceal.

"I am here to fulfill my duty, Mr. Donovan. I made a promise to Mr. Nicholas. I will heal you within 100 days," Amelia replied, though she herself had doubts about her capabilities. As she observed Adrian, she wondered if he shared those doubts.

"And if you fail?" Adrian raised an eyebrow, his question hanging in the air. Silence followed, enveloping them both. Then, he rose from his seat, hands in his pockets, and approached Amelia with purposeful strides. She yearned to retreat, but her legs felt rooted to the spot. He halted a mere inches away, towering over her.

"Forget about therapy, Mrs. Aurora," he began in a husky voice. "Would you consider performing marital rites instead? I must admit, I'm quite curious." His words hung in the air as Amelia swallowed hard, realizing she had become entranced by his gaze. What strange power did he hold over her?