A Proposal.
" Mummy!!!!"
Dave was awake. Isabella Vaughn turned around and caught her little man before he crashed into her legs, picking him up into her arms. Her son giggled playfully, snuggling deeper into her warm hold.
" Damn it you woke up! " She wailed sarcastically.
" I thought he was asleep too. He was awake even when you came to kiss him goodbye " Jess walked out of the room, arms folded as she watched the both of us.
" Really? You tried to trick mummy didn't you?" Bella began tickling her son, making him wriggle and giggle in her arms. She laughed back, her heart filled with joy for that moment. These were the kind of memories she wanted to cherish for the rest of her life.
" Get ready for school or you'll be late, okay? " Bella turned to her little sister, Jess Vaughn.
" I already took my bath. I'll be taking Dave from you now to get him ready too"
Bella handed the child over to his Aunt, who gently dropped him on the couch. Dave was eight years old, and Jess was eleven... Yet she was so mature for her age. Bella couldn't even begin to thank her enough for everything she's been doing for Dave, and Bella would do anything to help Jess.
" Remember to take it easy at school okay? Don't let anything get to you, and have a good day" Bella said, giving both her son and sister two big kisses, before she headed for the door.
" Bye" she waved
" Bye mummy!!"
" Bye Isa"
With that, Bella left the house and headed to work.
She had to keep reminding herself that everything would be fine, that everything would work out just fine. She's gonna get the money, and she's going to help Jess out of her condition. Jess is gonna have her surgery, and would finally be able to leave like every other normal kid her age. But, so far she hadn't saved so much.
It would take many more months before she's able to gather that much money, even with her other jobs apart from this one. Bella worked at one of the biggest companies at Washington DC, the One owned by billionaires, rich and successful. She also wondered whether she could be as rich as them one day
King Industries.
She was a cleaner there. She didn't have the qualifications to get a higher status since she didn't go to college and have the skills to do so or get the certificate or degree or stuff. So, she settled for a cleaner since she had no other choice.
Showing her ID, she walked into the company and soon enough, she was with a mop cleaning the fifth floor. Sometimes, she just couldn't believe where life had dropped her, or when everything suddenly changed, why so many things were against her...
She's twenty seven years old, but look at where she is.
This wasn't the dreams she had as a kid. This wasn't what she promised herself to do, but what else does she supposed? She needs to be as hardworking as she can to keep paying the house rent, to keep buying groceries, to keep paying Jess and Dave's fess, to keep tending to their needs.
But with how things are going, she might need another job. No, she definitely needs another job.
After she was done cleaning the fifth floor, she did three other floors according to the work she was given today by the head cleaner... And her last floor was the 10th, Where the CEOs office was located. She's always managed to talked the head cleaner into not giving her the tenth floor, but today was an unlucky day for her.
The reason why she, and probably many others didn't like coming here was because of the CEO himself. Many say there's always a mysterious air around him, and from first glance he looks tough... Something about most people unable to feel comfortable around him. She didn't really get the complete idea too.
Once she climbed down the final stairs and got the floor, she dropped the bucket and started to mop down the hallway. She tried to focus on other things, other than the fact that she might run into the man and take off running like she normally does whenever she's scared out of her pants. But, she shouldn't actually believe what she's never experienced, it's not like she's met the man face to face before to confirm if it was true as they say...
She was almost done with cleaning the hallways, when the door to an office suddenly flew open. Bella immediately switched into alert mode, but her nerves calmed down when she heard the sound of heels. It's a woman, the CEO was a man...that was much better.
Ignoring whoever it was, she continued on with her duties till the person arrived at where she was, then stopped. Bella could see the most beautiful white heels ever, and pretty legs worn inside of them.
" Look what you've done! You're cleaning this floor now? My shoe is stained you good for nothing!! " She yelled, almost bringing down the whole floor.
Bella looked up, eyes shaking " I'm sorry I should have..."
And then both women stopped. Bella would swear that someone had placed a mirror in front of her, only that the mirror reflected a much more beautiful version of her, in everything. The skin was just perfect, make-up was touch on and her hair and dress looked like they cost twice the surgery money Bella would need for Jess.
" What..." The woman also looked surprised, shocked to the very core. They both stood there for some seconds, unable to speak at all. Before, the woman suddenly grabbed Bella's arm and began to pull her away from the place roughly.
" Let go of me!" Bella struggled.
They got closer and closer to the elevator. Oh no, she can't.
" Stop it already. Use the stairs instead!"
" Just come with me"
" Why?""
" You'll know very soon" "
" What's going on? I can't use the elevator, I never use the elevator!!"
The woman gritted her teeth first, before she began pulling her again towards the staircase. When they got down to about the seventh floor, still standing around the staircase where they was no one at all, she finally let bella go.
" What do you want from me??" Bella shrieked. She could almost slap that face if not that she was being careful not to cause a scene with someone that clearly had more power than her.
" Don't move!!" The woman warned, before she plucked out a phone from her bag and dialled someone. Bella now had the moment to look at the woman once again. If she wasn't putting on these heels, they'll definitely be of the same height and with the makeup off, they'd look exactly alike. The only problem was their hair color...
She was a brunette, and Bella was a red head.
" It's important!" She was saying in the phone, clutching it very hard, " I think I've finally found the solution to the problem at hand." She said. Even their voices sounded exactly the same
Bella looked at her curiously. What problem?
" Yes. She's with me right now. Yes, I'll be bringing her shortly. Everything is the same, I have eyes, James! See you soon "
" Who are you exactly?" Bella Finally asked when she was through with the call and focused her attention on her. The woman folded up her arms, watching Bella with a scrutinizing gaze. Bella felt... vulnerable at that moment.
" I'm the one who's gonna be asking the questions. Who are you??"
" What?"
" Look here. I have a proposal for you, but you have to Follow me to find out what it is"
Bella blinked hard, " What?"
" You're one of the many crappy cleaners of this company, with nothing to show. I can see it all written on your face"
" And so what?" "
" Come with me, and your life would finally change. Listen to my proposal, accept it and you'll be paid handsomely"
" What in the world..." She paused " How do I know you're not trying to trick me?"
" We'll send you half of the p*****t the moment you agree, and then you'll understand just how serious we are"
Paid handsomely? Bella bit her lip, feeling completely shut down. Accept the proposal and get paid handsomely in return? What in the world...?? Money, she definitely needed money. Oh God, what is really happening?
" How...much money??" Bella asked softly.
The woman smirked, " let's say over two hundred thousand dollars. Shall we go now? "
Bella couldn't believe her ears. That was already more than the amount she needed for Jess's surgery. Her hands were already shaking, and it felt as if she was actually inside the elevator, getting cramped and unable to breathe properly.
" But, I'm not done..."
" Forget it! We are leaving now, I already told my brother we are on our way. Once you get the money you'll be quitting this job by the way, now let's go "
She pulled her again, and this time Bella followed without much struggling. She was praying hard that all this was true, and she wasn't being tricked...or worse, getting kidnapped. The amount of money mentioned dropped to her mind again...and she swallowed.
If this was true...if it's actually true, then she would do it. No matter what it was, she would do it and save Jess. She would get that money and finally Cure Jess from VSD, ventricular septal defect, and her sister would finally live like other kids.
In less than an hour, Bella was seated inside an office with a contract right in front of her. After the explanation given and after reading the entire thing, she finally knew exactly what the proposal was.
The woman that resembled her, Alexa Watson, happened to be the stepsister of The CEO, Adrian Kingston but their parents were now divorced. Now, it seems Adrian was sort of interested in Alexa, and at the same time they spite each other...
Alexa needs someone to stand in for her, as she's afraid of him while she travels out of the country.
As confusing as it sounds, All Bella has to do is to act like his girlfriend, or stepsister for some time, for as long as she's required to which isn't fixed...till Alexa decides to come back and take back her place.
The pay was five hundred thousand dollars, and she would be getting Half of it the minute she signs and everything is ready.
With Jess at the forefront of her mind, Alexa began to sign away. She signed away her personality, her time and everything else just for her sister. But, does she fully knows what she's gotten herself into? Adrian, Is he all they say he is? Or is there more to him?