Indulging the Billionaire ✔️

4. Eight weeks

Sanaah should call Christian to let him know that she was a failure. It never happened before. She did not have any choice but to call and tell everything that happened. Running away from there seemed like a brilliant idea but now she was actually embarrassed. What if those made tell about her sudden disappearance? How was she going to face him then?

With a groan, she slumped on the edge of the bed. It was all Christians fault. Why did he have to send her of all people? The entire environment was unfamiliar to her and she kept on messing up everything.

It took her more than an hour to get back to the cottage because of all the rush. They had to go cross through the farmers market which was heavily filled with all kind of people. It seemed like a Thanksgiving Day for her. She watched it on television once but never really experienced what was all the chaos about.

Shaking her head she picked the phone and dialled Christian. She was not going to meet Zander. Not after the way she yelled at him. Josh can maybe go over and smooth things so that she can take over later. As she thought about it seemed impossible because Josh would never do her a favour. It was worth the try though.

As she was shifting her eyes across the room she noticed newspaper in the corner. That was strange. She didn't buy that. Maybe it was the help who cleaned the room for her while she was gone. Sanaah leaned forward and picked the paper. Might as well go through it.

Her nose scrunched when she noticed that it was a local newspaper. Mostly the harvest and cattle news were strewn across the pages.

"Hello?"

She perked up as Christian finally lifted the call. Clearing her throat she greeted back.

"What happened? Did you meet him?"

"Sort of" She rolled her lips in between her teeth. Even though she did not meet him as the Apple Mogul she did meet him as the farmer passionate about his truck.

She could imagine Christian raising his eyebrows at her answer. Anyone would be confused at her answer without context. Sanaah never disappointed her boss so it was new for her to give him the bad news. Her entire childhood she was always successful in things she did so it was like a slap in her face to admit that she could not pursue the deal.

She looked down with a sigh when the article made her eyes widen.

Wanted:

Someone (inexperienced are welcome) able to start within the following week, willing to do whatever miscellaneous tasks are needed, such as picking & packing apples, running the cash register, and other handywork.

Requirements:

Must be friendly with customers, know basic maths and able to lift up to 50lbs. Willing to work atleast till the end of October.

Due to certain circumstances, help is needed here at the orchard for the upcoming apple season. Please contact the number found on this page if interested.

Sanaah could maybe do that. She could totally get a job in that orchard and convince Zander to sign it away. Maybe that will make him believe that the orchard is not worth keeping. It did not feel right, deceiving him like that but she had no other option than to disappoint Christian. Failing at her job was going to be an embarrassment for her as well. She was not ready to listen to Josh endlessly taunt her about her failure. All those things she said to her brother and sister about being successful and never giving up would make her sound like a hypocrite. There was no way that she was going to go back without getting that sign from him.

"Sanaah?" Christian called and she blushed, realising that he might have been on the line all the time while she was thinking.

"Yes sorry"

"What do you mean sort of?"

She took a deep breath. There was no use hiding it from him anyway. She told everything from start to the end and patiently waited for him to answer. The silence from the other side was itching at her skin.

"Uhh...wow. That's going to be a problem"

Her face fell, "I'm sorry"

"Don't be. You had no idea that he would be Zander."

"Yeah" She quietly responded.

"So what do you want to do now?"

"I will email Elijah, his assistant about rescheduling the meeting for a while."

"Okay, and what do you expect will happen in that time? Zander will forget your face? We don't have that much time Sanaah. The signature needs to happen before November"

It meant that she had every opportunity to work in that orchard. The October end saw the end of apple season so Zander would have no problem in signing the deal and getting it over with. Maybe get plan was not as crazy as she thought. She just had to work for eight weeks. Give or take.

She made a sound, rubbing at her forehead, "I know I know. This may sound crazy but I have a plan"

"What is it?"

"I want eight weeks paid vacation"

Christian yelled, "A what?"

"Hear me out its for the sign. I'll stay here for seven to eight weeks and work on his orchard. Convince him along the way that it's crazy to leave that amount of money"

There was silence from the other side again. She thought that Christian would yell at her again but maybe he was considering it. Call it crazy or whatever but she wasn't going to let the deal slip away. Their bonuses are always crazy. Last time she got to visit bora bora with the paid hotel.

"This is crazy" Christian sighed from the other side

"I know but just think about it Christian. You know me and how persuasive I can be. I'll get that sign"

"But it's two and a half months Sanaah. That's too long"

Sanaah rolled her eyes, "Consider it my payback for taking single leave in last three years"

"Fine" Christian laughed.

She exhaled sharply at that. So everything will be as it is. She can still gloat about success to her siblings and Josh.

"Thank you! You won't regret this"

"Yeah I better not"

After that, they talked some more about Christians new kale recipe. She pretended to listen to all while staring at the advert in the paper. It better work out.

***

When she thought that she would stay for eight weeks she completely forgot about her clothes and essentials. How was she going to live without them? She called her housekeeper and asked her to pack everything so that someone from the office can deliver it to her place.

The entire day after running away from mansion she spent on googling about the orchard and the things required in her interview. She had never been to interviews regarding farming so preparation was always best. She called the number and talked to someone named Neil. He was the manager of the orchard and allotted her the time for the meeting.

The next day she was dressed in her MM LaFleur Wool Twill Suit and Stuart Weitzman leather sandals. Her Prada bag was hanging off her arm as she stepped out of the cottage. The driver was in the driveway to which she was thankful. Punctuality is one of the quality they judge in the interviews.

As soon as they reached the orchard she gaped at the sight in front of her. The trees appeared red and beautiful due to the sun rays falling over them. As far as her eyes wandered there were apple trees everywhere. The only parts not covered by the trees are the small streets heading to the East and West. In the middle of them is a large farmhouse type building surrounded by white flowers and a large board with the name of the orchard. It felt too elegant and picturesque. No wonder Zander was not ready to leave the orchard.

"Are you here for the job?" The question startled her vision. She turned her around only to notice a blonde tall man looking down at her.

"Yes. Hi, I'm Sanaah." She flashed her pearly whites

The man was not the one she saw on that road. This one seemed even more attractive with his faded blue bootcut jeans, an orange and brown checkered flannel, a pair of well-worn work boots. There were initials on his snapback.

"Are you Neil?" She asked as they were heading towards the farmhouse.

The guy laughed, "No I'm Lenon Martin. I handle the finances of the orchard sort of accountant you can say but I also help with the picking and packing. We were six of them but the guy left that's why we need someone to work around here"

She bobbed her head taking the information in. So technically she was going to work alongside five guys. Super.

"Where is my interview?"

"Oh, you'll be talking with our main boss Zander Rizzo. He's inside just knock, alright?"

She gulped, colour draining her face. Why was Zander taking her interview? That's the person she was trying to avoid.

"Umm thanks"

"Good luck"

Luck was all she needed.

***