StarCrossed

Chapter 19

unedited

She looked really troubled that he was speechless for a while before he regained his composure.

"A proposition you say? well lets hear it." He said as he headed into his office.

Airah followed him solemnly. He was seated on the couch so she sat opposite him. She cleared her clogged throat and started,

"I will accept your contract....."

Areef sat upright. "You will?" He asked looking at her quizzically.

She nodded. He studied her face before relaxing back in his seat.

"I see, so what's the catch?" He asked her.

Airah felt her throat clogging again. She cleared her throat. ""We have to make some amendments to the contract."

"What amendments would that be?" He asked.

"I will not be paid anything for marrying you, rather I want you to loan me five million Naira which I will pay you back within a year. The moment I pay back your last Kobo the contract is up."

Areef was flabbergasted. He studied Airah again and he could tell something was up.

"In my contract you will be given 20 million as soon as you sign and when the contract is expired you will leave with 30. That is more beneficial. And you won't have to pay a dime. Why the amendment."

"Difficult times call for difficult measures sir. I would not be a part of this contract if I had a choice." She told him with a stern face.

"I'm not forcing you to do anything you don't want to Miss Ahmad. If you need the money for something you can tell me." He said still unsure of her motives.

"I don't need your help sir. I agree to your contract, just make the amendment and I will sign."

Areef heaved a sigh, He knew something was wrong but he just can't seem to know what. She seems to be in some sort of financial problem. But he's glad she has agreed and she even needs less money than he proposed.

"Alright Miss Ahmad, I'll have my lawyer edit it. But remember this is only between me and you, It's a highly confidential agreement, even your family can't know about this. They have to think we a genuinely married and in love with each other."

Airah thought about deceiving her parents and her heart sank. She knew when they find out they will be so disappointed but she had to do this for them. She just has to.

"I know that sir. No one can know. I'll take a day off today to think more while the contract is revised is that okay sir?"

"Of course it is. And you will have to stop working after the marriage too, you know that right?" He stated.

"About that too, I will like a continue working even after the marriage."

"We'll sort that out, just think it through again. I don't like professional and personal life clashing." He told her.

"Well I wouldn't classify the marriage personal. It's strictly professional to me. " Airah said to him.

"Of course it is. Just don't want people talking or suspecting something. Anyway, everything will go according to our tradition, so what I meant to say was you should tell your parents that I will be sending my people." He said matter of factly.

Airah wanted to say something but thought better of it and quietly stood up.

"Let me know when the contract has been revised." She said as she exited the office.