(Negotiation)
Grayson's eyes met Okani's through the front mirror, a silent acknowledgment passing between them. He wasn't expecting Callie to have a condition after the offer he had made.
He was running out of time to find a wife and hoped that her condition would be something he could accommodate.
"I don't expect you to have a condition after I've offered you so much money," Grayson's voice was muffled by the raging thunder outside.
Callie still managed to hear him. "Let's get this straight, Mr. Grayson, you're not doing me a favor; we're doing ourselves a favor. So, don't think you can control me because you're offering me money. In offering you myself and my time, I'm offering more than money. For you to have stalked and made this offer means that you saw potential in me. So, as you said, this is a game, and we're playing for a prize." She smirked at him.
"What do you want?" Grayson's jaw ticked; he was taming down his irritation.
Callie was below him, and he never tolerated insolence from anyone. He was just listening to her so she'd sign the papers; once she did, her words would no longer matter to him.
"So, since we're going to be together for a brief moment, I think we both need to set our priorities straight. I know you've offered money, but due to some personal reasons, I'd like an extra income." She paused and studied his face.
His face was a mask, his gaze unwavering. Annoyingly, even like this, he was undeniably handsome. She couldn't tell anything from his face; he just stared at her, waiting for her to say what she wanted.
She was about to speak when her phone suddenly rang. It was her father calling again.
He might have heard and was probably calling to either shout at her for treating Richard the way she did, or to butter up to her since she was now close with a New York Billionaire.
She didn't answer. She didn't want Grayson to learn anything about her personal life.
"Sorry about the interruption. What I'm saying is that I need a job. I don't mind whatever the position is, as long as I get an income that I could call mine at the end of the month. That's my condition, Mr. Grayson, and it's a dealbreaker." She stated.
"You have no experience," Grayson pointed out.
"Well, I have no experience in marriage but look who's trusting me to marry him," Callie shot back.
Okani cleared his throat but only Grayson knew that he was holding in his laughter.
Grayson balled his fists and looked out the window, praying for the pouring rain to also wash his increasing impatience away.
"The contract says that you will pay back every single penny if you dare to breach the contract by any means. You do understand that this means a lot to me, don't you?" Grayson questioned her, his aura darkening.
He wasn't going to let a woman challenge him.
"Why would I breach such a contract, Mr. Grayson? I'd be a fool to do that. I need your money, you need me. So, don't worry, we just have to respect each other for as little as a year and that's it," Callie shrugged.
Grayson noticed how Callie got more and more confident as she spent time with him. There was really nothing ladylike about her. He was wondering how she even managed to fix herself up on that game show night.
Whatever, he just had to make sure she looked presentable whenever she would appear beside him in front of his family.
"We'll talk about this later, just sign the—"
"No. Good night, Mr. Grayson. I'll find a way to pay you your money," She was about to open the car door when Grayson spoke.
"Agreed. Sign the papers, Callie," He said impatiently, his eyes staring at the back of her red hair.
She looked quite determined to leave.
Callie turned, a smile on her face. "You see? That's what I'm talking about, communication is key," She said and picked up the pen from the seat.
Grayson watched her as she sucked her bottom lip into her mouth, a small, unconscious gesture that surprisingly drew his eye, as she penned in her signature.
"Here, done. Mr. Husband," Callie smiled as she returned the document.
Grayson took it from her with no smile on his face. "It'll always be Mr. Grayson to you, Callie." He said as he slid the documents back inside the file.
Callie bit her lips, a blush creeping up her neck. His lack of a smile, even after such a dramatic exchange, was a stark reminder of the man she was dealing with.
"You can go. Meet me by eight tomorrow morning at the marriage bureau," Grayson no longer looked her way; he was done with her.
Callie nodded. "See you then." She said and pushed the door open.
"Here's an—" Okani paused when he turned and saw Callie already walking toward her house as if the sun was shining down on her. "Umbrella," He muttered and turned his face to Grayson.
"You just let her walk out in this? That's not like you, Grayson," Okani asked.
Grayson shrugged, "She left." He replied.
Okani shook his head. "Be careful, Grayson. She's just a girl trying to survive," He said before driving the car away from Callie's home.
Callie knew that Roxy would still be at the club so she didn't bother calling out for her as she entered the house.
She was unbuttoning her wet shirt as she entered her dark room, her hand blindly finding her light switch.
"Fuck! Mama!" Callie gasped and braced her back on her wall as she saw a figure right in front of her, wearing a black mask.
Suddenly the figure fell to the floor and laughed so uncontrollably.
Callie frowned and kicked the person on the bottom. "Fuck you, Melinda," She slid to the floor to join her friend.
"You should have seen your face," Melinda laughed hard, pulling off the mask from her face.
Callie took a deep breath to calm her nerves; she gave Melinda one last kick and a frown. "I've told you to stop playing like this," She complained.
Melinda sat up, facing her. "I can't help it, it's fun seeing you scared," She smiled at Callie.
Callie pulled her shirt off and stood from the floor. "I know, right? Why are you here? Leaving JJ alone again?" She walked into her bathroom.
Melinda was behind her in a second. "Forget JJ. Let's talk about you," She leaned beside Callie's bathroom door and instantly turned serious.
Callie bit her lips; she knew what was coming, and somehow, she was glad that she had something to say to Melinda.
She removed her jeans and placed them in the washing machine. "Calm down, Melinda. I know you saw the show, but—"
"Oh, I saw, I did see, Callie. How you proudly turned down the hottest billionaire alive, and without asking, I knew you didn't get the job because he happens to be the owner of the company I applied for your job," Melinda scoffed, angry.
Callie smiled. "Yes, I didn't get the job." She replied.
"And why are you so happy about that?" Melinda questioned.
"Because I now get to be his wife," Callie announced.
Melinda paused, stared at Callie for a few seconds, and burst out laughing, holding herself up with the door as she laughed harder.
"Oh my... I never knew you had such humor in you, Callie. I mean, you won; I'm no longer angry; I could always look for another job for you," Melinda sniffed, wiping the side of her eyes.
"You can laugh all you want. But can you borrow me something I can wear for a wedding?" Callie gently pushed Melinda out of the way and walked into the room, searching her very small wardrobe for a night dress.
Melinda furrowed her brows. "You're serious?" She followed Callie.
Callie nodded.
"Sit," She tapped the space beside her on the bed.
"My life is about to change," She giggled playfully.
Melinda listened in astonishment as Callie told her everything that happened from the moment Richard walked into the bar.
"No way, Callie... you're going to be Mrs. Wolfe!" She hugged Callie, smiling happily.
"Uh, no... it's fake Mrs. Wolfe. You know already," Callie pulled Melinda away from her body.
Melinda frowned. "Hmm... we can change that. Men are fickle; just seduce him, and he's all yours," She smirked at Callie.
Callie chuckled, a hint of weariness in it. "You still don't get it, do you, Melinda? He's a means to an end, nothing more. A stranger, even." She sighed.
"At least my mother will get treated properly," Callie murmured.
Melinda smiled. "Fine. A contract marriage it is. I need to leave now. I have a wedding to prepare for tomorrow morning. I'll be very early with a dress." Melinda kissed Callie's cheek and waved at her before leaving.
Callie stared unblinking at the door, her head empty yet filled with thoughts at the same time.
She couldn't believe that she was getting married to a stranger the next morning.
"Was I doing the right thing?" She muttered quietly. Grayson seemed tough and troublesome; she couldn't shake off the feeling that he was going to be more trouble than she thought.
"I hope I made the right choice for you, Mama," She covered her face with her hands and fell back on the bed, the image of Grayson's unyielding gaze burned into her mind.