8. Will
As I watched Elizabeth about to leave the office, I realized that she was my only solution. However, I understood Elizabeth well enough to know that persuading her would require significant effort on my part.
“Let’s make a deal. You marry me, and I will give your business all of the push you need. I know you’re here at my company for a loan.”
I saw her pause in her tracks and slowly walked back toward me. At first, I felt as though my proposal had worked, but with the expression on her face, I knew otherwise.
“What?”
“You’re here for a business loan, aren’t you? Well, how about you marry me? I will ensure you get the loan and full support from my team to help you grow your business to a profitable one.”
“Who says my business is not profitable?”
“Come on, Elizabeth, if it was, you wouldn’t be here for a loan now, would you? A five-thousand-dollar loan at that.”
From the way she stared at me in disbelief, I could tell I wasn’t helping my case.
“Look, I need you to help me out here. Besides, it is a fake marriage. It’s not as though we are going to be officially married. We just need to tell people we are, just so I get these people off my neck, and in return, I help you, too.”
“I don’t remember asking you for your help. Do you think that with money, you can just buy people or resolve any problem you have?”
“Yes, that is what I think.”
“Well, that’s not reality, Mr. Will. You know what? I’m done having this conversation.”
“You really think that is not reality? Then you must think you’re living in a fair world. News flash! The world is not fair!” I said with a higher pitch than usual as I watched her actually walk out of my office—this time for real.
Letting out a breath, I placed my hand on my forehead as I pondered what to do. Now, I didn’t want anyone else but Elizabeth to participate in the fake marriage with me, and judging by her stubbornness, she was going to pose a challenge. Good thing I love challenges.
Walking back to my desk, I immediately dialed Anthony.
If I was going to convince Elizabeth to agree, then I needed to begin taking steps that would leave her no choice but to accept my proposal.
“You sent for me, sir.”
“Yes, I need you to give out a loan to Elizabeth Giller. She is here for the small business loan. She also happens to be my sister’s best friend, and she is as good as family. So please ensure that you double the amount for her loan for starters and bring me her proposal.”
“Of course, sir,” Anthony said before leaving my office.
I let out a breath as I thought of things I could do to convince Elizabeth to agree to my plan. I should call Lydia. She was her best friend. Of course, she should have an idea of what I could do to make her friend agree to my advances.
However, Lydia and I had not spoken in a while. One might assume that siblings should talk frequently, but Lydia and I had a unique relationship. Even though we didn’t speak all the time, we still shared a strong bond.
I picked up my phone and dialed her number. Placing the phone to my ear, I heard her answer on the second ring.
“And to what do I owe the pleasure of a call from you, Mr. George.”
“Is that how you say hello to your elder brother?”
“Last I checked, we never exchange pleasantries, so the earlier you begin talking as to why you’re calling, the better for the both of us. I’m sure you’re a busy man, right?”
“Come on, don’t be so harsh. I just want to check on my princess.”
“I find that hard to believe, but I will take it.”
We spent some time exchanging pleasantries and getting to know what each other had been up to. Of course, I had to do that before going straight into the request I had for her.
I brought up the conversation of the rumor going around, and of course, she, too, was familiar with the rumors.
“So, what do you plan to do now?”
“Well, I might have an idea.”
“Which is?” Lydia asked curiously, and I knew immediately that this was my window to penetrate.
“So I’m sure you’re aware that your friend Elizabeth is at my company for a loan for her business.”
“Yes, and how does that have anything to do with your situation?”
I paused for a second as I thought of the best way to put it. “Well, I might have introduced her to be my fiancée to my client who was adamant about knowing my relationship status. Now, that single act helped me close a huge deal.”
“Wait, pause for a moment! You did what?”
“I introduced her as my fiancée.”
“Why on earth will you do that? What are you thinking?”
“Could you just relax a bit and try to hear me out first? Ugh! Why do you ladies never like to listen?” I rolled my eyes as though she could see me as I tried my best to summarize how it happened.
“So what do you want to do now? Proceed to actually marrying her?”
“Well, not technically, but I would love us to fake a marriage, at least.”
I heard her laugh from the other end of the phone, as though my idea sounded ridiculous.
“May I ask why you’re laughing at me in that manner? Need I remind you that it is rude to do that?”
“I’m sorry, but are you even listening to yourself? You want to enter a fake marriage and with nobody else other than Elizabeth? You mean my Elizabeth?”
“Yes, and what is so funny about that?”
“You do know that Elizabeth doesn’t even like you as a person, right?”
Well, I didn’t know that. Why wouldn’t she like me as a person? Every woman likes me. I’m the perfect definition of the kind of man every woman would love to be in a relationship with.
I got the looks, the money, and the body. I mean, what else would a woman want?
“What do you mean by that?”
“Well, in simple words, she sees you as arrogant, proud, and egotistical.”
I let out a loud scoff in unbelief. Me? Proud? Arrogant? Egotistical? That is definitely not me.
“Come on, your friend has to be a joker.”
“Look, Will, I don’t know how you want to fix things, but please just leave Elizabeth out of your plans, okay? She is not the right one to help out with this.”
The harder it seemed to get Elizabeth on track, the more I wanted to ensure she did this with me.
“Lydia, please! Look, just help me talk to her, okay? I mean, I’m promising to give her business the push she needs. In fact, I’ve already instructed Anthony to grant her the loan and double it. Look, I just need her to pretend to be with me for a little while so I can clear my name. The rumors are beginning to affect my business relationship with my clients.”
I heard her let out a sigh from her end. At this point, Lydia was the only one who could help me convince her friend.
“Look, I don’t know Will.”
“Please, Lydia! Look, I promise I won’t mess anything up. It’s just for her to play along, and in return, I help her grow her business.”
Lydia remained silent, thinking about the proposal I was making.
“It doesn’t sound bad, but then, knowing Elizabeth, she is going to need a lot of convincing.”
“Well, that’s why I’m calling you to please help me out.”
“All right, I will see what I can do, but I’m not promising that she will give in fully.”
“I get you, but there is no harm in trying now, is there?”
“No, there isn’t.”
“Thank you, sis.”
“Of course, I’ll talk to you later.”
On that note, I ended the call, putting my phone down as I looked out of the window. I couldn’t help but wonder how many more deals I could close if news of my being engaged got out.
Don’t get ahead of yourself yet, Will, I heard my subconscious whisper to me.
Truly, it was too early to get ahead of myself when Elizabeth hadn’t even agreed. No matter what it took, I was going to ensure she did. She was my solution at the moment and the only solution I wanted.