Chapter 9 Karina #2
“Unfortunately, I cannot disclose that information just yet,” she replies.
“But rest assured, he is a well-respected individual in his field. He has never been arrested and is not a violent man. The only downfall is that he is married to his career. So, he is not looking for someone to have babies with or go out on dates and live in the land of make-believe. If you don’t think you can be that person, I’ll let him know and we will find someone else. ”
My thoughts drift to my mother’s demands, and I clench my fists in determination. No, I can do this. I have to do this. “And this arrangement won’t affect my career?” I clarify.
“Your professional reputation will not be compromised,” she assures me. “In fact, it may even benefit from this marriage.” This woman sure knows how to speak in riddles.
With a deep breath, I weigh my options. As much as I want to find love and happiness on my own terms, I haven’t had much luck in either department, if my abysmal dating history is anything to go by. And that’s without even considering Vulcan’s dismissal last week.
“Let’s say I agree,” I blurt before I can change my mind. “What happens next?”
“First, we’ll finalize all the legal documentation. Tonight, you’ll have dinner with my client. And then, in due time, you two will say ‘I do.’”
“Right,” I say slowly, my voice wavering. “And no one will know of this arrangement, correct?”
“No one but you, him, and myself, of course. There will be an NDA to sign.”
Okay, knowing this will be hush-hush, I feel a bit more at ease. “Do I have to live with him?”
“He does prefer you two to live under the same roof after the wedding,” Minji answers smoothly. “There will be separate bedrooms. He is also more than willing to answer any questions you may have later on tonight. So, any more questions, or shall we—?”
Just do it, Karina. “I agree.”
“Are you sure?” she asks gently, her voice tinged with unexpected kindness.
She regards me with a look that suggests she’s giving me one last opportunity to reconsider.
“The marriage timeline is three years,” she continues, watching for any flicker of doubt, any hint that I might change my mind and bolt.
“Yes,” I affirm, though I know that my feeble word doesn’t begin to capture the magnitude of what I’m committing to, the reality of what I’m about to do. Three fucking years.
“Excellent,” she replies, sliding the documents across the table for me to sign. “Now, I’m sure you are unfamiliar with most legal jargon, so I’ll keep it simple.” Her voice is so neutral and professional it’s soothing, offering me a sense of stability in a chaotic storm.
She flips open the folder and points to the first page, a simple outline of the agreement, but I can barely focus.
My mind keeps pivoting between possibilities, the wild fantasy of a new life, and the crushing reality of the one I’m trying to escape.
She’s saying something about financial disbursements and time commitments, breaking it down into digestible pieces for my non-lawyer brain.
Her explanations are as clear-cut as her appearance.
You can do this, I tell myself like a mantra. Just think of it as a job.
Minji turns a page, then stops to look at me, asking without words if I’m still in. Without hesitation, I nod.
“Here’s where you sign,” Minji instructs, tapping her finger on the dotted line. Her efficiency leaves no room for doubt, nor time for reconsideration. Maybe that’s what I need. A push. An immediate dive into the unknown.
I pause, hovering over the paper and meeting her eyes. She’s steady, and that steadiness helps me breathe a little easier. This is only temporary. Three years. That’s it.
“Wait,” I say, time stretching out endlessly as doubt seizes my resolve.
How could I have overlooked something so basic?
Visions of a white-haired man with beady, leering eyes flash before me.
“How old is he?” I look up from the paper.
“Age shouldn’t matter,” I rush out, hoping she understands what I’m not saying.
“But, well. Three years is a long time…”
Minji’s expression remains neutral, her calm demeanor unaffected by my outburst of panic. “He’s thirty-nine,” she states.
“Does he know my age?” My hands tremble slightly as I reach for the pitcher of water, and I barely manage to pour myself a cup without spilling it everywhere.
“He does, and he stated age is nothing but a number. Will this be a problem?”
I scramble, feeling about five seconds from a meltdown, and try to discern as much information while my brain is still sharp. “Can I know what he looks like before I answer that?”
“If you agree, you will be able to see him tonight,” she reminds me.
There it is again, her refusal to give me anything until I’ve signed my soul away. “But you said earlier…” I sputter, trying to piece together the fragments of our conversation like a puzzle that refuses to fit. “What I mean to say is—”
“I see looks and the age difference is a problem for you,” she interrupts, a note of finality in her voice.
She stands abruptly, reaching for the folder and picking it up in a single motion, as if to close the chapter before it’s even begun.
What just happened? “I will talk to my client, advising him you are no longer interested.”
“No!” The word escapes me like a plea, raw and unrestrained. “I want to do this, but—”
“No buts. You’re either in or out.” She eyes me, and I can tell she’s deciding on how much to reveal. “I can assure you he is very handsome and very much in shape.”
What’s with this added secrecy then?
“Look…” Minji sits back down. “My client doesn’t want to reveal his identity until these documents are signed.
You’re young, and maybe going this route is not one you should be taking.
It’s scary, I know, but as much as I want you to feel at ease, my client comes first. So, I thank you for coming down here, but you will no longer be—”
“I’ll sign.”
She dips her chin and flips open the folder. “Once this is complete, you will be transferred one million dollars.”
A frenzied relief washes over me at the vision of escaping the crushing weight of bills and obligations, the demands of family that gnaw at my soul like hungry wolves. For the first time, I envision a life where I’m not constantly on edge, clawing my way toward a freedom that seems almost mythical.
But as quickly as it comes, doubt slides in like a cold shadow, a shiver running down my spine.
This isn’t just money for nothing; it’s trading one burden for another.
I can’t shake the feeling that I’m selling a piece of myself, exchanging the dream of love for a practical but barren arrangement.
This mysterious guy is willing to pay me a million dollars for a three-year marriage, and he’s not even expecting intimacy?
“What if he falls in love. What if I do?” I blurt.
“Love is outside of the contractual obligation,” Minji responds without missing a beat, her eyes fixed on mine. “His career keeps him occupied, as I’m sure yours does. It’s unlikely that ‘love’ will have a chance to blossom between you two.”
I chew on my lip, considering what my life has been and what it could be. It’s a leap into the unknown, but isn’t that where faith finds its wings? Minji slides the folder toward me. My hand hesitates, hovering over the documents.
“One more thing. I don’t need that much money.
Just three hundred thousand.” The words spill out in a rush.
I’m reclaiming some small piece of myself amidst the chaos.
Minji’s eyebrows arch slightly, the first real sign of surprise she’s shown, but she doesn’t question me.
Maybe she sees I’m not as desperate as I look, respects the move, even.
I flip to the page with the amount, striking a confident line through the $1,000,000.
I write down three hundred thousand instead.
Then, with a breath that feels like surrender and a tremor in my fingers, I sign on the dotted line.
“Congratulations, Karina. You’ve just taken the first step toward a new life.”
“Thank you,” I reply. “I appreciate everything you’ve done to help me.”
“Of course. If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact me. And remember,” she adds, her voice taking on a reassuring tone, “you’re not alone in this journey. Your future husband is just as committed to making this arrangement work. If not more, in my opinion.”
I rise to my feet and clasp Minji’s hand, finalizing the agreement that will alter my life permanently. As I exit the law office, emotion swirls within me. This may not be the fairy-tale ending I once dreamed of, but it’s a decision bound to give me peace of mind.