“Yea?” She responded unsurely.

Without  another word to her, he rose from his seat, adjusted his jacket and left. 

Did that just happen? Did he just say that?

This situation was something she never believed possible, except in the movies, of course. No one, man or woman, had come to her with such a proposal. It was strange and awkward for a girl like her. But the money was mouth-watering.

With all of this, one thing remained in her mind. One question.

Would she be happy with her decision?

The words in the agreement were a bit tough to understand but she was able to convince the desk officer at the front office to find her a dictionary. 

She read the agreement over and over again, trying to understand and decide the way forward for herself. 

Within minutes, she knew the stranger’s name, he was Cage Anderson. And she understood every word in the  agreement and what he was asking of her. But she was a virgin. Pushing out a baby was never the way she dreamed of losing her virginity. How would this be? So he would just take her to the hospital and not touch her at all.  If she were to tell herself the truth, he was hot but she doubted if he saw her the same way. How could he? He picked her off the street and this was just a business arrangement.

That was the last thought in her mind as she drifted to sleep curled on the soft carpet beside her bed.

***

Her eyes fluttered open at dawn. Panic raced through her heart as she struggled to recall where she was. Then the event from the day before came flooding in. 

The strange man whom she thought was a killer turned out to be someone needing her to bear his child. The thought of it unsettled her. Could he not get someone else, maybe a woman just like him? 

“Why me,” she asked herself.

She walked into the bathroom, brushed her teeth and took her second shower. She would have simply not needed to take a shower but she doubted that he would like that. 

She was dressed and sitting in the living area when she heard the doorbell ring. At the door, she took a deep breath and opened it to find him standing there. 

His toned muscles under his well tailored suit spoke of a man who’s familiar with the gym and all manner of luxury. Her emerald green eyes moved over him. He was a work of art but she quickly caught herself and looked away.

He was  handsome, even more so today with his thick blonde hair combed back in waves stopping short of his head.  

Her reverie was broken when he cleared his throat. “Done with the admiration?” 

Red faced, Sheila hastily moved from the door, head down. He walked in all his six feet five inches of majesty. She shut the door as she followed behind.

“Good morning, Sheila,” he said as he sat and crossed one leg over the other.  “Have you thought through my proposal?” 

Sheila blinked rapidly, her heart racing and palms sticky. She sank into a seat opposite him. “Good morning, Mr. Anderson.”

A smile played over his lips. “I see you know my name now without asking but I prefer you call me Cage. After all, you will be carrying my child. Now tell me, what you have decided.”

She swallowed hard. “I don’t…” 

“You don’t want to be my surrogate?” he cut in, his eyes flashing with an expression she did not understand. 

“That’s… that’s not it. I don’t… I don’t know how to tell you,” she choked.

How would he take it if I told him I was a virgin? Should I tell him? She contemplated. 

“Then what do you want to say? You have an STD? Or  rare blood disease?” he asked impatiently. 

Shaking her head vigorously, she was confused at how his mind worked. Do people he knows have STDs? Could that be the reason for his agitation? If he was like this because of STDs what would he think of her virginity. 

“i don’t have STDs, Mr. Aderson.”

“Cage… call me Cage. Mr. Anderson is my father.” His voice softened as he watched her.  “So if it’s not STDs then what is it? You can tell me.”

“Cage, it is nothing,” she said quickly. “I just wanted to ask a question. But don’t worry it’s not necessary.” She rose to her feet  and headed to the bedroom to retrieve the envelope. “I will marry you and have your child.” 

She returned moments later, and handed it to him. “I have signed it.”

He pulled out the paper and scanned it. “Very good. Now, a team of stylists will come over to sort out your clothes and hair this afternoon. Tomorrow morning by ten, my PA will bring you to the Civil Affairs bureau for our marriage.” 

She watched as he spoke. The tension he had carried was gone. 

Did he think I would turn him down? 

She had every right to think this way because Cage was in fact relieved that she accepted him. If she had rejected the proposal, he planned to lock her up in the penthouse until she accepted him. 

When he saw her yesterday he thought she was beautiful after a shower but now she looked stunning. Imprisoning her wasn’t a bad idea to him; she would be at his mercy. It was sick of him to think that way but he never said he was a proper human being.  

He felt a stir in his pants. How could a homeless girl who was so dirty stir him up this way? 

But she isn’t dirty now. Would her  pale skin look the same way with a mark from me? He wondered. 

Getting up he decided his time with her was up. He could not afford to stay any longer with this kind of thoughts.

He adjusted his suit jacket. “One more thing, be sure to wear white.” 

Before he could turn to leave, she touched his arm.

He glanced at her hand on his arm and she pulled back as if she was slapped. Pain crisscrossed her eyes.

 “Don’t leave, please,” was all she could say. She sounded so needy and she hated herself for it. All she craved was for him to spend time with her so this barrier between them can dissolve.

Why would she want that from a total stranger? She didn’t know.

He smirked. “Yesterday you thought I was a kidnapper and a murderer. Today you want me… to stay. Sheila, this is just a contract. Don’t confuse things.”

He strode away without another word.

***

By afternoon, the team he arranged for her had arrived. 

She sat stiffly before the mirror, fingers clenched in the folds of her robe. 

Each time the stylist touched her, her shoulders jumped, then slowly eased. Warm hands worked scented oil through her hair. They had sculpted her brows and waxed her. It was such a painful experience she hoped not to ever go through again. 

One gave her a soothing massage and  another handled her Mani and pedicure. 

At some point she begged them to not continue but they explained that Mr. Anderson required total perfection of his bride. Who was she to complain? 

When they were done, she had been totally refurbished. It was a new version of Sheila that gazed back at her in the full length mirror.  

In addition to the white dress several others were brought as well. The dresses all fitted and she had another row of dinner outfits in her closet. Where was she taking all of these to? Mr Anderson had warned her not to confuse things. And though that hurt a bit, he was right. From now on, she will live one day at a time.

She could hardly sleep a wink that night. Her thoughts are going back to Cage. What was he doing right now? Was he also preparing for tomorrow? She had to make sure he knew she understood the terms of their agreement and won’t expect anything more. This thought lulled her to sleep.   

By morning, she was a nervous wreck and completely sore. But she managed a cold shower. 

The team came back to do her makeup.

Glancing at the finished work in the mirror, she stared at herself.

“I am going to be a wife today,” she murmured. 

She didn’t know how to feel about that. This wasn’t what she had planned for her life but did she really have any plans? If Mr  Anderson never came along she would still be on the streets. Eating dirt from bins because she could not afford it herself?  

Once they were done with her make up, She wore a knee-length white silk dress that had a chiffon lace upper with bell-shaped sleeves. Her silver shoes matched the purse because they were a pair. 

On her neck, left wrist and ears rested a set of pearl jewelry which screamed elegance. On her right wrist hung a pure platinum Rolex watch.

She had a light breakfast as she sat waiting  for her escort. 

A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door. She opened it and found a man in a blue suit. He was short, balled headed and had an exceptional smile on his face.  

“Good morning, Miss Cole. My boss, Mr Cage Anderson, sent me to escort you to the Civil Affairs bureau,” he informed politely.

“Alright, give me a second. I have a few things to pick up” She said, heading back to the couch to pick up her clutch and key card.

Once she closed the door behind her she gestured for him to lead the way and he did. 

“What is your name?” She asked as they headed to the car parked in front of the hotel lobby. 

He walked before her, opened the door and smiled. “It’s Micheal, ma’am?”

Sheila giggled as she stopped by the car door. “Please don’t call me ma’am. My name is Sheila.”

Micheal smile disappeared from his face and confusion replaced it with a hint of fear. “I don’t think Mr Anderson would appreciate it. So, it’s better I call you whatever he asks me to,” he said, voice shaking.

“It’s okay. Thank you for coming to pick me,” Sheila said finally sliding into the car. 

The PA entered the car.

The moment they arrived at the bureau,  Cage was not there. She had waited for him over an hour before he arrived. And he arrived in a mood

Where had he been? Why did he come so late? She did care at least she forced herself not to. 

She averted her eyes, ignoring him. 

Cage had two bodyguards beside him. They had white ear pieces in their ears, and wore sunshades. And they were clad in dark suites.

This man was rich, no doubt. But who was Cage Anderson? Sheila wanted to know.

“Follow me, Miss Cole,” Cage  addressed her. 

She had assumed he would ignore her too. She cast him a long side glance then obeyed. 

His mood was too foul and she dared not ask what was wrong. But Sheila had ideas about what may have destroyed his mood. One of them being her. But why marry her when they could just have a baby together instead. 

His face was dark like the sky when a storm was about to hit. 

“Where is the Registrar?” Cage roared pacing. He was impatient and that agitated her. “Let’s get this thing over with for God’s sake.”

She looked everywhere but at him. Passersby would think I forced him into this marriage. Should I leave and go back to where I always sleep on the concrete floor? That life is better than this.

Tears glistened Sheila’s eyes but she held them back. She would not cry. Not in front of him. 

At that moment, a gray-haired woman in her early fifties came in with an apologetic look on her face. “Good day, Mr. Anderson, I’m sorry for the delay. Please look through the contract again to see if we have captured all your requests.” 

The elderly woman spoke eloquently as she set the contract document and the register down.

Cage’s brows furrowed, his eyes hardened and inaudibly questioning if this woman was dumb. 

He waved his hand dismissively. “There’s no need for that now. Everything is okay. Can we proceed, please?” he asked, his temper sleeping out although he tried to hold it at bay. 

Sheila remained silent offering the woman an apologic smile.  “Right away, sir,” the woman proceeded. “Mr. Cage Anderson, do you take Miss Sheila Cole..”

“Madam registrar, I will never make such vows. You forgot this is a contract marriage and those vows are redundant here!” Cage snapped. The registrar cleared her throat shakily.

“oh… erhm… That’s right, sir. Please, fill in the spaces provided on the register and sign the contract, each of you,” the registrar responded. 

Sheila cringed at Cage’s  outburst at the woman. What’s up with him? 

Cage exuded arrogance and fury. The mix was not something she could be around. And honestly she would have walked out. Let him and never look back. But one question held her steady. How many women got this opportunity? 

When they had signed and each was given a copy  of the contract. Sheila looked at it. She was no longer Sheila Cole. She was Sheila Anderson. Was her husband pleased with this? He had avoided looking at her from the moment the registrar showed.

Well, I am glad I won’t be performing any duties she thought, with a smile.  

“We’re going to the airport, Sheila,” cage announced as he held the door for her to get into the car.

Sheila’s brows furrowed. “I don’t understand. Where are we going? And why?” 

He came closer to her putting both hands in his pants pocket. “You didn’t expect not to have a honeymoon, did you?” he asked in a low tone. 

She could see something close to disgust and pain hidden behind his gaze, or was it her imagination? 

“Are you okay?” she asked, eyes scanning his face as she touched his hands instinctively. 

In one swift move, he moved with her into the car.  Sheila’s eyes widened when she was on her back and he was on top of her. His breath was labored and his eyes a shade darker than usual.