Chapter 8: Surprise Verdict
1634 Words
Lisa
The air at the balcony was fresh, coming straight from the ocean below. The beach was flooded by people lying on the sand like seals enjoying what life could offer. Jake came from behind me. I could feel him and his scent was stuck in my nervous system such that every time he appeared a wave of happiness hit my lungs. Just unexplained happiness that I didn't expect to get from him that quick. And already in my mind I was comparing him to David and the latter was losing terribly.
"It's beautiful isn't it?" He asked standing beside me with the coffee can and spoons.
"Yeah, I bet you've been here before so don't act surprised"
"Actually I haven't" he said serving the hot water and coffee in each cup.
I was secretly staring at him and inhaling his scent. Even in a suit his extraordinary physique was still visible. He raised his guess to look at me with his glowing grey iris and I shied away quickly clearing my throat uncontrollably. It was really embarrassing to get caught drooling over him.
"Coffee is served mum" he said gently showing me to the wooden bench with a couple of back pillows.
"Thank you, hey am sorry" I said grabbing my coffee, "You look like a nice guy in person and am feeling so bad right now because your good heart has really landed you in a bad place, I have some experience with that trust me"
"Ooh really tell me about it" he said in an inviting tone giving me full attention.
"We are here to talk about you stranger, so open up"
He sipped his coffee, my guess was still fixed on him. The dreaded look of worry, fear mixed with sadness was evident although it didn't make him any less handsome than he was while smiling. A wave of compressed air escaped his pursed lips as he exhaled slowly gazing blankly in the blue sky. Jake was stressed and it killed me to know one way or another it had everything to do with the night of a lifetime we had back at his place. Guilt consumed me for not feeling for him enough, an apology was not going to help him then how could I help if he wasn't willing to talk to me?
"Am worried Jake, you show up with a lawyer in my hotel room and you don't want to tell me anything, am I in trouble? I saw your girlfriend's interview"
"She is not my girlfriend!" He said in low but angry hissing tone.
"You don't have to lie you know, am just a girl you ran into last night and had consensual s*x with nothing more"
Jake shrugged and twitched his mouth muscles, the topic was really uncomfortable to him and that was my plan, to get him talking.
"Okay, we are not together but the whole world thinks we are. I haven't seen Whitney in like a month although she keeps posting our pictures"
"So tell everyone, what's stopping you from doing that?"
He looked at me with pity in his eyes.
Jake
She had no idea how heavy my request was going to be. If it was another girl I bet they would have quickly jumped to the offer but she was hard to read and her bullet proof confidence was making it hard for me to tell her. We were just the two of us and all I needed to do was tell her the truth on why I was there. I took sigh of relief and put my cup of coffee back on the coffee stool to face her.
"Because then I will make it worse, you remember when you said if there is anything you can do to help I shouldn’t hesitate to come to you” I said fidgeting on the bench we were sharing, getting closer to her.
“Yes, I meant it”
I cleared my throat and bit my lower lip. It was then or never. My window of opportunity would have elapsed.
“So there is a way out but it requires a lot am not...”
“Come on Jake hit me” She interrupted confidently.
“Okay, Can you be my girlfriend for a year. My lawyer has a contract for you all I need is your signature after you go through it” the moment those words came out I felt light as though I was floating in space.
She went into a long awkward silence staring down at me with her blue eyes. And I started to see what a bad idea it was, my heart started racing fast and my stomach became so cold. To save my reputation I needed the sure way not plan B and Lee said it, she was the answer. If it was money she wanted then my account had enough of it to shower her, sleep and swim in it as long as I got to the precious repute back.
"How long do I have to think about this?"
"Am sorry you don't have time, the quicker I fix this the better for me" I held her soft hands into mine, "this is the only way you can help me, am ready to do anything don't worry even if you're married let me talk to your husband we can arrive at a deal just say the amount and I'll write a cheque but please..."
"Okay"
"Okay?"
"I will do it, and no am not married"
My heart leapt with joy inside my rib cage and a jolt of adrenaline hit my body almost making me go numb with happiness.
"Boyfriend? How will the guy feel?"
"You ask too many questions Jake, we are here to help you not me, before I walk in there and sign what about Whitney?"
"Don't worry about it"
"I need to know, she is a woman like me and none of this will make me happy if it will hurt her feelings"
"Okay, once you sign the contract our relationship is over. She can take it don't worry about her I won't be the first one to break her heart"
That point seemed to annoy her. It was too late to heed to David's tip about relationship troubles, he was right because now she was glaring down at me in such a feral manner.
"Hey am..."
"You're a jerk" she said and walked out on me.
I was so close to convincing her and my big mouth cost me. After a minute or so of punching some sense into my thick skull I followed her back inside, and to my surprise she was with the boys reading through the document. Funny how I had not read it myself and yet I had numerous questions. How much were we talking about? Money was not a problem but wasting it was then something else that was bothering me as I patiently watched her read was living arrangements. She read my mind.
"It says here that we live together, for a year living with this guy?"
"Yes, this has to sell" confirmed David.
That was a win for me. She was fun to be around although I had already ruined her mood.
"Is that going to be a problem?" I asked curiously.
"No, am good" she said flipping through the pages, "Okay where do I sign, my promise was to help and if this is the only way then I'll keep my word"
A smile of contentment on the faces of Eddy and Liam said it all. My ass was safe from public scrutiny, only one hurdle remained. Whitney.
"Sign here Jake, then you two are witnesses you'll also have to sign" David directed.
After we all signed David gave me a copy and Lisa retained hers. Then he asked her for bank details that he gave to me and reminded us both of our roles. I wasn't listening for the entire time, clouded by happiness but something like going for games, uploading our pictures on social media and being seen together in the public, they all came up in his long and completely unnecessary speech.
"Now if you excuse me I have to send Ben Richards an invoice" he said leaving with his bag under his armpit, "Any questions call me, my number is on that header of lee and company advocates, wish you luck couple"
"Thank you Lee"
"Don't thank me, thank her she just gave you your life back"
"Before you go, has this" Liam pointed to the contracts, “worked on anyone before?"
"Yes, ninety nine percent. Seems like you're doubting my expertise Liam and no I can't give you an example you'll be surprised and two..."
"Invasion of privacy, your client will sue you" Lisa interrupted.
For a minute David looked at her and smiled.
"She is a smart one Jake, so smart bye everyone my cab is here" he said and left the room.
It didn't take long before Liam and Eddy joined coach Brooks back at the car. They were right to leave because what was to flow next needed some privacy.
"I don't know how I can ever pay you back"
"Apart from a fifty thousand dollar cheque monthly that I don't need to do this try and respect women will you?"
"Okay Lisa, am sorry about earlier. One thing though..."
"Come here" she grabbed me, "Act happy you are so stone faced" she instructed before taking a picture of both of us.
"Great, you are working already"
"Yeah, after you handle your girlfriend Whitney let me know I'll post it then"
There was a question I was dying to ask.
"Okay when are you moving in?"
"Soon, now go!" She said dragging me outside
- Writer
