I stood there transfixed to my place, not being able to react .

What the hell is he doing here? Wait! Then it dawned at me.

Ryder knows him, is he the one who will help me?

If you were guessing then you were right, in front of me was the same grey eyed handsome jerk who had the audacity to humiliate me without any reason or need.

He was the rudest man alive on this Earth so how will he help me?

He stood there staring at me as if seeing right through me. Bruh, take in jerk. I am not a book in the public library that you can read just passing by. Still, I composed myself and asked Ryder "Why did you bring me here?" trying not to sound rude or like a bitch. He was just trying to help. But maybe he didn't understand the instant dislike that I felt for this grey eyed jerk. And why would he? Ryder was still his friend at the end of the day.

Poor Ryder.

What was his name again?

A..

Aes..

Ace. Yeah.

Ryder first looked towards Ace and then turned towards me to speak. But before words could make its way out of his mouth, Ace beat it to him and said with a cold and blank face "I heard from Ryder that you are in need for money because you were kicked out of your job and house, right?"

How did he even know? When did Ryder call him?

Before I could kill him with my harsh words (which are not harsh though because you cannot ever be harsh, you kind girl, right? ), Ryder said

"I didn't say kicked out by the way I only said she lost her job." For which he received a death glare from Ace. Nice manners, jerk face.

I ignored their sign language and burst out having enough of Ace humiliating me every now and then -

"What the hell do you think of yourself Mr. Jerk.? You don't own this world, you understand that? I lost my job but I am not begging someone to give me a job or something. I have my self respect which jerks and idiots like you forget to respect. So let me remind you, I am not your waitress right now so you cannot order me or talk to me like that do you understand Mr.- whatever you are." I said forgetting his name. Nice talk Eva, and most importantly it came out fluently without practicing, like then and there. I am impressed with myself I have to say!

Ryder looked amused and surprised after my talk while that jerk, he had a look of boredom in his eyes but that was for a millisecond after which his blank face devoid of any emotions came back. Damn he is so good in hiding his emotions.

Is he the typical gang leader I read about on wattpad?

Gorgeous. Check.

Blank face. Check.

Dark personality. Check.

Harsh and rude. Check.

Human. Not check.

Heh, he is not a gang leader then.

After a 10 seconds silence Ace said "You done with your melodrama? Coming straight to my point because I don't want to stand in the same room as you for more than 5 minutes- I have a deal for you which will fulfill your need for money and also my problem. After telling you about it I will give you 5 mins, if you could decide well good enough else you can go to hell." He said while I listened to him like a lost puppy.

What? 5 minutes? Seriously? And which bloody deal?

I could see Ryder was also shocked from I guess that 5 minute time thing. I am not a business woman how can I confirm a deal in 5 minutes? I was confirmed about my doubts of him being a runaway asylum patient. I signed pitying him.

"So listen. The deal is very simple and straight. You marry me for one year because I need a fake wife for some purpose. I will pay you 10,000 dollars for first 6 months each and then 20,000 dollars for next 6 months each. You just have to pretend to be my wife in public and my family, if alone I don't give a shit to where you go. After 1 year you will be free to go wherever you want to and we won't meet again. You get your money and freedom at the end of the contract. Other rules I will tell you later once you agree. We will have a written document from my personal lawyers. So this is the deal and your 5 minutes start now." Ace finished calmly but with a stoic face and sat on the couch looking into his phone.

I am sure now.

"You know, don't worry, I will pay your fees for asylum if you don't have enough money. I am so sorry for you situation." I said sympathetically.

Ace looked up from his phone raising his eyebrows and asked "What?"

"I mean I know you have run from an asylum because maybe you did not have money for treatment and then you found Ryder so he also got bound with you. No worries I will try to pay for you once I get a job then you can continue your treatment." I said smiling at him. Both Ryder and Ace looked at me like they have seen a ghost.

Did I say something wrong?

After a while Ryder started laughing hard clutching his stomach and Ace just looked at me like he was thinking whether to admit me in a mental hospital or an asylum.

I probably did say something wrong.

"You are joking right?" I asked them confused. He must be joking about this whole marriage thing.

"You have exactly 3 mins 40 seconds left to take a decision." Ace said and then continued looking into his phone.

I was shocked as I stared at him wide-eyed. He wasn't joking?

What? Marry him for one year?

Is he crazy or what? He said it so calmly like it was nothing for him. I voiced my astonishment and disbelief.

"How can I marry you and that for money?" I asked him almost shouting.

"Listen cut the crap and tell me your decision. Let me tell you something which will help you to decide faster. I own the café in which your friend works, so I can also remove someone I don't like without a specific reason. " He said and I was shocked.

I was now thinking. If I marry him I would be able to help him and I would get money for making a better life for him and me. Also Jess's job would be safe. But how can I marry a complete stranger about whom I only know one thing- He is a cold, arrogant, rude and heartless man. And a billionaire not to mention. What do I do? One word and I would be able to save him ,my world from further harm.

"You have 10 seconds left. Take it or leave.10....9.....8.....7.....6.....5......4..-" He started his pathetic countdown and with every digit being said, my heart was beating faster.

Marry someone?

Is it humanly possible to take such an important decision in five minutes?

And why would I marry a stranger? Jess can certainly find a better job because she deserves it. She would happily do that for me. But can I actually afford to be jobless right now when I could be needing money for all the reasons that go back to the circles of past and time?

Why am I even considering marrying this man?

But do I have a choice?

If I don't take this offer, I might lose my last hope of staying in this city. And if I stay in this city where will I go? And will I be able to leave everything I love here behind me and move in to another place with no guarantee of job and home.

"Yes...I take it", I said at last. I can do this for him. It is just for an year. I won't fall in love with this jerk ever. So no strings attached, it will be easy. Maybe. This might be the worst and rashest decision I have taken in my whole damned life.

"Good. I will give forward you the legal papers with terms and conditions. I will lay my conditions and you will lay yours. You cannot tell about this fake marriage to anyone. Just tell you are getting married, you can go now." With that Ace turned and left.

Holy fudge!

What did I get myself into!

No No.... I can't do this, I have to cancel this deal.

Don't you think you are too early for this thought sweetie? My conscience mocked me.

Ryder came to me and said "Listen I just thought you might need this deal as much as Ace needs it, but I am not gonna force you. It is really up to you and if you don't want to do this I am definitely there with you."

I smiled at his effort to comfort me. "I am fine, Ryder." I said lying.

"Okay, if you say so. Come I will drop you." Ryder said.

"Okay." I replied gratefully.

After that he dropped me in the apartment at around 7 pm . When I went into the apartment, I heard a familiar shout,

"Where the hell were you Eva johns?"

Oh crap!