I woke up the next morning feeling like a truck was playing hopscotch in my head. It felt like someone was constantly hitting me with all their force and wanted to hit me to death. Or simply you could say that hangover was being a bitch, a very bad one.

And then everything from the previous night came flooding back, worsening the headache. Why the hell did I agree to their request of going to the bar? On top of it why did I drink!

I don't drink usually. I am the one to stay sober and watch everyone around me get drunk. I think the ongoing quandaries of my life were to be held responsible for it. But whatever the reason and circumstances was - I am not drinking again. Not in this life time at least.

I got up and sat leaning on my bed's headrest holding my head in my hands.

"Hey Evie, Good morning! Though I know it's not a 'good' morning for you but nevertheless." Jake's chirpy voice made me groan.

"Keep the chirpiness down, Jake." I murmured, rubbing my temples to reduce the throbbing pain. But it wasn't helping of course.

"Ahh yeah. Take the aspirin on your table and here- take this glass of water" Jake said handing me the glass. I heaved in relief and said "I don't know what I would do without you."

"Oh don't be dramatic and keep those thoughts aside. You are not getting rid of me, not now not ever." He said to which I smiled and nodded. "You better not."

"So for your hangover, I am just going to go and get a glass of lemonade for you. It will help." He said giving me a warm smile. What did I do to deserve this guy as my friend?

I mustered my remaining strength, and pulled him into a hug inhaling his masculine scent.

"Did you take a bath here only?" I asked pulling back and he nodded telling me he did.

"Don't tell me you used my hair brush or -" I started as I remembered his old habit of doing that whenever he stayed the night with us. And this annoys me a lot.

He is smart enough to keep two pairs of spare clothes in our house to ensure that he isn't roaming around shirtless if he stays with us. But he can't get his hairbrush? That's not done.

"Relax Evie. I didn't. I remembered you would have a headache and didn't want to annoy you further so yeah." He said and his brown eyes were filled with pure sincerity and I was surprised. He didn't?

Wow.

But for formality sake, a raised my eyebrow in suspicion to which he pinched his neck skin, signing 'I swear I didn't'. I gave him a look and then eventually nodded. So considerate of him then. Aww.

"Okay so I have to go because I have an extra shift today at work. I will keep the lemonade on the kitchen counter, just have it after freshening up." Jake said making me forma 'o' with my mouth in understanding.

He works in an IT company which is one of the best in the city. He has done a bachelor's degrees in computer science and engineering so that explains his secured and excellent job. In his twenty five years of life, he has never dreamt of doing anything else than initiating an Information Technology company headed by him in which he would ensure twenty percent of employment is for the backward communities of the society. You may wonder the reason for this and predict that it may be because of his own social status. But surprisingly that's not the case. He is from a good and affluent family. His parents are the most humble people I have met. His mother is a homemaker while his father is a government official.

He has the perfect family, and he lives with them only in the city.

"Okay. Go ahead." I said ushering him to leave before he gets late.

He nodded and went out towards the door only to stop for a second and turn around.

"And Eva-" He started as I looked at him, signally him to go on.

"I used your hairbrush." He said chuckling and ducked out of the room before I could get up and smack his head.

Nerve of this man, I thought but smiled at his antics.

By the way where is Jess? I haven't seen her since last night. Oh yeah! She must be lying on her bed right now and planning to sleep the whole day. I am also not planning to go for work today. Thank god we had taken a leave for today, yesterday only.

I thought of resting for a while so I again laid down on the bed lazily. I was just about to fall in a deep slumber when suddenly my phone rang and I jerked up thinking I was falling from a cliff or something.

Gosh! Who the hell is it giving me heart attacks in the morning. I groaned and took my phone from the side table and saw a new number, who can it be? I decided to pick the phone, planning to shout at the top of my lungs at the person who decided to interrupt my sleep. I picked up the phone and yelled "Why the hell are you calling me in the morning when my head is hurting like hell. What do you want, huh? Sell a property? Call center? Restaurant ad? what do you want just say or trust me you don't want to know that-"

"Are you done ?" Came a deep and manly voice. Oh! the voice seems familiar. Do I know this dealer?

"Who are you? Do - " I was cut off by the man speaking from the other end.

"Just shut up okay!"- He barked- "Just listen I am sending you the papers for the deal. Sign it and my lawyer will finalize everything. I know you are just dying for the money like all the gold diggers girls so I will transfer the money to your account once you sign the deal. And listen you have to-" I cut his yelling. How can he say that I am a gold digger! He has no right to say that. It was Ace obviously from the yelling and arrogance. You know what, I am not going to marry an arrogant man like him. I will rather starve then do so.

I said angrily "Don't think that money can buy everything alright ? I am not a gold digger, you can keep your precious money and ego to yourself - understand that? And for your kind information, I have just now decided that I am not going to marry you no matter what happens. I don't think we could live together for even a minute let alone one year under the same roof. So just get lost and don't call me again." And with that without waiting for his response I hung the phone.

What the hell does he think of himself, yelling at me like I am his slave. I am not going to marry a man who doesn't respect me. It doesn't matter even if it's a fake marriage, I need my respect and this deal is for one year! He is such a jerk. I hate him so much that I don't want to see him ever in my life. He is a monster. I am not going to spoil my mood because of him. I huffed and went to sleep.

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How dare she hang up me?

Doesn't she know who Ace Parker is?

I will show her. My hatred for her has intensified if possible. I am going to make her regret what did, silly girl. And I will make sure you marry me because I want to succeed in my plan.

And Ace Parker gets what he wants.

I took my phone out and dialed a number. He picked my phone on the second ring only. "Just listen and do what I say. And I don't want any mistakes......"

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I woke up at around 2 in the afternoon. I was feeling much better then, so I decided to freshen up and then see how Jess is doing. When I entered her room I saw her groaning, clutching her head. Looks like she is still hung over. Side effects of getting drunk. Bruh.

I walked upto her and one look of those beautiful eyes made me sure that she was in a worse condition than me. So in the end we decided to call it a girl's day. The rest of my day finished with me handling Jess's massive headache, lemonades, ice creams and me thinking about the deal.

*

Next day started with my usual routine. The cafe was not really that crowded. I was humming and doing my work when one of my co workers Lily came and said "Hey Eva, a mail has arrived for you and it says it's important and confidential." Saying this she gave me the letter wrapped in a bright blue envelope and then she went. Who would be sending me a mail?

I quickly tore off the envelope and started reading.

Dear Eva Johns,

This is to inform you that your relative Mr. Aaron Johns, can no longer be kept in our orphanage due to his misdoings. It is the order of our new boss that he should be rusticated from the orphanage to prevent his bad influence on other children and therefore we ask you to take him as you are his only guardian or relatIve we are aware of. Kindly pay the charges for his misdoings in addition to the rest of the money.

Regards

Mrs. Holland

What the hell ? how can this happen? Damn it ! What will I do now ?

To say I was shocked was to underestimate my expressions because I was beyond shocked. How could this happen? Firstly how could Aaron do anything wrong ? He has been in that orphanage since the last 10 years and on top of that he is a quiet boy! He does have many friends and he is a little bit naughty but he is a very intelligent and sincere boy. There is no way in hell that he could do something which would demonstrate that he could have a bad influence on others. This has to be a misunderstanding.

And secondly how did the orphanage know the address of my cafe? I have never mentioned about it to them, I always go and meet the owners of the orphanage there only, I have never received any mails from them! Everything is so so confusing. And who the hell is this new owner. I know the previous owner Mrs. Holland, she is such a kind and lovely lady! Who is this new asshole who has done such thing? I am going to meet him and work out things.

So I picked up my bag and told Jess I have some important work and when she tried to ask where I was going I brushed it off by saying that I will straightaway come to home only, considering it was afternoon by this time.

I haven't told anyone about Aaron and my relationship yet, not even to Jess or Jake. I don't really know why I haven't , maybe because I don't like sympathy.

I took a taxi and in the next 15 minutes I was standing in front of the orphanage and thinking what would I say to the new owner. Now you may be wondering why I am not going to Aaron first and asking what has happened and all, so let me tell you one thing Aaron doesn't even know me. At least personally. Well it sounds weird right but it's not really weird, it's something which is complicated and no one except me knows what relation I and Aaron have and I prefer it to be that way only. The previous owner Mrs. Holland had even asked me why I came to ask about him and how I was related to him but I just brushed it off by saying that it's a personal matter and told her not to tell Aaron about me.

So right now, I quickly headed towards the reception and asked about the new owner. I took the directions of the cabin and went there. I knocked on the door but there was no reply so I opened the door wide enough to see who was there. I saw a man sitting on the chair with his back towards me. I fully opened the door and cleared my throat to make my presence felt. The man did not move but said "I told you to take your clothes off"

Wait what?!

"But why should I do that!" I said shocked. How can he say something like that. Such a pervert!

"Because I am telling you to do so. Why do you have to talk so much? Just do as I say right now." He said again in a voice of authority. But strangely that voice......I think I have heard that before. But how can he order me to take my clothes off !

"I won't do any such thing why the hell are you ordering me" I said shouting on the top of my voice. He shouted in a even higher volume then me saying " I am asking you to take your clothes off right now or I can very much do that myself and you know I can." then he stood off his chair but was having his back towards me now also.

"How dare you say-" I started but stopped suddenly when the man turned around and shouted at me "What the hell do you think you are doing shouting on top of your voice?" What is he doing here!

The man was none other than the jerk

'Ace Parker'

I connected the dots and understood everything. He was the one who had done all this just to marry me. Oh god how can anyone be so inhuman! How could he ? And on top of all he was asking me to take my clothes off. He is going to have it his way for saying things like this to me. I was ready to blow his thick head when -

"I will talk to you later. I have something to deal with now." Ace said and I stared at him in confusion but then he clicked and-

oh.

He was using a Bluetooth ear bud.

He wasn't talking to me.

He was on phone with someone else.

I was shouting for no reason.

Oh! By now everyone must be thinking I am psychotic.

Congrats Eva!

Ace cleared his throat which made me come back to present. Then he said "So what are you doing here or rather shouting here?"

I replied agitated "Whatever. But tell me now why did you do all this? To trouble me right?"

"Oh I see, you are not as dumb as I thought you are. So let me get straight to the point because I really don't like beating around the bush. I want you to marry me for 1 year otherwise whoever this Aaron is will be out of this orphanage which I now own. So may I have the privilege of knowing your answer ?" He finished sarcastically.

"You can't do that! You can't force me, you are blackmailing me! " I said frustrated.

"Oh why can't I? I can do anything and you know that too, don't you?" He said with bored expression. Wow! He actually showed some expression other than a blank face. Wait, what? Are you serious Eva?

"Answer me fast I don't have the whole day for this." He said tapping his foot and looking at his watch.

" am not choosing whether I want a vanilla ice cream or a chocolate ice cream moron! I am deciding whether I want to marry a psycho or not." I said cockily.

"I don't really care about that. Just tell me fast." He said as if it's nothing for him.

He will be the death of me one day. How can he do things like this. Damn it, I can do this for Aaron. He loves this orphanage. It is like a family for him.

I took a deep breath and said at last

"I will."

"Well very good then, the wedding is after 3 days." He said.

And that is how my friends, my mouth opened as wide as - ah - you all get it right?