Athena's POV

"Cassie 2 Black coffee please," I said as I went to another table to take their order. "Athena your order is ready," Cassie said as she placed the coffee on the counter. Placing the order on the customers' table, I rushed back to serve other people. "Athena there is someone who is asking for you," Cassie said. Looking towards her, I saw Maximus sitting at the counter. "I'll be there in a few," I said and continued serving the customers. "Do you need anything more ma'am," I asked the woman in front of me as I serve her her latte. "No thank you dear," she said. It has already been 15 minutes since he came. I should probably just take my break now. Looking at him, I could see how annoyed he looked. "Rachel I'm taking my break," I said to one of the head of waitress. "Mr Knight we can go now and I'm sorry that I had to make you wait for so long," I said as I stood beside me. "Let's go," he said and grabbed my hand and led me to an expensive looking car. The man from yesterday was also there, he opened the door for me. "Thank you so much," I said and got in. "Um where are we going Mr Knight," I said. "Call me Maximus or Max and we are going at my place to discuss about the contract," he said making me snap my face to face him. "Um ok," I said and faced the front the entire ride. At this point I didn't know what to think. I am willingly going with a stranger to his house. I know nothing about this man and he somehow knows a lot of things about me.

After the drive, we got to a beautiful mansion. At the sight of the mansion, I was in total aw. I didn't even realise that we stopped until John came and opened the door for me. "Thank you John," I said as I gave him a big smile. Maximus came beside me and led me inside. Wow everything looks so expensive in here. I'm afraid to touch anything as I know that I will not be able to pay for it. As I followed him, we entered what seemed to be his office. We both took and seat and he started looking through his drawers. "Okay so here is the contract. Here take a look and tell me if you want changes," he said as he handed me the papers. As I started reading through, I automatically frowned. "Wait that is too much. I don't need that much money. One million dollars is too much," I said as I looked up at him. He looked at me in shock. "What," I asked him as he looked at me. "The amount is not going to change little dove," he said. "I'll read it and give it to you later. Anyways can you just highlight some of the conditions in it," I asked as I looked through. "Well this contract if for a year. So you will have to be my fiance and if needed my wife. As my fiance you will have to stop working at the café -," he said but I stopped him. "What no I can't leave my job," I said and he looked annoyed. "No you can't continue working there anyways I'll get you a job that is worth your qualifications. As I was saying then you will have to move in with me," he said and I looked at him in shock. I was about to interrupt him but I know that will make him angry so I let him continue. "Ok then we have to act in love in front of the public including my family and yours of course. You are prohibited from being unfaithful during the contract because I don't want to be involve in any scandal-," he said and that made me mad. "So what about you? You have to be faithful as well right," I asked. "Okay I'm gonna add that in the contract. Now please let me finish. At the end of the year, the whole amount of money is going to be transferred into your account. After the contract is over, you will not have any contact with me and it will be as if we never met," he said and looked at me. "Sounds doable. Okay then I'll read through it and correct the conditions that I think needs correction," I said as I closed the papers in front of me. "Um so I gotta go to work now. I'll see you probably later," I said I got up from my seat. "I'll drop you off little dove," he said as he made his way towards me. I didn't know what to do so I just nodded. "So Mr Knight what is the reason for you needing a pretend fiance all of a sudden," I asked as I was feeling quite curious. "Well my mom is persistent on getting me a girlfriend and well I don't really want that at the moment," he said as he opened the door of his car for me. "Thank you but still isn't it useless to hire someone to be your fake fiance as I'm pretty sure once the year of the contract is over, your mom will resume her matchmaking," I said as he got into the driver's seat. "I'll worry about that when the time comes little dove," he said making me frown. After this little conversation, we both went silent as I didn't know what to say anymore.

Then the rest of the day went on pretty quickly but still the thought of the contract kept seaming my mind. I didn't really had spare time to read it so I was getting more and more impatient about it. Finally it was 9 at night and I was able to leave. I quickly ordered an Uber to go home. Half an hour later, I got to the front of my house, already dreaming about my cozy bed. I can't wait to take a relaxing shower. As I was about to take my keys out, the door suddenly opened revealing the one and only annoying Eros. He looked so excited and I felt like there was surely something fishy here. "How did you know that I arrived," I asked him. He just shrugged and let me inside. "Did you guys had dinner already," I asked as I made my way to my room. He shook his head and I could see the smirk on his face. As soon as I turned the lights on, I felt two people scream from both sides and tackled me. I started kicking and screaming as I felt like my heart was going to stop. "Ok ok calm down Delia," one of the man said and his voice sounded so familiar. "Jacob," I said as they let me go. "Dereck," I gasped as I saw those two lying next to me. "What are you guys doing here," I asked as I sat up. "Geez woman looks like you aren't happy to see us," Jacob said as he got up and helped me. "No it's just that I'm shocked to see you guys. How was vacation anyways," I asked as I sat on my bed. "It was great and we are still mad that you didn't even come with us," Dereck said. "Dereck you know I couldn't. Anyways you guys have to show me pictures," I said as I went to my closet to grab my sweatpants and a baggy shirt. "Wait but Delia why are you coming home now," Jacob asked. I can't tell him. "Oh it's nothing. So when did you guys come," I asked. "Just a few hours ago, Dereck even took a nap in your bed. Oh and your mom has gone to my parents' place for the night," Jacob said.

Actually Dereck and Jacob are my childhood friends and they are both five years older than me. They live just across my house now and we have been hanging out since we were babies as our moms are best friends and so we became best friends. So Dereck and his parents used to live in the house to the right and Jacob and his parents used to live on the left of my house. Just a few years ago, they both decided to buy the house across and live there together. The three of us have been inseparable since forever and I'm truly blessed to have them by my side.

After getting into more comfortable clothes, I went to check on Eros who was busy drawing. I then joined the boys in my bedroom. "So guys now spill. What are the things that happened during vacation," I asked as I got comfortable on the bed. "Oh well let me tell you Jacob met someone there and surprisingly she lives just twenty minutes away," Dereck said as he wiggled his eyes at Jacob. "Damn really? Now I wish I came with you guys to see this. Anyways what about you didn't girls throw themselves at you too," I asked Dereck who just rolled his eyes. "Those chicks were clingy as fuck man. They just kept on talking about themselves the whole time," he said making me frown. "Wait how many girls were there actually," I asked Dereck. "There were I think five," he said as he looked all proud. Well yeah Dereck is a very handsome man as well as Jacob. Jacob is the soft type of man whereas Dereck is well the player type. "Anyways do you wanna watch a movie Delia," Jacob asked as he got up from my bed. Me and Dereck agreed and made our way to the living room while following Jacob. The night went on with us catching up and watching movies.

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