Chapter 5

Astrid waited for two days before she decided to call Robin. Before then, she'd called her best friend, Olivia and had relayed everything to her. "I think you should call him and hear whatever proposal he has for you. Who knows, it might be a good one." She'd suggested it to her. She'd taken the girl's suggestions and had called him the next day. He was so glad to hear from her and scheduled all his appointments, so they could have lunch that day. She called in sick from work and after lectures, she came back home, freshened up and then took a cab to the restaurant he'd asked her to come to. When she got there, she called him again and he told her to wait. They were in a private diner, so he'd the restaurant manager go bring her in. She wasn't surprised when she saw he wasn't alone in the diner. Cole was with him too. It must be more serious than I'd thought. She thought to herself, walking towards them. She joined them on the table and after exchanging a few pleasantries, she sat down on the seat Robin had pulled out for her. The host took their orders accordingly and left to go get it, giving them privacy. Immediately they were left alone, Astrid turned to Robin, "So Mr DeMarco, what was your proposal all about?" She asked, straightforwardly, not mincing any words. Both Robin and Cole were taken back by how straightforward and brazen she was with her question. "Okay, that's forward, but I like it." Robin mouthed, audible enough for her to hear. "Well, it's kind of a personal matter and that was why I'd insisted we stay somewhere private." He explained to her and she gave a single nod. "You see, it's kinda a long story, but I'm gonna go straight to the point. I got engaged about two months ago and my fiancé and I were planning our wedding, which is on the twenty eighth of this month..." "That's next Friday?" Astrid blurted out, it was half a statement and half a question. Robin nodded to both, "Congratulations then." She mouthed to him smilingly, but he only grunted something incomprehensible. Astrid got the cue and figured out immediately, something was wrong. "You don't wanna get married to her?" She asked cautiously, "Not that." Cole began on his behalf, "Last week, we tried to reach Julie, but her cell phone was switched off.." "Julie's your fiancé?" She asked and Robin nodded, with a soured expression. Astrid seemed to have gotten the whole idea, but she waited for them to explain fully, not wanting to jump into any conclusions yet. "We drove to her place, but no one was there." "I called her several times, sent her countless voicemails and texts, but none was replied." Robin explained, taking up from Cole. "She just disappeared without any form of trace, two weeks to our wedding." He lamented. "Mind you, this wedding has been announced publicly, putting my societal status and my parents and family in great anticipation for it..." He was cut off temporarily by the host, who'd returned with their orders in a trolley. He set their table and placed their orders accordingly, then he was dispatched and sent away. After he left, Cole opened the bottle of Rosé and filled their glasses, while Astrid waited for them to finally hit the nail on the head. "So?" She asked them after a while, "Yes, back to my story." Robin said and cleared his throat to continue, "You see, Astrid, I can't possibly tell the whole world my fiancé left me two weeks before our wedding, without any solid explanation." He explained to her, "My mother had been planning my wedding in her imagination ever since I told her Julie said yes and now, to tell her the wedding must be called off because Julie has left me...it's gonna hurt her so badly." He inveighed bitterly to her. "Everyone would be so disappointed and it would be in the news that Robin DeMarco got jilted by his wife, two weeks before their wedding. That'll ruin my reputation and it'll affect my business." "So now, you are proposing that I act like your fiancé and get married to you?" Astrid asked him, when it became obvious he Was done with his story. "It'll be a contract marriage and I'll pay you handsomely for it." He assured her, "All you've to do is act as my bride for a week and after the wedding, we get a divorce after at most, three months." He explained further. "Mister DeMarco, I..." "Astrid please," he pleaded with her, fearing she was going to refuse, "I'll pay you very well. All you've to do is fake being my fiancé for a week and my wife for two to three months. Don't worry, cause I won't touch you during those periods and after our contract ends, we go our separate ways. I won't even be in touch with you after that." He assured her, "Please, don't say no. My whole life depends on this and you're my last hope." He begged her. "Astrid, I know this has nothing to do with me, but Robin here is my best friend. We've been friends since we were kids, so he's more like a brother to me." Cole explained on his behalf, "Please don't say no to him. I'm begging you on his behalf and on mine too, please do not say no to him." He pleaded with her. Astrid was confused. She'd never been in such a situation before. Of course, he was going to pay her for her service and all she'd to do was act like his fiancé and then, his wife. She was going to be deceiving countless people, including his own family. Could her conscience carry that guilt? She'd never had to deceive anyone or lie to anyone before and now, she was going to be deceiving thousands of people, by acting as someone she wasn't. Nah, her conscience won't let her. She can't do this. She definitely can't. "Mister De---" "I'll give you time to think about it. You don't have to give me a reply today." He said to her, "We're supposed to be at my parent's at Palm Springs by the weekend. My mom was planning a Palm Springs wedding for Julie and I and she'd insisted we come back home a week before the wedding date." He explained to her, "We leave on Saturday, so you've got the rest of today, tomorrow and next to decide." Cole added from where he was seated and Astrid sighed, "Okay. I'll think about it and get back to you." "Promise me you're not gonna say no." Robin pleaded with her, but she said nothing. She still has to talk to Olivia before making any decision. After all, she'd been the one who asked her to meet up with them in the first place. Two days later, Astrid called Robin. She'd taken her time to think and rethink his offer. She weighed all her options and talked to Olivia about it and her best friend's words were very clear. "You've got nothing to lose, girlfriend. Three months isn't that much of a long time and boom! It's all over and you both go separate ways. I don't see why you shouldn't accept his proposal." She'd explained to her. "Plus, it wasn't like he won't be paying you for everything. You've always told me you wanted an apartment of your own and of course, your next year's tuition fee and other expenses. Plus he'd assured you of no intimacy, so it's not like you're having him pay you for sex or something. What's there to lose? Nothing, of course." Of course, she'd have nothing to lose, except her conscience, but that she can live with. Meanwhile, Robin had just received a call from his mother, who'd called to remind him of their arrangements. After the call, he almost smashed his phone from anger. They'd just a day left and Astrid hadn't called back. The whole thing was driving him to insanity and was making him lose his focus. He was anxious, agitated and frustrated. It got so bad, he started lashing out on his workers, most especially Shakie, his assistant. He could've asked Shakie to do the job for him, but his mom knew Shakie and there was no way they wouldn't have found out. Now he's left with Astrid and from the look of things, she was going to disappoint him. Fuck! He's ruined. He reached for his phone, to call Cole and tell him Astrid hadn't called yet. However, just as he was picking the phone, it began to ring. Checking the caller ID, his anxiety level spiked to the peak, when he saw her name on the caller screen. With great excitement, he accepted the call immediately, "Hello." "Good morning Mister DeMarco." Her angelic voice came from the other end. "Morning Astrid." He replied impatiently, the phone against his ear, "Mister DeMarco, I've thought about your proposal and I've come to a conclusion..." C'mon just say yes. Just say yes. Robin was changing like a mantra inside his head, while listening to her. "I...do...accept..." "Yes!" He squealed in excitement, not even waiting for her to finish. "Thank you so much, Astrid." He appreciated her, "I'll have my lawyer prepare the contract papers. They'll be ready later in the day. If you're lucky, you can come sign them today and we'll leave on Sunday instead." He explained to her, "Thanks again and have a nice day." With those words, he hung up the call, beaming with a smile. This calls for a fucking celebration.