Chapter 5 The Investors

• Ben
• I glanced at my watch for the umpteenth time, the same old dreaded anxiety creeping up on me. Where was she?
• I hated having to wait on people. It was one of my pet peeves. Shirley had made sure of that.
• “Damn it.” I swore under my breath.
• If she doesn't show in the next five minutes, I would cancel the deal. To hell with the business.
• The door to the lounge opened and my business partners walked in. There were three of them; two men and a woman.
• I wasn't exactly comfortable meeting with them again, given that they'd witnessed my humiliation five years ago. But I had to do this for my father. He needed this deal to go through.
• I stood and came forward to meet them. We shook hands and I took them back to the seat where I sat with the woman not quite long ago.
• Dressed in suits, they looked like they didn't have time to waste, and I wasn't one to dally when it comes to business either.
• But my new wife - I didn't even know her name - was nowhere to be found.
• “We thought you'd be here with your partner?” The woman asked me, smiling politely.
• “Yes, she just went to the lady's room. She'll be back soon.” I said, my anger rising inside of me.
• “Great guy like you, I'm sure your wife is a catch.” One of the men remarked as we all took our seats.
• More like a thief. She was probably already halfway to the Maldives with my card. I was a fool to trust a woman with a hoodlum for a boyfriend.
• If my father hadn't pleaded that I find a way to make it happen, I wouldn't be talking to this woman, let alone marrying her.
• But soon, the door burst open and she walked in, looking like a million bucks.
• For a second I doubted she was the same woman who'd left here just 10 minutes ago.
• She looked like a model, and she chose the best fitting dinner dress I'd ever seen. I hadn't noticed before, but she had nice, clear skin, with long flowing blond hair that cascaded majestically down her back.
• She was stunning.
• She had a big smile on her face as she came to meet us. This woman was a great actress.
• “Hi, it's great to finally meet all of you.” She said as she extended and shook their hands and I noticed the expensive-looking ring on her finger.
• I never gave her a ring. But if it was going to help convince our company that we were married then, sure. She was smart, I'd give her that.
• “I apologize for having kept you waiting.” She said, and didn't bother to further explain why.
• But they didn't seem to mind. They were enamored by her charm, especially the men. They all smiled and nodded as she gracefully took her seat beside me.
• I could only stare. Who was this woman?
• “I'm sorry but I need to go,” she urgently whispered into my ear once she was seated. She smelled like flowery perfumes when she leaned in.
• “No.” I said, and faced the investors who were whispering between themselves in earnest.
• If she thought she could just get out of the deal just because she'd bought nice clothes and jewelry, she was mistaken.
• “Please, It's an emergency.” She pleaded, her voice shaky.
• But I knew her type well and the manipulative tactics they can pull. She would get to leave with nice clothes, jewelry and a ring worth thousands of dollars. She was obviously trying to sabotage this deal and I wouldn't allow it.
• “Everything okay?” One of the partners asked with a smile, looking over at us.
• “Of course, I answered.
• I beckoned a waiter. I needed to order food for them and keep them distracted while I dealt with my new fake wife.
• “Could you give us a minute,” I said and excused myself. I grabbed my wife's hand and took her aside to a corner of the lounge, away from the prying eyes of the investors.
• Once we were out of earshot I released her hand and faced her, the anger rising inside of me. “What are you trying to pull? We have a deal. You signed the papers.” I growled at her, unable to hold back.
• She started to tear up but I knew she was still acting. “It's my father, he got in an accident. I got a text while I was in the boutique.”
• But I didn't believe her one bit. If she could fool three learned people with her charms, who knows what else she's capable of. Determined to catch her in the lie, I did the next best thing.
• “Let me see the text.” I demanded.
• She hesitated, her eyes darting from side to side.
• “See, I knew you were lying.” I said, satisfied that I caught her. She didn't succeed in making a fool out of me.
• “I don't have to explain myself to you,” she said stubbornly.
• “Yes, you do. I'm your husband!” I declared. I didn't know when that word 'husband' escaped my mouth. This woman has succeeded in getting under my skin.
• “Yeah, on paper,” she snickered.
• I was appalled by her ungrateful attitude but I held myself back. Maybe if I appealed to her sense of humanity, she'd appreciate how important this deal is to me.
• I shut my eyes and took a deep breath, and tried to calm myself. I wouldn't allow her to sabotage this deal for me.
• “How can I help?” I finally managed to ask her. But her eyes were beginning to swell with tears again. Maybe she wasn't lying after all.
• “I need to leave, right now.” She said, wiping her eyes.
• Seeing her cry, something shifted inside me, and I wanted to hold her, and comfort her. But I didn't, instead, I nodded and told her she was free to go.
• It was good riddance anyway.
• “Really?” She asked happily as she looked up at me, her brown eyes shining with relief. She was shorter than me by at least 2 inches, so it was easy to see.
• “Yes.” I grumbled, and brought out my business card. “You can call me if you want, and take the card with you. It has a limit of $50,000.”
• She left hurriedly, without saying so much as a thank-you. She didn't even bother explaining to the investors why she was leaving so soon.
• It was now down to me to make sure they didn't get suspicious. They were still eating when I joined them.
• I took a deep breath and settled into my seat.
• “Everything alright?” The woman asked as soon as my back hit the chair.
• I nodded, trying to come up with the perfect excuse.
• “New couple right?” one of the men chuckled, and gestured with his fork.
• “Tell me about it,” the other added, and nodded in my direction.
• I forced a smile.
• “She seems like a great lady though,” the woman continued, eyeing me.
• “She is,” I said, the lie tasting bitter in my mouth.
• Silence.
• I let out a silent sigh of relief, thinking the questions had finally subsided, but the woman's curious gaze persisted, her voice slicing through the tension like a knife: “So, how did you two meet?”