CHAPTER TWO

Indecent proposal

*Julie*

After the engagement party, I moved to Jeff’s house so that we could properly get ready for the wedding and have smooth planning ahead. My hubby-to-be was so excited and getting the entire summation of the wedding expenditure ready. He was ready to forward them to the mysterious man that suddenly appeared in our lives. Jeff was happy as if he won a jackpot but I was getting more confused thinking about everything.

As Jeff was seeing a basketball game on the TV, I was in my room and kept thinking about how a man could just be so benevolent to strangers in such a way without an ulterior motive. I was convinced that Mr. Murphy wasn’t being entirely sincere to us. I accepted his promises with doubts. A part of me got me convinced that he was playing on our emotions in a bid to launch the reality of his plans and motives later. But what could be his motive if not the seductive way he kept looking at me. I began to think that he could be having erotic thoughts of how to have sex with me. That was funny to think because no man, no matter his status and riches could ever take my attention away from my first love. Jeff had always been the man of my dreams that I’d be getting married to.

But if he hadn’t such motive, why was he willing to sponsor a wedding that could demand such a huge amount of money? I was lost in thoughts trying to understand what could be his motives for coming out of the blue to start showing such chivalry to my fiancé and me.

As I was searching through my purse to locate my key, I was surprised to see a business card. Out of curiosity, I checked it out. I was shocked to see the strange man’s name on it. The business card was entirely different from the one he gave to Jeff. At the reverse side of the card was a note he wrote. He wrote: “Can I get down with you for two million dollars for three nights. Don’t be too quick to answer but think it through,”

I got so confused hearing such an amount of money that I’d never seen in my life before. I was surprised that the young man was willing to offer it just for sex. That was sick.

I lost words and couldn’t fathom what could make Mr. Murphy make such a proposal. A handsome guy like him would have lots of pretty damsels seeking his attention because of his wealth. What was wrong with him and why was I so special to have attracted such an indecent proposal? How would he be ready to lavish such an amount of money just to get into my panties? It was crazy reminiscing on the whole thing because it seemed impossible to me.

I kept staring at the business card over and over again trying to make meaning out of the proposal.

It was more surprising that I couldn’t understand how and when he dropped the card in my purse without being noticed. He must have been a clever man and good with such tricks. It was then I was assured that he came for me but wanted to use my fiancé to get the whole thing twisted and puzzling.

As I was reading the note that rumbled like a thunderbolt in my head, Jeff suddenly entered. He almost saw the business card with me but I was too clever to hide it. I knew I was going to tell him everything but that would be after the wedding so that I wouldn’t hurt his feelings; especially when the billionaire was ready to sponsor the wedding.

Mr. Murphy came to play games with me but I knew I was going to outplay him in the same game he initiated.

The promise made by the billionaire to my fiancé was almost driving him crazy. This got him busy getting prepared for a grand wedding even without thinking of the implications of the gift to his family.

“Hey, Love,” Jeff said and came close to me. “I was wondering what you were busy with, so I came to check on my darling bride-to-be,”

I let out a deceitful smile and made sure I was well seated on the business card so that he wouldn’t see it.

“How are you doing, Sweetie?” I asked feigning being surprised at seeing him.

“You seem a bit perturbed,” he said observantly and caressed my chin, “but I’m yet to understand what is going on that is making you pale and withdrawn. Is there something you want to tell me?”

I pulled him closer and implanted a deep kiss on his lips, “Nothing is bothering me. Just trying to figure out how a man who never knew anything about us could just come and make such a promise. It’s even more surprising that you simply accept without asking questions,”

He laughed as if I wasn’t being serious with my observation. He heaved a deep sigh of relief showing how happy he was that what I was bothered with wasn’t worth losing a night of sleep over it.

“Oh, is that the reason?” he asked as he stroked my hair, “that shouldn’t be an issue yet because he already made it clear that he’s a philanthropist. This is common with philanthropists. We’re just lucky to be the next on the list of people benefitting from his benevolence. If we miss this opportunity, his wind of benevolence could elude us. Why not give the man a credit other than keep casting doubts? I suggest you get over that negativity and accept whatever has been presented to us by good fortune. Don’t you think that he can also employ us and change our lives for good? So, why are you finding it hard to accept that our lives are about to take a positive U-turn? Be happy for us, please,”

As he talked, all that was going through my mind was the dramatic irony of the whole situation. Jeff was just seeing the magnanimity of the affluent man from the myopic point of view other than seeing that his bride-to-be was already on the verge of falling for a temptation that could destroy her marriage. That was appalling.

“Well, you’re right but it’s not yet over,” I said and left him making sure that I left with the business card unnoticed.

Confusion flared around me. I began to be barricaded in absence of the mind thinking through the entire thing and how to get over it without accepting his proposal. My meditations over the magnitude of the money offered for just three nights started making me metamorphose into absent-mindedness. In that state of mental and emotional torture, I started feeling more comfortable being alone than having anyone around me just to have much time to think through the proposal.

I was tempted to call Mr. Murphy and do something crazy things; either by insulting him or politely telling him that I wasn’t interested in his games. Whenever I take up my phone to make the call, I’d develop cold feet.

Jeff started noticing that I was more introverted than usual but he thought I was simply finding it hard going through the wedding plans. He didn’t know that I was busy battling with myself on how to overcome the temptations that the billionaire brought our way. The proposal was already becoming a hurdle in my wedding plans because it was occupying a better part of my thoughts.

It was surprising that I didn’t just grow lazy but got into such an obsession that I couldn’t explain. The proposal made me start having the feeling that I was becoming obscene; though I wished it would never come to that. I put so much effort trying to get over the thoughts of having another cock inside my pussy to the extent that it began to eat deep into me. Unwittingly, I started missing my office duties, meals, and getting emaciated.

I got a series of warning letters from my boss in the insurance company. Instead of his warnings to help me change, I became worse. At a point, he couldn’t tolerate my nonchalance anymore, so he terminated my appointment. I kept this a secret without letting Jeff know about it because I was bereft of the explanations to give if he notices such.

Every morning, I’d prepare as if I was going to work but I’d simply end up in Juliet Savior’s house.

Juliet was my best friend and the only confidant who could know any of my secrets. We share our secrets. We were friends since high school which made us so close in that sororal relationship.

On that very day, I prepared for work as usual and left Jeff who was getting prepared to go to work too. I tried avoiding being driven in his car to the office so that he wouldn’t know that I was currently unemployed. In high school, they nicknamed us ‘JulieJuliet’.

That fateful day, I took a cab to Juliet’s place to avoid wallowing in that confusion that loomed around me lately. When I got to her house, I rang the bell twice and waited at the threshold of the door.

In a couple of minutes, she appeared looking like someone busy doing some work.

“Hey, dear,” I greeted with a faint smile, “how are you doing?”

“Hey, what’s the matter,” she anxiously asked and pulled me into a hug, and dragged me into her house.

It was then I discovered that she was busy with a guy, probably having sex or something.

“Sorry if I interrupted,” I apologized and turned to leave but she pulled me back.

“He’s already leaving,” she said and turned to the guy, “You have to leave now, dude,”

The guy left immediately after putting on his clothes without saying anything.

“Don’t tell me he’s another guy,” I said and sat on the couch.

“Just a guy I met at the club last night,” she said and dimpled a smile, “I don’t even know his name but he was really good in bed last night,”

“When will you stop this lifestyle?” I asked venting my dissatisfaction at her level of promiscuity.

There was a moment of silence before she broke it with a smile.

“What makes you cry and melancholic?” Juliet asked trying to make me stop stressing about her choice of lifestyle.

“I got a proposal from a billionaire,” I mumbled, “That’s why I’ve been finding it hard talking to you about it. I knew you can never give me a piece of healthy advice if not convince me to fall for it. I love Jeff Churchill, and I don’t need any other distraction,”

For a while, Juliet was smiling thoughtfully and shaking her head.

I was wondering what was going through her mind. My curiosity heightened even when I already knew what her answer was going to be. I was speculative as I waited patiently.

“If you have Jeff and already made up your mind on what to do,” she asked thoughtfully, “why coming to me with tears because of a proposal?”

I didn’t see such a question coming. It was an intelligent one that left me wondering. She made a point. This got me thinking if I was serious with that resolution concerning keeping myself for Jeff alone.

“Well, I’m confused and I need help,” I muttered with my eyes blurred with tears, “please, don’t give me negative advice,”

Juliet used a white napkin and dried my tears. She already knew how I felt, so she kissed my forehead and hummed.

“What did he ask you to do?” she asked and crossed her hands over my shoulder to give me some comfort.

“He asked for three nights with me….”

“Why would you accept such?” she barked without allowing me to complete my statement.

“Can you allow me to finish what I’m saying?” I cried out to make her listen.

“Sorry, dear. I’m sometimes impatient,” she said and chuckled.

“He offered to sponsor my wedding,” I answered in a low tone looking dispirited, “he also asked me to fuck him for three nights with an offer of the sum of two million dollars,”

“Holy shit!” she exclaimed and sprang from her seat, “what are you still waiting for?”

I knew she’d give her consent to that while I came for her to discourage me from accepting. I guess I came to the wrong person; unfortunately, she was all that I’d got.

“I can’t do it but I need someone to encourage me to stick to that refusal,” I said trying to garner her unalloyed support and exhortation.

“The amount you mentioned is even too much for me. Even with five hundred bucks I’ll accept,” she said and stood up, “Grow up girlfriend,” she added mockingly.

I was mute and speechless. I felt as if I was drifting away into naught which got me worked up as I nursed such feelings of loneliness and dejection. I was fully assured that Juliet was the last person I should have met for such a piece of advice because her suggestion was exactly as I envisaged.

“Okay, thanks,” I murmured as my heart throbbed with confusion.

“Ease up,” she said and went to her fridge to offer me some wines.

Immediately Juliet left, I quickly left her house incognito to avoid being seen or encouraged to sleep with a man just because I needed money.

I boarded a taxi in front of her house. When she came out of the door, I was already leaving, so she couldn’t stop me. I saw the sadness and disappointment written all over her but I didn’t care. I needed to go as far as I could.

As I remained calm in the taxi, I suddenly became infuriated with how I was having the feeling of being cowed by the billionaire. I couldn’t take it anymore, so I slipped my hand in my purse and brought out his business card. I started imputing the digits in my phone to call him and tell him not to bother my life anymore. As I pressed the buttons of my phone, my fury gradually transmogrified into softness and uncertainty, so I stopped. But then, I’d already pressed the ‘send’ key and the phone was already ringing.

As I tried hanging up thinking that his phone line was not available, my phone vibrated; indicating that he’d taken the call.

I held the phone to my ear but was afraid to talk. I was simply listening to his cool voice as he said “hello” about three times before I took a deep breath; letting him know that I could hear him,

“I know you can hear me, and if you can, find your way to Delicious Treat Deli, I’ll be waiting for you there. Come alone, and make sure that your fiancé isn’t there with you,”

I hung up and placed the cell phone on my pulsating heart as I kept looking ahead into the air, staring absently but not thinking straight.

As I was thinking through his invitation, my cell phone beeped and I saw an icon of an envelope indicating that he just sent a text message. My hands quivered because I could see that he was really good in the game he was playing. I was enshrouded in the uncertainty of what his next action would be.

I was eager to see his text message but afraid of what I’d see next. After a couple of minutes, I made up my mind and went through the message. I couldn’t imagine that he made more offers by saying that he could double the amount if I wasn’t moved by the two million dollars he already offered.

All that started coming through my mind was how to wake up from that nightmare and inevitable temptation. I was in between the devil and the deep blue sea; having no option since each decision would be as dicey as the other.

I sank deep in the rear seat as if I wanted to hide away from the temptation that brooded over me. The more I tried to avoid him, the more I was getting more mouth-watering offers that I couldn’t resist.

“Driver!” I growled looking thoughtlessly at the cab driver who peered back at me using the rearview mirror, “Take me to delicious treat,”

I just had to meet him because the solution to my fears wasn’t to run away from it but to face it and defeat it. If I could stay for many years without sex, I could still do the same.

I knew it was time to meet the billionaire and let him know for once that I wasn’t the kind of girl that could fall so cheap because of his mind-blowing monetary enticement.

It was crazy thinking through what a sane man could gain from just fucking me; as if my pussy suddenly turned to gold or had become a gateway to heaven. I almost went nuts trying to figure out why he wanted to fuck me by all means possible.

As the driver took me to the Deli, I started having untold courage. The conjure audacity got me so prepared to say NO to his unscrupulous offer, no matter what his reasons could be.

To be prepared to confront him, I brought out my makeup kits and got my face charming and daring. My figure-hugging mini gown was seductive enough to get a man’s frigid dick alive again. I was simply dressed to the nines matched with my very classy six-inch high-heeled Gucci shoes which embellished my appearance the more. With that sexy look and inviting appearance, I became very confident even to the point that I could even meet the American president without having any feeling of lack of self-confidence.