Chapter 2

A woman seemed to hurry down the Pacific Palace building corridor to get to her room on the 15th floor. She might easily fall or slip if she didn't maintain her balance correctly. As soon as she entered the room, she was taken aback.

A well-built man wearing a formal suit seemed to have been waiting for her for a long time. The man folded his arms in front of his chest while leaning casually in one corner of the room.

"It's already 8.20 minutes. According to the rules, you should be late," said the man while checking the watch wrapped around his wrist.

Damn itl!

In this one month, Ariana Gray counted twice late in coming. And now, she was even caught directly by the boss, who was suddenly in her room for some reason.

"I-I, I'm sorry, Mr. Axton," the beautiful woman replied, irritated. "Earlier the online motorcycle taxi I was riding broke down in the middle of the road. So, I had to wait for a replacement driver to pick me up."

The man named Axton nodded. While gently rubbing his chin covered with fine hairs, he responded to the reason Ariana had just conveyed.

"Fortunately, I don't need an explanation for your lateness today."

"So I'm forgiven, sir?" Ariana immediately looked up, then asked carefully.

"Yes," Axton replied, nodding. The man straightened himself. Get ready to leave immediately. "Now, put your briefcase on the table first. Come with me to Mr. Samuel right now."

Ariana immediately glared. Evil thoughts suddenly danced in his brain. You're invited to meet the big boss and don't want to be fired immediately, right?

"Don't worry. You're not going to get fired," Axton interrupted as if he could read what Ariana was thinking. "There is something important that Mr. Samuel wants to talk to you about."

Ariana nodded. After placing her shopper bag on the table, she immediately followed Axton into the central leadership room.

Once inside, he could see how the figure of Samuel Walters looked so busy struggling with important files that were on his desk. If examined clearly, the boss is indeed a handsome man and also has high charisma.

Young. So energetic. Ambitious. And has a very perfectionist nature in doing anything to advance the property company he is currently leading. Even though he was stingy, all the employees at Pacific Palace admired and respected him immensely. It's the same with Ariana. Even though he had never spoken to anyone in person, he still thought from the start that the young man was the perfect person.

"Mr. Samuel," Axton said politely. "I've brought the employee I mean."

Samuel stopped the movement of his hands dancing on the laptop keyboard. Lifting his face, the man looked at Axton and Ariana in turn. After that, Samuel took a small step towards the guest sofa. Ariana also invited Ariana to sit there immediately.

"So this is the girl you mean, Axton?" asked Samuel. The man cast a scanning gaze at Ariana. Examine the woman's appearance from head to toe.

"That's right, sir. Ariana has previously served as HRD staff for two years," explained Axton. "Because her performance is so good, she has the opportunity to replace Adelia as Mr. Samuel's personal secretary starting tomorrow."

Samuel nodded in understanding. Some time ago, the personal secretary who had accompanied him for years had to resign because he wanted to focus on taking care of the children. Samuel had difficulty finding a replacement because he applied such high criteria. Assisted by Axton as a selector, in the end, he found a suitable replacement.

"Okay. From the looks of it, you can."

"The public speaking is also good, sir," said Axton later.

"What does this mean, sir?" Ariana, who had been confused by the behaviour of the two men in front of her, was stunned for a moment. Overcome with curiosity, and she ventured to ask. She was worried about what he meant and why she had to face the leadership so early.

"Before I continue this discussion any further, may I ask you something?"

Hesitating, Ariana nodded. Anxiety still haunts me. Her brain was filled with many questions about why his boss bothered to ask him to face him.

"Excuse me, Mr. Samuel what do you want to ask?"

"Do you have a boyfriend or husband?"

Ariana shook her head. She's not in touch with anyone right now.

Two months ago, she had just ended his relationship with Andrew Poland, and the lover was caught cheating behind his back.

Guess it's damn!

"Nothing, sir. I'm currently single."

Samuel nodded. Then ask again. "Do you have any plans to end singleness in the near future?" Again Ariana shook her head. She feel a little strange with the question given. How do you want to end your single life if you don't have a partner? Does the boss understand what she just said? Why ask again?

"No, sir."

"Have you been eyeing a man in recent times?"

"Nothing, sir."

"Have you ever been involved in a legal case?"

"Never at all."

"Do you understand about table manners or other personality classes?"

This time Ariana nodded. "Very understanding."

"You can speak foreign languages?"

"Yes, sir. I can speak French, Mandarin, and a little Korea."

"Can you cook like a normal woman?"

"You can, please. Beautiful like this, I'm good at the kitchen."

"Then, are you willing to be my future wife at the end of the month."

Ariana reflexively nodded. Then he soon widened his eyes after realizing Samuel's last question.

"W-what? What did you just say?"

Ariana was sure that her ears had not misheard. Samuel, who incidentally is the big boss at the company where he works, has just invited him to be the man's wife.

"I take your nod as a definitive answer if you agree with what I'm offering."

"Sir, later!" Ariana immediately interrupted. Why is the boss like this? "What does this mean?" Samuel didn't answer right away. The man leaned his shoulder against the sofa. He relaxed and then glanced at Axton, standing right next to him.

"Axton, please explain this to this woman as clearly as possible."

Axon nodded. The man's gaze then turned to Ariana.

"It's not what you think it is," he said. "So, Mr. Samuel would like to ask you to come with him to attend Mother Arabella's birthday party."

"Arabella?" Ariana is very familiar with this one name. Everyone in the Pacific also knew who that woman was. "Yes, Mrs Arabella Walters, my birth mother," said Samuel casually.

"Then what does a birthday party have to do with a future wife?" asked Ariana, confused. Is it his brain that doesn't arrive or what?

"So listen to the end first," protested Axton. "So, Ms. Arabella requires Mr. Samuel to bring his future wife to his birthday party which will take place in the near future. Since Mr. Samuel's future wife is currently abroad, he asked you to change it last night."

Ariana immediately raised her right hand in the air. Her gesture interrupted what Axton, Samuel's assistant, was explaining.

"Wait a minute, sir, wait... why should I be the chosen one as a potential replacement wife? Besides, how can I convince Mrs. Arabella that I am Mr. Samuel's future wife."

Axton took a deep breath. It wasn't long before the man spoke again.

"Why did you choose? Because you are the one who fits the criteria. For Mrs. Arabella's business, there is no need to be afraid. She has never met the real future wife of Mr. Samuel. So, she will not suspect that you are just a pretend couple."

Ariana nodded in understanding. So this is the reason that made him come to the big boss's room early in the morning. He was afraid of being fired because he dared to be late.

"Oh, I see now," she said.

"So you're ready, right?" Axton once again confirmed.

Ariana smiled faintly. In his heart and mind, already dancing images when she wore an expensive dress, then was picked up by Samuel Walters, who everyone recognized for her good looks. Attend a lavish party. Meet with many important people. She was introduced as a future wife. If this isn't pretending, Ariana is already very much like Cinderella in fairy tales.

"Thank you very much, sir. Because you consider me to be a suitable woman for you to attend Arabella's mother's birthday party. But I'm sorry to be born and inner heart, I can't comply with your request."

Samuel, who had been sitting casually, straightened up in surprise. Of course, he didn't think that his employee would dare to refuse his request.

"Why?" asked Samuel curiously. "I don't want to lie to my parents," said Ariana confidently. "Later, what I have is I will be cursed and cursed to be a stone."

"You are to much," joked Samuel.

"But still, I'm not ready, sir. I don't like lying to my parents."

Samuel chuckled. He was feeling irritated by Ariana's naive answer. If many out there are queuing and even trying to approach Samuel, his secretary flatly refuses the offered offer.

"Don't be afraid. I ask for your help, not free."

Ariana's eyebrows knit together. She was wondering what the boss's words meant.

"What do you mean? I don't understand?"

Samuel nodded. "I'll pay you 100 million for accompanying me to the birthday party. And I think that amount is well worth the time you give."

"100 million?" repeated Ariana once more. "Yes." This time it was Samuel who answered confidently. "Or is that nominal not enough for you? Ariana gulped. This is Samuel talking about money like a person who doesn't have the burden of living. It's so easy to give it to others for free. When he just lost 50 thousand, the feeling of tightness can reach the marrow.

"Thank you, sir," said Ariana. "But then again, I can't. Please find someone else."

"If you refuse, I can fire you," Samuel threatened. As the owner of the Pacific Palace, of course, he could do anything, including throwing Ariana out of the company.

"No problem, sir. I can find work elsewhere. Incidentally, I have quite a lot of skills and experience. So it's not difficult to apply for a job anywhere," Ariana answered cheerfully. The woman then got up from her seat. Prepared to leave Samuel's room.

"I think our conversation ends here. I pray you can find the right woman to invite to your birthday party." Ariana then turned around. She was stepping lightly towards the door of the room. But before the woman's shadow was completely out of sight, Axton slightly ran to block Ariana's steps. In his pants pocket, the man took out a business card to give to the beautiful woman.

"I'm sure you'll change your mind. And if that happens, feel free to call me anytime."

Ariana smiled. Politely grabbed the paper Axton handed her. Meanwhile, Samuel was in his seat, looking irritated. Thinking hard about what steps he should take next.

"How about this, Axton. The woman you're nominating isn't even the slightest bit interested in my offer. Besides, why did you suddenly choose her?" asked Samuel curiously. He also didn't know the exact reason his assistant handed over Ariana yesterday instead of the other employees.

"In the Pacific Palace, there are many beautiful women, sir. But there are not many smart, polite, and well-behaved ones. And Ariana falls into that category. That's why I nominate her."

"The thing is, she's flatly rejected my offer, Axton. Not even the slightest bit afraid when I threatened to get fired." Axton smiled. He understood that his boss was feeling pressed. That's why he tried to calm him down.

"We'll have to wait 24 hours. If there's no news, I'll suggest another candidate."

***

Ariana had just arrived at the house. When she was about to enter the room, a young girl seemed to run from behind and immediately approached her. As if she had something important to say.

"Sis Ariana," she called. "You have to see this," the girl said as she handed Ariana several white envelopes to examine. Ariana accepted the envelope that was given to her. I opened one pen, then took out a sheet of paper from inside and read it carefully. "Is this a warning letter from the bank?"

The girl in front of Ariana immediately nodded.

"Yes, if Chloe reads, we are given a grace period of one week for loan. If it fails, this orphanage will be evicted by the bank."

Ariana's throat immediately choked. She, who is an orphan, has been spending time living with other children at orphanage. Previously, the manager of the orphanage; Martha, deliberately applied for a loan to the bank with the aim of renovating the orphanage building which was about to collapse. She believed that he could pay the monthly installments from the funds given by donors which at that time was indeed busy.

However, over time, the reality did not match expectations. One by one the donors began to disappear even now only part of it is left. Ariana even dedicates her entire salary to be used to cover all the needs of the orphanage.

"Mrs Martha knows about this?" Ariana asked later.

"Not yet, Sis. I had purposely hidden all of this from Mom. I fears Mom's condition will worsen because she thinks about the orphanage that will be evicted if she doesn't pay the arrears immediately."

Ariana took a deep breath. What Chloe did was right. Martha's mother has been sick recently. She doesn't want to increase the burden on women. the middle-aged man by conveying this bad news.

However, keeping a burden of this magnitude alone is not an easy thing for Ariana to live. Once again, Ariana paid attention to the details of the arrears that the orphanage had to pay. reached 200 million. Where should she find that kind of money in one week. Also, her salary is not even half the bill.

Closing her eyes, Ariana immediately thought back to Samuel's offer this morning when she was in his study. Now, she instead believes that only that man is able to help her get out of the tangled problem.

"If I pretend to be a future wife, then accompany Mr Samuel to a birthday party, I can easily get hundreds of millions of money," Ariana muttered.

"This seems to be the only way to save the orphanage. Ariana nodded. Convinced of the decision she would make soon.

Taking a deep breath, she grabbed the business card that Axton had given her earlier. Ariana slowly pressed the number written on the paper on the keypad of his cell phone. Waited patiently until a man's voice on the other end answered the call.

"Hello, good evening."

"Evening, Mr. Axton. It's me, Ariana."

"Yes, what's wrong?" Axton said briefly. He seemed to understand what made the woman finally call. "About Mr. Samuel's offer this morning..." Ariana paused for a moment. Once again, She took a deep breath and said firmly, "I'm willing to do it."