A Deal With The Billionaire

EPISODE NINETEEN

Theme: Hundred thousand dollars

CONNECTICUT, UNITED STATE OF AMERICA

THE GOLDEN RESTAURANT

“What’s wrong, Raven? Is Rowan okay?” Benjamin questioned as he reached out to hold her hands.

“He is… fine.” Raven sniffed lightly as she tried to feign a smile that obviously looked like she was in pains.

Holding up a hand. “You can’t lie to me, Raven. I can easily tell that something is quite not right. We need to talk. So let us get a cup of coffee and talk about anything what is bothering you. Okay?”

Raven shook her head in agreement. “Okay.” She sighed.

Entering the restaurant, they settled at a table not far to the entrance. Benjamin beckoned to a waiter to order for both of them. “Coffee please.” He mouthed.

“So let us start with… where do you work now? I remember you were attending Valeria Rosa culinary school.”

“Wow! You still remember the name.” Raven chuckled lightly.

“Of course! How can I forget? I know everything about you. And back then, it felt like I knew Raven McKenna more than I know myself.” Benjamin joked.

“Anyways, I work here now.” Raven beamed with pride.

“Here? You mean this restaurant?” Benjamin looked amused.

Raven nodded. “Yes.”

“Wow. Really?” Benjamin gasped.

“No jokes.” Raven let out a light laugh.

“But how come I haven’t been seeing you around? I come here like twice a week because the food here is awesome.”

“Well I don’t work at the counter but behind closed doors in the kitchen. So a part of that compliment should go to me as the assistant chef of this fancy restaurant.” Raven announced as if she was saying a speech.

Benjamin covered his mouth with his palm. “An assistant chef in one of the best restaurants in town! Wow! Bravo! That’s super nice! And I am so proud of you.” He commented.

“I am so proud of myself too. And thanks for the compliment.”

Finally, the waiter arrived with both of their coffee and he acknowledged Raven with a short nod.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

“Okay. I can clearly see that you are a boss around here.” He teased her.

“Don’t act too cheesy, Benjamin.” She waved him off.

Taking a sip from his coffee, Benjamin’s eyes observed Raven keenly. Underneath her make up, he could see the baggy eyes she was trying so hard to cover up.

Ever since Benjamin got to know Raven at the bar he loved to visit years ago, he respected how resilient she was. He has never seen such beauty, brain and hard work all in one place. And at the same time, it had made him want to get closer to her but judging by the condition she was in back then, Benjamin knew Raven was obviously not in the best situation. A single mother trying to put herself through school while working several jobs and also taking care of her mother and son.

He placed the cup down on the table. “So tell me, Raven, where is Rowan? Did his father take him away?”

“No. No. Not at all. That’s not even the case. Rowan is terribly sick.” Raven said.

Benjamin had a concerned look on his face. “Terribly sick? What’s the diagnosis?” He demanded.

Raven blinked her eyes slowly to stop the tears from falling down her cheeks. “He has been diagnosed of Pilocytic Astrocyma Brain Tumor and I have been asked to make a deposit of forty thousand dollars to have the tumor removed completely within the next twenty four hours before it is too late to save his life. I don’t have such amount of money… fifty thousand dollars and I also can’t bear to lose my son. I don’t know what to do. Rowan is all I have… and he is my world.” Raven wailed without minding the number of eyes staring at her.

“Oh dear…” Benjamin reached for her hands on the table to console her. “I am sorry to hear about this, Raven. I would have loved to help. Seriously, if I had met you like two days before now I would have given you the money if it was needed at that point. I just bought a new ride and there isn’t much left in my savings anymore.” Benjamin felt his heart constrict as Raven broke into tears.

“I am sorry, Raven.” He wished that he could do more for her.

Raven wiped her face. “You don’t need to worry, Benjamin. I was heading to the bank before I bumped into you. I am hoping to get a loan from them.”

Benjamin arched his brows. “Loan?” He repeated.

“Yes. I visited a few yesterday but they all turned me down.”

“Listen Raven, no bank would loan you such amount of money without a collateral plus it is really on a short notice.” Benjamin said.

Raven remembered the words of each bank managers of the banks she had visited yesterday. And it kind of like dashed her glint of hope on the surface.

More tears streamed down her face while Benjamin stayed silent trying to think of a way out. As much as he wasn’t a close relative to Raven, he would still go any length to help her.

And just then an idea flashed in his head as a picture of Christopher popped up in his mind’s eyes.

Benjamin’s face lightened up a bit. He lifted his head, leaned closer to the table and looked straight into her eyes. Although he didn’t know the right words to say to her but he uttered what his mind and head could easily figure out.

“What do you think about a fake marriage?”

Raven stared at Benjamin in disbelief as if he had grown two heads. “Really Ben? What… what does fake marriage has to do with my son being sick?”

Benjamin shifted closer towards her and he lowered his voice to prevent others from hearing their conversation. Not like they were listening or glancing their way.

“Now, the thing about this fake marriage is that a hundred thousand dollars is on it.”

Raven’s eyes widened in shock. “A what?!” She screamed causing half of the people in the room to stare at her for the second time in a row.

“Stop doing this. Stop raising your voice, Raven. People are staring at us and remember that I am a public figure.” Benjamin seethe his teeth.

“I… I… am sorry.” Raven apologized.

“Good.”

“So tell me more about it.”

Benjamin cleared his throat. “The person in question is the rightful heir of a multimillion dollar corporation and he is ready to pay that amount to any woman who can follow the rule.”

Raven inhaled and exhaled. “Wait a second, this feels really weird and why would anyone want to fake a marriage?” She wondered.

“Well, he is doing it because it is very urgent. Although he shouldn’t be doing this but he got jilted by his girlfriend and his heart is still mending. However, his parents doesn’t seem to want to hear that, most especially his father who wants to be relieved of stress from running such a corporation. He has been ordered to get married in the next few weeks if he doesn’t want to lose his dream position and possession.” Benjamin huffed. He let out the deep breath he has been holding since he started explaining things to Raven.

“If I may ask, what’s your relationship with this person? You seem ecstatic.”

“He is my best friend. He was the one I was on call with when I bumped into you. He was stressing me about finding him a woman.” Benjamin responded.

“Okay. Let us say… I agree to this, so I will get a hundred thousand dollars right?” She asked.

“Yes.”

“But for how long?”

“Just six months and you are free.” Benjamin answered.

Raven thought for a moment that she shouldn’t do it. “And if I agree to this now, will I get paid just enough to settle my son’s medical bills?”

Benjamin shook his head. “I promise you, if you sign the contract today then you would get the payment immediately.”

Raven didn’t seem convinced. His words were too good to be true.

“I can see that you are having doubts. But to clear up your doubts, I will love you to come with me right at this minute. I am just as eager to save Rowan’s life as you are, Raven.”

“Ok. Ok. Let us go.” Raven said.

“Alright then.” Benjamin responded as he signaled to the waiter to get their bill.

Raven’s thoughts were jumbled. She has never heard of such offer all her life. It sounded surreal. Why would anyone want to pay such amount over a fake marriage? What amused her the most was the eagerness in Benjamin’s voice as he explained things to her.

If Benjamin wasn’t someone she knew and trusted once then she would not be taking the risk of going anywhere with him. And while the clock ticked, she would possibly be running around in banks trying to negotiate and plead with bank managers.

“Are you ready?” Benjamin’s voice snapped her out of deep thoughts.

“Sure. Let us go ahead with it.” She nodded.

They both walked side by side out of the restaurant. “Would you mind if I drive you? I know you might possibly have your own car but I feel it would be too much stress if I have you ride behind me. I will bring you back as soon as it is all done.” Benjamin offered as he smiled brightly.

Doubts clouded her mind but she was in desperate need of help; and desperate time calls for desperate measures.

“Alright.” Raven replied after a few seconds of silence.

Raven was not surprised when she saw Benjamin’s new ride, a Lamborghini truck. She didn’t know much about cars and couldn’t tell what brand it was exactly but she knew it was bloody expensive.

Getting into the car, they practically rode in silence all the way. There was a lot on her mind and she couldn’t have been responsive enough if she was being addressed at that moment.