Evelyn's pov
I stood at the counter of the small diner, my arms trembling barely as I punched in the order for Table 7. My mind wandered, distracted by the noise around me. It had been a tough day, like every other day, as I struggled to make ends meet with my mother's medical bills and overdue rent piling up.
The bell on the door rang as another customer entered the diner. I glanced up to see who it was, and my heart sank as I saw who it was. Kelvin Styles.
He stood out in the diner as this wasn’t his normal place to be, his sleek, tailored suit and His intimidating presence clashed with the diner's casual vibe. His confident energy commanded attention and whispers as people couldn't help but stare, looking at him with a mix of curiosity and awe.
But Kelvin wasn’t here for them. His darkish, piercing eyes locked onto me, and a shiver ran down my spine. I swallowed tough, feeling as if the air had thinned out.
“Evelyn!” he called, his deep voice sending a tremor through her. It wasn’t a greeting. It was a command.
“Sir?,” I responded softly, trying to hold her voice regularly, surprised that he knew her name. “What can I do for you, sir?”
“I want to talk with you in private,” he said to me, like an order.
“I’m working sir, if you would wait and give me a minute. I will be with you shortly” I said in reply trying to salvage the situation
“You have five minutes” he walked to the booth at the back of the diner. I was still shocked about what was going on. My friend, Grace, saw the conversation and looked at me with surprise.
“You never told me you knew The Kelvin Styles,” she said to me wanting me to fill in the details
“I don’t know him and I am as surprised as you are. If you don’t mind covering for me. I won’t be long” I said as I gave her the order for table seven
I walked to the booth where he was and stood before him, as I waited for him to say something and break the ice.
"Sit," he commanded, gesturing to the back booth. His tone was firm, leaving no room for refusal.
I hesitated my heart racing, remembering their last encounter at a charity gala where I had accidentally spilled a drink on him. He had been cold and dismissive, but now he was seeking me out. The question was, why?
Hope it wasn’t to pay for his clothes, because I barely even make enough to feed him. I sat down, facing him. I played with my hands nervously hoping he had not come for something else other than to pay him for his damaged clothes.
"I'm working sir, so if you kindly let me know why you wanted to see me I would be glad" There was something about him that made resistance impossible.
He watched me for a while then he spoke, his voice low and deliberate. “I even have a proposition for you.”
My brows furrowed. “A proposition?”
He leaned forward, placing his arms at the desk, his gaze unwavering. “I need a wife.”
My eyes widened, unsure if I had heard him correctly. I searched his face for a hint of humor but found none. His expression was dead serious, his words hanging in the air like a challenge. He wasn't the type to joke around.
“Excuse me?” I asked, my voice slightly above a whisper.
“I want a wife,” he repeated, his tone steady, as though he had been discussing an enterprise deal. “A temporary arrangement for one year and you are free”
My heart raced. Kelvin Styles, one of the most powerful people in New York City—perhaps even the United States—came to her place of work to seek a wife and it was no other person than her. No, this had to be a funny story. But the depth in his gaze told me otherwise. Still, it made no sense.
“And why do you need me?”I repeated, my voice laced with disbelief.
"You have what I need," he said, his voice cold and calculating. "You're ordinary enough to fly under the radar, and you're desperate enough to agree to my terms. I know about your debts, Evelyn. Your mother's medical bills. I can take care of all of it. One condition: you marry me, and we pretend to be a happily married couple in public. You follow my rules, and I'll pay off everything."
My breath was caught in my throat. The weight of his words crushing me, feeling like a heavy stone pinning me down. He knew everything. Of course, he did. Powerful men like Kelvin Styles had access to information that ordinary people like me couldn't even imagine having. But hearing my struggles laid out so bluntly still felt like a stinging slap in the face, a harsh reminder of my vulnerability.
“You… you’re blackmailing me?” I asked, my voice trembling, a shaky edge betraying my attempts to remain calm.
“Think of it as a mutually beneficial arrangement,” he said, ignoring the accusation. “You want cash. I need a spouse. Simple.”
Simple? There was nothing easy about this. I bit my lips, my mind spinning. Marry him? The idea was absurd. A month ago, she didn't know who he was. Now, he was offering her a lifeline—but at what cost?
“What’s in it for you?” I requested, wanting to know the full details. “Why go through all this trouble?”
His eyes darkened for a second, but his expression remained emotionless. “My grandmother’s will. To inherit, I need to be married by year's end. It's a technicality, but one I can't ignore. You're convenient, and you have no ties that could complicate things," he said, his voice devoid of emotion, as if discussing a business transaction rather than a life-altering commitment.
Convenient. The word stung. I didn’t mean anything to him, just a strategy for his problem. The harsh reality of her situation crashed down on her like a crushing wave. She had no other options, no escape from this desperate choice. Her mother's life hung in the balance, and Evelyn's decision would determine her fate. Her hands clenched into fists in her lap as she gazed blankly at the desk, the weight of the decision suffocating her.
Kelvin leaned into his seat, sensing my internal turmoil. “You’re in no position to say no, Evelyn,” he stated quietly, but with finality. “I'm offering you a way out. One year of your life in exchange for security - for both you and your mother. Think carefully."
The temptation was irresistible. I envisioned my problems disappearing - no more sleepless nights worrying about bills, no more fear of losing my mom due to unaffordable care. Yet, the thought of being tied to Kelvin Styles, a man so cold and calculating, filled me with terror.
What choice do I have?
I raised my eyes to meet him. “One year?” I requested, my voice barely audible.
“One year,” he replied. “After that, you’ll be free. No strings attached.”
My stomach twisted. Could I genuinely do that? Marry a person I didn’t love, live a lie for a year just to live on? The answer got here fast. I had no choice. If not for anything, then for her mother, I had to take the deal.
I took a deep breath, my fingers trembling as I spoke the words that would seal my fate.
“Okay,” she whispered. “I’ll do it.”
Kelvin nodded, gladly. “Good. We’ll sign the agreement tomorrow. From now on, you belong to me.”
As he stood and walked out of the diner, leaving me alone with the burden of my choice, I couldn’t help but marvel at what I had just gotten myself into.
