A Deal With The Millionaire

” Huh? ” He asked unsure of what he had just heard. Layla shook her head swiftly, ” , Um, sorry.. you don’t have to answer that dumb question ” She muttered and Shane nodded slowly, still confused.

” But, can the contract marriage be cancelled? ” She suddenly asked again tho Shane found it weird but he replied anyways with a nod.

” So, who’s your favorite opera singer? ” Shane asked, trying to divert their attention from what had just happened earlier.

” Um… I don’t really have one, but I like Kathleen Battle,, she has a distinctive vocal range and tone ” She replied and Shane nodded in approval. ” Yeah, she’s good ” He added.

” I like Cecilia Bartoli more, her vocal voice is just too good ” He said and Layla nodded

” Yeah, she’s pretty good ” She muttered.

” So, do we go watch the Opera after this? ” He asked. ” Nah, we should go to the movies, there’s this new movie series showing at the cinema today ” She declined. “Alright then ” He said with a smile.

****

” I’m home ” Layla announced as she walked into her room.

” Mirah? ” She called again but got no response. She heard splashes of water from the bathroom and she knew it was Mirah in there.

She walked over to the mirror and checked her reflection. She was still wearing the cover makeup, still having Brielle’s look.

” She’s really pretty ” She muttered and she reminisced on what happened during the date.

” What was wrong with me then?, why would I ask him that dumb question? ” She muttered and then her eyes suddenly widened.

” We’re having the wedding next tomorrow!! ” She gasped and remembered the maids she had seen downstairs. They were busy decorating the living room, cause she was tired, she didn’t bother to ask them anything.

” So, next tomorrow… ” She thought and walked over to the bed. She landed her butt on it.

” I’m leaving soon ” She muttered.

” So, this is why he wanted us to go out? ” She thought silently and weirdly, her mood changed.

She didn’t notice Mirah was already standing in front of her until Mira snapped her fingers, jerking her out of her thoughts.

” Huh? ” She asked unconsciously, ” What were you saying? ” She asked again and Mirah shook her head before having her seat beside her.

” What’s wrong?, Are you okay? ” She asked and Layla sighed before nodding.

” Yeah, I guess so… I should be happy since the wedding is just two days from now, then we can finally be free from all this stress ” She said and stood up, and began walking away without saying any more word.

Mirah who understood what was wrong with her let out a sigh,, ” Where are you headed to? ” She asked, watching Layla who held some wipes.

” I wanna wipe this makeup off ” She muttered and with that walked into the bathroom.

*****Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

* Shane’s Suite *

” So, you paid for my dad’s treatment bills? ” Layla asked in suprise and Shane nodded.

She had decided to ask him about it and he gave her a positive reply.

” Why? ” She asked, lowering her voice and he raised his brows slightly.

” Why did you do that? ” She asked again and with the way she was staring at Shane suddenly got him nervous. He itched his ear,, ” Um,, I just… just thought of helping ” He uttered silently, not looking at her.

” Why? ” She asked, making him nervous the more.

Can’t she see he’s trying his best to reply without actually spilling out some things he isn’t supposed to say, but here she is,, instilling him more to talk why he’s nervous.

” Um, can we talk about something else? ” He asked in an awkward voice and she inhaled softly.

” Thanks ” She muttered and he raised his head up to her.

” You’re not angry? ” He asked, obviously suprised. He was expecting her to flare up at the fact that he meddled into her private life.

” Ofcourse not, why would I be? ” She asked, slowly coming back to the cheerful Layla as she sat comfortably on the couch beside him while he gently did the same.

” I mean… why would I be??, the contract is ending soon.. and we’re going on our separate ways soon,, I don’t see any reason for us to argue more ” She muttered silently, but audible enough for him to hear.

” Yeah… ” He paused, inhaling deeply.

” Everything’s ending soon, the wedding is just two days from now,, I’m glad.. you’ld be free from all these stress now… that’s what you wanted right? ” He asked, staring at her.

Layla went silent for a while before turning to him only to meet with his intense gaze on her,, she stared back at him and it seems none of them were willing to break the stare as it was getting more intense.

A knock at the door caught their attention, breaking them out of their thoughts. Layla stood immediately, ” Um,, I should leave now ” She said and Shane nodded and watched as she walked out, in the process opening the door for Claus who was expecting a response from inside.

Layla bowed a little and he returned her greeting with a light smile as he made his way into the suite while Layla made her way down the stairs.

Claus bowed a little to Shane and he only nodded in reply,, ” Go on ” He urged him to speak up.

” The wedding dress is here and the preparations at the venue are done ” He reported. Shane nodded and directed him to leave with a wave of his hands which he understood immediately.

He bowed lightly before making his way out of the suite.

Shane exhaled deeply as his head were filled with thoughts of Layla. She’s really different,, different from every other girl he had ever met. Tho, it isn’t right saying this, but she’s different even from Brielle.

She’s pretty, nice, different and perfect. Her tastes for different things got him hooked even without knowing. But everything’s about ending,, she’s leaving soon,, in just two days.

****

Layla heard a knock at the door and tiredly, she turned to Mirah.

” Please attend to whoever that is, I’m tired ” She said, yawning tiredly.

Jennifer had put her through a lot of work, choosing her makeup, her jewelries, flowers,, and all other things.

Mirah scoffed out loud. ” Not like I didn’t pass through the same stress as you did.. ” She muttered before walking over to the door anyways.

She twisted the door knob open, revealing Shane, his hands dipped into his pockets.

” Sir… ” Mirah called out in suprise.

” Is Layla in? ” He asked in a soft voice. She nodded,, ” Yeah, I should call her out ”

She said and without waiting for a response, she walked in, closing the door behind her.

” Layla, it’s Shane… he requests your attention ” Merely hearing that, Layla spranged up.

” Really?, like seriously?, He’s outside? ” She asked. Mirah taken aback by her questions, nodded anyways.

” Gosh, he can’t see me in this ” Layla muttered and in a swift, rushed away to her wardrobe. She was putting on a transparent gown.

She took a top coupled with a short and wore them in a rush. The short barely reached her thighs but she wore it anyways. She didn’t want to delay Shane.

” Huff ” She breathed in and then composed herself properly before walking over to the door while Mirah stood still on a spot, watching her friend in awe.

Layla walked over to the door and twisting the door knob, Shane came into view. She let out a big smile. ” Shane! ” She called cheerfully and Shane returned the cheerful smile.

” Um, are you busy?.. or?.. ”

” No! ” She replied in a snap, cutting him off.

” I mean. No am not ” Layla muttered, a bit embarrassed at her outburst.

” Oh, okay then… ”

” Do you want us to go somewhere together? ” She asked but she shook his head.

” No, I just want us to make something together.. in the kitchen ” He said and her brows rose slightly.

” You cook? ” She asked, a bit suprised.

” Yeah, but not frequently ” He replied and she nodded.

” Alright then, I’ll be there in a minute… I have to go change my short short.. I mean my short…. short!! ” She said, stressing the word short and he let out a chuckle.

” It’s fine, I understand.. you meant the short you’re putting on is short ” He said and she nodded.

” Yeah, I meant that ” She said and they both let out a laugh.

” I should go change then… ” She said slowly after the laugh died down and Shane nodded, biting his lips slowly.

She smiled once again before walking in while Shane let out a big sigh and his hands crawled up to his chest. His heart!

It’s beating so fast.

T B Ct