Alice slept off at the back of the car while Lisa held her hand, stroking her hair.
"Are you okay back there?" Liam asked as he drove.
"Yes sure" Lisa responded
"I hope you had a great evening," he said.
Lisa smiled silently and muttered a soft yes. Actually he was the one who made her have a wonderful night, the hours passed so fast when they texted shortly at the club.
She did not know if she trusted him fully but at that moment, he made her feel butterflies in her tummy. For a short while, she felt like she could warm up to him fully.
They pulled over at Lisa's house, Alice was already awake by then .
"Yo Lisa, you'll find me inside" Alice spoke, her voice sounded semi worried. She did not want her friend hurt by anyone, but she walked inside to give them some space, leaving Lisa and Liam alone in the night.
The awkwardness and cold breeze surrounded the two, a tingling feeling struck Lisa. She looked at Liam with a half gaze, and admired him in all his glory.
"I guess this is good night," she said . Lisa admired Liam, but with how her life was at the moment, she did not want a man near her. Tony was her love and her everything. She tried not to resist Liam by all means.
"Yes, I guess it is," he replied.
The space between them closed slowly, she could feel his warm breath fanning on her face and his enchanting cologne. For a minute all she wanted was to slam her lips against his. Looking at the gorgeous human in front of her.
He gave her a small hug, and a kiss on the forehead. The temptation and urge to kiss Lisa was strong, he tried his best to resist. He didn't want to seem like he's taking advantage of her. especially that she was a little tipsy. He wanted to take care of her and protect her.
He cupped her cheeks and gave her a soft kiss on the forehead.
Lisa was semi disappointed that he couldn't reach out and kiss him, but she resisted the urge to hold him and kiss him like there is no tomorrow . Burying every little bit of emotions she felt for him.
They said their goodbyes and he drove off
She could still feel his lips lingering on her forehead, they felt soft and plum.
***
The next day, Lisa woke up with a cheerful heart. She set off to open her new fashion and jewelry shop at the mall with the money she had left.
She set up posters, flyers. Making sure everything goes well.
As she was moving the staff into the shop, she ran into Melanie, Tony's bride to be.
"You look a mess, you now got a job at the mall? See, Without my soon to be husband, Tony. you are useless" Melanie mocked Lisa while she batted her eyes.
"At least I don't get to depend on a man for everything, unlike you" Lisa spat.
With a taunting look, Melanie scanned through the shop, "This is trash, who would even buy any of these trashy things."
"Look if you want to buy something, you are welcome. Otherwise you know the exit!" She spoke bluntly. She did not want to entertain Melanie at all.
"What brings you here Melanie? You're not welcome here !" Alice grunted.
"Easy my sweet and innocent sister, I just came to pick a jewelry piece for my wedding, which you are clearly not invited to. But unfortunately I stumbled upon this old fashioned shop" Melanie mocked Lisa.
"Old fashioned? The only old fashioned thing here is you and your smudged lipstick" Lisa shot back.
She wasn't going to let Melanie get to her, especially after everything she has been through lately because of her and her ex husband.
Shortly Liam styles walked in the shop with his personal assistant.
"(gasps) Mr styles! I'm such a big fan of your works, can you sign an autograph-" Melanie was cut short.
"Thank you miss, but I don't have time right now, uhm Frank can you check the new owners for this shop" he asked his assistant.
"Sure sir" Frank responded. Before he could walk towards Alice. Lisa spoke.
"Uhm that would be me sir" she waved at Liam styles as she overheard their conversation.
"Hi Lisa, wow you're the one who bought this shop? congratulations my dear" he smiled.
"yes sir" she blushed sheeply.
Melanie's face fumed with anger, jealousy was written all over her face. She couldn't believe Lisa had bought the shop, she knew how expensive it was to get a shop in town, let alone from Liam styles. Most people fail to even afford the rent. Let alone buy a single store from him and his business partners.
She stomped out of the store angrily.
"Mr. Styles, you work within this building?" Lisa asked.
"Yes and no, it's complicated," he answered sheeply. "Lisa, can I have a word with you?"
"That's great, uhm okay give me a minute" Lisa excused herself and the two went to a nearby coffee shop In the mall.
"I know we just knew each other and all, but I would like to interest you with an offer," he said with his hands crossed like a businessman.
"An offer? What kind of offer sir" she questioned.
" I want you to marry me. Be my bride- but we can only stay together for a year. I am about to lose a very huge share in my business to my rivals and my father expects me to have a bride before the end of this week . He expects an heir, which I don't have so if I have a bride, I have chances of keeping my company. If not, I'll lose every single thing I own to my mischievous and irresponsible brother, Zac."
He explained.
"Afterwards we can divorce and I'll pay you a billion as compensation, here is the contract"
He said.
"A contract marriage? But why me? We hardly know each other" she responded.
"Trust me, here are the contract papers as proof. I am in need of a bride before this week ends. Your only role is to pretend to be my wife for a while, with business meetings and-" he explained. "It will strictly be business, think about this Lisa".
"But- but- I don't understand, why me? Why so sudden?" She questioned.
"Because you're perfect for this, you're the right person to help me get all my business deals back and more, I need your help to get it all back, but you can think about this. You'd be doing me a huge favor if you agreed. Trust me." His eyes were beaming with sadness, like he was vulnerable.
"Can I trust him? This would be a good way to get my revenge against my ex husband and his silly wife, but a contract marriage?" Lisa thought to herself.
"I don't know, this is so sudden for me. But let me think about it" she answered, breaking the sudden silence.
She looked at Mr Liam styles, she could see a vulnerable man in need of her help.
Though she felt like she owed him for saving her life, Lisa wanted to help Liam. Not only because he needed help, but because She owed him, she would have been dead by now if he never came to save her.
She pulled a small smile and looked at Liam.
"I'll have to think about it," she said firmly.
"Okay, Think about it Lisa, please" with that, he got up and handed the contract papers in her hands. He walked away leaving his fragrance around her.
"I owe him my life…" she murmured silently.
Liam style's pov
"Astonished by her confidence, her fragrance and boldness, I watched as she glanced at me with a questioning eye.
I wasn't expecting a yes towards my offer nor was I expecting a no because we hardly know each other so well, I just hope she saves me from this tragedy" Liam thought, as he played with his pen behind the office chair.
His assistant Frank, typing down models for the company as usual.
"But sir, what happens if she denies, our whole legacy will fall down and you know our rivals won't be easy on you.
Everyone expects you to have a wife, an empress as soon as possible" he exclaimed.
"I don't know (sighs), I can only hope she agrees." With that, he stood and walked out the thick mahogany door.
As he walked into the elevator, he saw a face he didn't expect to see. Lisa.
"I stared at her mesmerizing bright eyes, my eyes traced down her pink lips so full and plum." my mind buzzing my thoughts .I cleared my throat in panic before she noticed me drooling over her like a fool.
"Hi Mr styles, how are you? I was coming to your office" Lisa smiled.
"Okay uh I was just going to check some stuff but I am not busy. Let's go take a seat in my office" I mumbled, not trying to sound anxious.
"Okay"
She followed him behind, admiring his tall frame and masculinity.
They walked to the office, Frank had already left.
"I watched as Lisa moved so gracefully towards the chair, every step she took seemed like she's moving on a cloud." I thought. "Why am I having these thoughts" he muttered
"Did you say something?" She asked.
"Oh- uhm it's nothing." He responded.
"I thought about your offer, I read through everything and I have decided to accept it. But- Under one condition" she said, as her confidence oozed out.
"Tell me" I muttered, not wanting to sound desperate because I am. I could feel my palms sweaty, I needed Lisa to fully commit to the contract.
"You'd have to give me all the fair shares and stick to your word. I don't know exactly why you chose me of all people but I'll be your bride. Well, I will pretend to be your bride- at least that's how I can summarize it" . Lisa responded.
A smile beamed on my face, my whole world saved in seconds.
"Anything for you Lisa, you have my word."
LISA'S POV
I could feel my heart beating against my chest, my palms sweaty. Wondering if this is my biggest mistake or my greatest decision.
With my thirst for vengeance against my ex husband and his filthy mistress. I keep my eyes on the goal, to crash his business and his career .
"Let's start the preparations, we shouldn't waste a second" Liam spoke, as serious as he could. No hint of emotion on his face.
****
News broke out so fast about their wedding
A business tycoon, a bachelor, the man every woman in the city thirsts for weds.
"BUSINESS TYCOON AND BILLIONAIRE LIAM STYLES WEDS LISA-"
***
Meanwhile Tony and Melanie were doing their wedding preparations, as Melanie scrolled through her phone. A notification popped up. It was none other than Lisa and Liam's wedding announcement.
"What?! That brat is marrying a billionaire? And am stuck with this Tony guy with barely a billion to spare, how dare she! I'll have to destroy her" she spat.
Tony walked in the room and saw Melanie pacing back and forth in her wedding dress, a gown so big and luxurious.
"What's the matter?" Tony asked.
"Look, Your ex wife is getting married. To your business rival" she said, trying her level best to hurt and taunt him. "Someone just tipped me that they're going to bring your company down, she will be powerful and unstoppable."
"What!" Tony fumed withanger. "She's broke, how can she even afford to get where she is, she obviously stole from me."
"Yes my love, Alice told me that she saw Lisa with your late mother's Jewels before leaving the house." She lied.
Tony fumed with rage and stormed out of the room.
He walked out to the backyard and called Lisa's number. He never thought he would be this angered with this news.
He called several times till she picked up on the fifth ring.
"What the hell is this? You're now a whore jumping from one man to another? It's barely been a week and you're marrying another man" he yelled. "Worse, you stole from me! From my own mother! I'll get you arrested this second."
"Excuse me, aren't you supposed to have a wedding right now? you're pathetic, and I never stole a thing from you." Lisa spat.
"So I'm a liar now? You'll see the worst of me," Tony groaned.
"I am neither a whore nor a thief." Lisa hung up.
"How dare she hang up on me!!" Tony fumed with rage.
Lisa knew she struck a nerve. Tony had a bad temper, his disrespect towards her, the pointless accusations. Lisa had enough of his games.
"You will pay for everything" she muttered as she stared into the mirror. Reflecting on every moment he hurt her.