The office was quiet now, only the faint hum of the air conditioner and the ticking of the wall clock filling the space. I sat stiffly on the chair across from Jamal's polished desk, clutching my notebook like a lifeline.
He leaned back, fingers steepled. That same calm, calculating look was back in his dark eyes, but there was something softer behind it now, almost like curiosity, or maybe… interest.
"I've been thinking about your situation," he said finally, voice measured. "The challenges you're facing… they're bigger than a single paycheck can solve."
I felt my stomach twist. How did he know? I hadn't told him anything — not the loan sharks, not my father's illness, not the worry gnawing at me day and night.
"You don't have to answer now," he continued. "But I have a proposal. Something… unusual."
I blinked. Unusual didn't even begin to cover it.
He leaned forward, elbows on the desk. "I can help your family. I can settle the debts, cover the business loans, and give you financial stability."
My mouth went dry. "I… I don't understand."
"Understand this," he said, voice calm but firm. "I need someone to marry me. Legally. Temporarily. Six months. No love. No expectations. Just a contract to satisfy certain… obligations."
I stared.
He was serious.
"Y-you want me… to marry you?" My voice was barely audible.
"Yes." He shrugged lightly, like he was offering me tea instead of a proposal that would change my life. "It's a short-term arrangement. You get your family's debts cleared. I get what I need to secure my business. Everybody wins."
I shook my head, incredulous. "I… I can't. That's impossible."
"It's not impossible," he said. "It's pragmatic. And from what I've seen today, you're smart, capable… and adaptable. You can do this."
I looked at him, trying to read if this was a test, a joke, or something worse. But there was no humor in his face. Only calm determination.
"Why me?" I asked, voice small. "Why not someone else?"
He smiled faintly — almost a smirk. "Because I've seen how you handle pressure. You don't break. You adapt. And you're not afraid to face challenges head-on. That's rare."
I swallowed. My heart was racing. Part of me wanted to run, to scream, to tell him this was insane. But another part… another part realized that this might be the only way to save my family.
"I…" I hesitated. "I need to think."
"Of course," he said. "But remember: this isn't just about money. It's about survival. And timing is critical."
I left his office in a daze, the echo of his words ringing in my ears: "I need someone to marry me."
Outside, the Lagos sun was setting, painting the skyline in golds and oranges. I hugged my bag to my chest, taking deep breaths.
Abigail was waiting for me at the street corner, tapping her foot impatiently. "Well? Well? Did you die in there?"
"I… I don't know what just happened," I muttered.
She tilted her head, suspicious. "Spill."
I hesitated, then told her everything, the proposal, the contract, the fact that it was Jamal Yusuf making the offer.
Abigail's jaw dropped. "Are you kidding me? The Jamal Yusuf? Billionaire CEO? Lagos' golden boy? And he wants you?"
"I don't know if I should say yes," I whispered, panic creeping in again. "It's… it's weird. Dangerous. Unreal."
"You're kidding yourself," Abigail said firmly. "It's exactly what you need. You get your family saved, and it's only six months. Girl, this is destiny knocking!"
I sighed, unsure. Destiny or disaster?