It took some time before Calvin's words actually sunk into Cassie head and registered in her mind. Cassie's mind was in turmoil. What had she gotten herself into? She instantly regretted taking up Calvin's offer of finding a wife. If he had been a normal guy who believed in love, then she probably would have married him, but his most important condition was that the bride was not to expect love. Cassie knew deep down that she was gradually falling in love with Calvin so she tried to think of ways to stifle her feelings towards him. That wasn't the most pressing problem though.- How was she going to explain to her mom that she was marrying a man she barely knew in exchange for the money for her treatment and further checkups? She couldn't just walk up to her mum and say.
"Hey mum! I'm getting married to my boss in exchange for the money for your treatments and check - ups. Could you bless the marriage?"
   This was a royally messed up shit of a situation.
  

    ************************
Calvin had almost reached the interconnecting door that separated their offices when Cassie ran towards him. She stood in front of him, making sure to put enough distance between them and with face flushed with anger and embarrassment asked him
"With all due respect sir, are you out of your fucking mind?"
Calvin replied with all seriousness
"No."
  Cassie's strength was drained. She wasn't used to staying angry. She looked at Calvin and calmly told him.
  "Sir, my mother just had a heart surgery and I can't afford to give her a heart attack by telling her that I'm getting married for money. She'll be quite disappointed."
  
    Seeing the broken and helpless look on Cassie's face, Calvin nearly told her there and then he had fallen hopelessly in love with her, but he held back. He couldn't fully comprehend this woman who stood in front of him so he simply shrugged and changed the topic.
    "How about you get to know my family. I know my mother will welcome you wholeheartedly and my sister will be pleased to meet you, that is, whenever she can take time off from modelling, beauty spas and men."
  At the statement Cassie's mind immediately diverted away from her mother. She hadn't even thought about meeting Calvin's family at all knowing fully well that it was a rich family unlike hers', she hoped that his mother would not see her as a low life cheat who was in her son's life just for his money. If she was worried about how to tell her mother that she was getting married, now she was miserable.

   ********************
  Calvin saw the look of fear pass Cassie's face before disappearing as she turned and walked away from him to stare out the window. He immediately regretted speaking. Speaking of which he still hadn't asked her why she took the contract. Although the reason was quite obvious, he still wanted to be sure.
   "Why did you take this contract Ms. Wilson?" He asked in a cool voice.
  Cassie looked down at her palms and answered totally truthfully for the first time without holding back anything.
  "To save my mother from dying. Unfortunately, that has led me here and I have no idea how to inform her that I'm getting married."
Calvin smiled and said to himself.
    "That's won't be a problem."