"What?"
"You have to get married within the next three months."
"Three months" he repeated "why do I have to get married?"
"Well, I don't want you to ruin the company's reputation,  because once you become the owner of the company with past and present records with women, I doubt my investors would want to continue investing in the company, so as a result, you as a result, you have an ultimatum of three months from this date, after which I will withdraw my proposal." He glanced at his watch and turned.
"Oh, I have an appointment and I have to go , it's been a pleasure speaking with you Mr. Carter. Do think of my proposal and call me when you're ready. Good day." He walked away leaving Calvin speechless.

       ********************************
   Calvin sighed and picked up the telecom on his office table. "Miss Willson would you please come into my office."
"Yes sir", came the silky voice on the other side of the phone.
In the next few minutes, Cassie knocked and entered.
"Take a seat."
"Yes sir."
After taking her seat, Cassie looked at her boss waiting for the next orders. Mr. Carter looked at her and began, his voice was cold.
"Miss Willson, I have a job for you , if you can suck, I am willing to pay you three million dollars."
"What is the job sir." Cassie was almost dump founded, Mr. Carter was a good boss but he never over paid his employees.
"I want you to find me three eligible women for me to pick as my wife within the next 6 weeks. They have to be women with good past record, beautiful, have a stable job and most importantly, not expect any love from me."
"How can you expect me to find a wife for you?, I happen not to work in a match making company in case you noticed, and a woman is supposed to marry for love and not for money or whatever you have to offer."
Calvin signed inwardly, he should have expected this.
"Just think about my offer and give me your answer within the next three days, you may leave."

    *********************************
"What does Mr. Carter think I am, a money craver? I can't believe he actually asked me to find a wife for him, what woman would get married without love?" Angry thoughts ran through Cassie mind as she went home.
  On getting home she met her mother in the kitchen as usual, preparing dinner for both of them.
"Hi mom" looking really closely, she saw that her mother looked quite pale.
"Oh, welcome dear, how was work."
"The usual, what's for dinner?"
"Toasted eggs and bacon, go change and I'll set the table."
"Ok."
Cassie got changed and was just entering the dinning room when she saw her mother fall to the ground and collapse.
"Help!"
    
        ***************************
"Miss Willson, your mother is stable but she won't be for long . She has been diagnosed with an atrial septal defect, also known as a hole in the heart and of you really want your mother to stay alive, you'll have to provide the sum of  1.5 million dollars for an immediate surgery and you have to do that fast. Three days is as much as we can do for her without a surgery." The doctor told Cassie the morning after her mother was rushed in.
"Thank you sir, I'll see what I can do" she stood up and left the office. On getting out, she phoned Mr. Carter's receptionist and told her that she would not be at work that day. She headed to the bank to see if she could get a loan after checking on her mother who was still unconscious.
   
       **************************
"Have you seen Miss Willson today Ms. Miranda?" Calvin asked the receptionist.
"No sir, but she gave a call to inform me that she wouldn't be at work today. She said that she had to be somewhere urgently."
"Very well, did she tell you when she would be back?"
"She said she might not make it Tomorrow."
"Thank you." Calvin walked back to his office.
Back in his office, Calvin wondered what had made Cassie miss work. He missed her face. He wanted to see her long wavy hair again. She had not let it down at work ever since the day he had yelled at her. Was she absent because of the task he had asked to undertake? Shit! He hoped she had not stopped working for him. He just couldn't imagine a day at work without Cassie. She had a lot to answer when she got back.

         **************************
Cassie looked at her mother who had just fallen asleep. Her face was almost white and it was obvious that she was still in pain. The bank had refused her request for a loan. There was only one option left, - she had to accept Mr. Carter's offer. She could make it work, after all Mr. Carter was always seen with models and actresses right? As far as he had money, a lot of them would grab the opportunity to marry him.
       And so, mind decided, Cassie tucked her mother's hair behind her ear, whispered a "good night into her ears, close her eyes and let her worry drift away in a peaceful slumber. Tomorrow was going to be a very big day.