Chapter 3

Third POV

"What did I ever do to deserve getting stuck with such a bad drunk?" Rena spoke out loud, shaking her head in disbelief as she stared angrily at Corey.

"I know you think I’m crazy and possibly drunk, but I can assure you that I’m none of the above. In fact, I’ve never been more clear-headed in my entire life, and I mean what I just said, Rena. Would you like to marry me?" Corey repeated, fully aware that he sounded crazy but not caring at all.

"You do realize that you and I just met about ten minutes ago, and you’re already asking me to marry you, right?" Rena asked.

"I’m fully aware of that, and I understand it sounds absurd and maybe even disrespectful, but like I was gloating over earlier, I have a big problem, and I certainly think that getting married is the best solution to my problem. Now, the problem is that in order to get married, I need a wife, which is where you come in...," Corey was explaining, but Rena cut him off.

"And why do I have to come in? Listen, weirdo, I don’t know who the fuck you are or what the fuck your problem is, but you are really starting to get on my nerves right now. How about you just pretend like we never had this conversation and call it a night?" Rena hissed, unable to contain her disgust.

"Three million dollars," Corey blurted out, and Rena froze.

"I’ll pay you three million dollars, giving you a million in advance if you agree to marry me, Rena," he offered, and Rena could not believe her ears.

She had never heard of such an enormous amount of money in her entire life, and the fact that this weirdo in front of her was suddenly offering to pay her that much just wasn’t sitting right with her.

"You must have lost your damn mind, Sir. Who the fuck hurt you so much and got you so crazy? It’s embarrassing," she hissed, and Corey sighed.

"I’m gay, Rena. I’m a gay man, but sadly, my life is too perfect for such an imperfect choice. I need your help, and I’m willing to pay you as much as you want if you can agree to help me," he blurted out to an already confused Rena.

"First things first, what is so imperfect about being gay, and why would you want to marry me if you’re into men?" she asked.

"My family is extremely religious and very homophobic. I’m their only son, their perfect creation, and if they ever find out that I like men, they’ll disown me, and I’ll lose everything that I’ve worked for. Does it make sense to you now?" Corey answered.

Rena shook her head in understanding.

"Sad story, I guess, but why would you suddenly offer a marriage proposal to me? Someone you’ve barely known for half an hour? How are you so sure I’m trustworthy?" she questioned.

"Of course, I don’t know whether or not you’re trustworthy, but I’m desperate, so I’m willing to trust in the power of money. Three million dollars is a lot of money, and if you can agree to marry me for the duration of about two years, then all that money and the privilege of being my wife are yours to have," Corey replied, hoping that his response was enough to get her to consider his offer.

Rena stayed quiet, thinking about how to handle the insanity of everything she had just heard. The look in her eyes conveyed her desperation, and Corey knew that her vulnerability could work to his advantage.

Despite her attempts to resist, the allure of being paid three million dollars couldn't be easily dismissed, as it wasn’t an offer she could come across again at any point in time.

Deep down, Rena knew she couldn't reject his offer, but to avoid appearing even more desperate than she already was, she deliberated on her response, pretending to be lost in thought.

"Do you accept my offer?" Corey asked his tone a mixture of desperation and impatience.

"Easy there, buddy! You're not asking me to pretend to be your girlfriend; you're asking me to marry you. I need some time to consider it," she retorted sharply, reminding him of the gravity of the situation. His patience wore thin, and he sighed in frustration.

Rena sensed his desperation and knew she had only a few minutes to provide an answer.

"But first, I have a question," she blurted out, causing Corey to squint and tilt his head, visibly perplexed by the unexpected inquiry. Nevertheless, he encouraged her to continue.

"Go ahead," he urged.

"Do you already have a lover?" she asked, further confusing him as he hadn't anticipated such a direct question.

"Why does that matter?" he questioned, genuinely puzzled.

"It matters, big shot because I need to know what to expect," she replied, maintaining an enigmatic expression.

Although he failed to comprehend the significance of her query, he decided to satisfy her curiosity.

"Well, yes, I am currently seeing someone," he revealed, anticipating a surprise or at least a different reaction from Rena.

However, her expression remained unreadable.

Rena didn't want to appear pushy, but entering into a marriage with a complete stranger was not a decision she was willing to make without satisfying her curiosity first.

"Will he also live with us? Are the two of you going to continue seeing each other in our supposed home? How will it work between you two, and will I be bothered?" She asked, seeking clarity on the practical aspects of their arrangement.

Corey felt confused and uncomfortable. Shouldn't she have agreed to be his wife by now? Why was she asking so many seemingly irrelevant questions?

Was she intentionally wasting his time? These thoughts raced through his mind, and he grew increasingly eager to end the conversation.

"May I ask why you're posing all these unnecessary questions?" he inquired, attempting to maintain his composure despite his mounting frustration.

"Unnecessary questions? Really?" Rena scoffed, displaying clear irritation on her face.

"You're asking a total stranger like me to be your wife, and you think my questions are unnecessary?" He retorted, his voice tinged with boredom.

"Listen here, buddy. I need to know what to expect, so nothing catches me by surprise in the future. If I'm going to spend the next two years of my life with a man who will have no involvement with me, I need to brace myself for the worst. So, don't you dare dismiss my questions as an unnecessary big shot," she shot back sharply, her words laced with harshness.

Corey decided it was best not to say anything else that might further aggravate her.

"Alright then. I understand your concerns, and I'll provide you with all the information you need. Firstly, I must clarify that I have a partner with whom I currently live. This means that you'll be joining us in our shared space. However, rest assured that we'll each have separate bedrooms to maintain respect and boundaries," Corey explained, anticipating Rena's reaction.

Rena couldn't help but scoff at the idea. "I don't believe that arrangement diminishes the disrespect, but let's continue."

"We will lead separate lives. I won't intrude upon yours, and you won't intrude upon mine. Throughout our marriage, we'll strive to stay out of each other's way. Once our agreement is over, you can move on with your life, and I'll continue with mine," Corey elaborated, trying to simplify their arrangement.

'How bad could this really be?' Rena pondered to herself, realizing that having a gay billionaire husband who would shower her with all the money in the world might not be such a terrible idea.

It seemed like a situation that couldn't go wrong, as long as they both respected the terms of their agreement.

"When will the introduction take place?" Rena inquired, momentarily catching Corey off guard before he fully comprehended what she had just said.

"Wait, does this mean you accept?" he asked, seeking confirmation to ensure he hadn't misunderstood.

"Well, duh! Of course, I accept. Just let me know when you're ready to introduce me to your family, and I'll make sure to be available immediately," Rena responded, a sense of relief washing over Corey.

"Thank you so much, Rena!" Corey almost squealed with excitement, quickly reining himself in, mindful of their public setting.

"I can't express how grateful I am that you've agreed to be my wife," he blurted out, filled with gratitude. Rena chuckled in response.

"Believe me, big shot, I’ll be honored to be your wife. Just remember not to flaunt your love in my face once we're married. You should keep in mind that I'm your wife, and I have feelings too," she jokingly advised, trying to establish a friendly tone to avoid future awkwardness.

"I'll do my best to remember that," he replied with a light chuckle.

"It was really nice to meet you, future husband," Rena said, extending her hand for a handshake. Corey swiftly reciprocated, gently grasping her smaller hand in his.

"The pleasure is all mine, future wife."