Accidental Proposal (A Year Agreement Book 1) (3 page)

Chapter Three

I didn’t know that when I agreed to marry Liam, I would also be signing over my soul to the devil. A few days after I made the deal with him, a couple of big men came to my apartment around nine in the morning and started packing my things up. When I protested, they simply told me Mr. Stanford had paid them to come here and start gathering my stuff. They also mentioned that Liam wanted things to be mostly packed away by the end of the week. With it being Wednesday, that was practically impossible. Plus I didn’t want some random guys going through my stuff. After a few minutes of arguing with the movers, well of me mostly threatening them, they agreed to come back tomorrow. The moment they left, I grabbed some quarters and left my apartment. I headed to a payphone down the street, fully intending on giving Liam a piece of my mind.
Man, I really need to get a phone,
I thought to myself as I put in some quarters and dialed the gross buttons. The moment Liam answered, I started yelling.

“Liam Stanford, what were you thinking? You think you can send some random movers to my apartment and let them tell me I’m suddenly moving?”

“Jenna—” Liam started, but I cut him off.

“No, Liam, just because I agreed to be your fake wife does not mean you get to run my life! If you want me to move, you have to tell me directly. Now, why do you want me to move?” I ranted, pausing for a moment to hear his answer.

“You will be moving into my place with me.” His answer was curt and rude. “I will resend the movers there to give you boxes to pack, and by Friday morning they will be moving all your stuff into my place. I do not want your furniture, so bring only your clothes. Leave everything else in boxes. You will need to quit your job at the club. ‘My wife’ would never be seen working there.” There was a moment of silence, and I opened my mouth to protest, but he cut me off. “Oh, and Jenna…do not ever yell at me again.” His voice was hard. With that, he hung up on me. I pulled the phone away from my ear and stared down at it.

What the—

***

The movers were back at my apartment an hour later with boxes to pack my stuff in. After telling them I did not need any help, I sent them away. I sat on my couch and just stared at the wall. Moving, quitting my jobs—so far agreeing to marry Liam was not turning out the way I wanted. Since I didn’t have to work until two, I had a few hours before going to the diner. I started packing some of my things, beginning with the stuff in my bedroom, as I had the most stuff in there. I honestly didn’t have much, and not moving my bed or couch into Liam’s lessened the load.

About an hour and a half later, I sat on the floor with a few boxes all around me. My room looked practically bare, and I couldn’t help but sigh.

“How pathetic. I already packed almost all my bedroom stuff and my bathroom, and it only took five boxes to do so,” I said to myself. I left out the stuff I would need for the next two days, but the rest was already packed away. I guess when you didn’t have money or a real home, you didn’t need much to get by.
I may have to call Liam and have him bring the workers tomorrow instead of Friday.
Seeing the time, I got up and changed into my work uniform.

I wasn’t looking forward to saying goodbye to the few friends I’d made at both my jobs. I’d miss them more than the job itself. I didn’t even know what I was going to do when I was living with Liam, but I guessed I’d just have to find something to keep me occupied. I walked to Ruby’s, trying to think of the best way of telling Pete I was leaving.
After my shift, I will.
I nodded. That sounded like the best option. Walking through the front doors, I breathed in the smell of the diner one last time. The scents of grease and hamburgers filled my nose. I smiled and made my way to the counter to put my stuff away. Thankfully Sophia was working today, so I could tell her goodbye. I didn’t work tomorrow, and who knew when I would see her again, or if I’d see her at all after I left?

When I walked through the door, I saw almost all the tables were packed, with Sophia and the other two waitresses running around. Since it was practically lunch time, I quickly put my things away and grabbed my apron, tying it around my waist as I started helping at random tables. Seeing the diner packed like this was good, but I couldn’t help but wonder what would happen when I left. Would there be enough workers? Would Sophia have to work even more? Instead of dwelling on those thoughts, I pushed them aside and helped out the customers.

For the next hour or so, I was busy going from one table to another, then back to the kitchen. I knew it was weird, but I was going to miss working here. The customers were usually very nice and knew who I was. Even after the rush died down and it was only me, Sophia, and this new girl, Vanessa, sitting around, I kept putting off telling Sophia and Pete all afternoon.

“Jenna, are you okay? You’re quiet today,” Sophia said, standing in front me.

“It’s nothing,” I said, playing with my fingers.

“Jenna.” She had her hands planted on her hips as she stared at me. Sighing, I braced myself for her reaction.

“I am…quitting today,” I said, peeking up under my eyelashes at Sophia.

“Wait? What? Why?” she asked, her voice high.

“I…it’s a very long story.”

“Well, you’re in luck since we won’t be busy for a while. Spill. Now.” Her voice was hard. I nodded, knowing I had to tell her. After I told her the whole story, I waited in silence as she mulled over everything I said. “Wow…just wow.” I nodded in response. “So you’re telling me
the
Liam Stanford asked you to marry him, only for a year, and for a million dollars?”

“Yes. Wait, do you know Liam?” I asked, picking up on the way she said his name.

“Duh! Everyone knows who he is. He is New York’s most eligible bachelor and heartbreaker. He’s known for being a cruel businessman and an award-winning heartbreaker. He’s been with practically every model here and overseas. Come to think of it, I’ve never heard him being with someone longer than a week,” Sophia said.

“Soph, that’s not really helping,” I said, feeling a pit in the bottom of my stomach. Just by his looks I knew Liam had been with many women, but the way Sophia was talking about him I now knew he’d been with more girls than what was in the tri-state area.

“Sorry, but how do you not know who he is? He’s been on thousands of magazines, been on TV, even billboards.” I just shrugged at her. All my money went to paying my bills, not for magazines or a television. “Anyways, Jenna, you are nuts! How could you agree to marrying him when you don’t even know him?” she all but shrieked at me.

“I know, I know, but Soph, I need the money. I wasn’t thinking clearly.”

“Clearly you weren’t,” she interjected.

“But, it’s too late to back out. And besides, who’s going to get hurt? I do not plan on falling for this guy. I know he’s attractive,” I explained, putting my hand up to stop whatever she was going to say and continued, “but from what I’ve seen and heard from you, he isn’t my type. I don’t do men who break women’s hearts for fun. Plus, I do not plan on falling in love ever, so I think I’ll be fine.”

“Jenna, I mean this in the nicest way possible…you are stupid. You are not going to make it out of this deal unscathed. You are going to end up hurt, and you’ve already been hurt enough.” I tried to protest, but she stopped me. “I am not saying I am not going to be there for you the whole way, because I will. I’m just saying that you need to brace yourself for what may happen. Life isn’t a fairytale. Not every princess ends up with a prince. I think this is a terrible idea, but I can see you are determined about this, so I won’t try to convince you otherwise. If you ever need anything, just know I will always be here, okay?” she said, coming around the counter and pulling me into a big hug. I hugged her in return, thankful she had my back. I knew everything she said was probably true, but for now, I decided to ignore it.

After my shift, I went and told Pete I was quitting. When I apologized for the sudden notice, he simply pulled me in for a hug and told me if I ever wanted to come back, there would always be a spot for me. Trying not to tear up, I hugged him back and thanked him for everything. He told me to come by in a week for my paycheck and to also check in every once in a while. After one last goodbye to him and the other waitresses, I left. Sophia made me promise to get a cell phone right away and to give her my number when I came for my paycheck. We also made plans to meet up the following week.

As I walked home, I tried not to think about how much my life was changing. Once I got there, which was around eight that night, I decided to pack some more, since I had already eaten at the diner. I didn’t have to work at the club tonight, so I planned on going in tomorrow after my shift and telling Teddy and Candy. It was pretty sad, how fast it took me to finish packing everything I owned. I didn’t have any packing tape to tape the boxes, so if I needed anything in the next two days I could easily get it. After I had finished packing the last box, I looked around the apartment. Ten or eleven boxes total. The place seemed empty, even though the furniture was still here.

Since I was done packing, I was in for the night. I headed to the bathroom, undressed, and started the shower, waiting for it to get warm. I stared at myself in the mirror and almost squirmed. I wasn’t the prettiest person out there. My blonde hair hung limply down in my face, and my green eyes were dull and almost lifeless, with big bags under them. My body wasn’t spectacular either. I had round hips, and my thighs touched each other. My stomach was flat but only because sometimes I forgot to eat or couldn’t afford to. I had a small scar on the top of my eyebrow from when I ran into a pole at school. All in all, I wasn’t that easy on the eyes.

Jumping into the shower, I washed my hair and body and got out. I didn’t want to waste too much water. After drying myself off, I got dressed in my comfy PJs and let my hair air dry. I crawled into my bed, grabbing my current book in the process. I spent the rest of the night reading and trying not to over think what I was doing with Liam.

***

I woke up the next morning around eight. About an hour later, the moving guys were back. Seeing as I was basically already packed, I asked one of the men if I could borrow their cell phone.
Note to self: Get cell phone as soon as possible.
I didn’t realize how much I needed a phone until recently. Thankfully, the guy let me use his phone, and I dialed Liam’s number. After a couple of rings, he picked up.

“Hello,” his deep voice answered. Just the sound sent shivers down my spine.

“Hi, Liam. It’s Jenna,” I replied.

“Oh yes. Is there something you need?”

“Yes, I was wondering if you wanted me to move in today? I have all my stuff packed up already, and the movers are here.”

“That would be fine. The movers know where to go. I will try to be there when you get there. What’s the number I can call to let you know if I won’t be there?” he asked.

“I, uh, I don’t have a cell phone,” I said, embarrassed.

“Okay, fine. I have to go, see you soon,” was all he said as he hung up. Shaking my head, I turned and handed it back to the mover.

“Liam said you guys can move me into his apartment today,” I told them. They nodded and asked where the boxes were.

“My bedroom. I don’t have any tape, though.”

“That’s fine. We have some,” the mover, whose phone I borrowed, said. They were quiet and quick as they followed me into my room and started taping up my boxes. They seemed pretty confused and surprised that I had so little. I remembered I still had to talk to the landlord, which I had completely forgotten about. I told the movers I would be right back.

My landlord was a slightly overweight lady in her late sixties. She always seemed pretty nice. I hoped it wouldn’t be too complicated, getting out of my lease early. Feeling nervous as I walked downstairs and to her door, I hesitantly knocked. She answered a minute later.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Mrs. Whitman. I’m Jenna Howard from apartment 5B,” I said.

“Oh hi, hon. What can I do you for?” she asked, opening the door and gesturing for me to enter. Smiling politely at her, I walked into her apartment and followed her to her couch.

“I know this a lot to ask, but I was wondering if I could get out of my lease early?” I still had about three months left, so I was hoping she would let me.

“Oh why’s that, dear?”

“I…I have a sudden family emergency, and I am moving back home today,” I lied. “I know it’s so sudden. And you don’t have to worry about the money for the lease or the rest of this month’s rent. The apartment is just how it was when I moved in and has furniture all in it.”

“Oh, I am so sorry to hear that, honey. I hope everything is okay. But yes, that’s all right. I know how important family is. I can give you back your deposit for the apartment. That isn’t a big deal,” she said kindly. I almost breathed out a sigh of relief, thankful she was going to let me get out of my lease. “I can give you that money in a week or so.”