Chapter 4: A New Deal

A tempest gathering in his cold blue eyes, John's gaze wavered between her and the debt collector who was drawing near. He hissed, his voice cold. "Explain," he said. Marie forced herself to look him in the eye and straightened her shoulders. "This man represents the debt I was drowning in before...before I met you," she said, her voice quivering a little. She gave an explanation of the bakery, the death of her parents, and the unbearable weight of the debts. She spoke of her desperation and the bizarre advertisement that had brought her to John's door. John's expression remained inscrutable as she talked. The debt collector's charge seemed to recede, giving way to a tense stillness that weighed heavily on Marie. After she was done, she stood there, ready to face the inevitable no. John finally said something, sounding very composed. "So, you entered this arrangement under false pretenses?" With a cracked voice, Marie said, "I needed a way out." "I wouldn't have done it if there wasn't another option." John fixed his unreadable look on her for what seemed like an interminable moment. Then he turned to face the debt collector, shocking her. He questioned, "How much does she owe?" in a tone that would not back down. The guy stuttered the number, startled by John's imposing appearance. John took out a platinum credit card from his pocket. "Take this," he said in a forceful but frigid tone. "Pay down the whole loan. And please don't trouble her ever again." The debt collector's eyes widened in shock, and he hastily took the card and ran off. John faced Marie once again, his expression a blank mask. "There," he murmured in a hurried voice. "The obligation has been paid off. Please pardon me now; I need to get a drink." He turned and left, leaving Marie frozen in place with a whirlwind of contradicting feelings circulating through her. The pain of his abrupt departure clashed with gratitude for his unannounced intervention. He seemed cold and indifferent in his reaction, even though she had revealed everything, baring her soul. Marie inhaled deeply and made herself follow John. With a tumbler of amber liquid flowing in his palm, he stood near the bar. He turned as she got closer, his eyes icy. "Do you have anything else you want to tell me, Mrs. Kings?" With a sarcastic tone, he posed the question. With defiant flashes in her own eyes, Marie answered his stare. "John," she spoke in a stern voice, "I may have come into this arrangement out of desperation, but that doesn't take away from the work I've put in." I think I held my own tonight. For a brief while, the air was thick with anxiety. Then she was surprised to see a glimmer of respect appear in John's eyes. He indicated the vacant chair next to him. "Sit," he said in a rough voice. Uncertain of what to anticipate, Marie took a careful seat. After taking a deep sip of his beverage, John sighed and put down his glass. "You're right," he eventually said, his normally icy tone gone. "You did a fantastic job on your part tonight. And I'm grateful for it." A glimmer of hope flickered within Marie. Though he sounded indifferent, the tension had subsided. With hesitation in her voice, she questioned, "But what about the rest of it?" "The agreement, our…arrangement." John reclined in his chair and looked away. His voice was low as he said, "Let's just say the circumstances have changed." We'll have to have new talks." Marie felt her heart race in her chest. This was not how things were supposed to go. "Renegotiate" what did he mean by that? Was there any possibility that this atypical union would succeed? With a spark of something inscrutable in his blue eyes, John caught her gaze. "We'll discuss it tomorrow," he stated in a rough voice. "For now, enough surprises for one night." John then turned away, leaving Marie to deal with the broken façade's ruins and the glimmer of hope for an unimaginable future. Long shadows thrown by the early light highlighted the stark richness that suddenly seemed a little bit oppressive in the opulent bedroom. Marie laid in bed, thinking about what had happened the night before. John's enigmatic comment about "renegotiating" rang in her ears, making her feel both anxious and hopeful at the same time. At last, she stood up, the thick silk sheets gently caressing her skin. It seemed oddly silent in the penthouse. John had already departed, leaving behind just a brief message that said, "Meet me in my office at 10. J." on the nightstand. The morning flew by with a flurry of excitement. Instead of doing her regular shift at the bakery, Marie skipped it out of tense anticipation. At exactly ten in the morning, she spotted John standing by the window with his back to her. "Good morning," she hesitantly murmured. John turned, his face flashing with an unreadable suggestion. "Marie," with a gesture toward a chair across from his desk, he acknowledged. With hesitation in her voice, Marie replied, "You said we needed to...renegotiate." "What did you have in mind?" John curled his fingers and sat back in his chair. He said rather clearly, "The original agreement is null and void." Marie felt her heart skip a beat. Was this entire farce about to end? Relief was tempered by an unexpected twinge of letdown. John went on, sensing her response. But, he said in a gentler tone, "I suggest a new arrangement." Curious, Marie arched an eyebrow. "A new one?" John gave a nod. "I don't need a wife for symbolic reasons. I need someone I can put my faith in. Someone sincere." "Look, I haven't exactly been forthcoming about this whole thing," he blurted out after pausing for a while. The fact is, however, that my parents were putting pressure on me to have an heir, and..... His typical stoicism broke for a minute as he drifted off. Beneath his cold demeanor, Marie had a glimpse of the guy he kept concealed from the world a flash of vulnerability. "And?" she asked respectfully. John inhaled deeply. "And I would not have married the person they picked out for me. The purpose of the whole plan was to buy myself some time." He fixed her with a look and a firmer tone. However, it doesn't alter the fact that I need assistance from someone. Someone with actual morals, someone who is grounded and capable of handling themselves in public." Marie couldn't resist grinning. "So, you're offering me a job?" John laughed, a rare sound that made the otherwise cold workplace seem more comfortable. "Not quite. Consider it more akin to a collaboration. You support me through the family strife, the social scene, and maybe even provide some objective guidance." He halted, staring straight ahead. "But in return, I pay off your debt completely and help you pursue your dream of opening a bakery." Marie caught her breath. She was unable to turn down this offer. Her ambition of owning a bakery had looked like an unattainable dream, but with John's riches, it may come true. More to the point, however, she connected with John in some way. His public persona was disintegrating, exposing a guy who was alone, overburdened with expectations, and maybe even a bit lost.