Chapter 3

"I can’t believe it,she really blocked your cards.You're really in a real mess, bro." Said Jack, making fun of William,when they got into his car.

"It's not funny."

William had called his mother and she had confirmed that she had really cut off his bank cards until further notice.She was really serious then compared to what she had told him the day before.He had not no more cash on him, he had called his best friend to help him out.

"Sorry. And why did she do that?"

William recounted his discussion with his mother in great detail.

"And what do you plan to do now?"

"Honestly, I do not know."

"You know you can always rely on me right ?If I can help,tell me."

"I know bro."

Then the journey was made in silence. ….

*

This was the second time she found herself without a job.Soon she would no longer be able to pay her rent or perhaps survive in a big city like Beverly Hills. This Mr. Adams was a bastard as she said he had made her fired.

Flashback

"Miss MONTENEGRO,Mr. Adams complained about your behavior towards him. You insulted him as he said so well. Do you know who he is? He is one of our VIP clients and he is not just anyone." Said Martins Blake.

"I’m sorry sir." That will teach me how to keep my tongue in my mouth.Said Linda to herself within.

" It's not a matter of sorry,it was your first day normally you should have kept a low profile,there are complicated and difficult clients you just need to know how to keep your self-control.Sorry to tell you that but we are going to fire you."

Linda's heart leapt in her chest,was this a joke?

"Please sir this won’t happen again."

"Sorry but it’s sir Adams order."

Mr. Adams? He was the one who asked for her to be fired.

"I understand and thank you for the opportunity you gave me."

"It was a pleasure."

Back to the present

What was she going to do now? She had no plan B. She had already been unemployed for two weeks.She was tired of lying to her parents that everything was fine.That's all opposite. "Activate your brain Linda." She shouted alone in her studio.

Suddenly an idea popped into her mind.

"But yes !" She shouted again and she got up from her bed.

"And if I apologize maybe he would forgive me and talk to Mr. Blake to get me back.You can do it Linda it doesn't cost anything." Said Linda while pacing.

"And here I am speaking alone,am I really despaired at that point? She said,sinking into her bed agonizing over her fate.

The next day

“Please, I’m looking for Mr. Adams."

The security guard was scaring her,he looked like a statuette,he didn't even move. The day before she had done some research on this famous Adams,he came from a rich family,no wonder he was so arrogant and pretentious.It was on the internet that’s where she found out where he lived.

"Hey oh! Can you answer me?I'm not a journalist. I have to see him,it's really important for me." He stared at her without saying anything. Linda couldn't blame him; he was only doing his job.Suddenly another security guard came join them.

"What is she looking for?" He asks his colleague.

"She’s looking for sir." Replied the security guard whom Linda was trying to draw out information,so he knew how to speak yet he was silent.

"Please can you help me?" She asked the second security guard.He looked at her before answering.

"Why are you looking, sir?"

"Sorry but it’s private."

"Aren’t you one of his opportunists pursuing sir?"

"None of that, believe me."

"What proves that I can believe in you?"

"Look your boss got me fired from my working place,I just want to talk to him so he can talk to my boss to take me back on." She replied despaired.

"I see, I will help you."

"Ok thanks I would appreciate your help."

"My boss don’t no longer lives here,from what I have heard he lives with his friend now."

"And where does this friend live?"

"I honestly don't know. But he has a gym in town, you can go there and ask."

"Can I have the address?" She asks,taking out a notebook and a pen from her bag.

"Yes it’s Blueprint Fitness."

"Thank you very much you saved my life."

"But let this stay between us,if he finds out I will be fired.” Linda knew what it felt like to be fired,she wasn't going to spill the beans.

"Promise this will stay between us."

She was going to try her luck another time. At least she knew where to find him, she still had plenty of time to prepare her apology speech.

*

A few days later a Saturday morning was getting ready to go to the gym.She knew that most people went to a gym on the weekends and that with ninety percent he might be there too,it was obvious that a man well-built as him practiced abs and sports. Her plan was to register as a client to easily infiltrate. Arriving at her destination,Linda scanned the building,it was too chic and luxurious place for her.Then she swallowed her spit before going inside. It was exactly as she had imagined it,the interior was very attractive and well equipped.Could she afford a session with her tight budget?It will be better for her to convince him,because she didn't have time to look for another job and the other one was well paid.

"Hello! Please I would like to sign up for a session." She said to the receptionist who was at the front desk.

"Hello ma'am!That will make you $150 please."

Wow,she knew it.

"Ok"

"Please fill out this form." The receptionist replied,giving her a paper and a pen.

After filling out the form she returned it to her with her credit card.

"Thank you ma'am! My colleague will show you the place and if you need anything Don't hesitate.I wish you a pleasant time in our gym." She said with a exaggerating smile. Linda laughed at herself inwardly,it was obvious that it was a forced smile with her failed facelift.

"Follow me please." Said her colleague,indicating her to follow her.At least this one seemed a little bit natural. During the visit, while the hostess gave her a guided tour,Linda had her mind elsewhere she glanced everywhere to be able to spot him,he was nowhere.Or was he not coming?She would be disappointed if that was the case.

"We are done with the visit ma'am."

Linda came back to reality and thanked her. After she left,Linda headed to the locker room to drop off her belongings. Standing on the treadmill,she still glancing around the room to see if he was already there.

"Calm down Linda,it’s only 9am." She said to herself quietly after looking at the time on her watch.

An hour later, Linda spotted him from the bay window overlooking the parking lot.

"Well, it wasn't too soon dear Mr. Adams, you kept me waiting." She had to stop talking to herself because people would think she was crazy,she finally told herself.

A few minutes later,he finally enter the room. The girls had already started giggling when they saw him, if only they could know that there was nothing so handsome about him. And with them around It would be difficult to see him in private.She would have to wait. Finally they ended up leaving him,Linda saw him heading towards the locker room,then he came back later and started lifting the weights. Without wasting more time,she headed towards him,after inhaling and exhaling.

"Hello Mr. William,do you remember me?"

William had immediately recognized her. How could he forget her? She had told him what no woman had dared tell him.And he secretly admired her for that and at the same time he was angry for her indifference towards him.

"Yes what can I do for you?" He replied with a exaggerated politeness and his eternal haughty look.Then he placed the weight on the support.

"Um can I see you in private?” She asks shyly,there she had to play the humility card.

"Can’t you see that I’m busy?"

"This will only last a minute."

"Miss, stop bothering me or I’ll call the security guard."

Since he didn't seem to want to cooperate, Linda decided to talk to him there then whether he wanted or not.

"I just wanted to apologize for the last time,I shouldn't have spoken to you like this." It was unfair that is her who is apologizing,he was wrong too.

"Um,that’s understood."

What?Which kind of response is that?Rubbish,she was apologizing while she was not wrong.

"Is that all ?"

"What else did you want me to do?"

"I thought..."

Suddenly she started crying,even she didn't know when the tears came out. Even William had noticed that she was trying to control herself but it was an impossible mission. People had started to look at them.William, to attract less attention,took her hand so that they could go somewhere else out of sight. He dragged her into his friend's office since he had double keys.At least here no one would come and disturb them.

"May I know what you’re playing?"

"Sorry, I'm a little bit nervous lately." She replied tearfully.

"Okay,I accept your apology."

"By the way,I didn't come for this alone.I was fired and I would like you to speak to my boss so that he can rehire me.I will have learned that you are the cause. And I really regret everything what I said."

"Okay if you say so I’ll see what I can do for you."

"Please do something." Was she that desperate at this point? William wondered himself.

"I understood."

Suddenly,the owner of the place came into the office.

"Oh!I didn't know that you were with someone." He said,surprised to see his friend in the company of a girl.Since he had started living with him he had never seen a girl again.

"Oh no she was about to leave." He said to his friend quickly because he knew what he was thinking.

"Yes,I was going." She said getting up.

Jack opened the door for her and she left.

"Who is that? And why do I have the feeling that she cried?" He asked just after she left.

"Oh it’s nobody,I met her at the hotel last time."

"Is she another one of your girls?"

"t’s quite the opposite."

William briefed to his friend what had happened between them and the reason for her visit.

"Oh I see,great character this girl,the kind of woman who could control and tamed you."

"Very funny." He said ironically.

"That is true,you need a woman who knows how to challenge you and tell you the truth straight in the eyes.Oh yes..." He shouted at the end of his sentence as he stood up.

"I've found…." He continued.

"What did you find?" Asks William who until then didn't get his friend's attitude.

"The solution to your problems.What if you married her?"

"Eh ?" William replied with a frown.

"I expressed myself badly, what if you faked a marriage with her in order to make your mother believe that you had changed and worthy of your inheritance.It's not just anyone who makes the decision to get married.By getting married you will appear more mature in her eyes.And knowing that the future descendant of the family will come from you,she will entrust you with all the assets of the Adams family."

"What are you talking about? I have no desire to get married and have children."

"Listen to me, it won't be a real marriage in the classic sense of the term,it's just to fool your mother for a while.I’m sure that after the wedding you will have access to all your bank cards and your inheritance.And you broke up with her amicably."

"I admit it’s tempting my brother, and where am I going to find this actress?"

"No need to look any further, the girl who has just left will be perfect for this role and she is desperate,she will accept and play her role well if you offered her a nice sum at the end of the contract.And what's more she has an innocent face, your mother will love her."

"And if out of ambition she threatens to tell everything or divulge the secret to the press?"

"All that will be part of the terms of the contract,we will tell her what she has to do and don't."

"Okay I'll think about it."