The rise of Jeremy Collins

Chapter 2

Jeremy sat with his mouth hanging low and brows furrowed, staring at the woman before him in confused shock. He wasn't sure he heard her right.

“I'm sorry, did you say marriage proposal?” He asked, dropping his glass of whiskey on the counter to be sure the drink was not the reason he was hearing things.

“Precisely.” She said matter of fact.

“Is this some kind of joke lady because I am not interested…” He snapped. He was the worst person to play a prank on today. He had had enough for just one day.

“Do I look like the sort of woman to joke around?” She asked evenly, her voice not giving away a single intention.

He searched her eyes, trying to make sense of what he had just heard, but he couldn't get anything from her. It was like staring at a brick wall, a gorgeous decorated wall.

“I wouldn't know, I have no Idea who you are!”

A soft sigh escaped her lips as she rolled her eyes at him. “I knew you wouldn't recognize me. I am Ariel, Ariel McDonald…” she said, like he was instantly supposed to know who the hell she was.

He stared at her blankly. Was her name supposed to ring any bells? Because it didn't. The only bells ringing in his head were bells of alarm.

She heaved a disappointed sigh when she realized he still had no idea who she was.

Reaching into her bag, she pulled out an envelope and handed it over to him.

He collected the envelope hesitantly and opened it to find a picture inside, he took it out and gasped when everything finally clicked.

Jeremy glanced up at her and back at the picture again, flabbergasted by the remarkable change and difference after five years.

It was amazing how she'd changed. She'd gotten rid of her braces and acne and from what he could see, was no longer the overly religious girl she once was as the pictures suggested.

“Do you recognize me now?” She tilted her head in question.

“I do, you have…”

“Changed? Yeah, I get that lot.” She said, snatching the picture from his hand and shoving it back into her bag.

“Now, what do you say about my proposal.” She turned around to face his, her expression much more serious than before.

As he examined her even more, it was even more clear how much she had changed.

From her clothes to her face to her mannerisms, the Ariel he knew from five years ago could not even look at someone in the eyes.

“I'm… not sure what to say… I mean I'm flattered, but I'm not looking for a wife right now and even if I were, I still would want to get to know my wife first and not jump into marriage. I have too many troubles plaguing me to be thinking of marriage.”

“What kind of troubles?" She asked a little too quickly.

I watched her for a long before shrugging and speaking up again.

“Well, I just got dismissed from my job, so I'm jobless. I just found out my girlfriend has been cheating on me with my ex-boss and my mother is in the hospital sick to an inch of her life, but the doctor refused to treat her any further until I brought the needed amount.

He said rapidly. He was sure he sounded incredibly pathetic to her, but he didn't care, he was too intoxicated to mince his words.

“I don't want your pity.” He said to her as an afterthought. He hated the idea of people feeling pity for me.

“I'll pay.” She said, ignoring his statement.

“You will pay what?” He asked with furrowed brows.

“For your mom's medical expenses, you can come work under me or if you don't want that, I can buy you a business of your choice and your house and whatever else you'd need.”

He blinked at her rapidly, not sure of what he was hearing.

“Are you being serious?” He asked.

“If you agree to marry me, all of what I've mentioned will be yours.”

If he had heard right, she had just promised to pay my mother's medical bills, that was all he needed to hear to say yes, so why the hell was he hesitating?

Maybe because it's weird for a woman you haven't seen and barely spoke to in high school is offering your hand in marriage.

A tiny voice in his head supplied.

“What do you say, Jeremy?” She pressed.

He glanced up at her and nodded.

“Okay.”

“Good.” She said, and began to rummage through her bag.

“Here's my card, you can reach me through the phone number. I want you to meet me at the town hall in two hours with your marriage permit.”

He glanced down at the card and read out the name of the company…”McDonald Enterprise” and his eyes widened.

She was apparently the owner of the biggest cosmetic company in the United States, he knew this because his girlfriend had taken him to one of her shows sometime this year.

“Okay, I'll be there.” He glanced up at her.

“Good.”

“Don't you need my phone number to call me?” He asked after her.

She just smiled and said,

“Already do.” He watched as she walked out of the bar, both mesmerized by her and flabbergasted at what had just happened.

He wasn't sure if he should jump for joy or be scared of what I had just agreed to, afterall this could just be a ploy to collect his innards and sell it to the black market, it wouldn’t be the first time a rich person did that.

“You can still get out of it if you like,” that annoying voice in my head spoke.

If he refused her offer now, that would mean he won't be able to pay his mother's Medical bills, which means she wouldn't get treated.

His phone chimed, indicating that he had just gotten a notification. He picked up the device and opened the message icon.

His eyes widened in shock as he read that he had just been credited with fifty thousand dollars.