Chapter Mr. President’s 17

“Mr Legend, I would to have a word with you,”

said to Nathan, who about to step out of his office. Nathan halted wondering about what could make want with him.

“Miss Winters still . He thought had already left.

Fortunately ,”

smile but Nathan could sense there something amidst. She looked disturbed. He ambled close to her alright with genuine concern.

“I need a loan,” she said directly. Nathan slightly troubled about how straightforward she . He already knew about brother’s condition but with 80,000 in two days, he wasn’t expecting this.

sat on the sofa and tapped the other side, “sit.”

She sat amenably. “How much and for ?” He asked cooly. He only hoped his suspicion wasn’t right and that Mercedes hadn’t woven her way into his to her advantage as Lanre had said.

“I need a loan of $120,000 for my brother’s bone marrow transplant,” she said impatiently. He could see that she was trying to hold back tears. For a transplant, then that made sense. It means they’ve gotten a donor. That was good news because if her brother fine, she would also have the of mind he wanted for her.

“And how do you intend to pay back?” Nathan draped his sympathy for her and asked. He knew the transplant would be more than that but going to use the money she made to top up.

“In monthly instalments,” her tone was laced with confidence and honesty. Nathan had no intention of taking advantage of her in a situation like this but how else could he get what he wanted? His initial plan was a slow burner but this one made it all easy and faster for him.

“Come on, Mercedes, you having a sick brother means your monthly salary is already cut and not enough for your daily upkeep. You can’t probably pay me from there,” he retorted, then added. “In business, you have to cut out losses. There’s no guarantee that you can pay back that amount.” He testing her and she fell for it. As they say, desperate situations require desperate measures.

“I’ll do anything. Clean your house, cook for you, wash your clothes, anything.” Before Nathan realized it, she was already kneeling before him with tear–filled eyes. She had another option. The sharks. They can even loan her the money within 24 hours but the interest was outrageous and they would never give a long term payment plan. Also, she was already bound to work for Nathan for the rest of her life so she indeed had a lifetime to pay him back, which made Nathan the best choice for her.

Nathan was honestly concerned for her. A young woman burdened with such great responsibilities at twenty–three was quite impeccable. He could have made direct proposal but Mercedes had a sharp tongue and he had already had a taste of it which he wasn’t ready to savour anymore because he valued his self–respect. Therefore, this was his best shot. “You forgot one important detail,” Nathan smirked, making Mercedes uneasy.

“What is that?” Mercedes swallowed and asked.

“Sit down,” he ordered. He didn’t like her kneeling like that. She was priceless to him. She was the only woman who settled the confusion about his sexuality, that he wasn’t asexual. The only woman whose presence ignited the fire that no other woman has ever stirred in his life. Sadly, Mercedes had no idea of the effect she had on him. If she did, she could have just wrapped him around her fingers to get what she wanted. She lifted her knees from the floor and sat beside him. Nathan pointed to the bill on the wall.

“The $1 bill?” She asked, confusion clouding her.

“Yes,” bitterness laced his tone. Mercedes still couldn’t understand what he was inkling at.

“What about it?” She asked innocently. Nathan stood from the sofa and strolled across the office while he spoke. His glare remained on the bill on the wall. Mercedes might never realize how deep her words wounded him.

In a bitter tone, he recalled, “you graded my performance to be below average remember?” Mercedes shifted uncomfortably on the sofa, remorse washing her while Nathan continued, “give me the chance to redeem myself then,” he ended, while he strolled back and lowered himself beside her on the sofa, his gaze burning into hers.

Mercedes was realizing what her sharp tongue caused her. Perhaps, Nathan wouldn’t have given any conditions she hadn’t embarrassed him. “

just joking,” she let out, her fingers intertwined nervously.

Nathan glared indifferently and said, “but I didn’t it that way.”

Mercedes knew there no turning back. Nathan going to get revenge. “No option two?” She asked with a hopeful glint.

Nathan sighed and crossed his slender legs, his arms folded to his chest as he leaned his back on the sofa. “Let’s have it this way. I’ll take care of all

your family’s expenses. Secondly, buy you a three–bedroom house in a secured location, and buy you a brand new in exchange for a week together,” he laid his cards on the table. Mercedes tight–lipped. After a long pause, she asked,

“A week? What about work

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Nathan chuckled. “What if I told you it was business and we the world together with the condition that me all ” He asked, he didn’t to touch her or anything. Then he reinforced solemnly, “you will hold nothing .”

they work , he has the touch her again, no how he yearned for her

“

a week His words sinking in and she needed to be certain that she heard him correctly.

a ,” he confirmed, then he asked? “So what ? You want to think it?”

didn’t time. She needed the asap.

all, they had done it before and besides, it was better with Nathan than the sharks.

body will brother’s then why not?

No I’ll do it.” She voiced . The Nathan’s lips curled before she added, “the payment needs to be made .

about that. See you around ” Nathan said and lifted himself from the sofa

realized he hadn’t taken any details about her brother from her. “Wait. You don’t have any information. The hospital,”

“Everything will be sorted out first thing in the morning, Nathan said before she finished her sentence. His words were powerful she him.

drove home, quite nervous about the arrangement she just made. She sold her body for one week. Not holding anything back meant he could do anything wanted with her. Her first time was painful but now she knew Nathan and he protective of . Perhaps it won’t be as bad the time.

Griffin was pacing here and when Mercedes entered the room. “The heck Merce, you got me worried,” he almost screamed.

“Why?” Mercedes wasn’t in a good mood and didn’t hide it this time.

“I kept calling but no answer,” he explained.

“I’m . I turned the phone to silent mode when I wanted to discuss something with my boss ” she apologized casually.

Griffin bit relaxed, “Your mum called.”

“She called me too. Don’t worry about it,” Mercedes cut him off, and sank into the sofa. She wasn’t surprised that her mum called Griffin. Their friendship was known to both families and her mother had even joked before that the two were perfect for each other.

“Sorry to disappoint you but I’m worried. I already arranged to take a loan from the sharks,” he revealed Mercedes’s stun.

“Don’t. I already made arrangements,” she disclosed, sending Griffin’s mind into reverse. He wanted to do something for her for once. He wanted to take her worries and make them his but Mercedes didn’t give him a chance. She already took care everything, just as she always did.

“Please Merce, let me help. At least for all the kindness, you’ve shown me,” he sat beside her and said.

“How will you pay them back?” Mercedes asked him.

“They are giving us six months. We will figure it out then. Besides, I have a second interview with the first company. I’m hopeful this time,” he assured her but Mercedes wasn’t going to rely on a mirage. She knew she wouldn’t be able to pay back the sharks within six months she confessed, “look, I got the money for free so it’s fine.”

Griffin opened his mouth to speak, then clamped it shut, then opened it again. “There’s nothing like free money. There’s always a price to pay.”

“Well, it’s nothing I can’t pay for,” she casually said. She was getting comfortable with Nathan yet she knew it was wrong to do it with him again since he was her boss. Well, it’s just for a week, right? As soon as they return, things will be back to normal.

Griffin was even more disturbed. He only hoped it wasn’t what he was thinking. “Where did you get it?

From my boss,” she said truthfully. It wasn’t in her nature to lie to Griffin. They were too close for that but Griffin wasn’t taking the information calmly.

knew there was more to it.

“And what does he want in return?” He asked a bit too solemnly, it made Mercedes uneasy.

“A week together ” she let out and stood from the sofa. Griffin’s attitude tonight was making her uneasy. She knew he was going to explode. These some of the things that made her think he loved her. Yes he did, but it wasn’t in the way she wanted.

“Damn it, Mercedes,” he yelled. “I knew it. That son of bitch is gonna mess with you and I won’t allow it. I’m taking the money from the sharks and you going nowhere.” His voice carried a possessiveness that got her confused but the matter was already resolved. Nathan was better than the sharks and who doesn’t want money even if comes with a little price?

“Enough Griff, I’ve already made my decision.” She passed Griffin and was about to enter her room when he gripped her by the arm. His breath was heavy and his face so dark, Mercedes feared a little. “You sell your body like a prostitute?

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He asked in a deep calm tone but it pierced like a knife. Griffin had always That was why she remained a virgin till that stupid Now going do the thing he protected from. The why she developed thorns through her sharp tongue.

He allow it.

“

it for free the first time. At saved a life with it this time. Besides, he’s buying us a new house and a new car. You use this one for all your interviews and we to live in a safe location like we always wanted. It isn’t as bad as you think,” Mercedes calmly explained.

“He’s using you Griffin said directly.

“No using each other.

all, I have nothing to lose,” Mercedes hurtled.

His grip on her loosened a little. “I’ve seen this before Mercedes, he’s gonna hurt you real bad,” his voice was pained. Then he said, “you’re gonna fall for him and your heart will be shattered” he let go of her arm.

Don’t worry about that. He isn’t my type. Good night, Griff,” she chuckled and went into her room. The one she loved was standing before her, begging her to not do it. If he loved her the way she did, she would have obeyed him but what did she have to lose?

“Good night Merce,” he said after her. Griffin couldn’t sleep. He cried through the night. For the first time, he rejected all Penelope’s calls. Mercedes was sacrificing too much and he had to do something too. He was too sure that Mercedes would get hurt and he had to save her.

However, going against a man like Nathan Legend wasn’t going to be easy. There was hardly anything about his personal life in the media. It wasn’t because he was clean but the media was just too afraid to report. Nathan was not the angel Mercedes thought he was but how could he prove it to her?