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Seven days later...
Chibuzor carefully chose a grey shirt from his perfectly organized wardrobe as he prepared for his blind date.
He loved being neat and well-prepared, so he had already practiced the words to say, and of course, he had a contract just in case words failed.
'I can't believe it's come to this! I'm actually going to marry a woman I'm meeting for the first time today. Mtchww.'
He arrived at the restaurant's private room, the meeting point, and waited for his potential bride.
Olaedo rushed into the same restaurant thirty minutes late. She was still dealing with the aftermath of her scandal, so she had to work while eating and driving to the restaurant to meet the investor.
'I hope the investor hasn't left.'
A waiter directed her to a private room. She rushed in, guilt written all over her face, sliding her phone into her purse.
"I'm so sorry for keeping you waiting, sir!"
Chibuzor looked away from his phone to see what kind of "responsible" woman had kept him waiting for thirty minutes. To him, this was a major red flag!
Wait, red flags are for people in love, right?
Since they weren't in love, he decided to forgive her for this minor infraction. He studied the woman in front of him, feeling like she looked strangely familiar.
Olaedo, too, looked up, and her eyes widened in shock. 'Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! CEO Arinze! The investor is actually CEO Arinze!'
When an elderly man had called her few days ago, telling her that someone was willing to invest in her company, she had assumed it was a joke. But at this point in her life, any joke about money was worth taking seriously until proven fake.
'Thank you, thank you, thank you so much God!'
Seven minutes passed. The two CEOs kept staring at each other, one wondering where he knew her from, the other internally doing cartwheels with joy at this great opportunity.
Five minutes ago, the waitress, who had arrived to take their orders, had simply stood there, waiting. This was getting weird.
'What is wrong with these two? Is this the new way of communicating business deals? Gosh, I need to upgrade my knowledge!'
Finally, the waitress cleared her throat.
"Ahem..."
The two CEOs snapped out of their thoughts, and Chibuzor rose first, introducing himself. "Good evening, my name is Chibuzor. May I know you?"
Olaedo nodded gently and, with a smile, introduced herself. "I'm Olaedo. Good evening, sir. I'm so sorry for keeping you waiting. I have no excuse!"
Chibuzor nodded, 'Great, she has good manners.'
His lips curled into a barely noticeable smile as his expression softened just a bit. He gestured to the seat across from him and waved the waitress over. "We are sorry we kept you standing for so long."
The waitress waved her hands frantically. "No problem at all, sir! May I take your order?"
Chibuzor picked up two menus and handed one to Olaedo. "Order whatever you want. Don't be shy about it. It's my treat."
'No no Mr. Money Bags. I like being shy while ordering,' she thought to herself. There was no way she was going to order something extravagant and leave a bad impression on this walking money tree.
Olaedo scanned the menu, carefully picking a few not-so-expensive dishes, but still dishes that an average family might never be able to afford.
She didn't want to order only cheap dishes, as that would make it seem like she was looking down on his wallet. On the other hand, ordering ridiculously expensive dishes would make her seem greedy. So, she chose to play it safe.
They chatted about surface-level topics while waiting for the food to arrive, but grew silent as soon as they started eating. Olaedo wasn't used to such silence.
At home, meal time was always a chaotic affair with food flying across the table as her brothers argued about the best football team. Here, she had to remember to chew with her mouth closed and not get caught staring at the bread basket for too long.
But seeing Chibuzor eating in silence with enviable elegance, she remembered that he came from an aristocratic family. He was the oga kpata kpata of rules and regulations, the general overseer of discipline and self control.
'Oh gosh, I must not look like a slob!'
She had grown up eating with her hands at home. Gravy stains on the tablecloths were practically a family tradition. But here? Here she was supposed to behave like a lady, whatever that was.
'Maybe I should start with not using my napkin as a bib.'
Her hands, which had been steady just moments ago, now fidgeted with the edge of the napkin. She couldn't remember the last time her mouth had gone this dry, and she was certain it wasn't from the food.
Olaedo tried to eat her food slowly, doing her best to look elegant, which was not her usual style at all, to impress the tycoon sitting across from her.
'This is more difficult than I thought! I really have to take a table manners class when I get back home.'
If only she knew that Chibuzor wasn't even watching her. He was too busy thinking of how he would bring up the topic of a contract marriage after their meal.
Twenty minutes later, the waiters cleared the table, and the awkward silence settled between them like a thick fog since there was nothing left to distract them from having a deeper conversation.
Olaedo sat there, her back drenched in sweat, waiting for what this great Buddha of a man would say next.
She had never been this nervous, not even when she had to persuade investors to invest in her company when she first started. There was something about the man across from her that made her feel like she absolutely had to impress him.
After all, this was her number one mentor!
Ten minutes later, Chibuzor finally cleared his throat and began implementing the plan he had drawn up five days ago.
"Miss Olaedo, I have a deal that can change your life. It's not your usual kind of business deal, but I believe it will benefit you more than any deal you've ever been offered. That is, if you accept."
'This is weird. What kind of deal is this? Also, why is Chibuzor acting a bit differently from his usual direct style?' Olaedo thought, feeling a knot form in her stomach.
Seeing her confused look, Chibuzor decided to cut through the mystery and just handed over the contract to her, letting her read it at her own pace. It would explain things far better than his unusual way of beating around the bush, and that's exactly what he did.
Olaedo opened the thick contract.
'What the heck?!'
Her soul almost left her body when she saw the title, "Contract Marriage Agreement."
She looked at Chibuzor, attempting to ask if he was joking, but he just gestured for her to keep reading. So, she held back her questions and glanced at the contract again, her heart racing.
CONTRACT MARRIAGE AGREEMENT
Parties Involved:
CEO Arinze Chibuzor (The Husband): Hereinafter referred to as "Party A."
Insert name of woman chosen (The Wife): Hereinafter referred to as "Party B."
Effective Period:
The agreement lasts 5 years unless mutually agreed upon extension or unless terminated per the Emergency Exit Clause.
Terms & Conditions:
1. Public Display Clause
Party A and Party B must convincingly act as a deeply-in-love couple in all public settings. This includes, but is not limited to, holding hands, brief hugs, and tasteful acts of affection (Party A's interpretation). Failure to display affection in public will result in a penalty, extra displays of affection agreed upon by Party A and B.
2. Romantic Gesture Quota
Weekly Quota: Party A and B must compliment each other on social media at least 3 times a week. Suggested topics include attire, appearance, or "unique personality traits."
Special Occasions: Additional romantic gestures may be required during birthdays, holidays, and family gatherings.
3. Jealousy Limitations
Both parties agree not to express jealousy, whether real or pretended, toward interactions with third parties. Should Party A or B show jealousy, it will be deemed an "admittance of feelings" and terminate the contract immediately.
4. Family Involvement Requirement
Regular Visits: Party A and Party B must attend all family gatherings and events, providing the appearance of a committed marriage.
Rotating Holidays: Parties will alternate hosting holiday gatherings, each committing to at least one family holiday meal where Party A prepares a dish (regardless of skill).
5. Secrecy Clause
The true nature of the marriage must remain unknown to the public, family, friends, and extended family. Only designated confidants (limited to one per party) are permitted knowledge of the contract.
6. Gift-Giving Clause
Gifts on Notable Dates: Party A and Party B must exchange thoughtful gifts on major dates such as birthdays, anniversaries, and public holidays. Minimum gift value: 10,000 local currency
If the gifts appear as obvious attempts to sabotage, Party A reserves the right to demand a replacement.
7. "We-Need-to-Talk" Protocol
All private contract-related discussions must occur in "romantic" settings such as restaurants or cafes, with no fewer than two witnesses (i.e., patrons or staff). This is to maintain an alibi of love-stricken partners.
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Oga kpata kpata means biggest boss .