You Can't Buy My Love novel Chapter 7

Olivia's POV

"I now pronounce you husband and wife." Nolan's lawyer grinned as I signed the paper that proved that we were both married.

I could understand the fake marriage, but what I couldn't understand was the lengths to make it look legitimate. He really didn't explain much except my role, and I didn't press him. Besides, I had to figure out what I was going to tell my Mother.

Hey Mom, I married that guy that I met yesterday, I'm going to pretend to be his wife for three months! I internally groaned at how terrible that sounded. How completely mad she would be. She would never let me out of the house again! I could kiss college goodbye, it'll be community for me.

"Well, I'll see you back at my place tomorrow morning?" Nolan asked once he handled all the documents, and I nodded.

"Okay," I sighed. "I'll see you tomorrow."

On the ride home I came up with a thousand reasons why I could be gone for months, but nothing came to mind. "What am I going to do?" I groaned, hitting my head against the steering wheel.

I got out of the car and ran into my room immediately. I didn't want to risk my Mom putting me to work. She promised me the day off, but that is liable to change if she sees me lurking around.

I got my suitcase from off of the closet shelf, and opened it up on my bed. I need to leave, I need this money. It's only a few months anyways, not really a huge sacrifice. There's just no way I can tell my Mom though, she would never allow it. Her little girl staying with a strange man, for a strange arrangement. It just screamed murder me.

With that thought in mind, I sighed heavily. I can't just run away. There would be missing posters everywhere. My inner thought train was interrupted by the entrance of my sister Dina.

"Going somewhere?" She asked, glancing at my suitcase.

I rolled my eyes in response, and closed the door behind her. "Dina, I have to tell you something, but you have to promise you won't tell Mom."

"How much?" She asked, and I resisted the urge to smile. Ever since we were little, Dina and I used to trade secrets for things. When we were girls, it was food, snacks, toys, whatever we could get our tiny hands on. When we got older, it became a secret for money. It was the only thing worthwhile to us. "How much is this secret worth to you?"

"I'll give you a hundred dollars." I told her, and her eyes bulged.

"That much, huh?" She smirked, folding her hands across her chest. "Do tell."

"I have to leave tomorrow, but she can't know where I am. I need a reason to be gone." I explained to her. "I came into some money for my college fund, and I have to go away for a few months to get it."

"Why don't you just tell her that?" She asked, her blond hair shaking around her neck.

"She won't understand." I said simply.

"She'll understand if it's you going to school."

"She won't understand me getting married."

"Whoa!" Dina laughed, seemingly in disbelief. "You're getting married for money?!" She almost yelled, and I put my finger to my lips, shushing her.

"Please be quiet before someone hears you!" I told her, rolling my eyes in annoyance. "I'm only pretending to be married for some rich guy, in the end I get the money, and he gets..." I trailed off, still unsure of what he was getting out of this. "Whatever he gets."

"That is quite the arrangement," she said with an impressed look on her face. "I never would expect something like this from you. Maybe me. But not you."

"Will you just stop and help me?" I asked her in desperation. "I have to go. I can't stay here forever, I just... can't."

"Alright, fine." She threw her hands up in surrender. Even though she was four years younger than me, I did often times look to her for answers. She was stronger willed than I was, smarter than I was, way more outgoing than I was. She was the one that got into trouble the most growing up, and her my Mom don't get along at all; only because she's not afraid to march to her own best like I am. "When are you leaving?"

"Tomorrow morning," I told her with a nervous look on my face.

"Don't give a girl much to work with do you?" She asked with a teasing smile. "Well, I have a plan anyways, we'll just have to change the script." At that I laughed. Who knew I would become an actress just to become a marine biologist?

~*~

Thank God for my sister. She concocted a whole plan. I was going on a missionary to Africa to build homes for a few months, and in return I would receive a free ride to the college of my choosing.

"Oh honey that's wonderful!" She gushed. "When do you leave?" She asked.

"Tomorrow morning," I shrugged. "The flight is paid for."

"Isn't that a little soon?" She asked. This was a question that we didn't prepare for.

"She applied months ago." My sister butt in, noticing that I got stuck.

"You didn't mention to me?" She asked, looking confused.

"I didn't want to bring it up, in case I didn't get in." I lied, and realization crept over her face. "Well let me close the shop, I'll take you to the airport.

"No!"

"No!" My sister and I both shouted in unison. "No Mom, you don't want to lose out on business. Dina can take me to the airport."

"Okay, fine." She said, no questions asked. It's a good thing I was the good child, if the roles were reversed she would very suspicious. I never did anything to displease her.

We both let out a sigh of relief, and she squinted her eyes at the pair of us. "I really wish that you would have told me about this honey." She urged. "Just because things are a little rocky right now, doesn't mean I don't want to know my daughters. Do you both understand?" She asked us, and we nodded.

"Now go on, I'll make dinner and help you pack. I want to spend some time with you before you go at least." I smiled at her softly, almost hating myself for deceiving her.

After a night of family bonding, my Mother came up to help me pack, and even tucked me into bed like a small child. I didn't know how much I missed it until she planted a warm kiss on my forehead. No matter how old you get, you never get too old for your Mother's love. It's the only timeless thing we have.

The next morning followed with fake kisses, and fake goodbyes. I felt bad for lying, and even worse for dragging my sister into it.

We showed up at Nolan's place, and Dina looked just as amazed as I did the other day. We took the elevator to the top floor, and then knocked on the door. "I'm coming in with you," Dina said. "I need to make sure this guy isn't crazy."

When he opened the door, he seemed a little confused. "Hello?" He answered, but it came out as more of a question than a greeting.

"This is my little sister, Dina." I explained. "She's dropping me off to the 'airport'." I did air quotes when saying the word airport. I thought that was better than saying she was making sure that he wasn't a psycho trying to kidnap me.

"Ohhhh." He sighed. "Well, come on in you two." He gestured for us to enter, then took the suitcase from me.

"Wow!" Dina exclaimed, looking around in amazement. "Nice place!" She grinned, making herself at home. I all but rolled my eyes at her. She keeps carrying on like this, she'll make him think we've never seen anything nice.

"Don't touch anything." Nolan told her, and I side eyed him. "Please." He added in. Much better, I thought to myself.

"You are about to be staying here?" She asked me, and I shook my head softly as she looked though the refrigerator. "This place is bigger than our whole apartment." At that I shrugged, then looked up at Nolan. I was used to having less; I was used to being in small spaces. It didn't bother me. Besides, he has all this space and no one to share it with. Is it really worth it?

"What did you tell your mom?" Nolan asked me. Before I could even get to answer, Dina strode over with her input.

"A huge, elaborate lie that she paid me to take part in." Dina answered for her, smiling sarcastically. I chuckled softly, then crossed my arms over my chest in amusement.

"Do tell." He grinned, looking at me.

"Well, my sister here-" Dina started, sitting next to me on the couch. "Is doing some work in Africa for a free ride to college."

"Africa?!" He asked, his eyes bulging. "You couldn't have been closer?" He asked with a laugh, and I rolled my eyes.

"It was just a quick thought." I said, playing with my hair nervously.

"Well, we've got a long day of getting to know each other, so how about I show you to your room?" He asked me, and I nodded my compliance.

"Okay. Dina I guess you can leave now, I'm safe." I told her, and walked her to the door. "And be careful while you're driving, you know you don't have a license."

"This small girl is driving?" Nolan asked in disbelief.

"I'm not small, I'll be fifteen next month!" She corrected him, and he blinked in shock.