Chapter 74 - Deal

Bryan lay on one end of his bed facing the ceiling, while Sonia lay on the other end facing the wall as she slept comfortably. Bryan turned in her direction when he heard the soft snores coming from her direction. She was really asleep? How could she barge into his life and his bedroom this way? Earlier on she had rearranged his closet and drawers so she could make space for her stuff. 

After trying to sleep to no avail, he got out of bed and picked up a hoodie sweater which he wore over his t-shirt and joggers before walking out of the bedroom. Although the house was dark, save for the beam of light coming in through the patio door from the back, he didn't bother to turn on any light as he made his way to the bar to pour himself a glass of wine before opening the patio door and heading to the poolside. 

He needed to think about what Matt had said earlier. Maybe he wasn't dealing with the situation as he should. He tried to imagine someone else in this same situation. What would he have advised the person to do? He knew Sonia was crazy, and as such he couldn't handle things like Matt had said. He didn't know just what Sonia would do if he outrightly announced that he was done with her. Although he wasn't one to care about his reputation very much, he also wasn't one to make rash decisions by underestimating Sonia's craziness. 

"I was looking for you," Sonia spoke from behind him, startling him since he had been deep in thought and hadn't realized that someone was out there with him. 

"Why? I thought you were fast asleep?" Bryan asked without turning to look at her. 

"I woke up to ease myself, and when I didn't find you beside me, I decided to look for you," Sonia said as she took the empty seat beside him. She shivered a little because the night air was cold, and she wasn't wearing a robe over the skimpy nightgown she was wearing. 

"You can return inside. I'll be out here for a while," Bryan told her as he raised the wineglass to his lips and took a sip before dropping it on the table next to him. 

Sonia said nothing as she lay back on the chair beside him, "Why are you out here alone? Is something bothering you?" Sonia asked after some time. 

"I left my problem inside, but it followed me out," Bryan said dryly, making Sonia scowl at him. 

"Tell me something, am I not your type?" Sonia asked, sitting up so she could have a better look at him, "I know you womanize a lot, so I'm wondering why you don't seem to have any interest in me," Sonia said thoughtfully.

Bryan sighed wearily, "If you were me, would you get involved with you?" Bryan asked, and Sonia giggle unexpectedly.

"I would. And I would count myself very lucky to be involved with someone like me," Sonia said with a grin, making Bryan's lips twitch in amusement. It was clear she thought very highly of herself. 

"Earlier when you said you have been with girls before, did you mean it?" Bryan asked curiously.

"Yes. Once when I was in high school, and another time in college," Sonia said with a wide smile. 

"And you haven't tried it since college?" Bryan asked, and Sonia shook her head, "Why? Bad experience?" Bryan asked as he sipped from his glass. 

"Let's just say I realized that in as much as I like boobs, I don't want to suck someone else's pussy. So I'd say I'm more into guys than I am into girls," Sonia said, making Bryan stifle the urge to chuckle. 

He couldn't imagine giving any guy a blowjob. The thought of it alone made him want to puke. Although he didn't want to like her, he couldn't deny that he liked how she easily expresses herself. 

"Why did you propose to me that night?" She asked after a while, making Bryan glance at her. 

Why was she asking that all of a sudden? Bryan mused, before choosing to answer her question honestly, "There was a scandal concerning me and a younger actress. It was affecting her and I wanted to cover it up with something else so she would stop bothering me with her tears," Bryan answered truthfully.

Sonia nodded her head since she had figured that out already from the beginning. She had only asked to see if he would be honest about it, and she was grateful he answered truthfully, "I see."

"Why did you accept? If you had simply said no like any normal person would have done, it would have also served the purpose of covering up the scandal," Bryan said, making the corners of her lips curve upward.

"Unfortunately I'm not normal. And double unfortunately, I like you. I've had a crush on you for a long time, and I figured this was my chance to get close to you," Sonia answered, taking him back. 

"You have a crush on me?" Bryan asked in surprise.

"Why do you sound so surprised?" Sonia asked in amusement as she shivered again, "You are Bryan Hank, and I'm sure half the ladies in the country must have dreamt of you at one point or the other," Sonia added as she rubbed her arms which were now covered in goose pimples. 

"You should go inside, you're cold," Bryan suggested when he noticed the way she was rubbing her arms.

"How about we strike a deal?" Sonia asked ignoring what he had just said. 

"A deal? What sort of deal?" Bryan asked as he took off his sweater and handed it to her. He couldn't afford for her to get sick because she was being stubborn.

Sonia raised a brow as she took the sweater which was still warm from him. She hadn't been expecting such a thoughtful gesture from him so she smiled as she said "Thank you," and then slipped it over her head, while Bryan sipped his wine as he waited for her to finish and answer him. 

"The more you try to get rid of me, the more I will stick to you. So why not let me have my way for a year, and then after that if you still want me to leave I will disappear from your life?" Sonia asked, surprising Bryan who almost choked on his wine.

"A year?" He asked in a choked voice. 

"Yes. A year. Within that year I will let you do anything you want. We can tell everyone we are in an open relationship," Sonia suggested. 

He knew it! He knew she was crazy. Only a crazy person would come up with an idea like this. Only Sonia would. "Why would I want to do something like that?" Bryan asked incredulously.

"Because I can assure you that you and your best friend are wasting your time with whatever plan you try to come up with to get rid of me. Even if you decide to announce to the world that the engagement was a hoax, I won't let you be. So you have to do it my way. That is the only way you can be free of me," Sonia said with a shrug. 

Bryan sighed. What kind of a problem did he get himself into? Who was this lady? What did she want from him? "A year is too much," Bryan said after a while.

"Okay. Let's make it six months then. I would have gotten everything I want from you by then," Sonia said, making Bryan narrow his eyes suspiciously.

"Everything you want from me? What do you want from me? Just tell me and I will give it to you so you can leave," Bryan pleaded.

"It's not that easy. Most importantly, I'm working on my next bestseller, and it is about our situation," Sonia said in a confidential whisper. 

"I don't think any of this is a good idea for a story," Bryan said with a shake of his head. 

"I'm the writer here. Allow me to decide that. I'm sure this particular story will be adapted as a movie, and when that time comes, I will make sure you get the lead role," Sonia promised.

Bryan thought about it for a moment, "Six months and you will disappear?" Bryan asked doubtfully.

"Yes. Just allow me be your fiancee for six months," Sonia repeated with a nod, "Don't forget that it would make more sense for us to break up after some months, rather than a week after our engagement. Also I will break up with you myself," Sonia added. 

"What do you stand to gain from being my fiancee for six months?" Bryan asked, wondering if she wanted to get money from him.

As if she could read his mind, she said, "You don't have to give me any money within this period. Just treat me as you would a fiancee. Only difference is it will be an open relationship, so you don't have to be faithful to me," Sonia added. 

"Six months?" Bryan asked again. 

"Just six months. We could put it down in words," Sonia suggested. She had spent most part of the afternoon writing and plotting, and she had come to the conclusion that it would probably work best for the both of them this way. 

"And you would live under my roof within this time?" Bryan asked, and Sonia nodded. 

"If I finish the story before then, I might not have to stay for that long. But yes, I will live with you for this period. So? Deal?" She asked, extending a hand to him for a handshake.

Bryan thought about it for a moment, although he would have preferred to have her out of his life within a week, or at most a month, but he knew she was right. He wouldn't be able to shake her off if she wasn't willing to leave on her volition. Six months? He wouldn't always be here within those six months anyway. He would travel to shoot movies, and do other stuff that his career required, and before he knows it six months would be over. With that thought in mind he took her little hand in his own, "Deal."