Page 19 of Marrying My Orc Boss

I nod, even though she can't see me. "I understand. It was quite unexpected for me as well."

We fall into a momentary silence, both of us grappling with the weight of the decision that hangs in the balance. Finally, she breaks the silence, her voice tentative.

“Can we meet at the cafe again?” she asks.

"Of course," I reply, relief washing over me. "When would you like to meet?"

"How about in an hour?" Sally suggests, her voice still tentative but with a hint of determination.

I nod, glancing at the clock on my phone. "That works for me. I'll see you there."

I can't help but feel a mixture of emotions. On one hand, I'm relieved that Sally is willing to meet and discuss my proposal further. On the other hand, I'm anxious about what her decision will be. I take a deep breath and try to steady my nerves, reminding myself that no matter what happens, I need to stay calm and composed.

As I make my way to the café, I rehearse what I want to say to Sally in my head. I want to convey to her that I truly believe this arrangement could be beneficial for both of us, and that I'm committed to making it work. But I also want to be understanding and respectful of her feelings and concerns.

When I arrive at the café, Sally is already there, sitting in the same corner booth where we talked the day before. I take a deep breath and approach her, trying to project an air of confidence and calm.

"Hey," I say, sliding into the booth across from her.

"Hi," she replies, offering me a small smile.

We order our drinks, and then there's a moment of awkward silence before Sally speaks up.

"Look, I know this is a lot to ask. And I don't want you to think that I'm just using you or anything like that."

I shake my head, trying to reassure her. "I don't think that at all. I understand that this is a difficult situation, and I want to help if I can."

She takes a deep breath, looking down at her hands.

“Besides,” I continue. “I’m the one who proposed this, not you.”

As Sally and I sit across from each other in the cafe, I can't help but feel a sense of admiration for her. She's been through so much, and yet she's still strong and determined, willing to do whatever it takes to protect her family.

She begins to outline her terms, her voice firm and resolute. "First of all, I want to make it clear that this is strictly a platonic arrangement. No sleeping together, no romantic entanglements. Are we clear?"

I nod, my expression serious. "Absolutely. I understand and respect your boundaries."

She continues, "Secondly, I need you to pretend to be really in love with me in front of my family and friends. I don't want anyone to suspect that this is anything other than a genuine, passionate relationship. Especially my family."

I smile at the thought of displaying our faux affection to the world, but I keep my tone serious. "Of course.”

Sally nods, looking relieved. "Good. I don't want to put you in an uncomfortable position, but it's important that we maintain the illusion of a real relationship."

I nod again, understanding her concerns. "I get it. And just to clarify, our public displays of affection will be limited to just that, public. When we're alone, we can be ourselves."

Sally smiles at me, her expression grateful. "Thank you for understanding. I really appreciate it."

“So,” I prompt. “Does that mean you’ll accept?”

"I hope you don't mind me asking, but what's your relationship status?"

I understand her concern and quickly reassure her. "I'm currently single, and I don't have any plans to change that anytime soon. You have nothing to worry about on that front."

She nods, looking relieved. "Good. I just want to make sure that there are no complications or conflicts of interest. This arrangement is important to me, and I need to know that it's important to you as well."

I smile, appreciating her dedication to our cause. "I can assure you, Sally, that I am fully committed to this arrangement.”

We share a moment of mutual understanding, the weight of our situation settling heavily on our shoulders. But in that moment, I also feel a sense of hope and determination. Together, we can make this work.

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