Christina's P.O.V.

"Can I just ask you one question?" I ask after taking a long pause, gathering my thoughts.

"Yes," Michael answers.

"Why?"

He looks down in search of an answer. After taking a long pause he finally breaks the silence. "Maybe one day I might explain that to you, but right now that is just too complicated and too irrelevant to discuss right now," he says matter of factly.

"How is it irrelevant, Michael? Everyone who gets married gets married for a reason. Some people do it for love, others for kids, others for money or status. But there is always a reason. And since I am the one you're asking to marry you, don't you think I should know why you're doing it?"

"I'm telling you, there is a reason, but it's not something I want to get into right now," Michael retorts.

"When business deals are made it isn't custom to ask the person offering a deal 'why', Miss," Geragos cut in, flashing a look at his client.

I sink in my chair. I guess I hit a nerve with him there. "Okay, I get it. But here's another question for you. Why me?"

"That is another detail that is unimportant," he responds quickly. "For now, all you need to know that you are the business partner that I have selected to work with."

All I can do is sit there. "I'm speechless, Mr. Jackson, er, Michael. I don't know what to say."

"Say yes, Christina. I know we'll make a great team." I look at Geragos, whose head is down, which I interpret to mean he isn't very confident in this business; if it is me or the mere idea of Michael's marriage, I have no idea. My eyes fall on Michael, his powerful gaze meets mine and makes me jump. I can tell by just looking at him that he is dead serious about this. I get the impression that Michael is the type of person who, once their mind is made up nothing will change it. Although I do admire him for taking charge of this meeting like he is. I would have imagined him to have sat back and let his lawyer do all the talking.

"Geez, Michael, I have to think about it. I mean, according to this contract, the deal is for five years. That's five years of my life we're talking about here," I plead.

"Yes, but it would be like anyone who ever worked for anyone or for any company for that same amount of time. It's the same thing."

"No way is it the same thing. This would mean me committing myself completely to the job. I would live this lie to everyone I know, and there's no way a new love interest or a new friend of Michael Jackson's wife would go unnoticed," I argue. I actually hear Geragos snicker beside me, which gets me to smile. But the smile quickly fades as I hear Michael's response.

"Yes, Christina, it's part of the job. If you accept, you will miss five years of your life, as will I. But I have already thought of that. That is why the recompensation I am offering is what it is. You will be well paid for your services."

My services. I shudder. Michael's indifference saddens me. I don't think he realizes what he is asking of me, and even more importantly, how he is asking for it.

"Michael is offering one million dollars for each of the five years of the contract," Geragos adds.

"You have to decide whether or not the five million dollars is worth the five years of your life," Michael announces.

I just feel so uneasy about this whole situation. Whoever is part of this grand scheme of Michael's one way or another will go down in history for a long time. If I accept, I will be written down in the list of Michael's wives. I have to wonder how in the world I was chosen for this secret arrangement. I've only been working at the house for two weeks, for goodness sakes. But is the five million worth it? Boy, just thinking about what I can do with that money gives me the chills. Five million is a lot of money, but then again, after the five years is up, what then? I will always be known as Michael Jackson's wife, or ex wife. Would five million be enough to live off of for the rest of my life? Who would give me a job if I needed to work?

"I don't think I can do this, Michael." I stand up to leave, but once again I am blocked by Michael. He puts himself in front of the door.

"Where are you going, Christina. Let's talk about this," he says, ushering me back to my seat. He sits down, and clasps his hands together on the desk. "What do you mean you don't think you can do this," he asks.

"I mean, no, Michael. No. I can't do it. This is all too much for me," I say. He studies my worried face. He looks confused. What, hasn't anyone ever said no to Michael Jackson? Probably not, from the look on his face.

"What do you mean, no," he shot back.

"I mean no," I repeat.

"Wait, Christina, why?"

"It isn't custom in a business deal to ask why the customer isn't interested in your offer," I say. So there. I fight the urge to stick my tongue out at him.

Michael leans back and crosses his arms. He narrows his eyes at me. He must see right through me.

"I don't know, Michael, this is a life changing decision," I say. But it just might be the best decision I have ever made. My breathing is rapid and heavy. I can feel like I am going to faint with Michael and Geragos' eyes fixed on me, pressuring me into a decision. Well, I have everything to lose, and everything to gain. I look at him, his gaze unfaltering. "Yeah, okay," I say finally.

"You mean you accept?"

"Yes," I manage to choke out. I hope I am doing the right thing. I probably would never be able to live with myself otherwise. Not knowing what could have been.

Michael's face changes suddenly and drastically. He is now happy, and content. His beautiful smile flashes across his face and his eyes are lit. This is the face of Michael getting his way, I realize. It's better than him being serious, although I note he is handsome either way.

"Good. Do you want to give the contract another read? Or are you ready to sign," Michael asks eagerly waving hand at Geragos to give me the contract.

I nod my head. "I think I'm ready to sign," I say unsure of myself. I know these people are way smarter than me, all I'm hoping is that I am doing the right thing. Geragos hands me the file and a beautiful gold pen. I open the file. "Where do I sign?"

"Sign at the bottom of every page. There will be a space like this for you," Geragos points to the empty space on the bottom of the first page. They sit and watch patiently as I sign my life away on each and every one of the twenty seven pages. I hand the file back to Geragos who returns it neatly to his briefcase.

"Now let's talk about some details." I nod my head as Michael continues. "We will have a period of courtship that will last for three months in which we will pretend to be dating. It is important that everyone gets the feeling that something is going on between us, but that they don't know for sure. The people that have been around me a long time know that I am a private person and I don't talk about my relationships much, but we can't just announce our engagement out of the blue, or else it would be a little too suspicious."

"Suppose someone asks me about us," I ask, "what do I say?"

"I highly doubt anyone here in this house will," he answers. "Anyone on the outside should just know you're in a relationship. They wouldn't be able to guess with who." Michael stands up from his chair and starts pacing around the room excitedly, in front of us, behind his chair, and behind us as well. I feel as if I am in the Principal's office and about to get lectured. He has really thought long and hard about this. "At the end of the courtship you will meet my family, and I will meet yours. Remember, everyone must think this is a real relationship. Your family, your friends, even my own mother and siblings will think it's the real thing. That is important for this plan to work. You, Geragos and I are the only ones who know about this contract." Michael says sitting in his chair again. He took a sip of water from a bottle that was sitting on his desk. "We will announce our engagement then which will last two months or so, or until the wedding has been planned and set up. Then we will be married, and that is when our five years will start. So the actual contract is for five and a half years, until the five years of marriage are completed."

"Okay, sounds easy enough. But what will I do for the six months prior to the wedding," I inquire.

"You will remain working for me until the engagement is announced, and you will be paid for your work, of course. Once we're engaged, you will stay at your apartment and move in once we're married. You will be given your own room, and your own car. Oh, and before I forget, you will also be required to make appearances with me," he mentions. I am still sunken in my chair. This is too much to take in, in such a relatively small amount of time. I wipe my sweat from my forehead. "For now, I think we have settled everything we need to right now," he says as he bends down and retrieves a cell phone from his desk. He looks at it for a moment and then puts it on his desk and slides it towards me. "This is yours. It is working, and I've already programmed my phone numbers and the phone numbers of any people you might need to contact."

I take the shiny metallic colored phone, which looks brand new. It was a Samsung I330, and had just come out a couple months ago. I smiled. This is too cool. I maneuver it in my hand looking at it from all sides. I stand up, ready to leave. "Okay, then this is it, huh?" I say smiling, feeding off of Michael's enthusiasm. "I guess I'll get going now. Be here tomorrow for window washing, how fun," I say sarcastically.

Michael stands up again too, as does Geragos. The latter offers me his hand to shake. "Nice to have met you, Miss."

"Likewise," I say, shaking his hand firmly. I turn towards the door and feel Michael's arm around my shoulders.

"Let me walk you to your car," he says, opening the door for me, and I smile on cue, because I know there is a possibility that anyone can see us. We arrive at my car door and as I reach to open it, Michael turns me around, lifts my chin up, and his eyes look deep into mine. "See you tomorrow," he says softly, and he lowers his head for a soft kiss on my lips. My heart flutters. He then lowers his head to whisper something in my ear. I get chills as I feel his breath on my ear and neck. "You're doing great. I would totally buy that look on your face," he says. My heart falls into my stomach. I lower my head quickly and get into my car as fast as I can. I know that this is all fake, I have to remind myself not to get overly excited when stuff like this happens. I can still feel his lips on mine. I take a deep breath. He is an expert liar; I will have to remember that in the future.