A/N: I am so ashamed and embarrassed of myself that I cannot even begin to apologise :( I had a really tough spring semester with all the horrifying subjects and then there were some personal matters too :( I'm so sorry, you guys. Kindly spare me and please, pretty please, still be my reader and my faithful reviewer? I'll be so grateful. I'm not about to leave this story and I'll try to finish it in summer break. So please stay tuned. I love you guys and can't thank you all enough for all the reviews.

Anyways... I hope you enjoy this chapter. Not the best way to come back but this had to there in order for the story to progress.

"Please say NO?"

For the next few days Bailey kept it mostly to herself. She had a few dates scheduled with the Martins but she made excuses and got out of 'em all. Even she didn't know why was she doing this. She had made a commitment and she was not the one to back down. She also tried to tell herself again and again that it was not even because she was starting to feel a certain way towards the arrogant Richie Rich. Her only conclusion to her being distant was because she needed some rest after the exhausting chaos that followed her for weeks.

It was just another ordinary day when she had blown off Cody for a meeting that morning. She had told him that she was not well. He seemed to have understood and told her that he'd see her soon when she'd feel better. When Bailey Pickett had agreed to this contract marriage, she thought it'd be like a fun little assignment that would give her a chance to make a lot of money and to fulfil many of her dreams. But now it had become so difficult. She kept thinking why and when did it turn so hard for her to pretend to be in love with Cody?

She would've continued her thought process if it wasn't for the knock on her door. She shouted to whoever it was to come in. Eunice Pickett slipped inside the room and quickly settled herself on her daughter's bed. She placed a warm and gentle hand on her shoulder and Bailey felt herself relaxing under her mother's ever so loving touch.

"Do you feel alright now, sweetie?"

Maybe she wasn't. But the way that her mother had asked her had surely made her feel better. Bailey smiled back at her mom...

"Yes, momma. I'm perfectly alright now."

"That's great..." Eunice started..."So now that you're okay, why don't you freshen up and make your way outside." She paused and passed another smile to her daughter..."There's a very handsome young man in a perfectly fitted suit waiting for you in our living room..."

A little shock washed over Bailey. Was it Cody Martin? No...no no no! She repeated in her head. He couldn't be at her home. She still had not told her parents about the wedding. She got up and peeked through the door to see if it was him that was there. Even though his back was to her but she'd recognise the well toned body and neatly combed, blonde locks of hair anywhere. It was HIM. She turned around nervous only to find her mother staring at her with utter confusion. She took a deep breath and calmed herself down. She walked towards her mom and told her to keep him company and she'd get dressed and be out soon. Her mother listened to her and obliged.

As soon as Eunice walked out of the bed room, Bailey aped towards her closet and picked out some casual clothes. She threw them on and tied her hair in a messy braid, she was supposed to look unwell. She thought. Before she stepped out of her bed room, she mentally kicked her "fiancé" indulged in what seemed like quite a pleasant conversation with her mother. Bailey took a deep breath and calmed herself down.

The moment her presence was known in that living room, Cody Martin stood up and passed a warm smile to her. She couldn't help but return his smile. She actually felt better seeing him. There was an internal happiness that she felt everytime she came face to face with the handsome younger Martin that she couldn't possibly explain. However, her happiness was short lived. Soon her mind was flooded with questions. Why was he here? Why was he being this gentleman when his mother was not around? Why was he looking at her in a different way? Was he really or was it just her mind playing games?

"Why don't you two sit down and catch up." Her mother's voice startled her..."I'll go get you both something to eat."

"No! Thank you, Mrs Pickett. I'm good." Cody spoke up for the first time since she got there.

"Oh nonsense. You don't think you're going to go from here without eating anything now do you?"

Bailey smiled at her mother's old fashioned and yet completely sweet hospitality. No matter where they'd go, she knew that her parents would always hold the country life close to them. After Cody gave in to Eunice's sweetness and had agreed with her, she walked away, leaving them alone.

"Okay now you better tell me what are you doing here, Mr." Without wasting a single second, Bailey had held on to his tie, making it look like she was about to torture him for information. Cody however, found this strangely amusing and started laughing.

His giggles only made Bailey more furious. Almost instinctively, she tightened her grip on his tie..."You better stop laughing and tell me why are you here? This is my home okay? I don't want any of your marriage drama in front of my parents..."

Bailey suddenly felt his touch on the hand that she had on his shirt. He grabbed it and made her let go of him. Her grip was loosened and he took her hand in his protectively and smiled. Why? She asked herself and her mind began to race uncontrollably. Cody Martin was being genuinely sweet? Her heart fluttered in the most amazing way but all at once her brain challenged her...'he has a motive behind this, have a grip on your heart' her subconscious shouted at her...

"You asked me..." Cody continued, stoping her thought process... "to be there with you when you told your parents about the wedding, so here I am."

He was there for her? And more importantly, he cared enough to remember what she had asked of him..."and also..." Cody spoke once again and as if her initial shock was not enough, he said something that made Bailey's toes curl up to an unknown pang of feeling... "I wanted to see if you were okay."

Did Cody Martin care? Her brain was throwing so many thoughts at her one after the other that she was not being able to utter a response... "Its almost like you've been dodging me lately." He laughed. "Wanted to make sure you're actually sick. Because being ignored is so not good for my ego." He teased. And maybe it was his initial sweetness, but Bailey let out a good laugh too.

Just then, Eunice Pickett entered the living room with a tray in her hands that had tea and some home-made cookies. She set the tray on the coffee table and smiled at them as she began to pour tea in the cups. She handed them a cup each and offered them some cookies, for which Cody thanked her politely. Why was he being so nice? That was all Bailey could think at that moment.

"So Cody..." Eunice continued..."I don't know you one bit, honey. Why don't you tell me what do you do and how you know our little daughter..."

Cody adjusted himself comfortably on the couch and propped his one leg on the other and spoke confidently..."Well, Mrs Pickett...I am the CEO of the ever famous Martin Empires..." The moment Cody said those words, Eunice's eyes went wide. It was HIM. The guy that Bailey hated so much, the guy who was responsible of firing her older daughter, the guy who insulted Bailey so much that she had come crying. This guy was the reason that Bailey's inner Natalia had returned. She shuddered and was about to ask him to leave right away when she was interrupted by him speaking again. She watched over at them as he held her daughter's left hand and brought it to his chest in a way that it was in her view...

"And for how I know your daughter?" He smiled..."She's my fiancee. I'm marrying your daughter, Mrs Pickett."

"WHAT?" Eunice stood up shocked..."when did this happen? Bailey?" She looked furiously at her daughter. Right then, Clyde walked in hearing all the noise..."Oh good you're here." She gestured him to come near..."This man right here says that he's engaged to our Bailey. They're engaged? Oh for heaven's sake, Bailey, you're marrying HIM? He fired your sister, he made you cry. Jesus! He's the reason why Nat..." Eunice immediately paused in the mid sentence and calmed herself down. She looked over at Clyde and gestured him to speak. He moved forward towards a very confused Bailey who kept eyeing Cody with the 'I'm gonna kill you' look. How dared he blurting the information out like that?

"Sweetie, have you thought this through?" Clyde asked her politely and that spiked Eunice's anger and frustration again...

"NO SHE HAS NOT! Clyde? What are you thinking? She obviously don't know any better. How can she marry him? Or anybody just like that without even concerning us? I mean what about...?" She didn't have to finish, Clyde knew what she meant. She was afraid of Natalia. What if Cody would find out about her? Would he understand that she's sick and not turn her in for causing havoc around the city?

"Mom..." Bailey spoke for the first time since her mother got in the living room..."I know I should have told you but this is my life. I can make my own decision and you need to trust me on this."

"But you hated him, Bailey." Eunice pointed out. Bailey looked back at Cody who had dropped a bomb on her family and was now sitting back, relaxed, enjoying the turn out as if he intended for it to happen. She would deal with him later. Firstly, she had to connivence her parents..."I did." She stated..."But now, I love him, mom"

"In a month? You fell in love with him in a month? You expect me to believe that?" She was right. One month was too soon to fall for someone so madly that you forget all the bad things and be willing to marry him.

"Look, Mr and Mrs Pickett..." This time Cody stood up, he had his ever confident posture and an egoistic plastered smile..."I know you guys mean well for your daughter but c'mon, she's a grown up, she can make her own decision. I mean Bailey did tell me that you guys are old fashioned but did you actually think that in present times you'd get your daughter to have an arrange marriage?" Cody laughed as if he was mocking them..."I mean, even if you were thinking that, you were mistaken. Your daughter is a strong, independent young woman, who can make her decisions and be responsible enough to stand by them too. You can't force her into anything. You just cannot tell her to not marry me. Trust me, she would still do it regardless of what you two say. You can try if you want to."

And with his little speech, he secured his previous position. Bailey was looking at him with fiery daggers. It clearly felt like he was provoking them. Did he want them to say no?

"You are right." Clyde sighed..."we can't tell her what to do and what not to. And we should trust her with her decisions..." He briefly looked over at his wife who was staring at him like he was crazy. He nodded towards her in gesture of telling her to relax. He then turned his attention towards Bailey, putting his hands on her shoulders, he repeated his question..."are you sure about this? Is he really what you want?" Bailey couldn't find it in her heart to lie to her dad looking in his eyes. She looked down and slightly nodded. The next thing she knew, she was wrapped in the protective arms of her father... "If this is what you want and if you really love him, then you have our blessings, sweetie-pie. All we want is your happiness."

Tears started to build up in Bailey's eyes. Her parents were these warm, kind hearted, compassionate people. She couldn't stand the idea of lying to them. They loved her so much that if they'd find out what she was doing, she was afraid it'd actually kill them. After those brief moments, she was freed from his grip and she watched as her dad approached a surprised Cody.

"You. Listen to me right here. My little baby girl is the most precious to me. So if you did anything to hurt her, ever, I'll make sure you suffer for an eternity. You hear me?"

Even thought it was an attack towards his ego to have someone actually blackmail him, Cody couldn't help but feel the warmth of his love for his daughter. He smiled and extended his hand to seal the deal..."I promise, Mr Pickett. I'll never intentionally hurt your daughter and if in any way I ever did, I'll crawl to the ends of earth to make her happy."

Clyde immediately shook his hand and in one fluid motion, brought him in a hug... "Oh and one more thing... Call me dad, son." Clyde smiled.

"Dad." Cody mouthed back and he felt so good calling out that word again. Clyde was such a great father and Cody thought that if its not anything, he would get a father for a while out of this fake marriage. After the deal was sealed, they got to talking and celebrating. Eunice was still wary about the whole thing but somewhere in her daughter's eyes, she saw love for this guy and she felt better.

Soon Cody stood up to leave, biding everyone goodbye. Bailey walked him to the front door and as soon as they were outside and alone, she blurted out..."Did you want my parents to say no."

"What?" Cody turned around startled...

"Its just..." She continued..."earlier when you were supposedly trying to connivence them, it felt like you were provoking them to refuse."

Cody sighed and walked a little closer to her..."Alright yes! I was. Look, I wanted them to reject me, my proposal or whatever. If they would've done that, we wouldn't have to go through with this whole drama of getting married and actually having to bear eachother. I would've told my mother that your parents are old fashioned and so are you. So you won't go against their will and hence you left me. And I'm too heart broken over our breakup so I can't even think of another girl again. My mother would've been sympathetic towards me and my company would've been saved too. And the best part, we would've been on our separate ways. But..." He laughed..."Looks like your parents love you a lot. I'd just have to tolerate you."

"I see." Bailey nodded. So the reason why he was there was not because he cared but because he thought of a way to get rid of the marriage and also keep his company. He came over to make sure that he wouldn't have to see her again. Typical Richie Rich, always thinking about himself, she thought. She felt bad about all of this but at least the final stray taught her to not put her heart in this little assignment or game and just keep her eyes on the prize.

"Well too bad. Now I actually have to look at your stupid, proud, arrogant face every day..." She mocked him and he just stared at her...

"Oh believe me, its not gonna be any picnic to look at your stupid face either." He shot back.

"FINE" They both shouted at eachother's face as they walked in opposite directions.

He didn't know why he turned around to look at her, and man he had no idea why his lips automatically formed a smile as he watched her go inside the house...All Cody Martin knew was that it wasn't going to be that bad marry Bailey Pickett.

To be continued...

A/N: Be on the look out for the next chapter. Will be posted soon. 'Fingers crossed'.

Love, Ash! xx