The Huffington mansion is a eight thousand square meter building with multiple wings for guests and service. My dear Erica had the whole left wing to herself and usually there was always some form of noise which she would argue is music or gossip or sometimes it was her mother breathing down her neck but today it was silent. The type of silent that comes with someone pacing the length of her Italian marble floor, her thoughts were only focused on me. Yes — me and my idea had gotten into her head, she knew I had sounded sure but she also knew I was desperate.
"I understood what he said, get married and fund his idea then get my inheritance back after he makes back the money. How can I trust him?" a deep in thought Erica finally sits down.
"I am interested but there has to be a way I can make him pay when the time comes, an agreement to hold him to it. Anna will know about such" It should be said that Anna is Erica's partner in crime and long time friend, in fact Anna once told Erica parents they were going on a trip for their school then Erica told Anna parents the same thing and both parents paid for it and Anna also comes from a wealthy family and is expected to inherit a lot. But first best not to tell Anna the story she is about to tell is about herself, so tell her it's about a friend. Erica calls Anna.
"Erica? It's nearly midnight," Anna's voice came through, sounding muffled by silk sheets. "Don't tell you are going to a party and need me to come along?"
"No Anna, common it's not only parties I call you for," Erica said, sitting on the edge of her bed and staring out of her window. "Today I met someone and she talked a lot about her family. Her name is Justina"
"Justina. Okay," Anna said, her tone shifting to one of intrigued professional curiosity. "Go on."
"Well she spoke about her father and all he did when he was alive, how successful he was and how she could relate with her father so easily, but now her father's gone her mother is a real stiff. Her mother has frozen her life. I mean where we met at the lounge I had to pay for our drinks because her card didn't work"
"Wait. Please tell me one broke girl didn't scam you?" Anna interrupt thinking Erica was deceived.
"Anna, I have money, it should be easy for me to spot someone that has or doesn't have money. A broke girl wouldn't even step into the lounge we were in, neither would she wear the same designer as I wear ok. Leather means money. Alright" Erica clearing the air to mean she is smart and not easy to deceive.
"Ok Erica" Anna is now listening seriously.
"That's not why I am calling, just listen, She said she met this man, Adam. Adam is a brilliant" Erica pauses to think of more info to lie about, "Adam is a brilliant engineer, and he said he has this Idea that can make him hundreds of millions but needs money to startup. Adam proposes a deal: a marriage of convenience to unlock her money from her mother; in return she has to fund his project. They sign a contract, pretend to be in love, then divorce after she has gotten her money in maybe after two years." Erica held her breath. She waited for Anna to laugh, to call it ridiculous.
"Hmmm, sounds like a plan," Anna said after a long pause. "But wait a minute does she have a Prenup."
"Prenup?" Erica whispered.
"Yes. Prenuptial Agreement" Anna said loudly, "Don't you know what that is, if something goes wrong she is protected. Well, tell 'Justina'" emphasizes and pauses "that Adam might be a brilliant engineer, but he's still a man with nothing to lose. If she walks into that marriage without a prenup, she has more than her mother to worry about. If they get divorced later, even as a stunt, a judge could grant him half of everything she got from her mother. She needs an ironclad document that states he doesn't touch a single cent of her money, regardless of why or how the marriage ends."
Exactly what Erica needed to hear as she nods her head positively; it is not only her mother that might be a problem what about Noah, Anna was right. Not only does she need to break free from her mother but she needs to make sure she doesn't have a new problem with Noah. Then the next question pops up in her head.
"A prenup will require a lawyer, once the family lawyers know what is going on so does her parents and everyone will know it's a business deal." Erica questions.
"Then she needs someone outside the family," Anna said. "Someone hungry, someone who doesn't know or care about her family, someone with no ties to the family, then she pays the lawyer something extra for his discretion that way the lawyer says nothing to her family."
"Right, I'll tell her. Thanks, Anna."
Erica hung up. With no more confusion, she now knew her next step; she thinks a little and comes up with the exact words to say in her head. Once she is done, no need waiting till morning, she picks up her phone, traces Noah's number and dials with purpose.
It rang three times before he answered. He sounded like he hadn't slept either. "Erica?"
"The plan has a new condition," she said, her voice cutting through the line like a blade. "I won't step foot in a church or a courthouse without a prenuptial agreement. It's going to state that you have zero claim to my inheritance, now or ever. And we aren't using my mother's lawyers. I need this kept away from anyone who knows my name."
I still remember the exact way she said it to me like we were fighting but I had to hold my calm and keep quiet for a few seconds then "I was thinking the same thing," I replied. "I just want to build my company. But finding a high-level lawyer who can keep a secret of this magnitude, that's something I haven't solved yet."
"Then solve it," she demanded.
"Hmmmm. I'll tell Antonia handle it. She knows some Legal practitioners, people who specialize in marriage and they will definitely have agreements for such. She'll find someone who can draft a document that protects us both without leaving a paper trail your mother can follow."
Erica paused and thought to herself and then asked after a short while.
"Who is Antonia?" she asked with all the suspicion in the world and with a slight disgust.
"She is an assistant that's works at the lab" I said slowly "Like I said she knows Legal practitioners, she helps with Legal work for many people. The second you said prenuptial agreement and Lawyer she is the only name that comes to mind. She'll get someone and they will draft something."
"And that's all she is to you, your telling me the truth" Erica still suspicious.
"Yes, would I be proposing a marriage if I was with someone else?" I said with confidence.
"How will I know, after all I only just met you…." Erica replied but still not convinced.
"Hmmm. Ok, you will meet her then and that should clear the air" I was trying to gain trust but…
"I don't want to meet her" Erica interrupts with a straight forward voice.
"if you meet her it will clear the air and there will be no secrets about her, you can talk to her if you want." Believing this would calm her. Erica silences for a second. "So I take it you are interested then and we have a deal?"
"I am still thinking about it, I will get back to you" and like that in less than a second Erica hangs up without giving me a chance to convince even more. But for Me I knew she was interested.
I picked up a magazine I used for research but this time I looked at all the different mobile companies, Yousung, Touple and UrDevice and I could see all of their CEO sitting on the same table with me and making deals and even some begging. Optic-Core is needed everywhere. All I need now is a simple agreement from a lawyer, shouldn't take more than a day or two.
"All mobile devices here I come" pick up my phone and dialed Antonia.