Second Encounter
1134 Words
Juliet
I was in class when my phone started ringing nonstop. I pulled it out of my bag and saw Victoria's name flashing on the screen.
"What does she want now?" I groaned under my breath. I quickly stepped outside the lecture hall to answer the call.
"Hello!"
"Juliet, it's your father.... He is in surgery."
"What!... what happened to him?" My voice cracked as I felt a wave of fear wash over me.
"He was involved in an accident. You need to come here now!" She stated.
"Which hospital?"
"I'll text you the address."
Terror gripped my heart as I hastened to the hospital, my mind consumed by worst case scenario.
My father might have stopped caring about me now, but I couldn't just erase the memories of when he was a loving and caring father.
"Where is he?" I demanded, my footsteps quickening as I drew closer to Victoria.
"The doctors are still evaluating his condition but he suffered severe injuries." She informed.
"How did this happen? Was he drunk when he was driving?"
"It's your bad luck." She snarled
"What?"
"Yes, he was sober."
Tears streamed down my face. I imagined what my mother would say if she knew I left my father and this happened to him.
"Wipe off those crocodile tears! There are things to worry about. The hospital bill is going to cost a fortune."
"Is that all that matters to you? Your husband is literally fighting for his life. And all you are concerned about is the cost!"
"It's not my fault he's lying there injured! You are the one responsible for his condition!" She growled.
"You always blame me for everything, but the truth is, my father's downfall started the very day he met you! I'm not the one cursed with the bad luck, you are!" I yelled.
"You are the reason he went bankrupt, and you are the reason he's lying down there helpless!" I said.
I felt a surge of anger and sadness.
"Excuse me," A man's voice echoed from behind me.
I spun around to face him, it was a man dressed in a suit.
"Which one of you is Mrs Veronica?" He asked, holding an envelope. "My client is suing for damages." He stated firmly.
"What?" I screamed with my eyes widely opened.
Veronica retrieved the paper from him, her gaze dropping to the figures printed on it.
"€800,000!" She shouted, her tone laced with disbelief.
My jaw dropped, "How could it possibly cost that much?"
I trailed behind him as he left.
"Please sir, €800,000 is a lot of money."
He turned to face me and said, "I'm not the one you should be speaking to." He sighed, "You should be speaking with my client over there." He gestured to someone sitting in the waiting room with their back turned to us.
I nodded and headed towards the man he showed me.
"Hello, Sir."
He turned to face me.
I was startled when I saw his face.
"You!"
""Are you stalking me?" He asked with a cold voice.
I shot him a disdainful look, my mind racing with frustration.
"Oh God, this was the last thing I needed today." I thought to myself.
He had a bandage plastered on the left side of his head.
I swallowed hard, hoping the lawyer had made a mistake.
I really did not want it to be this arsehole that I'd have to deal with.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, not concerned, I only wanted to confirm if the lawyer made a mistake.
His expression hardened. "A stupid man drove recklessly and slammed right into my car!
"I'm fortunate to have sustained only a few bruises. I'm going to make that i***t pay for all the damages."
"Oh my God!" My heart sank.
"No need to be dramatic, is not like you care, but, I'm okay. It could have been a lot worse but I'm fine. Just the bruises on my head and a few sore ribs." He explained thinking the worried look on my face were due to his wounds.
"Uh.... I'm sorry for the pain he caused you."
"You don't have to say sorry, it wasn't your fault. It was the stupid person behind the wheel."
"He's not stupid!" I quickly corrected.
Henry's expression darkened.
"You know the man who almost took my life?!" He asked, his eyes wide open.
"Uh..." I stuttered, my body trembled as fear washed over me.
"He's my father, and i know his actions have cost you a lot, but you have to forgive him, please. His intention was not to have you killed... It was an accident."
I was on the brink of tears, struggling to hold them back. But despite my effort to compose myself, my voice cracked and trembled.
His raised an eyebrow, "Your father!" He said with amusement in his voice.
I had the urge to wipe the smug grin off his face.
"That's interesting." He drawled.
With the look on his face, I knew he wouldn't let it go easily.
"I apologise for all the damages and promise to pay back."
"Promise?!" He snorted.
"Yes.. but i'll need maybe 3 to 5 years to be able to pay back everything." I pleaded.
A loud laugh escaped his mouth. "3 to 5 years! You are very funny. There is no way I'd wait that long for €800,000."
"You are wealthy, and I'm sure you have other cars." I blurted out.
"Of course I do, I'm Henry Thompson. But I want my money in full. I won't wait 3 to 5 years."
"Why are you being so inconsiderate? My father is lying helpless in the OR,and you are here breathing fine, you are not fighting for your life."
"He should have thought of that before driving recklessly. I could have died!" He retorted.
"But you didn't," I snapped back, tears rushing down my face. "You don't have to be ruthless about this. I'll pay you every dim, I just need more time to do so."
"I helped you with your father, remember, even a man with a heart as cold as yours, would at least try to be considerate."
"I paid you for your service." He sneered.
"And you tried to.... I could have sued, you know. But I didn't."
We stood quiet for awhile.
"Alright. I'll help you."
I lifted my eyes to his, "Are you serious?"
A small smile played on his lip.
"What's the catch?" I asked, If there was anything I've learnt, is never to trust rich people.
"Nothing you can't do."
I felt a lump in my throat. "Wh.. what?"
"The same thing I wanted the day you hurt my knee."
My eyes grew wide, as what he really wanted dawned on me.
Sex!
- Writer
