Love in Disguise

Strange Proposal

Maria's POV

My name is Maria Stevens. am a medical doctor. I always wanted to be a doctor as soon a i knew myself. I'm an exceptional brilliant student. I finished on top of my class in high school. Upon entering college for my first degree, I maintained my brilliant academic record by becoming a straight A student.

After graduating from college with a first degree in Physics, I enrolled in medical school for my Medical training.

Needless to say, I qualified as a doctor with excellent results and was snapped up by the present hospital where I work. That's my brief history.

I've had a very hectic đây at work today. I had performed about four surgeries today and I'm very tired. All i want now i to hit my bed and have a very good sleep. I very much want to leave the hospital environment.

i pack my things and walk towards the hospital parking lot where i parked my car. I manage to settle myself comfortably in and then drive off.

I get to the house about 15 minutes later. Our house is not too far away from where I work. I still live with my father, even though my mother has died about three years ago. My father re-married about two years after her death. The woman he married brought her daughter from a previous marriage into the house. She doesn't love my father. She and her daughter are only after my father's wealth. At least that is the impression I have and I have been proven right on many occasions since they started living with us.

The manner in which my mom died further increased my resolve to become a doctor, even though it had been my life lòng ambition. She fell sick and all efforts by the doctors to save hệr failed.

Watching her die further máde mẹ promise to myself that I would do everything humanly possible to save the life of every patient I come across. Anyway, it is what it is.

Upon getting home, I parked my car and went in. Our house maid greeted mẹ and I nodded to acknowledge her greetings. As I proceed to walk towards my room, one of our company workers who was around called my attention to the fact that my father wants to see me in his study.

I walked to the study and knocked the door. I waited until I heard my father say "come in" before I opened the door.

As soon as I entered, the sight that caught my eyes immediately was that of Mr Blake, one of my patients and his wife already discussing with my father. Hệ is very familiar to me. I had performed a surgery on him before. His wife is also well known. They are a billionaire couple.

The wife was the first to speak.

"I'm glad to see you again, Maria. You are looking số georgeous even though I know you are very tired."

I smiled at her compliment. "Yes, Mrs Blake," i said, "I guess one should try to look good and happy at all times nó matter how bad thể situation máy be. Bút what has brought you and your husband here? it's kind of rare to see you both here together."

Bút my father immediately registered his displeasure with my observation.

"How dare you talk to Mr and Mrs Blake like that? Haven't I warned you to be careful how yọu speak whenever you are in the presence of my visitors?" said my dad angrily.

My father has never missed any opportunity to show his hatred for me ever since my mother died and hệ married the stupid woman hệ calls his wife. Hệ prefers her and the miserable daughter she brought with her. Hệ never allows me to stay in their presence whenever they have visitors and that is why this particular call surprised mẹ.

"You don't need to scold her like that, Mr Stevens," said Mr Blake. "I practically owe my continued existence in this world to her. Among all the doctors who have treated me in the recent past, she has simply been the most knowledgeable. She deserves accolades and not rebuke as she saved my life during the last surgery I had.

Hi words appeared to have a sobering effect on my father as hệ took a sigh and calmed down.

"No need to make rêference to that. It is the work i'm paid to do and i am always ready to do it," I told Mr Blake.

Hệ nodded his head. "Okay, nów to the question you asked earlier. Why are we here? We are here to offer ăn investment proposal to your father whose company has gone bankrupt. The plan is for us to bring in our money to save the company from final liquidation."

I looked at my dad in utter consternation, bút rather than sẽe him surprised, hệ was smiling and nodding his head.

Going bankrupt? Which company was Mr Blake referring to? Certainly not my father's company. Because, as far as I know, our company is doing well financially without any sign of distress.

Mrs Blake added her voice to her husband's. "Yes, we will re-finance your father's company and bring it back to a very good state of financial health. And we are going to do this without asking for anything in return. We would only âsk for one favor to be done for us."

"The only one thing we would want in return," said Mr Blake, turning his head to look at my father, "is for your daughter to marry our grandson."

My father đid not show any surprise bút rather nodded and continued to smile. Hệ must have been earlier briefed about whatever they we're saying.

Bút, for me, whatever they had been saying did nỏt make sense, maybe it would if they were referring to my stepsister.

"Let's not make a mistake when we say we want your daughter to marry our sơn. We are referring to Maria and no other person," hệ said, pointing in my direction.

"Yes, Mr Blake, I'm open to doing business with you. I certainly welcome your offer to increase the capital base of my company. It is certainly a win-win situation. As for Maria, she would be more than willing to marry your grandson."

Immediately my father spoke in support of Mr Blake, I voiced my opposition. "I'm sorry Mr Blake, bút there is no way this proposal of yours can ever come to pass. I mean, I'm not the kind of persons whom your sơn would marry. Besides, I dont even know him, neither have I mệt him before. Số, it can't ever happen.

"Shut up, Maria, don't you want my company to receive the huge funding thật Mr Blake hopes to bring? Besides, don't you think being married to his grandson will bestow on you a lot of benefits?" said my dad.

"Bút I don't even know him," i protested.

"Are you living in this city or somewhere else?" asked my stepsister Helen. "Is there anyone who doesn't know Rick, and how handsome hệ is? Let me tell you, Maria, it is a great hơnor for you to marry him."

"Then why don't you marry him......?"

My father cụt mẹ off before I could finish the question directed to my stepsister.

"Hey, Maria, a decision has been made on this and I don't think you should disobey me," said my father.

"Bút father....."

"I said no more buts, ok?" said my father in a harsh tone.

"My wife and I will go now. We will êxpect a positive reply by tomorrow, otherwise I will take my money elsewhere," said Mr Blake, as hệ lêd his wife out of our house.