Six months to forever

Chapter 4: The offer

Alicia’s POV

Every red light felt too long, Every turn felt unnecessary,my legs were shaking the entire ride.

I didn't even know when I got to the hospital. All I could think about was my grandmother. The moment I reached her room, I rushed inside.

She was awake, Weak. But she was awake. I nearly collapsed from relief.

“Grandma.”

She smiled.

“There’s my dramatic girl.”

I laughed through my tears.

“You scared me” I whispered, moving closer.

“I know.”

I sat beside her as I grabbed her fragile hands, holding it like I was afraid she'd disappear if I let go.

For the next few hours, I stayed there,I didn’t eat, I didn’t think, I just stayed.

The doctor came in. He explained that her condition was stable for now, but she will need to continue treatment. I already knew what that meant. More bills, more money, more pressure.

That night, I sat at the hospital cafeteria alone, staring at my cup of hot coffee that had long gone cold.

My phone rang, Unknown number. I almost ignored it, Almost.

“Hello?”

“Miss Dawson?”

“Yes?”

“This is Marcus Reed. I'm calling from cross corporation.”

My body stiffened.

“Why are you calling me?”

“Mr Cross would like to see you.”

I frowned.

“Your boss made it clear I wasn’t getting the job.”

“You’re not.”

The answer came too quickly. Too easy.

“Then what does he want?”

Marcus hesitated.

“That’s something you’ll have to ask him yourself.”

The call disconnected, I stared at my screen confused.

Something about it didn't feel like an invitation, It felt like a summon.

The next morning I returned to Cross Corporation. Every step into the building felt heavier than the last, like I was walking into my final judgment, and didn’t know what to expect but I was scared.

David was standing at his window when I entered his office.

He didn’t turn around.

“You came”

“I almost didn’t”

That made him turn his head a little.

His expression was unreadable, but calm as usual which seemed to put more tension on me.

“How’s your grandmother?”

My heart skipped.

“How do you know about her?”

“I asked my assistant to look into your situation”

Anger flowed through my heart.

“You had no right”

“I need to understand who Im making a deal with”

That word caught my attention

“Deal?”

He walked over to his table, unbothered by my tone.

“Your grandmother's medical bill is expensive.”

I stared at him, with suspicion in my eyes.

“What are you getting at?”

David opened a document and placed it on the table. Inside was a contract, Neat, Prepared, Intentional.

I looked at it, then I looked at him.

“You want me to work for you?”

“No”

The answer was quick.

Too quick.

“Then what?”

For the first time I noticed something in his expression, something controlled but not cold.

His eyes met mine.

“I want you to marry me”

For a moment my mind filtered what I heard. It refused to accept it.

“What?”

“Six months”

A short pause.

Then I laughed. Not because it was funny, but it was the only sound and reaction my body could come up with.

“You’ve lost your mind.”

“Probably.”

He said it so calmly. Like he had already accepted it, Like he has already decided I would too.

“My family expects me to get married. My position at this company is becoming complicated. A marriage will solve several issues.”

“And what do I get in return?”I asked, my voice a lot more defensive and shaky.

He slid another document at me.

I didn't want to look. I did anyway, My eyes were stuck on the numbers on the page.It wasn’t just money, It was freedom, It was survival, It was my grandmother's life written in zeros.

“That’s fit your grandmother's expenses.” He said.

I looked up at him slowly.

“Why?”

“Because you need it.”

That made my chest ache.

“I don’t need your charity.”

“It’s not charity.”

“Then what is it.”

His gaze harden.

“A contract.”

The word sounded odd. I looked back down at the papers.

Six months, Marriage, Money, No feelings, No expectations, A contract marriage.

I should have stood up, I should have walked out, I should have told him exactly what I thought of him and never looked back.

But my mind betrayed me. Because all I could see was my grandmother in the hospital, All I could hear was the doctor's voice. Continued treatment, More time, More hope.

My fingers tightened grip on the contract.

Then stopped.

“What happens if I say no?” I asked quietly.

David didn’t move, didn't blink.

“Then you walk out of my office.” He said “and we never speak of it again.”

The silence felt loud, too long, too heavy.

I looked at the signature line again, My hands tightened on the pen. Six months. That was all.

I could survive anything for six months. Couldn’t I?

I pressed the pen down..

“Wait.”

The words slipped out before I could stop it, My hands froze, I didn't look up immediately.

Because something in his voice sounded different. Not louder, not softer. Just…different, more deliberate, more final. I slowly looked up to him.

“There’s one more condition,” he said.

My grip tightened, my throat went dry.

“What condition?” I asked even though I knew I might not like it.

A break of silence.

Then he spoke. Calm, Unshaken.

“You will have to live with me.”

The room seemed tighter. Not physically, but in a way I couldn’t explain, my finger loosened slightly around the pen.

“Live… with you?” I repeated slowly as if saying it would make it less real.

David didn’t answer immediately. He just watched me, waiting, not pushing, not explaining.

That just answered my questions. He meant it, completely.

I looked down at the contract. Six months suddenly didn’t feel like a number again, It felt like a door I couldn’t close after I walked through.

My hand hovered over the signature line, but didn't move.

Not yet.