HIS STOLEN HEART

CHAPTER THREE

"What are you doing here" she asked James her brother who was standing before her looking defeated.

"Can I at least come in? He asked.

With a nod of her head, she moved away from the door and allowed him entrance into her apartment her mind was already thinking of one thousand reasons why he would show up at her house unannounced and none of her thoughts were good.

"What's going on" she asked her brother looking so tensed.

"Is mum okay? She asked frantically

he sat down and took a deep breath, lifted his sober eye to look at his sister,

" it's mother" he said,

Nicole stood still too afraid to ask the next question but she needed to know.

"What is wrong with Mother the doctor assured me that she was stable for now," she said

"She is still stable right" she asked too frightened for what his response would be.

"Please sis sit down, you have to be calm to be able to understand what I am about to share with you," he said

"I am calm," she said pacing the room

*Please" he pleaded.

"Okay fine, I will sit", she said and took a seat.

James looked at her for a while to be sure she was calm enough before he proceeded.

He turned to Julie and said "Hi"

"Hi" Julie responded

He turned to Nicole and continued.

"I was with the doctor earlier today and he told me that Mum's health has deteriorated," he said soberly

"How bad James" Nicole asked,

"very bad" he answered and just held his head in his palms trying to hide his emotions.

"Why do I feel like there is more" Julie asked,

James looked at his sister for a while and said, "She has been given 3momths to live Nicole".

"What!!! the two friends exclaimed in shock.

James finally broke down,

" the doctor said if she doesn't get that surgery on or before 12 weeks she is going to die, we are going to lose he…her Nicole," he said crying bitterly

"I have never been so helpless in my life, I can't even save my mother" he lamented.

Nicole rushed to him giving him a tight hug trying to fight her tears and failing miserably.

" We are not going to lose her I promise" she assured

"How can you even make such a promise, you are just a maid for goodness sake, how do you intend to raise that amount of money in this short period," he said brokenly

She looked at her brother with tears blocking her view she angrily wiped them away and said firmly looking into her brother's eyes,

"our mother would not die not when I have a say in it".

And that said she picked up her handbag and headed for the door saying

" bye, Julie see you later, make yourself comfortable bro I will be right back".

"Where are you going sis," he asked.

"To do what I had to do," she said sounding determined.

"Please sis don't do anything stupid," he said.

she turned to him giving him a sad smile and said "I won't"

"See you guys later," she said and walked out the door.

James turned to Julie and asked, "Is she going to be alright".

she turned to him and said, "She is a big girl, am sure she can take care of herself, everything is going to be okay".

"I don't feel that way though but I would give you guys the benefit of the doubt," he said looking so disturbed.

Campbell's mansion!

Nicole hesitated a little before walking into the mansion, she has been here hundreds of times but she can not help but feel her nervousness increase as she approaches the entrance of the main building.

Meanwhile, Brandon was upstairs watching her every move like a Hulk and wondering why she was looking so defeated.

"This was her idea in the first place I only add a clause to her suggestions," he thought

ignoring a nagging feeling of wanting to know why she looked so sad.

" This is absurd" he muttered to himself

"She is just the maid for goodness sake," he said pacing his magnificent study,

"Soon to be your wife," his subconscious said

"Shut up" he muttered

"What is taking her so long," he asked no one in particular,

"she should be here by now" he mused.

To distract himself he picks up his phone to call his friend, business partner, and lawyer Robbie.

He picked up on the third ring and said cheerfully "Hey man what's up?

"Am good" he responded,

"I need a contract drowned out by the end of today," he said,

"Okay, what's this contract about," he asked.

"I have found a bride," he said.

"A bride? He asked surprised.

"you don't even have a girlfriend man stop pulling my legs," he said with laughter in his voice.

" I am serious man," Brandon said in irritation

"You have found a bride?

"Okay let's say I believe you, so what contract am I drawing up for you?" he asked

"A contract marriage I am going to get married but on a contract basis and you are going to keep this to yourself are we clear" he stated seriously

"Confidentiality is not the issue but come on man you can't leave me hanging like this I need details," he said.

"You will get all the details you need today but just draft the contract and I will be in your office tomorrow by 8 a.m.," he said

"Take care" he hung up before his friend could pressure him for more details….

Downstairs

"Hi, Mrs Campbell"Nicole greets Brandon's grandma as she enters to sitting room on her way upstairs.

She was having tea in the sitting room when she entered,

"Hello my child how are you today? she asked

"I am very well ma" she replied.

"Go right in and change I am craving your delicious potato porridge," she said.

"OK ma I will but I have to see mr Brandon first," she said

"He indeed asked about you earlier go right on he is in his study upstairs," she said

"OK Ma, thanks," she said

" I will be back* she said before heading for the stairs as she took each step her heart was beating so fast that she feared it might burst out of her chest any second now.

"Calm down Nicole you can do this, you can pull this off all you have to do is relax and breathe," she said to herself.

On getting to the study door she took a deep calming breath then knocked twice on the door and waited for his response tensly.

"Come right in," he said

she did as she was told, and she stood in front of him waiting since he seemed more interested in whatever he was working on with his laptop.

After a few minutes, he said,

"You are late"

_Something came up at home and I stopped to say hi to Mrs Campbell downstairs, am sorry" She said

"I don't like being kept waiting," he said like she had not just spoken.

"It was not intentional that was what I was trying to say" she explained

He looked up at this point and fixed her with an intimidating gaze and every other thing she wanted to say got stuck in her throat she simply swallowed hard and waited for what he had to say.

After a few uncomfortable seconds, he asked "What have you finally decided"?

She stood still trying to find the right words to say and her heartbeat was so loud she felt he might hear it just when his agitation would have gotten the best of him.

She looked up and said……