A Deal For Contract
1528 Words
"MRS. BARBARA CAROLINE! We've been waiting for you!"
A man's heavy voice echoed in the room. My eyes were immediately drawn to the large figure standing in the center of the restaurant, flanked by two burly men.
Ah, no, this is a nightmare.
The man who came with his two bodyguards was Mr. Gerald, the loan shark we had been avoiding. His left hand hit the table hard, shaking several glasses.
Mom, who was standing behind me, was immediately stunned. I turned my head and saw that her face was deathly pale, her hands trembling as she held her bag.
"Calista..." she whispered. "This can't be..."
I swallowed, trying to remain calm despite the rumbling in my chest.
"Mom, we have to face this," I said as I took her hand. I tried to reassure her through my gaze.
We walked slowly towards Mr. Gerald, feeling the worry fill my heart. While Mr. Gerald immediately turned around with a triumphant grin.
"Wow, Calista! It's been a long time since we met. I heard you moved to the city and married your rich husband," Mr. Gerald said with a teasing smile.
I shook my head. Where did Mr. Gerald hear that?
Damian did have a successful business. But somehow, he suffered a loss because he was cheated by his business partner.
Therefore, I, who was still working, tried to cover Damian's business losses.
"But why is your family in arrears for two months, huh?" interrupted Mr. Gerald.
"Mr. Gerald, please... give us a little more time. The restaurant is just starting to run again. We will definitely pay, I promise," my mother's voice sounded pleading.
"I'm divorced, and my ex-husband's business has been losing money since three months ago. I've resigned from my job there. We don't have the money to pay you," I continued to plead.
Mr. Gerald laughed, loud and harsh. "Promise? I'm tired of hearing your promises. If there's no money today, I'll take the restaurant!"
"No!" mom exclaimed frantically, her eyes glazed over. "This restaurant is the only thing we have. Please give us time..."
I stepped forward, trying to protect mom. "Mr. Gerald, we're not running away or dodging. Please give us a chance to pay off that debt."
"Gosh, I've given you long enough. Why don't you take responsibility for what you owe me?!"
"Mr. Gerald, my father is in critical condition. I still need to use the money for his treatment," I said earnestly.
"Our restaurant isn't making much profit, Mr. Gerald. I can't give you the money yet, give-"
"What do I care, huh?" Mr. Gerald quipped. "Enough! I've been patient, but my patience has its limits."
He signaled to his men, who immediately started shifting tables and chairs. One of them even went to the cash register, trying to open the drawer.
"Hey, stop it!" I yelled as I tried to pull the drawer, but I was outmatched.
I almost fell down if I didn't immediately hold on to one of the tables. My hand was holding my stomach, making sure my pregnancy was okay.
Mom's voice broke into cries, and I began to feel like our world was crumbling. I bit my lip, holding back my anger and helplessness. Where else would we survive if this little restaurant was taken away?
"Wait, Mr. Gerald! Stop it, don't use harsh methods to destroy our family!" I screamed at Mr. Gerald.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!"
I turned around and saw a man walking in confidently. His body was well-built, his eyes were sharp, and his face was full of authority. My whole body didn't move.
"Sean?" I panicked, and hurriedly approached him. "Sean, why are you here? You should leave now."
But Sean didn't listen to me. He pushed my hand away gently, walking towards Mr. Gerald.
"Who are you?" asked Mr. Gerald, his eyebrows raised.
Sean looked at him undaunted. "I'm Sean, and I'm here to guarantee this family's debt."
Suddenly, the whole room fell silent. I looked at Sean with widened eyes, unable to believe what I had just heard.
"Sean! Don't be crazy!" I warned Sean.
As before, Sean didn't listen to a word I said.
Mr. Gerald narrowed his eyes, looking displeased. "Are you sure you want to interfere in this, sir?"
"Of course, I'm sure. Whatever the amount of the debt is, I'll make sure it's paid off. But you have no right to seize this restaurant today," Sean said firmly.
Mr. Bandi grinned, as if trying to challenge. "That guarantee is not enough, sir. I need certainty."
Sean reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a check. With a calm gesture, he wrote the numbers on it and handed it to Mr. Gerald.
"This is the check, part of their debt. I will pay the rest next week."
I was wide-eyed with surprise. What is Sean doing now?!
"Fine, I'll give you time. But only because you did the talking." He looked at me and mom once more, then stepped out with his men.
As soon as they left, my body almost collapsed.
Sean turned around, looking at us gently. "Are you guys okay?" he asked.
"Yeah... but why are you doing this?" I asked, voice trembling. "We didn't even ask..."
Sean smiled slightly, looking at me with a look that I couldn't interpret. "I told you, I'll take your life, Calista. I'll protect you and your mom."
Mom came closer, clasping Sean's hand as she cried. "Thank you... thank you so much. We don't know how to repay you. I'm sorry..."
Mom's words trailed off for a moment.
"...I separated you two because of my selfishness in forcing Calista to marry for money," my mother continued.
Sean just nodded slowly. "There's no need to dwell on the past," he said.
I looked at Sean intensely and longingly, regretting my decision to leave him.
If I had been with him from the beginning, would my fate have been different?
***
"Have you thought about my offer of a marriage contract?"
When things started to settle down, I sat down opposite Sean. Fear still pervaded my feelings. Sean's question made me think of Mr. Gerald coming back and confiscating the restaurant.
I already didn't have the money to pay all my family's debts.
I had nothing left, except for the baby in my womb.
"I... have no choice," I replied quietly, my hoarse voice almost inaudible.
The hand I held under the table felt cold and stiff. Every second felt so heavy, like I was caught in the trap I'd been dreading since he first offered me this contract marriage.
I didn't want to admit how much it hurt, how shame filled every space inside me. But I knew-I knew-that my father, the man I had looked up to, wouldn't survive much longer without the treatment he needed.
The mounting debts, the unrelenting pressure, all pointed to me.
"So, do you agree?" Sean asked, straightening his back slightly, as if waiting for an official answer.
I nodded slowly. "Yes... I agree."
The words came out so heavy, as if I was voicing the death of all my hopes. It felt like the whole world suddenly felt so small. Wasn't this a betrayal of myself?
Shouldn't I be ashamed for leaving Sean, but I ended up needing his help?
Sean didn't answer immediately. He just looked at me with a look that I couldn't interpret.
He took a file from his bag and placed it in front of me. "This is the contract marriage document. After two years, everything will be finalized, and you'll be free."
I stared at the file, almost unable to look at it. I didn't care what was written on it.
All I wanted was for this to be over, for my father to get the treatment he needed, and for our family not to sink any deeper.
"Thank you," I said, even though the words felt so heavy on my lips.
Sean nodded, his eyes remaining locked on mine.
"Calista, there's no need to feel guilty about the past of our relationship," he said suddenly.
I looked up, meeting his gaze.
"For a long time, I wished you well in your destiny. It's my fault for letting you go and not making sure that bastard treated you well."
I shook my head. No, it shouldn't be Sean who felt guilty.
"I made a promise to your brother to take care of you. For years I did, but in the end I failed," Sean then chuckled.
"Maybe John will scold me and punch me for my failure to take care of you," Sean said as he finished his sentence.
"No, you have no blame for my fate, Sean," I replied. "I shouldn't have given up in the first place. All this time, I was questioning whether my decision was wrong or not. As it turned out, my decision was wrong."
Sean didn't have time to answer me because he checked his cell phone. A message chimed.
Sean's eyebrows furrowed for a moment, then he looked at me hesitantly.
"Calista, let's forget our past relationship. Do you want to meet my parents?"
- Writer
