CHAPTER3
1291 Words
Chapter 3: The confrontation
The building was glass and steel, like it had never known struggle. Maya was mesmerized
but wouldn't dare show it.
Maya stood in the lobby with her arms crossed and her legs shaking out of nervousness,
trying to ignore how small and out of place she felt. She'd never been in a place like that or
fact, any situation like this whatsoever - where the air felt expensive and the silence echoed
and breathed on her neck.
She was getting more nervous as the second went by. She was also nervously looking at her
wristwatch watch waiting to be called upon. She had been there for about two hours and was
getting impatient.
“Good morning please, I have been waiting here for about two hours. What's going on
please?”
, she said to the receptionist impatiently.
“Oh I'm sorry, what did you say your name was again?”
, she asked with a smile on her face.
“As I already told the lady who was here before, Maya Sinclair. My name is Maya Sinclair”
,
she mentioned twice angrily.
The receptionist smiled too tightly when she said her name on arrival.
“I'm sorry miss, you'd be attended to shortly. Kindly take a seat, I will make a call now.
Maya stormed to her seat angrily.
Another forty-five minutes passed by.
“He's expecting you,
” The woman said, pressing a button.
“Floor forty- eight”
.
“Of course he was”
. Maya went into the elevator angrily.
“I'm Sorry for the delay ma’am”
, the receptionist apologized.
The elevator ride felt like forever. Every passing floor felt like a countdown to hell.
By the time the doors slid open, Maya had built up her armor: shoulders straight, jaw tight,
head held up high, and heart racing.
She stepped into another reception and was directed by Layla into his office.
She stepped into a dark room, filled with nothing but glass and steel. No pictures, no
memories, just too clean, too cold, and too quiet.
He was already there, waiting.
Behind his beautifully crafted table, in a crisp charcoal suit, Jordan Hale looked exactly like
someone who didn't blink when lives fell apart. He barely glanced up.
“Maya Sinclair”
, he said, like her name was a file he memorized.
“You came”
.
“Of course I did. It's not like you gave me another alternative. You knew I would”
, she replied.
He looked up then- steel-blue eyes meeting hers.
“I counted on it”
, he said.
Maya walked towards him, stopping just before his desk,
“You sent me a threat”
.
“No”
, he said calmly.
“ All I did was to give you a choice”
.
Her mouth tightened,
“Who do you think you are? You had absolutely no right—
”
.
“I have absolutely every right”
, he cut in aggressively.
“ I have every right because your
father took everything from mine. He left us bankrupt, backlisted, stigmatized, and broken.
You're just living in the echo of his decision and unfortunate to be of his blood”
.
Maya went silent for some time. Her hands then balled into fists,
“You don't even know me.
You know nothing about me. Yet you're here making false accusations. My father was a
lovely man. What are you saying?”
.
“I don't need to. I know your debt. That's all that matters”
.
“What do you mean by my debt? You mean his debt.
” Maya asked, confused.
Jordan got up and walked around his desk, slow and deliberate, digging his fingers into his
desk,
“and who's paying it now? You. Because he left you with nothing”
.
She flinched, but just slightly.
He noticed and smirked.
Maya took a step back unintentionally,
“This is extortion. I won't take this from you. There's
nothing you can do”
, she said with fear in her heart.
“It's not extortion, it's business baby girl”
, he said.
“No. This is revenge wrapped up in a fancy document”
, she fought back.
He didn't argue further.
Maya shook but she stood her ground.
“This isn't fair. You want to deliberately punish me for
something I didn't do. for something I know nothing about”
.
“I don't like debts. I want repayment. In any form I choose”
.
Her breath caught,
“What do you mean by that?”
He looked at her like it was obvious,
“What I mean is, I clear your family’s debt. Every last
one of it. And in return, you do me a favor”
.
“What favour?”Her heartbeat became fast-paced as she asked.
“Nothing unusual. It's
something you can do.
”
Silence.
“In exchange, all you have to do is belong to me”
.
The words sat between them like a loaded weapon.
“I beg your pardon?”
, she asked quietly.
“Yes. you heard me right”
.
“Belong to you? What do you mean?”
, She looked pale.
“You’re talking like I'm your- like I'm a property that someone owns”
.
Jordan's voice was smooth and calm, almost cruel in its form.
“All I'm offering you is a
contract. Nothing illegal. Nothing harmful. Just a union between two people for some time”
.
“For how long?”
He didn't answer.
Her voice changed,
His jaw flexed,
“Jordan, I asked how long?”
“Until I say otherwise”
.
Her jaw dropped and she almost lost her bearings as she stumbled. She let out a hollow
laugh,
“You must be insane”
.
He didn't show any form of remorse.
“No, I'm just practical”
.
She hissed and turned to leave,
“It was a big mistake coming here, I have to leave-
”
“You walk out now and the debt stays,
” he said coldly. She stopped in her tracks,
“and next
week your mother's medicine runs out. And the week after, you get evicted from your house.
”
She froze.
Her voice softened, just slightly.
“But if you stay, things might start to look good in life for you.
You get comfort and maybe peace”
.
Maya turned back, eyes burning with tears,
“You think I'd sell myself for a price?”
“No”
, he said quietly.
“But I think you'd sacrifice yourself for your family. There's a difference”
.
Her hands trembled. Her voice shook as she tried to let out a response. She couldn't find the
words to say to him.
Then finally,
“Give me forty-eight hours. I'll give you your answer then”
.
Jordan looked shocked but nodded in approval,
“Alright then. I'd have the contract ready by
then”
.
Maya turned, walked towards the elevator, spine straight, head high- but her eyes felt heavy
and her heartbeat roared in her ears.
As the doors shut behind her, she finally let out a heavy sigh. Walked into the elevators and
then she finally broke down in tears.
She was sure she hated him.
But the most important thing at that moment was that she had forty-eight hours to make her
decision.
And a life-changing decision at that.
“What do I do?”
, she cried.
And yet, she wasn't sure if the worst part was the offer or the fact that he was right. She had
no other choice.
- Writer
