CONTRACTUAL TORTURE

chapter 2: The Stranger In The Night

The butler quickly ceased up Irene in his eyes, scanning her from head to toes, probably wondering who Irene was, and why she'd address the mistress of the house by name with no single respect in her tone.

“Who do you think you are, miss?” The butler asked out of annoyance. “You can't just walk to this place and disrespectfully...”

“Robert? Who's it?” The butler was interrupted before he could finish his sentence by a voice, the voice of a woman.

It was a voice Irene remembered too well, and as the butler widened the door, the newcomer's face came into view.

Natalie stood there, garbed in a long, flowy robe that exuded her wealth. Her silk black hair was pulled back in a tight bun, revealing her sharp eyes and pointy nose. She ceased up Irene in her sharp eyes and for a moment she seemed paralyzed in shock to see Irene and then the next moment, she was laughing. She threw back her head and laughed loudly with her hand gently on her stomach.

“What in the world are you doing here?” Natalie asked after she could laugh no more.

“I want my share.” Irene demanded hotly.

Natalie's eyes narrowed cruelly. “I'm sorry, share of what exactly?” She asked.

“I want my share of the wealth Dad left behind for Me and Mike.” Irene repeated firmly and strongly with a frown creasing her features.

“You little, ignorant fool.” Natalie said, moving closer to frame herself in the doorway as if she would do everything and anything in her power to keep Irene out of her house. “How long since you left here? 5 years? Now you think you can just walk back to this place and ask for your so called share? God, you're even more stupid than my dumb brother.” Natalie said.

Hearing Natalie disrespect her father's memory that way, Irene's heart knotted painfully in fury and her breathing became rapid as she battled the impulsive urge to punch Natalie right in her stupid face. In as much as Irene really wanted to let Natalie have it, she needed to tread carefully, more was at stake here, her brother's life was worth more than her pride so she tried to calm down.

“I need the money, I really do.” Irene spoke calmly now, hoping to disarm Natalie with a soft approach. “I need it for Mike, for his surgery.”

“Oh really? That brat is still alive? That's a real shocker.” Natalie grinned indifferently. “I didn't realize the bastard will be so strong.”

Irene's jaws clenched even tighter and her eyes burned with raw fury, Natalie was really pushing it now.

“You know what? I'll help you, just to show you how merciful I am.” Natalie said with a smirk on her lips as she turned back and walked into the room.

For a moment, Irene's heart rose in anticipation and her anger gave way to hope as she peered into the room, eager to see what Natalie was up to.

Natalie snatched a necklace from the mantle piece and returned to the door, she threw the necklace down at Irene's feet. “Here you go, dog. Why don't you sell that and go get a bone for you and the other brat.” Natalie said coldly.

Irene stared at the necklace at her feet and then back at the woman before her in disbelief. “What do you expect I do with that?” She asked. “This necklace would barely fetch fifty thousand dollars! This is not enough even for Mike's operation!” She screamed out angrily.

“Hate to break it to you, sweetie, but I don't care.” Natalie replied. “So either pick up the necklace like a good little dog or get the hell out of here.”

“You will regret this!” Irene declared with all subtlety aside. “You will....”

“What, Irene?” Natalie cut her off. “What would you do? You little brat. What would you possibly do? I mean look at yourself! So pathetic and disgusting! I'll probably have to wash myself again for standing too close.” She took a step back. “You have nothing and you'll always have nothing! You should be grateful I offered that necklace. Now pick it and get the hell out!”

“I don't want crumbs from you.” Irene declared loudly. “You ceased dad's property even though it belongs to Me and Mike and all you give us is crumbs. Keep your stupid necklace. I don't want it!”

“Well in that case I'd say our business here is done.” Natalie said and then turned to the butler who had been observing the whole scene quietly from the side. “Show the little dog the way, will you?”

“I know the way and I'll leave on my own.” Irene snapped and then turned around, muttering under her breath as she walked off. There were so many words she wanted to say to Natalie but at the same time, she knew she had to be careful. Natalie had the power, the money and the means to have her locked up and she didn't see how that would help her brother in the hospital.

Few minutes later, Irene plopped into a park bench where she sat tiredly staring at the empty swings swinging silently in the cold night breeze while her mind raced with a lot of thoughts.

Irene was so wrapped up in her thoughts she didn't even pay attention to the man who quietly slip into the bench.

“Hello there, Miss Brown?” The stranger called.

Irene turned immediately. There was no way she'd say she had met the man before but the man had called her by name. Her eyes quickly scanned the man's clothes and whole body, taking note of his clean dress shoes and well-ironed plane trousers, his brown leather jacket which he wore over a patterned shirt carefully tucked in and also his stylishly made hair. He was a total stranger to her.

“I'm sorry have we met?” Irene asked with her curiosity piqued.

“No.” The man replied with a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. “Your name tag though..” He pointed at Irene's chest.

Irene glanced down to see that she was still carrying the name tag she wore at work. She angrily snatched it off her shirt and squeezed it hard in her palm as if she wanted to break the hard plastic.

The stranger corked his head sideways with his eyes never leaving Irene. “You seem...lost.” He said.

“I'm not lost.” Irene replied curtly, clearly not interested in a conversation. “I can find my way back home.” She added quickly. The last thing she needed now was someone hitting on her.

“Even a blind man would tell that you're not okay.” The man said calmly. “I think you need to talk to someone. Go on, I'm listening.”

Irene flashed another quick look at the man. His eyes were intently fixed on Irene with his lips curled into that tight little smile. Despite the fact that he was a complete stranger to her, Irene couldn't help but agree with his words.

“Come on, Miss Brown.” The man urged. “I don't bite. Besides, it'll be okay for you to speak to someone. You know, let your heart loose for a moment.”

It was true that Irene had been bottling up for a very long time and with the man's calm and persuasive demeanor, she found herself opening up to the stranger in the park. Irene told the stranger about her messed up life, her brother's health and about her financial challenges, the stranger listened carefully with the utmost attention.

Irene finished her tale of woe and immediately felt she shouldn't have said all that. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bore your evening with my sob stories.” She quickly apologized.

The stranger only smiled. “I didn't complain, did I? In fact, you're the perfect choice.” He said.

Irene's brows furrowed in confusion. “Perfect choice for what?” She asked.

In reply to her question, the stranger silently turned to a black briefcase which he placed on the other side of the bench and brought out an envelope which he handed over to Irene.

Irene collected this envelope with every red flag in her body flaying widely. Her curiosity however got the better part of her so she opened the envelope nonetheless. Inside the envelope, she found what appeared to be a form for a contract marriage?

Irene's eyes darted to the man immediately. “What is this? Some kind of a joke?” She asked.

“No, Miss Brown.” The stranger replied calmly with all seriousness. “This isn't a joke. Sign the document and all your financial problems will just vanish. You pay for your brother's surgery and even have more money to spend, more than you've ever dreamed of. I'm talking 2.5 million dollars here.” He said.

Irene's eyes widened in surprise. 2.5 million? That was a lot of money and true, it would be enough to pay for Mike's operation and other things too. Unable to believe what she had just heard, her eyes went back to the paper she held.

“I know it's a lot to process.” The man spoke calmly. “I know this is a decision you'd probably need to brood over, which is why I'm going to give you time to...”

“I'm in.” Irene declared abruptly, taking the stranger aback.