West of the Flints

CHAPTER 5

“Good morning Madeline, Is Mr Caspian in yet”? Elora asked, entering the office with saggy shoulders, eye bags, and the same outfit from yesterday.

“I believe it's the job of his secretary to know his whereabouts. Oh, wait, what's your job again? Yeah, that's right, you're his secretary and here you are showing up for work by 9am when work started an hour ago”, Madeline said as she hissed and rolled her eyes before settling behind her desk.

“Yeah, thanks for nothing,” Elora said as she rolled her eyes.

“Don't go storming into his office with hopes of seeing him. He's in a meeting” Madeline yelled out from her seat as she turned to use the stapler on her table.

Elora walked into the changing room to change into her work clothes as she spent the night at the hospital catering to her father, Mr. Logan West.

When Elora got into the changing room and closed the door, her heart started palpitating like it was playing drums to a beat she didn't know.

Elora leaned on the wall for support as her breath suddenly felt like it was hitched up in her lungs and she couldn't breathe.

Elora's eyes welled up before the tears escaped. She tried to muffle her cries so she wouldn't disturb her colleagues.

"I have to stay strong for my mom and sister, find a way to sort out Dad's hospital bills and pray that we don't lose Dad," She thought to herself.

Elora heard someone coming from a distance, so she wiped the tears off her face, dressed up, and sat at her desk before Mr Caspian wrapped up his meeting.

She got to her table and proceeded to carry the files she was working on before the weekend when she suddenly heard a cold steely voice question, “Why are you just getting here?”

With chills down her spine and the fear of losing her job, Elora replied, “I'm sorry Mr Caspian, I had a family emergency I promise it won't…”

“I don't care about your reasons but I will not hesitate to fire you if you show up late again.'' Caspian cut in with a nonchalant look while he walked past her desk and headed straight to his office.

“Thank you, sir,” Elora said under her breath as she paced around her table and tried to summon the courage to go into his office to seek financial aid.

Elora contemplated, "A hundred thousand dollars shouldn't be a problem for a billionaire, plus I've been hard-working," then the telephone on her desk rang,

“Yes sir”, Elora said as she picked up the telephone, and snapped back to reality at the sound of Mr. Caspian's voice.

“I'll be done with your calendar for next month by tomorrow sir.” Elora replied as she took a pause, then said “I'll need to go over some things with you, sir".

"Okay sir, I'll be there now”.

He hung up and Elora arranged herself, breathed in and out three times, and walked into his office, as her desk was situated in front of his office.

"What did you want to confirm?" Caspian replied from behind his desk without looking at Elora, whilst he fiddled with his phone.

“Mr Caspian sir, I'd like to plead for your assistance sir”, Elora's voice came out as a whisper while she fiddled with her fingers anxiously.

“Can you just get to the point and stop fidgeting, it's annoying to watch” he said with a dismissive look still occupied with his phone.

“Sir, my dad was involved in an accident yesterday and he has not been conscious, the doctor said they need to..”

“Elora, I do not have time to care or pretend to care about your father's health right now. If you need some days off, ask for it or get back to work” he cut in sharply.

“No, I don't need a day off sir, I just need financial assistance from you sir “ Elora blurted out as she locked her hands together and stared aimlessly at the floor.

“How much is it?”

“A hundred thousand dollars($100,000) for everything inclu..including therapy for his recovery". She stuttered.

“Am I to just give you the money because you work for me or am I to loan it to you like some loan shark?”. Caspian adjusted in his seat and looked at Elora intently.

“No sir, I don't mean it disrespectfully please, I just really need to save my father's life and I don't know where else to go. I intend to pay back the money in a year or the money to repay the loan can be deducted from my salary per month”. Elora replied with folded hands that were trembling.

“Even if you worked for free for one year, your salary won't pay the money back. So how do you intend on paying me in a year?”Caspian said with a cold tone that sent chills down Elora's spine.

“I don't know sir, but I'm sure I can. I just really want my father back on his feet, I can't lose him. I'd do anything to pay you back, I promise”.

"You have no tangible answer on how you intend to repay the loan", he paused.

"The number one rule in business is to separate emotions from your business if you want to succeed, and that is what I always do. Close the door on your way out of my office, I can't help you". He continued without batting an eyelid.

Elora fell to her knees to beg him, "Mr Caspian sir, please you're the only option I have to raise the money for my father's surgery. I would take on two side jobs to repay the loan. I'm ready to do anything to repay the loan within the shortest amount of time."

He didn't flinch but he was silent for a while like he was in between thoughts then he said, "There is something you could do for me that'll get you the money for your father's health and you'll get to keep your salary, but I doubt you'd be willing to do it."

A ray of hope was all Elora needed and she replied frantically, "I'll do anything in my power as long as I can raise the money for my father's hospital bills".

“Okay, be my wife for a year so I can claim my rightful place as the CEO, and in return, your father's hospital bills will be taken care of, plus you get to keep your salary". He paused to see her reaction before he continued…

"During the year we're married, you'll be my wife in every way. We'll get a divorce after the year but if you decide to run away or divorce me before the end of our marriage year, you and your family would be sued. Do you agree with this deal or not?"

Elora stood up from her kneeling position in utter disbelief.

"Did he say that to me?'

"Was he joking? He didn't look like he was joking."

"Should I take this deal? He is offering me a choice and I could easily walk away, but this seemed like the only way I could raise money for the hospital bills and the clause of the deal didn't seem bad." These thoughts ran crazy in Elora's head.

Everything was happening so fast, and he was staring at her and waiting impatiently for her reply. She said the only thing that came to her mind was, "Yes, I agree".

"Great. It's a good thing that my lawyer got the contract ready, and the only delay was finding a wife who'd agree to my terms. You made my job of finding a wife easier. All you have to do is write your name in this marriage contract and sign it." He said bringing out the file and showing her where to sign.

Elora glanced through it before signing it reluctantly but she believed that it was the best decision for her father.

After Elora signed it, Mr. Caspian signed a cheque for a hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) and handed it to her, then he said, "We're getting married this weekend. Be prepared."

"Thank you, sir. Thank you so much." Elora grinned as she finally got the money for her father's hospital bills, but as she walked out of the office, it dawned on her,

"She was getting married to her boss, Mr. Caspian Flint".