Chapter 4
1309 Words
“Thank you for coming,” I smiled as Asher and I strode the soft grass, hand in hand.
“Anytime,”
As the birds chirped in the distance, I watched the ushers lay flowers, snacks and drinks on the playmat they had set up on the field. My smile grew broader while the warm countryside breeze tossed my wavy hair back and forth.
“You didn't have to do all of this, you know,”
“You're a little too late to stop me.”
“Not that I want to stop you,” I giggled. I'm just… I am…”
“Happy?”
I nodded.
“I'm glad you are.”
“We're done sir,” one of the ushers, who I suspect is the chief usher, interrupted.
Asher nodded, and we both proceeded to the staged-out picnic castle.
“It's beautiful,” I said in a low tone.
His phone rang out. Glancing at his phone, his countenance fell and he let go of my hand.
“Excuse me for a moment,” he said and walked off the mat.
I smiled even more as I noticed a handful of my favourite chocolate bars, lying amidst other chocolates, alongside the cupcakes, fruits, ice cream and drinks. Michael would warn me countless times about finishing a bar of chocolate, stating that it would make my belly fatter but who cares now?
“I'm sorry. I really had to answer my mum,” he said, sitting on the pillow opposite me.
I nodded. His mum wants him to get married and here I was, thinking he was joking. Maybe he was. Even if his mum wants him married, he should have a girlfriend who he would marry.
“She's on my neck to get married and I told her I'd propose over chocolates and ice cream.”
I giggled.
“So, don't eat too many, I need it to be cinematic”
I hung my head down as I felt the redness trying to burst through my cheeks.
“Is there something you need that isn't there?” He asked after a while of silence.
“What?” I raised my head.
“The snacks. Is there something else you need? I could ask…”
“Oh no. There's nothing else I need. As a matter of fact…” I picked my favourite chocolate. “This is my favourite.”
“Good thing I don't really like chocolates, that would have been the only one you'll get a chance to eat.”
“If you were a lover a chocolates, you wouldn't still beat me at it,”
“Do you love cupcakes?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“I bet you wouldn't have more than one.”
“Is that an invite to compete with you?” I shoved the leftover piece of chocolate into my mouth.
“Be my guest. To be fair, I'll allow you to go first,”
“That's how it is? Okay, let's get to it.”
I reached for a cupcake and took a bite. The vanilla flavour melted into my tongue, and I couldn't help but shut my eyes to savour the taste as I munched slowly.
I opened my eyes and caught Asher staring at me. No cupcake in hand. Just his brown eyes, narrowed nose and thin lips, focused on me.
I swallowed.
“Are you surrendering already?”
“I meant what I said about us getting married.”
“Good lord. Asher, I'm still nursing a heartbreak, I can't fall in love at this moment.”
“You don't have to. I wouldn't even be in your face that much so trust me, you won't fall in love with me. Just marry me and help me get my mum off my back. Name your price,”
“It's a lot, Asher. I'm not worth whatever price I would ask for,”
“Name it.”
I didn't say anything.
I continued munching on my cake.
“Priscilla.” He called out.
“You wouldn't understand…”
My phone rang out, interrupting me. It was my mum's nanny at the hospital.
“Hello, Ma,”
“Your mum’s temperature and blood pressure are suddenly rising and the doctors have refused to attend to her because today's oxygen fee has not been paid,”
I stood up from the mat. “Her oxygen has been removed?”
“No. But you need to come over to the hospital right now and sort the bills out,”
“Okay, Ma,”
She hung up
I quickly grabbed my car keys.
“What's the problem?” Asher asked, reminding me that he was still there.
“My… my mum,” I stammered as Asher got off his feet. “The doctors won't attend to her and… the nanny… I just have to go…”
“Calm down.” He held my hand. “First things first,” he added, replacing the keys in my hand with my inhaler.
I pressed the canister a few times into my mouth as he pulled me gently to my car and we drove off.
“Which hospital is she at?”
“St. Jude's. She's been there for two months now. The doctors are insisting we fly her to India but my boyfriend,” I paused, “Michael couldn't afford it.”
“We have something in common; our mums give us sleepless nights.” He paused. “I'll make you an offer, Priscilla.”
I glanced at him.
“I'll send your mum abroad and ensure she gets whatever treatment she needs only…”
“Good lord!” I gasped. “You will?”
He didn't spare me a glance. His grip only tightened on the wheels.
“Oh! I'm sorry for interrupting you. I just couldn't hold in my excitement.”
“I'll help your mum only if you marry me.”
I sighed.
“And if I don't?”
“I'll still help you but I might get distracted by the wife I'll get by tomorrow. I hate to see you cry and if we don't get married, I might not be able to ensure that.”
“Asher, I'm still broken. I might not love you enough,”
He was silent.
“I don't need you to love me. I made it clear earlier that the marriage would only last for a year. That way, my mum would be convinced that long-term settlement is not my thing.”
“And within this one year, I'll get anything I need?”
“No. You'll get twenty million dollars a month.”
I gasped. Did this guy just say twenty million dollars with a straight face? Like it was nothing?
“Of course that doesn't include your necessities.”
My jaw dropped.
“You want me to marry you for money?”
“Yes. I give you the money, and you stay married to me. And yes, we'll sign a contract to ensure full commitment from both parties.”
Why don't I just accept it? My mum’s condition isn't getting any better. My running to the hospital would be in vain, too, because I don't even have the money to pay for her oxygen.
“The marriage… wedding… whatever, would it be private or…”
“Private wedding but I don't care who finds out about the marriage.”
I sighed, raking my fingers through my hair.
“I'll do it,” I muttered. I wasn't sure I made the right choice but twenty million dollars might swerve whatever wrong outcome.
The car cornered into St. Jude's parking lot.
After the car came still,
“Here,” Asher said, handing me a card. “Pay for everything she would need to be revived. She will be leaving for India tonight.”
- Writer
