Gianna (Contract Marriage)

Chapter 3

In no time, a medical team came with an ambulance and carried my mom into the ambulance. Abigail was already up before the medical team came. I made sure of that. Then Abigail and I joined the ambulance, and we all headed to the hospital.

I was still not myself yet, my head started aching, and my eyes were reddish. I've been through a lot already.

A few more minutes, we were at the hospital. My mom was brought out and rushed into the hospital on a wheel stretcher. We followed the medical team but when we got to the medical room, we were humbly told to wait outside.

(ring-ringg), Abigail's phone started ringing. It was her mom, then immediately I checked the time, it was past 7pm.

“Yes mom I'm fine, I just stopped by at Gianna's place to see her mom.” Abigail tried hiding what had happened before hanging up.

“Come on Abigail, it's going to get late soon, I think you should be on your way now.” I said with a tired and depressed voice.

“True though, but I'll go immediately the doctor tells us your mom is fine”. Abigail replied while looking for a seat to sit.

She's such a sweet friend, even when she had fainted twice today she still didn't mind waiting for the doctor's report. Suddenly, a doctor came out of the room. I quickly walked in his direction.

“Are you Gianna?” He pointed at me.

How did he know my name? Or could it be—

“How's Mrs George, Doctor?” Abigail jumped out of her seat immediately she sighted the doctor.

“Yes I am Gianna, please how's my mom doing?” my voice quavered, and my heart started beating faster.

“Relax Mrs George, your mom is alright for now.”

I felt really calm when I just heard my mom was alright, but another feeling came in when the doctor said for now, what does he mean by for now?

“For now, why for now doctor?” Abigail wasn't ready to let the doctor even breathe with her questions coming in.

“Can we go to my office please?” The doctor asked.

“Alright, alright, we can”. I replied, then we all were headed to the office. I was too tired to walk anymore. I was also emotionally drained, but I still managed to walk to the office.

“Have a seat please.” The doctor stretches his hand towards two seats in his office.

Abigail and I sat but I was struggling to be comfortable. Like how would I be comfortable when the doctor said my mom is alright for now.

“Doctor please, what's wrong with my mom?” I asked as I tried to sit up.

Sighing, he took out a medical report and tossed it in our direction. “Your mom has a very serious liver disease, Hepatitis D, it wasn't treated well enough. Now it's chronic.”

I don't understand, all my life I never knew my Mom had a serious liver disease, I thought her sicknesses then were just minor. What am I going to do now?

“She'll need a liver transplant which will cost $850,000 or else she won't last long,” the doctor said pathetically. “For now, she'll be placed on life support till the amount is paid.”

“How much will that cost?” Abigail asked with her head in her hands.

“$1200 for a day.”

At that point, I couldn't remain seated anymore. I walked out of the office crying. “I don't want my mom to die.” I cried out.

“She won't die, come on Gianna”. Abigail came out to console me.

I felt terrible and depressed. After some minutes, I made a deposit of $12000 for life support. Yes, that was the tip from Mr William Charles. Getting $850,000 for the liver transplant was looking really impossible, but I definitely won't let my mom die.

Abigail and I left the hospital and I slept over at her place that night, narrated everything to her parents, but they could do nothing because they had little too. Then I decided to meet Mr Lawrence at work to ask for his assistant.

The next day at work, I went to Mr Lawrence's office to explain what had happened to Mr Lawrence and asked for his assistance.

“Please Mr Lawrence, I'll work till I pay back every single amount”, I pleaded helplessly.

“Gianna, I would love to help, but the restaurant can't give out such an amount.” he said as he denied my request.

“Where else will I go for help?” I was just on my way out of his office.

“I know someone who could help though,” Mr Lawrence said as he gave me a smile.

I have for sure seen that smile before. That was the same smile he gave me after Mr—.

“Mr William Charles can.” He raised an eyebrow craftily.

“Uh.” I blinked. “Oh”

“I know he isn't in the restaurant today, but you can have his company's card.” He took out a card from his drawer and handed it to me. “You can go now if you want.”

I looked confused as I got the card and left Mr Lawrence's office. I've only seen Mr William Charles once, and from what I've heard, he's a billionaire. Will he really help me?

I will probably take my chances.

I left the restaurant without informing Abigail, and I got on a bus going straight to Mr William Charles’ company according to the address on the card.

Within an hour, I reached the company. I gasped at the tall skyscraper in front of me. I went inside and continued staring. “Wow… So beautiful.”

“Hello, can I help you?” A lady came out of an office and asked. She was very beautiful, with her cute face and round eyes, and her skin was very fair too.

“Yes please, I'm here to see Mr William Charles.” I replied, still staring at the beautiful offices inside.

“What's your name please?”

“Gianna.”

“A minute please, let me confirm if Mr William Charles is available.”

I waited and hoped Mr William Charles was available, he was my only hope this time.

The lady came back to giving me a card. “Take the elevator to hall 9, when you get there you show this card to the guards, so they will allow you to see Mr William Charles.”

“Thanks a lot.”

So I was making my way to the elevator, but on the way I saw someone that caught my attention. He looked so handsome and tall. Black hair, green eyes, his jawline so sharp, perfect nose and lips with a fair skin. He was wearing a brown suit, and the nicest perfume.

“Wow.” I whispered to myself as I continued staring.

Suddenly he caught me staring, so I waved my face away immediately and went to the elevator headed to hall 9. I got to hall 9, I did exactly what the lady told me, and I was allowed to meet Mr William Charles. His office wasn't just big, it was almost the size of the whole restaurant I work for.

“Hey come in and have a seat,” he said pointing his hand to a beautiful chair as he offered me a glass of wine.

Exactly who I saw at the restaurant staring at me. So aged but scent with so much wealth.

“Thank you, Mr William, but I don't drink.” I humbly rejected and sat.

“So to what do I owe this visit?” He inquired happily with a cup of wine in his hand.

I thanked him first for the tip he left for me at the restaurant which he reluctantly waved away with a smile. Then I told him my reason for the visit, I told him I needed $850,000 for my mom's liver transplant.

“Hmm… $850,000, that's quite huge,” he took a sip from his glass. “Of course I can help you, but only on one condition.” Mr William purred, eyes lighting up mischievously.

“Mr William, I promise I'm going to work and pay you back every single dime.” I definitely wasn't sure how long.

“Ha ha. No, I don't need your money.” Mr William laughed mockingly.

What then can a poor person like me give this stinking rich aged man? I couldn't think of anything at all.

“What then is the condition Mr William?”

Lifting his glass of wine above his eyebrows, he stared at the liquor in the glass and said…

“You'll sign a contract, agreeing to be my wife!”

“What?” my eyes were wide open in absolute dismay as 22 years old me couldn't believe what I just heard!