HIS INDECENT PROPOSAL

“Are you sure about this?” Emma, my younger sister, asked about a hundred times already. I let out a long sigh. This isn't the first time we've talked about this. “Yes, Emma,” I smiled at her. “I have to do this.” I took her hands in mine and gently squeezed them. “Take care of Mom,” I told her. “Can’t you wait until the holidays are over?” she asked while looking at me with those pleading eyes. “No,” I avoided her gaze. I can’t stand to look at those eyes without remembering our father. She got his eyes. “My employer said I needed to start immediately,” I explained. “I have to go, Emma. We need the money for Mom’s surgery.” “I know,” she sighed. “I’m sorry I have to leave, but I have no choice,” I stopped packing my things. “Mom needs the surgery as soon as possible. This might be our only chance.” Our mom has been sick for a while now. She’s been going in and out of the hospital because of her weak heart. Unfortunately, other treatments aren’t working anymore. Her doctor recommended a heart transplant a few months ago. It's the only option left for us to prolong her life. If not, she would only have a few months left to live. But it's not that easy. We need a donor, and of course, money. I am a nurse, but my salary isn't enough to raise the hefty amount required for the operation. Even if I worked several jobs, I still wouldn't earn enough. This offer is actually heaven-sent. A couple went to the hospital where I was working, looking for the best nurse they could get. I was one of the nurses the management recommended. Apparently, they needed a private nurse for their blind son. The offer is big, it's almost five times my salary. It sounded too good to be true, but who am I to pass up a very generous offer? Beggars can't be choosers. Sometimes, I wonder how hard it could be for them to offer such an insane amount of money. Rumor has it that no nurse lasts more than a week. But I am willing to take the job no matter what. Our mom is our only parent left. I won't give her up without even trying. Besides, how hard is it to take care of a blind man? What's the worst he could do to me? He'd probably be grumpy like most sick people and yell at me most of the time. I winced inwardly. I think I can take that. I bet it couldn't be as bad as working in a hospital full of sick patients and higher-ups watching your every move. "Don't worry," I exclaimed, trying so hard to lighten up the mood. "I'm going to call as often as I can." "Okay," she muttered with a sullen pout on her lips. "Don't forget about mom's medicines, okay?" I reminded her. "They are already labeled. I also left a note about the details just in case you forget." "Yeah," she nodded. I chuckled as I ruffled her hair adoringly. She swatted my hand away from her, looking annoyed. "Stop it!" she groaned. "I'm not a kid anymore." "I know. Take care of yourself and mom, okay?" I gently said. "I will," she smiled bitterly. I finished packing my bags when Emma left. She's seventeen and already a high school senior. I'm a bit worried about leaving her, but I know she's mature enough to care for herself and our mother. I grunted while zipping up my fully packed luggage. I'm not sure how long before I can take a leave, so I brought everything I might need. Then I pulled them down to the living room before going to Mom's room. "Why are you still here?" she coldly asked when she saw me walk in. I smiled despite her bluntness. "I just want to say goodbye," I told her. She didn't even look at me. Her eyes remained fixed on the TV screen. "Do you want me to kiss you goodbye?" she muttered after a while. The sarcasm was evident in her tone. My heart clenched as I smiled bitterly. I guess this is it. I walked beside her bed and leaned down to kiss the top of her head. She remained passive but at least she didn't try to pull away. I sighed. "Emma already knows what to do," I said quietly while watching her. "But I'll still call and check up on you guys as often as I can." I pursed my lips when I realized she really wouldn't talk to me. I should've expected it. "Goodbye, mom," I mumbled before quietly walking out of her room. I flinched when I heard a car honking outside. I peeked from the blinds and saw a red car in our driveway. Mrs. Mendez told me she would have me picked up. I went out with my luggage in tow. A stoic-looking middle-aged man was standing beside it when I got out. I smiled at him, but he only nodded at me. "Let me help you with your bags," he said. "Thank you, I'm Nina Sparks," I decided to introduce myself. "You can call me Thomas. I heard you will be Marco's new caregiver," he said. My smile faltered a bit. Caregiver? That sounded like a demotion. I am a licensed nurse. There's a big difference between the two, but I guess not in the eyes of nonmedical professionals. "Is it far from here?" I asked when we were already driving to Mendez's estate where I heard my patient was staying. "Not really," he answered after glancing at me through the rearview mirror. I don't know what his definition of far was. It took us more than an hour before he pulled up in a driveway. I was told the area was secluded, but I didn't know it would be the only house within a few-kilometer radius of the area! "We're here," Thomas announced as he pulled in front of a house. It was modern-looking, but not quite what I had expected. Thomas rolled down the window and my jaw dropped when I realized it was just the freaking guard house! My lips kept parted until we reached the huge mansion in the middle of the expansive property. Now I know why they can afford to offer that kind of salary for a private nurse. "This is the main mansion, but Marco is not staying here," Thomas explained when we got out of the car. I nodded while looking around. We walked past the mansion and the swimming pool behind it until we reached a smaller house. "This is the guest house, Marco's here," he added. "I see," I looked at it, thinking it was a practical decision. The guest house is so much smaller than the mansion. It only has one floor, which is ideal for someone with his condition. "These are the keys," Thomas said while handing me the keys to the car. I frowned. "Mrs. Mendez said you can use the car for emergency purposes," he explained. Oh. So that was why she asked if I could drive. I took the keys hesitantly. He explained a few more things, mostly things I shouldn't do. Then, he told me to go in and meet Marco. "Aren't you coming with me?" I confusedly asked. Thomas shook his head and left just like that. My jaw dropped even wider as I watched him walk away. Seriously? Isn't he supposed to introduce me at least? Now what should I do? I felt like a mouse thrown into a snake's cage. I was left with no choice but to knock on the guesthouse door. I didn't hear anything, but I still decided to push it open. It wasn't locked, but it was so dark inside that I couldn't see anything! Why am I so shocked? He's blind. Why would he need to turn on the lights? He probably won't be able to see anything either way, so why bother? I took my phone out to find the switch and turned it on. "Aah!" I screamed when I saw a man staring at me. I almost jumped! My hands splayed on my chest as if they could stop my heart from beating so fast. I thought he was blind. Then why is he staring back at me as if staring into my soul?!