Her
863 Words
DAMARI
My lips curved into a smile. I knew I would find her one day and this one day seemed to be today. The moment i saw the photograph, i knew i had my answer.
“She really needs this money and I know you can loan her. Gianna is my sister and I promise she is going to pay the money back.” Ivy pleaded and a smirk played across my lips.
“Of course, I trust you but.... humans can be deceptive. I am willing to offer her the loan on the condition that she marries me. It’s just a contract marriage to keep the single ones away. We both know I do not want anything serious. “ I scoffed. Her brows arched, in surprise.
“Does it really have to do with marriage? I.....” She tried to speak but kept mute. Of course, I wasn’t going back on my words.
“I will let you know what you think.” She responded and a smile found its way to my lips. Gianna.....that’s her name?
A knock on the door interrupted my door and Max walked into the room, his head buried in shame.
“So is this what you do? Try to take advantage of people who come here for help? How dare you think of doing something like that with a woman in distress?” I was disgusted by his unruly attitude.
“I am sorry, boss. I just...... I am sorry.” He bowed and I dismissed him immediately. Gianna.... A part of me assumed she would be stubborn and never want to return yet a part of me was confident in the fact that she would be back.
**
“Mr. Damari, Rochella’s management just reached out to me that.....”
My phone beeped, interrupting my meeting with Marcus. The caller ID displayed Ivy’s name, prompting a smile. This took faster than I imagined. She must indeed be so desperate.
“Good morning, Mr. Damari, I am sorry to disturb you this early morning but.....” she let out a sigh. “She agrees. She agrees to your condition of marriage.” She spoke and my smile widened. How desperate is she?
“That’s good news. I will have my lawyer draft out the contract and she can review it. If there is any need for adjustment, then we can look at that together. After she signs the agreement, I will send the money but first, her simply agreeing to marry a man in one day does seem quite sketchy. Why is she so desperate for the money? Who is dying?” I probed and she let out a deep sigh on the other end.
“She is.” She responded, her voice heavy with grief. I sat up immediately. How? Wha.... “I know I shouldn’t be telling you this but...... she is in a very tight situation. She is in a marriage where she is practically a slave for her husband and his family.... including his mistress whom she had believed was his sister for four years.
She wants to get out of it so bad but....” She let out a sigh. “... but she can’t because her father owes her husband a loan. I am not telling you this because I want you to mock her or anything. I am simply telling you this because I want you to understand how desperately she needs the money. I know you might be dangerous as people say but I have also known you, in the six years I have been working with you, to be a very nice man. You are our last hope and...”
“We need to pay her a visit. We need to pay her husband a visit and....”
“What? No. we cannot do that. I need to see that man eye to eye.” I insisted. “...or the deal is off.”
In no time, Ivy arrived at my office, panicked, perhaps desperate to convince me.
“My mind is made up. “ I insisted, just before she could struggle to speak. I got into the car and we drove over to Gianna’s house.
“I have no idea why you chose to come here but I do hope, it is for her freedom. Please....” She pleaded. Taking a deep breath, I banged the door and a woman whom I believed to be the ‘fake sister’ opened the door.
Her eyes lit up with excitement the moment she sighted me like she had been anticipating my arrival.
“I am here to see Miss Gianna.”
Her smile parted the moment I uttered those words and she squinted her eyes the moment she saw Ivy right behind me. She took a few steps backward and there was...... that one woman.... the one who had been carved in my memory, surrounded by her supposed husband and mother-in-law.
“Who are you and what do you want?” Her husband probed the moment he sighted me.
“Eighty thousand dollars and you sign the divorce papers.” I responded, my hands buried in my pocket.
- Writer
