Love by Contract

The gardener's daughter

I have been living with my grandfather ever since I was sixteen.

My parents, Mr and Mrs Cole had died in a ghastly motor accident, which left my life devastated and hopeless.

I had thought my life had been haunted. But, my grandfather had come to my consolation and had given me hope to live once again.

After my parents funeral, I moved in to live with my grandfather in the village.

Life in the village hadn't been easy for me, after living a luxurious life in the city when my parents were still alive.

My father was a rich man, and so we had everything we needed. I was happy, and comfortable.

But, after their funeral, and I moved in with grandpa, my father's company and all the business ventures began to crumble beneath us and out of our reach.

My father's partner suddenly decided that the company and all the business ventures was now his.

I never for one day expected such from Uncle Marcus, whom I had always looked up at as a very good family friend and business partner to my father.

In fact, he was like my father's brother then, which was why I called him uncle.

He would come to the house, and we would all joke together and my mother would make dinner and everybody would eat happily together.

But, when my father died, and my mother too. Uncle Marcus became a total stranger to me, and took away the company he and my father started from the scratch and made it entirely his.

His act made me truly understand the full meaning of betrayal.

And it hurt me badly.

Although we embarked on a countless court case journey to reclaim my father's share of the company, but Uncle Marcus eventually won the case, and the court granted him the full ownership of the company.

And that was how I lost my parents, and the company as well.

As if that was not enough, I got a call from the bank, stating that the house and the cars my parents owned had been on mortgage. And that I need to pay the bank.

My father business is already gone, where in the world would I get the money to pay the bank?

I tried to talk to the bank but it all fell on deaf ears, and the bank turned my plea down on the ground of bridge of contract.

And Uncle Marcus did not listen to me as well.

Finally, when the due date for the payment came, the bank moved in and escorted me out of the house.

And took over everything.

Tears could not just finish from my eyes. And I cried my heart out, wishing I had gone along with my parents on that fateful day, and had also died with them instead of being left behind to suffer all these loss in a stretch.

And that was how I ended up coming to live with grandpa.

Sweating out all the time whenever I had to get anything done.

But, I was content with the love grandpa shows to me, and that helped me alot to get my way around so many things.

My grandpa owned a beautiful horticultural garden, and I managed it with him.

I was also able to cut flower arrangements and bouquets, and sell to florists.

I also sell potted plants, succulents and herbs at the local market. And with the money my grandfather and I were getting, we were able to solve our daily expenses and pay my school fees.

Slowly my life began to get better, and I felt like life was finally beginning to wipe away my tears.

Then I met Jake.

Jake Miller was that kind of boy in school which every girl wants to hang out with.

Good looking, intelligent and cool headed.

Jake could hardly hurt a fly.

He is every girl's dream boyfriend.

Surprisingly, and to the disappointment of every other girl in my school, Jake Miller began to hand out closely with me.

Trust my college girls!

That sure didn't go down well with them, and alot of them couldn't even hide it.

They would call me names, and make a public mockery of my poor family background.

Some even confronted Jake and scolded him for choosing a gardener's daughter over them.

They all developed instant hatred for me, but I didn't let their hurting words affect me in anyway.

Eventually, Jake asked me to be his girlfriend, and I said yes.

That was how our relationship began.

Jake would stop at nothing to make sure I lacked nothing in school.

We were always together, joking and spending quality memorable time together always. And most people would look at us, and say that we were the best match for each other.

Although Jake isn't from a very wealthy family, but his family were comfortable enough to afford him a monthly allowance, and Jake would spend all on me.

Being aware of my late parents, and the condition of my grandfather and I; and how I tried to make sure I see myself through school and also take care of my grandfather.

Jake would always encourage me aND advices me in anyway he can, in my flowery business.

"You can as well create a subscription based flower delivery service, and host events like weddings, photo shoots and garden parties". Jake would say to me.

That is the kind of support and encouragement Jake gives to me, and that always makes me feel so endeared to him.

I was thinking about Jake and his genuine love towards me, and decided that I was going to give him a call as soon as I finished unpacking my grocery shopping bag, when I stepped into my grandfather's terran.

And I saw my grandfather, on his knees; begging, beside a big porch car that is parked in front of my grandfather's house.

There were some men in black suit, each holding a gun, surrounding him.

"Grandpa?!! ". I screamed, and let the food grocery bag in my hand fall down, and all the items in the bag, scattered and littered the whole terran.