The Contract Between Us

CHAPTER 1 NINA’s POV “According to the paramedics, the victim was found holding on tight to a golden bracelet at the time of the coalition…” The TV murmured from its mount in the centre of the room, the screen casting a bright glow across the hospital's resting room. Rain had passed not long ago, just a light drizzle, but the sky outside still hung heavy and grey, like the sky itself was having a breakdown. The room was quiet in that strange hospital kind of way. A haunting feeling of the unknown along with the strong smell of bleach. I sat in the wheelchair, legs wrapped in a light blanket, the faint smell of rubbing alcohol and wet concrete clinging to the air. The floor tiles were too clean. Too shiny. With walls painted with the purest shade of white I'd ever seen. That's horrible. The poor woman was probably just going home to her family. I watched the breaking news with undivided attention. It seems like she was just found, considering how the medics just successfully got her out of the vehicle, trying to put her in a black body bag. The camera zoomed in to her lifeless form in the body bag. Her arms, still on the outside of the bag. Well…that's odd.... My thoughts trailed off. The camera lingered for a few seconds, and something about the way her hand dangled outside the bag made my stomach churn. Until something peculiar caught my eye. The shape of the stone at the centre of the bracelet looks a bit like the design of the one on my moms old ring. “I was told I'd find you here…” A deep familiar voice trailed off. He evidently has a thing for walking into rooms like that Instantly recognising the voice, I didn’t need to turn around to know it was him. The voice was enough. Arrogant and confused. How do these two truths exist???...I have no idea but there is something about his tone that hinted at confusion despite the arrogant front. Outside, the wind picked up again, sneaking into the room through the opened windows. I reacted with a soft shiver as goosebumps crept on my skin and as the memories of my incident from the other day flooded my brain, my cheeks flushed and suddenly, the well ventilated room didn't seem to have enough air as it did a second ago. The sky darkened just a little more, like the clouds were pulling tighter. “... the county department of Police will continue to investigate if the accident was caused by an electrical fault or by nocturnal wildlife hazards.” The journalist's final statement echoed as it filled in the silence in the room leaving the room still. Him and I were the only ones in the room so the only sounds that could be heard were from the analog clock ticking at the corner and the low rustle of someone shifting behind me....him….still waiting. Waiting for me to reply or at least, acknowledge his presence in the room I froze up Not knowing what to do and definitely not willing to face the strange man again after my outburst the other day. Just like he ensured me, he took care of the hospital bills and also a decent compensation fee So I don't go running to the police you know?. So, I was fired from three of my jobs but the money is enough to let me do anything but think about it for a couple of days. I can only imagine how worried dad and Dylan must feel right now. I couldn't contact them in days because I was asleep Well…more like the doctor induced me into a coma for two days. I don't really blame them though. I went feral and the pain from the collision was still fresh Not a good combination if you ask me. I really needed that slumber. Even aside from the fact that my body and organs needed rest to recuperate, mentally, I needed that. For years I've been drained and exhausted and helpless. I woke up feeling better for the first time in a long time because of that. Knowing that I'll have to go back to that life is heartbreaking. How ironic. My heart almost killed me and now my life is making my heart ache. “you seem better” He spoke up again Bringing me out of my train of thoughts once again. Wheeling myself in a one eighty degree curve towards the direction of the door, stood the man. Dressed in a dark blue coloured two piece. A straight posture, unreadable facial expression and despite his calm demeanour, his body language subtly revealed a need to do something Or to say something perhaps?? With the tension in the room getting intense suddenly, the pressure to say something engulfed me instantly “Okay. Sir, I understand that you feel responsible for the accident and the scary heart thing but you don't have to cause I really am good now” I said in a level tone, in an attempt to extend gratitude. He didn't do a thing like gracing me with a response He looked down at his wrist buried in his trousers, checked the time on his expensive watch swiftly and looked around in the room A few moments went by and he still hadn't spoken up….finally resting his glare on me. He stared at me studiously He looked away briefly, tapped his right leather covered foot on the tiles thrice. He sighed fervently at that and brought his glare back to me. “ There's no easier way to say this” he said “So I'll just be direct” He paused “ I have to get married within the next few weeks” He announced with a gloomy sigh Brought out both hands from his pockets in an attempt to explain himself, he sighed again and placed a palm on his forehead briefly “You might not understand why this is urgent” he added condescendingly “but I don't have the the luxury of time or options” He said so plainly like he was stating a casual thing “Are you asking me to marry you??” I asked with a curious tone Blinking rapidly, unsure if he was being for real “A secret contract but to the rest of the world Legally, Publically and most importantly, real. That's not really a lot of context though but I don't think he's aware of that. The expression on his face didn't change. Unreadable on the surface but because of subtle signs he just seems uneasy, apathetic “Seeing that you… more than most, might benefit from such a contract” “Oh wow” I muttered lowly to myself Because I'm basically poor? Well…I've never seen a more audacious stranger before this man Offering what I assume is a marriage contract to a random girl. Have wealthy people run out of ways to manage boredom?? He's starting to make it sound like he's doing me the favor. Not with that tone of desperation he's not. “You'll be compensated for your silence, time and privacy” He voiced out again filling the silence in the room Unable to process my thoughts properly, I just stared blankly at him. I'm not sure which type of energy I give off that makes this man think I'm some girl that'll do anything he says for money This is exactly why I hate people doing things for me. Does he think that because he hit me with his car and compensated me for nearly killing me means I'm indebted to him?? “And if I refuse??” I asked him “Then I'll find someone else” he added looking bored “but as I said, I don't have time to look for someone else” I sat there with the weight of his words and the absurdity of his precision We hadn't even addressed the elephant in the room from the other day. How he knows my full name. I wasn't with an ID that day…