A Love Lost In Shadows

Chapter 4

I kept on wondering what could be in the box.

Maybe they have worked on their employee profile and find me unqualified or rude for the job.

My mom’s treatment rely on this job, I couldn’t afford to miss the chance with her poor state striking my heart million times. I have to open the box, today has been a bad day. What will be will be, I kept my hope hung to my creator.

"Marry me....." Henderson said.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, Diana asked Henderson to say what he said again cause she couldn’t catch up.

Henderson replied in a cold voice “Marry Me”

In the box was several files and a beautiful inscribed paper with “I Love You”

Diana's eyes almost bulge out of its sockets as she stares at him in awe.

"Huh?" She mutters in confusion.

What sort of joke was this??

Henderson smirks, obviously enjoying her shocked expression.

"I want to clear the rumors about me being a gay. I need to get married to prove to everyone that I am not a gay. Your work is to pretend to be my wife, though we would get married legally and in return, I pay you, name your price." Henderson said, his hands on his tie starring at Diana in such a way that made her uncomfortable.

Diana stares at him in awe. What kind of job was this? Won't this make her look cheap if she accepts?

She wasn't going to just accept this, right? But this would be an opportunity to pay her mom's bills? But still she shouldn't be doing this.

All this was running through Diana's mind as she stood up, clenching her fist as she glared at Henderson, who just maintained a calm expression.

Beneath the paper that carries the “I Love You” with a rose flower in the box was the contract marriage document staring at Diana.

All this love arrangement was Lucas doings, cause Henderson knows nothing about professing love to women.He has been lonely all his entire live.

"I don't think I can do this, Diana said with an angry voice. Oh! You think I'm like those girls who will gladly throw themselves at you because of your money. Well, sorry to burst your bubble but I'm not one of those girls." Diana said almost screaming as she begins to walk out of his office.

Henderson frowns deeply. Any girl would have foolishly accepted this immediately. What's wrong with this little missy standing in front of him?

At that moment,her phone chimes as she halts in her tracks. She checks the text right there in Henderson's office and her eyes widens.

The text was actually from the hospital informing her that her mom's health was speedingly deteriorating and she would need to be transfer and operated on urgently, else she might die.

She was thorn in between two choices. It was either she leaves this office now and her mom dies or she accept the job offer and take proper care of her mom without having to work all day.

She can't just give in to his demands right away, at least let her try her luck elsewhere. With that thought, she exits the office, leaving Henderson to stare in amazement at her retreating figure.

How can she just turn down his request like that?

If it were to be any other girl, they will have willingly jumped at the offer. What exactly was her problem?

It hurts his pride to see that the he was turned down by a woman, the gender he detest.

*

Smoke covered the atmosphere as laughter could be heard booming from the room.

Francis and his friends, who were all Henderson's business rivals chatted as they smoked out their lungs with several strippers entertaining them. They were in Francis's club house.

" In a haste to clear his name, this freak had to create a job interview for females, so dumb." Andrew, Henderson's business rival said shaking his head.

" What I find more dumb is the rate at which the ladies rushed in for the interview. Common, don't they know about the rumor about him being a gay." Another one said, smoke escaping his nostrils.

"The freak did it to clear his name but you know what, he is going to be shocked. I'm never going to let go of this chance to ruin an enemy we've been trying to ruin for years now." Francis said sipping from his wine as he winks at a stripper who in-turn threw at him with seductive gazes.

He stood up, staggering as he strolled to her, groping her ass as they kissed roughly heading to a room to continue their business.

*

Diana got to the hospital as she ran straight to her mom's ward, but she was not there. She asked some nurses around and they informed her that she had been rushed to the emergency ward. She ran straight to the ward as she watched from the glass window outside. It seemed like they were trying to revive her mother who was burnt beyond recognition. She just stood transfixed at the doorway, her mind clouded with several possibilities.

No, it can't be right?

Her mom can't just die right now?

The doctor emerges from the room, and she quickly ran to him.

"What's going on, doctor?" She asks.

"Your mom is in a really critical state and if she is not operated on or transfer....she will lose her life...I'm sorry but there's nothing we can do." The doctor replies.

"It's up to you now." He added when Diana just stares at him dejectedly.

She couldn't just stay at the hospital and do nothing, especially when her mom's condition was critical.

Henderson's job offer crossed her mind, but she discards the thoughts immediately.

A thought suddenly strikes her, why not she meets with some of her bosses of her daily side hustles? She can just ask for upfront payment. With that in mind, she sets out, hoping that they will grant her request.

But unfortunately, her first work place she tried, her boss rebuked her and said she doesn't pay in advance.

She visited several other places but there was no good outcome. It's either they told her to come back in the next few days or they say they don't pay in advance.

Dejected, she wanders the street, looking like a lost lamb without destination. Henderson's offer flashed her mind for the second time and instead of shutting it out like the other time, she took time to ponder on it.

*

Henderson was carried away, he was having a conversation with someone on phone when he heard several footsteps coming towards his office.