Ten
1214 Words
"I am proposing a marriage to you, Abigail."
The next thread of words that came out from him blanked her completely, trying to put her thoughts in order was a fail then you talk about her words.
She could hardly splutter a letter.
She looked down at him to see if he was actually Mr Elliot and not some random person who she mistakenly let in her home.
After a long stare and an eyebrow raise at her little confused moment from him affirmed a part of her agreed it was him.
His expensive clothes, crispy dark sleeves tucked in his trouser matched with shiny male shoes, convinced her fully.
He looked like he came from the office then to her house.
It can't be denied the air was suddenly too thick to breathe, for the first time in her own house she felt suffocated and out of her comfort zone
The tension worked its way, vigorously to her nerves, her mind housing only disorganized thoughts.
She managed to muster, "Excuse me." Her legs ran to the little kitchen by the living room, away from his stare.
Finally, by herself, she released the breath she wasn't aware she held, her breathing coming out with a shudder.
Trying to think was impossible because she was incapable of thinking straight now.
Why? Why? Why? That was all she could think of.
When she thought she would retire the day with a mild migraine from her computer eye strain, swallowing some pain killers as usual to make her sleep she never expected such a twist in her boring life.
She groaned in her palms and rubbed her face in them trying not to relive her current predicament that made this all awkward.
Occasionally, she inhaled deeply to calm herself down.
Lost in the haze of thoughts swarming her mind, his words echoed nonstop in her ears.
She was so lost in her thoughts she didn't hear his footsteps when he came to the kitchen, standing behind her.
His voice broke her disorganized chains of thoughts, leaving her briefly startled but she composed herself.
"Ivan needs a maternal figure and my mother thinks you are perfect for it," a pause followed for some moments.
"Well, I am also a witness of just how much you care for him."
Trudging to her dining with his eyes followed her movement, she drops on her chair feeling the need to.
She felt it might reduce how confused she was at his request.
"I don't know how to react to your request, " she mumbled with all honesty looking at him squarely.
Her fingers fiddling with themselves.
He leaned on the walls, his pocket hiding his hands, "Audrey's death is something Ivan and I haven't fully come in terms with. I am only doing this for my son, don't get your imaginations twisted. Ivan needs a mother, he's too young and you fill up that role. It can't be denied, my son is attached strongly to you."
Despite the fact, he was talking about his wife his facial expressions was stone cold, no emotions carried in his voice either, while his eyes trained hard on her.
Ivan does mean a lot to her but marriage?
It entails too much, she doesn't want to look like some desperate woman who got married to a grieving man.
It would appear like she doesn't respect his late wife's legacy.
She raised her lenses rimmed eyes to him, "I can't, What would people say?"
"And what will they not say? They talk all the time, " he scoffed out.
Being a mother to Ivan is like a dream come true, being a wife she wasn't enthusiastic about.
Her last relationship destroyed all her dreams of a perfect life because of her flaws as a woman.
But, Mr Elliot's request was far from the typical.
She would be a mother, the one thing she wants in this life but not the way she expected it.
To be Ivan's mother is a dream come true, she won't deny she has started envisaging him as her child.
What ruins all of this it was under a marriage?
With his father, his annoying controlling father.
And having any sort of relationship still scared her.
It isn't a typical ideal one, her thoughts reminded.
True, but it is still a marriage. It is not an easy thing, it is complicated.
With the long pause from her side, Elliot waited but his patience was waning. "Ms Abigail, " he resumed requesting her attention.
"If you need time to think over it, I have no issues with that, but I need a decision, Ivan is all that matters to me, this marriage is just to provide him with a mother, here, " he brought out a card, dropping it on her table.
"Call me if you have reached a decision."
He turned on his heels about to leave when her voice echoed through the house walls, "Wait, " she requested walking to stand in front of him.
"I have a condition, " she said her facial contortion suggesting she has more to say.
"Well, conditions."
Elliot hated he once thought highly of her. "Go on, " he forced out, his eyes holding disdain.
Here go her conditions.
"I have a job, and marriage or not I want to keep working."
"I want to be Ivan's legal mother, not his stepmother."
She stated, quite opposite of the requests he thought of.
Most women he had encountered in his life valued monetary values, he mostly stereotyped all women but breaking that was Audrey.
He could bet on his life she was the only woman on earth that was different, well Abigail proved him wrong too.
He frowned slightly at his bad judgment.
Her last request caught him totally off guard, "You want to be Ivan's legal mother, why?"
She looks at him squarely sadness cloaking her expression, "I can't bear children, that's the closest thing to being his biological mother."
Silence ensued briefly over her revelation, Elliot found it hard expressing his sympathy for her.
He gave a little nod, putting in. "My lawyers will get that sorted. I have no qualms with you working as far as Ivan is well cared for and not neglected."
He stopped looking at her squarely, "Whatever relationships you keep are to end, I can't have you stain my reputation with infidelity."
He noticed a little scowl make a presence on her face, "I am in no relationship, Mr Elliot, I wouldn't have agreed to this if I was in one."
"I would leave now but before I leave I want to make this clear, this is for my son, this marriage is theory only. Just for Ivan."
A tight look grew on his face, she saw regret. Lots of them.
"My lawyers would contact you, once all legalities are reached."
With that final note, he turned his back and left leaving her standing in silence.
Millions of thoughts questioning her decision to be involved in this.
In as much as she wants to be a mother, a marriage provided her with that opportunity to finally have a child.
Ivan as her child.
She can't help but question if she would survive this.
What has she gotten herself into?
- Writer
