Contract marriage

CHAPTER 1 My heart sank as I answered the frantic call from my neighbor about my Aunt Linda's condition. "Karen, you need to come to the house now. Your Aunt Linda is being rushed to the hospital. We don't know what's happening," my neighbor said, the sound of panic evident in her voice. My mind raced as I begged my boss to let me go for the day, then I quickly hailed a cab back home. On the way, all I could do was pray that Aunt Linda would be okay. When I arrived, the street was filled with flashing lights from the ambulance and police cars. I jumped out of the cab and ran to the front door, where our neighbor was waiting for me. "What happened?" I asked, out of breath. "We don't know. She was fine one minute, and the next, she collapsed. We called 911, and they came right away," the frightened lady explained. I hugged my neighbor tightly and whispered thank you before rushing to the ambulance where Aunt Linda was being loaded. I saw her lying on the stretcher, unconscious, with wires and tubes attached to her body. I held her hand as we raced to the hospital. The sound of the ambulance siren drowned out my thoughts, and I focused on praying for her recovery. When we arrived at the hospital, I followed the medical team as they rushed my aunt to the emergency room. I sat in the waiting room, my heart heavy with worry and fear. After what felt like an eternity, the doctor finally came to speak with me. "She had a heart attack, but we were able to stabilize her. She's in critical condition and will need to be closely monitored," the doctor said. I let out a sigh of relief, grateful that Aunt Linda was alive. "Can I see her?" I asked. "Yes, but only family members are allowed in the ICU," the doctor explained. "Sure," I replied before pushing her into the ICU. I stood by her bedside, holding her hand and praying for her recovery. I knew that the road ahead would be tough, but I also knew that Aunt Linda was a fighter. I vowed to be by her side every step of the way, no matter what it takes. After staring and begging God for a while, I decided to go out and get some fresh air. Just when I was about to step out, the nurse rushed out of Aunt Linda's room. I watched her call for the doctor, who followed her back to the room. "What's going on?" I asked, my eyes widening. "The doctor will check that and inform you, miss," the nurse replied. "Can I come in?" I asked, pushing my way into the room. "No, miss, please wait out here. We will let you know of the condition," the nurse said. I sat anxiously outside the room, nervously tapping my foot against the ground. I had been waiting for what felt like hours, and with each passing second, my heart beat faster. Finally, the door opened, and the doctor walked out. I stood up, my heart racing in anticipation. "How is she? Is she okay?" I asked, my voice shaking slightly. The doctor looked at me with a sympathetic expression. "I'm afraid there's been a complication," he said softly. "Linda has suffered a heart attack earlier, and we've run some tests to determine the cause of it. Unfortunately, we've discovered that she also has a rare and deadly disease that is worsening her condition." I felt a wave of panic wash over me. "What kind of disease?" I asked, my voice trembling. The doctor hesitated for a moment before answering. "It's called familial hypercholesterolemia," he said finally. "It's a genetic disorder that causes extremely high levels of cholesterol in the blood, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Linda's case is quite advanced, and we'll need to start her on a course of treatment immediately if we're going to save her life." My stomach dropped as I asked, "What kind of treatment?" "The only effective treatment is a drug called evolocumab," the doctor explained. "It's a very expensive medication, but it's the only thing that will bring Linda's cholesterol levels under control. Unfortunately, the cost is quite prohibitive, and it's not covered by most insurance plans." I felt a wave of despair wash over me. "What are we going to do?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. The doctor sighed. "I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but without the medication, Linda's prognosis is not good," he said. "We're going to do everything we can to find a way to make the treatment affordable, but in the meantime, we need to prepare for the worst." Tears welled up in my eyes. Aunt Linda had always been there for me since I was a kid, even taking me in when my own mother didn't want anything to do with me. The thought of losing her was unbearable. "Please, doctor," I said, my voice choked with emotion. "Do whatever you can to help her. We'll find a way to pay for the treatment, no matter what it takes." Saying this, the only thought on my mind was how to get the money. Getting enough for food and other things was already a pain. And now this? How on earth was I supposed to get out of this? Getting a loan was not an option, not with all the loans Aunt Linda's husband left behind for us. "Alright, we will try our best, but do bear it in mind that this cure is the only option," the doctor said, bringing me out of my little thoughts. "I'll try my best doctor," I managed to huff. "Alright, we have given her some medication. She'll be awake soon. But I do advice you allow her rest for some hours," he said. "Alright," I replied with a dead smile. Everything in me was screaming that I should go in there and hug Aunt Linda. But I had to control myself. I had to stay strong for her sake. "Should I go back to work or just go home for the day? Might prepare something for Aunt," I murmured to myself. While still trying to decide on what to do, my phone beeped. Raising it, I saw a message from my boss at work. "If you don't return in ten minutes, kiss bye-bye to your job." I gulped hard at the text. "Back to work it is," I sighed. There's no way I was going to lose my job, not now when I needed it the most. I tucked my brown hair to my back and let out one last sigh before rushing out of the hospital. CHAPTER 2 As the CEO of my company, I sat in my office staring at my computer screen, deep in thought. I couldn't shake off my business rival, Richard Marks, who had been making moves to gain an edge over me in the market. My assistant, Sarah, walked in and interrupted my thoughts. "Good morning, how can I assist you today?" I looked up at her and sighed. "Sarah, I need to talk to you about Richard Marks. He's been giving us a run for our money lately, and I need to figure out how to stay ahead of him." Sarah nodded and took a seat across from me. "I understand. What's been going on?" I leaned forward and began to explain. "Well, for starters, he's been undercutting our prices on some of our most popular products. He's also been poaching some of our key employees, and I've heard rumors that he's planning on launching a new product line that could put us out of business." Sarah listened carefully, taking notes as I spoke. When I finished, she looked up at me and said, "It sounds like we need to come up with a strategy to counter his moves. Have you considered partnering with another company or investing in research and development to stay ahead of him?" I shook my head. "I don't think partnering with another company is the right move, and we're already investing heavily in R&D. I need something more... cunning." Sarah raised an eyebrow. "Cunning, huh? I like where this is going. What do you have in mind?" I leaned back in my chair and smiled. "I have a plan. It's risky, but it could give us the upper hand. I need you to set up a meeting with our legal team and some of our top executives. We're going to take Richard Marks down, but we're going to do it in a way that he'll never see coming." "Alright, whatever you say. I'm in support." "Good. Now, I have had my men keep an eye on him for a while now. His movements and everything he does. He has some shady s**t, and there's someone that can help us with more info." I hummed. "And after getting the info?" Sarah inquired. "The info will be enough for us to crush him once and for all" I replied. "But sir, don't you think he'll try to shut down whoever that person is?" She asked. "That is why I need to thread carefully." "Now I'd want you to start with a background check on this person" I said, handing her a paper with some information. "Yessir." . I stepped out of the car feeling lifeless after the ride back to the bar. The trip felt fast, unlike the one to the hospital earlier. As I walked through the door, Tom yelled, "Karen, what the hell? You took too long. Do you have any idea how busy it's been in here? We're understaffed, and I'm paying you to work, not to take a damn stroll. If I had known you'd misuse the opportunity I gave you, I wouldn't have let you leave in the first place." I was taken aback by Tom's tone. I had only been gone for an hour and had expected to be welcomed back without any issues. "I'm sorry, Tom," I said, trying to diffuse the situation. "I just... Urhhh, well, my aunt's condition, you see..." "I get it, she's sick and stuff, but that's not the point," Tom replied, his voice still raised. "We're in the middle of a rush, and I can't afford to have you taking long outside like that. If you can't handle the pace, maybe you should find a new job." I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment and frustration. I had been working hard at the bar for months, and I had never been reprimanded like this before. "I can handle the pace, Tom," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I just needed to stay there and make sure Aunt Linda's condition was stable. I won't let it happen again." Tom shook his head, clearly not convinced. "You better not," he said, his voice still harsh. "If I catch you slacking off again, you'll be out of here faster than you can say 'I'm sorry.'" I nodded, feeling defeated. I knew that Tom had a point. I wasn't supposed to be taking breaks anyhow. But I also thought he would have pitied me for the condition I was in at the moment. Especially because this was the first time I asked for a short break of any sort. "I'm sorry," I muttered. "Just get back to work right now!" Tom barked before leaving. I ran back to my duty, taking orders and serving rich people, like it has been all my life. "Order at room 7," my coworker Bob yelled, then handed me the order. Room 7. I didn't need to guess who it was. The only person who had access to the room. Nervously, I approached the private booth where Kevin Comte was seated, trying to hold the tray of drinks steady in my hands. As I drew closer, I could see the tall, muscular man with a stern expression on his face. "Good evening, sir," I said, my voice shaking slightly. "Here are your drinks." Kevin didn't respond, but his eyes bore into me, making me feel small and insignificant. I placed the tray on the table and started to pour the drinks, but my hands were shaking so much that I spilled some of the liquid. "Watch what you're doing," Kevin said in a low voice, his tone full of menace. I jumped at the sound of his voice and tried to steady my hands. I poured the drinks as quickly as I could, not daring to look up at him. When I finished, I started to back away from the booth. "Is there anything else I can get for you?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. Kevin didn't answer, but he continued to stare at me with an intensity that made me feel like he could see right through me. I turned and walked away from the booth as quickly as I could, feeling his eyes on me until I was out of sight. As I walked back to the bar, my heart was pounding in my chest. I had never felt so intimidated in my life. I know that Kevin is a regular customer, and I do serve him occasionally, but lately he has made it clear that he wants only me to serve him. For some reason, the way he looks at me has changed. It's no longer the regular, but a strange, intimidating one. One that makes me feel as if he could see right through me. I know it's not possible at the moment, but deep down, I hope I never have to serve him again. CHAPTER 3 Finally! I sighed with relief as I realized that my shift was over. Now, it's time for me to go home and get some rest. I cleaned up and packed my bags. My first stop will be, of course, aunt Linda's place in the hospital. After that, I'll go check out some quick-paying jobs since borrowing money is impossible for me. The thought of it all made me let out a depressed sigh as I walked down the street alone. The path was so dark, but at the moment, that was the least of my problems. I needed to get a cab, but oddly, there weren't any available at the moment. "Hey there, Karen," a voice called out from behind me. I turned to see Kevin Comte. No, no, no! Not now. What the heck does he want now? "Hey, sir," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "What are you doing out here?" It was a really weird question to ask, owing to the fact that this is the first time I was actually talking to a man. Like, one on one. "Just heading home," he said, coming to a stop next to me. "But I couldn't help noticing you standing here all alone. Need a ride somewhere?" I hesitated. On the one hand, I really did need a ride to the hospital. On the other hand, I didn't want to get in a car with Kevin. "Uh, no thanks," I said, backing away slightly. "I can manage." "Are you sure?" Kevin said, taking a step closer. "It's pretty dangerous out here at night. You never know what kind of creeps are lurking around." "I'll be fine," I insisted, edging away even more. "Thanks, though." Kevin's expression darkened, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. "Are you sure about that?" he said, his voice low and menacing. "Because it seems to me like you're taking a big risk, walking around all alone like this. Anything could happen to you." I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest. I didn't like where this was going. "I appreciate the concern," I said, my voice shaking a little. "But I really don't need a ride." Kevin stepped even closer, and I took another step back. "I think you do," he growled, his breath hot on my face. "I think you need a ride from me. And if you know what's good for you, you'll get in my car right now." I shook my head, my eyes wide with fear. "No, I can't," I whispered. "I have to go check on my aunt in the hospital." "And how is Aunt Linda feeling?" He asked, a smirk plastered on his face. Frozen! That is what I was for five seconds straight. "How, how, how do you know aunt Linda?" I stammered, shock visible on my face. "Oh, I know a lot of things, girly." He said, running his hands through his dark silky hair. "But not as much as you do, clearly," he added. "What?" I asked. At the moment, I was stuck between shock and confusion. "You heard me, girly. Let me in on some of those secrets of yours," this time he was standing so close that he stretched his hand a little to stroke my brown locks lightly. This act made me feel something chill down my spine. "Let me go. Please!" "We need to talk, get in the car," he said, this time taking a few steps back. He looked damn serious this time, that saying no felt like a crime. "What do you want to talk about?" I asked. He replied, "Not something we should talk about here. We'll talk on the way to the hospital." He walked back to his car, leaving me to decide whether to go with him or not. I knew she didn't have time. It was late already. And the fact that he claimed he had something to say to me stirred curiosity in me. But then, he's a multi millionaire. Heck, he's a billionaire. And I have heard stories where rich people use irrelevant ones like herself for their shady businesses and nothing can be done about it. "Tik tok, tik tok, girly. aunt Linda must be tired of waiting" he hummed. I was about to say "No thank you" for the last time and head my way when it suddenly started raining. "Why is the universe against me"? I muttered under my breath. This was it. There is no way I was going to get a cab in the rain. Turns out, Kevin Comte is my only option. I walked hurriedly to his car and found him already seated behind the wheel. I opened the back seat and slid in. "Front seat" he said grimly, leaving no space for argument. Like a fool, I obeyed and in no time we were on the road. "Hospital name?" "City hospital" I replied. "Hmm" "I need your help with something" he started. "You? Need my help?" I asked, unable to hide my surprise. "How can a figure like you need help from a nobody like me? It makes no sense." "Yes, it doesn't for now, but it will soon enough. You've got something that I need. And yes, I can get it without asking. But I don't want to play that way this time", he stated. "What is it?" I asked, my eyes widened with curiosity. "You'll know soon enough, girly. Just calm down" he grinned. The car came to a halt in front of the hospital. "But all I can say for now is, you have to marry me" he said, his eyes fixed on the wheel. "Excuse me?" I asked. It felt like I heard wrong. "You heard me right. We are getting married." He said, his eyes still glued to the wheel. "Tomorrow, my driver will come pick you up." "Excuse me sir, you asked me to hop into your car for a conversation. You said you needed my help. And now, you're saying s**t? I'm sorry, but I'm not interested in this marriage." "I didn't ask for your interest. I'm also not interested. But one thing is for sure. You need this more than I do. Look Karen, don't consider this a marriage. Consider it a job. So yes, there'll be pay" he said. "Not interested, Mr Kevin Comte. Now excuse me" I muttered, before stepping out of the car. Chapter 4 His car didn't move an inch from where it was. I walked to the entrance trying my best not to look back. What the heck did he just say? Marriage? All this not making any sense. And right now, I already have enough problems. Getting myself tangled with a rich guy who would just end up using me for his selfish interest is the last thing I need. I walked into the hospital room and was relieved to see Aunt Linda awake. I left out a deep sigh as I approached her bed and took her hand. "Aunt Linda, how are you feeling?" I asked with a smile. "I'm feeling much better, dear," Aunt Linda replied weakly. "I'm so glad you're here." I looked at her aunt with concern. "I'm glad to see you're doing better. What did the doctor say?" Aunt Linda shook her head. "He said that the treatment is working, but it's very expensive. I don't know how I'm going to pay for it." My heart sank at the mention of the cost. I was told earlier that my aunt's illness would be expensive to treat, but being reminded made me feel even worse. Terrible that I can't do anything for her now that she needs me the most. I looked up to see the doctor enter the room. "Ah, Karen. I'm glad to see you've come back to check on your aunt," the doctor said. I nodded. "Yes, I just wanted to make sure she was doing better." The doctor nodded. "She's responding well to the treatment, but I wanted to remind you that the cost is quite high. It would be best if you could start making arrangements to pay for it." I felt a lump in her throat at the reminder. I knew I would have to figure out a way to pay for her treatment, but I wasn't sure how. I looked at my aunt, who was watching with a worried expression. "Don't worry, Aunt Linda. We'll figure it out," I said, trying to sound confident. Aunt Linda gave me a weak smile. "I know you'll do everything you can to help me, dear." I took a deep breath and turned to the doctor. "I'll start looking into payment options right away," I said, determined to find a way to pay for her treatment. The doctor nodded. "Very good. I'll leave you two to talk." As the doctor left the room, I sat down on the chair next to my aunt's bed. I took her hand and gave it a squeeze. this little act always makes me feel better. "We'll get through this, Aunt Linda," I said softly. Aunt Linda smiled weakly. "I know we will, dear. Thank you for being here with me." "Of course I'll always be here, aunt. Just like the way you've always been with me." I said, moving in for a hug. "I love you dear" aunt Linda hummed. "Love you too" . In ten minutes, I was already home. Good thing the hospital isn't too far from where we live. Spending the night without aunt Linda is one of the oddest things to me. It just made me feel empty. I stayed up and did some cleaning even though I knew I had to go to bed because I needed to get to work early tomorrow to avoid more trouble with Tom. . I stirred in my sleep as I heard a loud knock on the apartment door. I groggily checked the time on my phone - it was only 5:00 AM. Who could be knocking so early in the morning? I stumbled out of bed and made my way to the door, rubbing my eyes as she went. When I opened the door, I was greeted by my homeowner, Mrs. Greg, who had a scowl on her face. "Karen, I need to talk to you," Mrs. Greg said sternly. I yawned and rubbed my eyes again. "Can't this wait until a more reasonable hour?" I asked. "No, it can't," Mrs. Greg snapped. "You're two weeks behind on your rent, and I've had enough of your excuses. I need you to pay up or get out." I felt a knot form in my stomach. I have been struggling to make ends meet lately, and I know I'm behind on my rent. But I have always paid eventually, and I didn't appreciate being woken up and spoken to so disrespectfully. "I know I'm behind on my rent, Mrs. Greg," I said, trying to keep my voice calm. "I've been going through a tough time lately, but I promise I'll pay as soon as I can." Mrs. Greg rolled her eyes. "I've heard that before," she said. "I'm not going to put up with this anymore. You have until the end of the week to pay up, or I'll start the eviction process." With that, Mrs. Greg turned on her heel and stormed off down the hallway. I stood there for a moment, feeling angry and humiliated. I couldn't believe she had been woken up and spoken to so disrespectfully. I knew I needed to find a way to pay my rent quickly, or I may find myself homeless soon. But then, every cent I have right now is meant to be for aunt Linda's treatment. It's like the universe decided to turn its back on me. Everything is going badly at the same time. "Well, what now?" I murmured to myself. At the moment, I didn't even feel like going to work anymore. It felt useless and pointless. Spending hours at work and still being unable to pay my rent and hospital bills! s**t! . I walked my way to the hospital. Taking one step at a time, as I approached the doors, I was suddenly stopped by two large, imposing men in black suits who stepped in my way. "Excuse me, ma'am," said one of the men in a deep, gravelly voice. "We need you to come with us." I was taken aback. "What do you mean? I just want to visit my aunt. Why do I need to come with you?" The other man stepped forward, his hand resting on his earpiece. "Ma'am, we're not at liberty to say. But it's compulsory that you come with us." I felt uneasy immediately . I didn't like the sound of that. Who were those men? And why were they forcing me to go with them? Could they be Kevin's men? I have actually kept whatever we discussed yesterday behind me because it wasn't making any sense and I thought maybe he was high or something. But now this? "I'm not going anywhere with you," I said, taking a step back. The first man shook his head. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but we can't let you leave. It's for your own safety." I felt a surge of fear wash over me. Safety? What was going on? Just then, I heard the sound of sirens approaching. A black SUV pulled up in front of the hospital, and a third man got out. He wore a dark suit and sunglasses, and carried a briefcase. "Ms. Smith," he said, approaching me. "I'm afraid we have some urgent business to discuss. Please come with me." I didn't know what to do. I was surrounded by these intimidating men, and I didn't know what was going on. Am I in danger? I decided to comply, for now. "Okay," I said, my voice shaking. "I'll come with you." The men led me towards the SUV, where they opened the back door and motioned for me to get in. I hesitated for a moment, then climbed inside. The door slammed shut behind me, and the vehicle sped off, leaving the hospital behind. I felt her heart pounding in her chest. I didn't know where they were taking me, or what was going to happen next. All I can do is wait and hope that I will make it out of this alive. CHAPTER 5 I felt the car come to a stop, the engine cut off and the door opened. The men approached me and helped me out of the car. They guided me up a long driveway that led to a large, luxurious house that I had never seen before. I was confused at the moment, but decided to just shut my mouth. As we entered the house, I was struck by how amazing it was. The walls were covered in expensive paintings and sculptures, and the furniture looked like it was straight out of a high-end design magazine. The bodyguards led me down a hallway and into a room that was just as luxurious as the rest of the house. Once they had me inside the room, the bodyguards made a show of locking the door behind them. I stood in the center of the room, unsure of what to do next. I looked around, taking in my surroundings. There was a large king-sized bed in the center of the room, a massive flat-screen television on one wall, and an entire wall made of floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out over a stunning view of the city. As I took a step toward the windows, I heard the sound of the bodyguards leaving the room. I spun around, but they were already gone. I was alone, in a room I didn't recognize, in a house I had never been to before. My heart began to race as I realized that I had no idea where I was or what was going to happen to me. I walked over to the bed and sat down, trying to calm my nerves. I took a deep breath and tried to think logically about the situation. I took.