MANZINO'S ARRANGED BRIDE

THREE

Chapter 3

Amelia's POV

I'm seated in the hospital waiting room sweating buckets even though there's a functioning air conditioner in the room.

Raina has been in that room with the doctor for quite some time and he has yet to update me on the situation of things.

Raina was my younger sister and the last person I could call my own in thw world.

If anything happened to her, I'd be lonely and miserable.

Madam Liz was yet to give me a favourable update concerning the jobs I requested for and I was het to find an alternative.

I had researched online all through the night checking for well paying jobs that could fetch me so much money in such a short amount of time.

All I saw were office jobs, more waitressing jobs and driving jobs. They were good enough a d decent but none of them could provide me with the huge sum I needed for Raina's health to be restored.

Tears rolled down my cheeks and my legs started shaking on their own accord.

The doctor was clear when he told me how delicate Raina's condition was and how we didn't have enough time so delay wasn't an option.

“I can't lose her God, please I just…” I sobbed silently, my entire body shaking with the force of my sobs.

At this point, being a prostitute was looking promising because at least I'd make a steady income everyday if I played my cards right and attracted the right clients.

I snorted as fresh tears rolled down my cheeks. There was no way I was ever going to do that.

My father would roll around in his grave if I tried it. I loved Raina, but even she would disown me if I indulged in such.

Maybe a surrogate wouldn't be such a bad idea? From what I shared, they paid a ton of money for those.

However from what I also heard, the procedure took a huge toll on the woman's body and some wouldn't recover from it.

I could at least attempt it if Raina could get the treatment she needed since it didn't involve selling my body to the highest bidder.

“But you were about to do that with Madam Liz,” a loud voice reminded me and I shook my head.

Madam Liz's deals came with NDAs, marriages and contracts. At least I could turn down jobs I didn't like. Just like I turned down the job to work for Manzino.

Whereas in prostitution, everyone wore a mask until things got real and you ended up on the wrong side of things with barely enough time to make an escape plan.

I buried my head in my lap as I continued to cry, going over my limited options in my head.

The air around me shifted and I sensed a change in the surroundings.

Looking up from my lap, I noticed people were standing up and moving towards the walls quickly as if running from something.

With a frown, I remained where I was not one to scare easily especially when I didn't know the cause of the commotion.

Then people started speaking in hushed tones, whispering and mummering to one another.

I caught the tail end of one conversation but still couldn't make sense of it.

“...he's here,”

Who was here and why was such a person making everyone cower in fear?

I remained where I was, eyeing Raina's room door from time to time, choosing to ignore the rukus around me.

For all I knew it could have been started by someone who had nothing better to do than play a prank on unsuspecting people.

With a sigh, i leaned back in my chair and stared into space.

“Manzino is here!” I heard someone yell in a frantic voice and jumped to my feet.

I froze when my eyes fell on the intimidating man from across the hall and goosebumps shot up my body.

I quickly ducked, preferring to stay out of sight so he wouldn't notice me.

And why would he notice me anyway? I asked myself as I leaned against the wall close to a group of middle-aged women who had their hands over their face.

He didn't know who I was so there was no way he'd approach me of all the people here.

He probably had to run a test, or check up on one of his family members hence his presence here.

I ignored him and continued brooding over the way forward to my problem when I heard audible gasps from around me.

Looking up, I saw that Manzino was walking towards me. With a frown, I watched as he got closer and then panic set in.

What was he doing?

I looked behind and aw a roll of doors in the hallway then relaxed.

“He's not here for you Lia,” But even as I said that, it became obvious how wrong I was when his long strides stopped directly in front of me.

He pulled his hands out of his pocket and in one of them was a cigarette packet.

“You can't amo…” I started to say then trailed off when I realized who I was talking to.

He pulled out a cigarette, lit it with a lighter I hadn't noticed him holding before and then drew a long puff.

I gulped and avoided his gaze, taking a step back to put some distance between us.

He mirrors my actions and caged me between the wall so I had nowhere else to run to.

Then I watched in horror as he pulled out the cigarette from his mouth. “Hello Wifey,” he said offering me a smile and I stilled, shock rendering me immobile.

Did he just call me wifey? What did he mean by…? An image of Madam Liz flooded my mind but I brushed it off.

She'd never pair me up with him even when I blatantly refused. There was no way.

Despite holding onto hope, Manzino kept staring at me and hadn't taken back what he said and it hit me…she f*****g did.

Anger like a bolt of electricity hit me and I fumed, feeling betrayed.

How could she do that to me?

I opened my mouth to send him off on his merey way when the door to Raina's room opened.

I quickly stepped away from Manzino and met the doctor halfway, concern for my sister's condition, overshadowing all other emotions.

“How's she?” I asked, fidgeting on my feet as anxiety clouded my senses.

Footsteps reached my ears and soon I saw Manzino in my peripheral vision.

I chose to remain ignorant even though his presence seemed to take up all the room, leaving me vulnerable.

The doctor's eyes widened in shock as he recognized who was standing before him and he became a blubbering mess stumbling over his words and repeating them over and over again, neither time making sense.

I wanted badly to tell Manzino off for invading my privacy like that but I remained silent praying for the moment to pass and for the doctor to find his words soon enough.

“Doctor….” Manzino started and paused as he looked down at the doctor's coat, eyes zeroed in on his name tag. “Doctor Shane, it's quite unprofessional of you to keep the family of the patient waiting like this.”

“My apologies, I didn't mean to…”

“There he goes again,” I thought and finally turned to glare at the intimidating man standing behind me.

He doesn't look at me, his eyes glued to Doctor Shane's.

“Well sorry isn't going to cut it for me Shane. I need an update on my sister-in-law's condition now.” He commanded and I gasped at his choice of words.

Sister-in-law? Since when?

Dr. Shane still looks nervous but he provides a clearer response this time. “I'm afraid I don't have good news. Raina's condition is getting worse by the day. She is currently at stage three and needs urgent treatment or else…”

He doesn't finish his statement but it's clear what he's implying.

Tears cloud my vision and I choke back a sob as Manzino steps forward, grabbing the doctor by his collar.

“I don't appreciate your inspiration Shane. Your job is to explain the situation, not conclude.”

Dr. Shane is visibly shaken and trembles as Manzino holds him in the air, his legs dangling. “I didn't mean anything by it Mr. Manzino, I apologise if I crossed the line.”

He remained hanging like that for a while until Manzino decided to put him down.

“What's the treatment plan like?” Manzino asked and I stared up at him in confusion.

What was he trying to do?

Dr. Shane eyed me briefly before looking back at Manzino as he said, “She would never over a million dollars for treatment because most of her vital organs are struggling.”

“Money is not a problem. Send me an invoice as soon as possible and get preparations set for her to be flown out if need be.”

Dr. Shane's eyes widened briefly before he composed himself. “Yes Manzino, right away. Congratulations Ms. Ford.”

He quickly walked away and I was left alone with Manzino once again, reeling from his behaviour in the last few minutes.

“Well now that this is taken care of, what do you say we…?”

“Who do you think you are?” I asked, turning to face him.

He looked taken aback and reasonably so since I was sure no one had ever spoken to him in such a manner before.

“Excuse me?” He asked and I let out a dry laugh.

“Why are you here? What made you think you could interfere in my private life?”

He looked more and more confused as I spoke but I continued speaking.

“You need to remember your place Manzino.” I huffed and took a deep breath, my chest heaving.

A smirk took over his features and I raised an eyebrow at the unexpected reaction to my words.

I expected anger, he'll rage but not this.

“There’s no need for you to act modest around me, Amelia seeing as we're to be husband and wife soon.”

“Smug bastard,” I thought with irritation.

I wasn't blind to the fact that Manzino was a beautiful man, it was clear for everyone to see but even beauty could be wasted on people.

He took another look puff of his cigarette and I coughed, scrunching my nose at the smell.

“You need to leave please.” I added the last part out of exhaustion wanting to be left alone to think about my sister's condition.

Shockingly, he didn't say another word and simply turned around and left.

Everyone scrambled out of the way as he passed, none of them wanting to be close to him.

Once he disappeared out of sight, I walked into Raina's room and shut the door behind me.