Chapter 6 Meeting his victim

"No!"

Nicholas firmly rejected.

"Come on, man."

Stanley coerced.

"Are you crazy, dude?

"How do you expect me to marry someone who's sick?"

Nicholas thundered.

"She's not exactly sick. She only had an accident, and ended up in a Coma. Nothing a little cash and the right hospital wouldn't fix."

Stanley clarified.

"What the hell do I care man!"

Nicholas yelled in anger.

"Come on Nick, just look at it like you're helping someone in need, and getting something in return from it too."

"It just might help mitigate the guilt you feel about that lady you ran over."

Stanley tried to persuade him.

"And can you believe she doesn't want the four hundred thousand dollars, but only that you help her daughter live?"

"The only thing there for you to do, is to cover her daughter's hospital bills, and make sure she survives, and she would marry you in return."

"Think about it logically, Nick. Don't you think she would make the perfect person for the contract?"

"I don't know about you, but i know that woman would take the secret of the contract to her grave if you help her daughter, whick makes her the perfect candidate."

Stanley tried to reason with him.

"Imagine if the daughter wakes up. Trust me, she would worship at your feet, and do whatever you ask of her. She would be forever indebted to you, and that would be your control factor. Think about it, man."

"I'm only trying to help, here."

Stanley convinced.

Nicholas stood there in shock, disbelief and anger. Of all the ladies in New York city, Stanley picked the one in coma, for him to marry. Even though it was a fake marriage, he still expected it to be with a healthy person.

"Look, i can only help the woman by ensuring her daughter survives. But marriage, hell no!"

He said with a tone of finality, and went back to working on his laptop. When Stanley saw that he wasn't in the mood to talk anymore, he left, and went back to his office.

Stanley had no idea why he was so particular about helping the woman. But he took out the piece of paper with Olivia's number, and dialled it.

She picked on the first ring.

He greeted her, and introduced himself. He inquired about her daughter's health, and also asked for the hospital where she was. After their conversation, he ended the call by promising to keep checking up on her.

He would convince Nicholas to go see her when he was much calmer.

******

"Hi, handsome. I've missed having you inside me. Time and place, baby?"

Laura said seductively, over the phone.

"Look I'm not in the mood for that, okay. Go get a dildo or something!"

Nicholas replied curtly, ending the call.

What! That's a first. Laura couldn't believe it. Since when has Nicholas ever rejected sex? She was pissed at his rude response. Or was he sleeping with someone else?

Well, she knew he had always been a playboy. But she was his favourite plaything. Or has someone else taken her position? The thought of that made her furious.

She would find out. And whoever the woman was, she would make sure she regrets it.

*******

Olivia was with Josephina in her ward when a nurse informed her she had visitors.

She saw a familiar face walk in. It was the man she met some few days ago, Mr Stanley Sawyer. Her face lit up immediately.

Before she could get up to say hello, another young man walked in with his hands in his pockets. She thought Mr Stanley was very handsome, but this young man was way more handsome. He took slow, calculated steps towards her, and only the sound of his shoe on the concrete floor could be heard in the room. He scrutinised her from head to toe.

He had an air of Arrogance and importance about him. And his cologne smelt like good money talking. She was sure he was no ordinary person. She finally summoned the courage to say hello and greet them properly.

After a while, Stanley introduced the handsome young man, as Nicholas Thompson-the CEO of LEAMS Global, and she couldn't help but gasp.

She had her head down as an act of reverence towards him. So he was the face behind the name? He was a really handsome man indeed. She could now understand the reason for those nurses' actions.

She stepped aside for him to fully enter and have a closer look at Josephina, who was lying lifelessy on the bed.

Nicholas walked towards Josephina's bed and inspected her. Even though she looked very pale and lifeless, it didn't do much of concealing her beauty. There was something natural about her beauty. Even though she was sick, her skin was still looking flawless.

He doubt she would need make-up to look good. Her nose was symmetrical, and she had a cute plump lip. Her cheek bone was impeccable.

Olivia was holding out hope for some good news. She prayed silently for the man to accept her request. She noticed the way he was staring, and she smiled satisfactorily. She knew her daughter was very beautiful. He cleared his throat, as he suddenly recollected himself. He couldnt believe he was ogling at a sick woman.

"What happened to her?"

He inquired, curious to know how she ended up in such condition.

"A hit and run driver did this to my daughter. The evil animal ran her over and left her for dead. She was found lying in the pool of her own blood."

Nicholas' heart suddenly skipped as his conscience pricked him. Why did this story seem so familiar? He was also guilty of the same crime, and the story seemed a lot similiar to his. It was like someone was accusing him of a crime he knew he committed. What if---? No! This was not happening!

What were the chances that she could be his victim from that night? Thesame one he ran over and left for dead? He remembered she was lying face-flat to the ground, and he couldn't see her face. But if there was one thing he noticed that early morning, was that his victim was a brunette, and so was this woman lying on this bed. Dang it!

He felt like there was a huge lump in his throat, that made swallowing impossible. He looked towards Stanley in horror, and his eyes bulged like they were about to fall out from their sockets, as realisation hit him.

Nicholas was shaking on the inside, but did a very good job of keeping his composure. He wanted to confirm the truth...if it was really her.

"When did the accident happen? And how long has she been like this?"

He inquired, as his voice threatened to shake.

"The accident happened a month ago on a monday morning when she was on her way to an interview."

Okay, that does it! Nicholas got the confirmation he needed. This was the woman he ran over and left for death that early morning. shit!

He remembered how her file went flying everywhere when he had knocked her down. Everything the woman was describing matched with what had happened.

Thinking about it now, his bodyguard had mentioned his victim being in a coma and in an under-equipped hospital as well. Shit!

Karma was definitely playing a fast one on him!