Chapter 3 The Contract

Rhoda got home and was welcomed by her step father and sister, he asked where she was as she said she spent the night at a friend's place, she was about to walk away as he called her back, she reluctantly came back as he said to her "I know what your sister did was wrong but let bygones be bygones just leave Elijah for her".

Rhoda smirked as she looked at her step father Simon and Cindy as she said to them "I am going up to see my mom" he tried to stop her saying she was asleep but she refused he then blocked her path as he said to her "I know she is your mother, but she is my wife and if I say she need rest she needs rest" Rhoda looked at how he acted as she felt something was fishy, at that point she knew Chris was somewhat right about what he said earlier.

She went up to her room as a maid came in with a glass of juice then she asked the maid after closing her door as she said "Did the doctor come in today?" the maid nodded as she said with concern in her voice "Yes the doctor came but not the family doctor, from what I heard I think your step father changed the doctor to a female one, she was quite pretty and honestly didn't look like a doctor".

Rhoda sighed as she thanked the maid for telling her then the maid left, it wasn't even midnight yet as she picked up her phone and gave Chris a call as she said "Mr. Reed I am ready, where do I sign", Chris had a little grin on his face as he said "Very well then, I will see you at my place tomorrow so we can talk more about the plans for our marriage". She nodded as they both ended the call.

When Simon got into his room, Rhoda's sick mom was laying in bed as she asked of Rhoda saying she thought she heard a voice like hers outside so he lied and said to her "Oh! my love it wasn't Rhoda, she isn't back yet however she sent a text saying she was at a friend's place, she asked that I tell you not to worry and you should rest as much as you can so you recover fast" she smiled as she said to him "What will I do without you my dear" he smiled as he gave her a kiss as he caressed her hair so she could sleep.

It was nighttime and Rhoda said she wasn't hungry as she was in her room while Cindy and her day went down to have their breakfast, she took advantage of the opportunity as she went in to her mother's room to see her. When she got in, she called out to her mom and when she opened her eyes she was so happy to see her, then she told Rhoda what her step father had said as she wondered why he would lie to her mom, at that point she became more convinced that the father and daughter were plotting something treacherous, she promised her mom one thing before she left the room as she said to her "I promise you mom, I will take good care of you and I will make sure no one harms you no matter what".

Her mom didn't know why she made that promise but she smiled as she nodded, she gave her mom a kiss on her forehead as she left the room, when she got out of the room, Cindy was coming in and they bumped into each other, she was about to talk when Rhoda raised her hand shutting her up as she pushed her aside and left to go to her room.

When she got there, she cried her eyes out as she cursed herself for trusting Cindy and her father and not personally taking care of her mother herself, at that point she hadn't thought of what next to do but what she did know was that she was open to whatever plans Chris had and she was going to save her mother at any cost.

The following day she got to Chris' home as she was ushered in by his maid, he was in the living room in a suit as she said to him "Is it just me or is it that you put on a suit even when you are at home, I mean if you were going to the office you would have asked me to come there" he shunned her as he said "Is it also just me or do you talk a lot".

She gave him a whimsical look as she said "Okay the contract, what are the terms of the contract marriage?" his secretary brought out the document and gave her a copy as he gave his boss one too, she looked at it as she read it aloud from the first to the tenth clause on the contract.

She sighed as she said "Well I have no complaints of this contract, everything is well explained and yes I agree" he looked at her surprised as to why she agreed immediately as he asked "What happened, why did you agree all of a sudden to this marriage" she sighed as she said "I guess I have to be honest with you and lay all my cards on the table since you did the same too".

She dropped the contract on the couch where she sat as she leaned forward and said to him "You were right about Cindy my step sister and her dad, I think they might be responsible for my mom's sickness and yesterday I found out her doctor has been changed to a female who doesn't even look the part. I don't even want to know what their plans are with my mom, all I know is I have to save her from all of this, they are shareholders at the firm and my stepdad is the current CEO but I have to get my inheritance immediately so I can take over and protect my family's legacy".

Chris looked at her with a little concern in his eyes as he changed back to his stern unconcerned look when she turned to look at him as he said "Very well Miss Alexander, I will make sure to help you protect your mom from leeches, I know what it is like to have people reap where they did not sow" she cut him off as she said "You said something yesterday about not leaving the company after your mom has laboured so hard for it, what does that mean" he sighed as he said "My dad was always that incompetent son, the one who wanted to pursue music and not the business, then he met my mom, she studied the piano but she had a degree in business, they got married and had me but then my grandpa fell sick, normally my dad would have handled the business but instead my mom did, we almost lost our company but because of my mom the Reed's empire is what it is today that is why my grandpa loved her so much and when she died he was even more hurt than I was and that is why he wants me to inherit the business and no one else because my mom laboured when my dad didn't want to".

Rhoda felt emotional hearing his story as she felt so pissed because she could tell he was telling the truth which contradicted all the lies Elijah told her of him and the family dynamics, she stood up as she extended her hand to him and gave him a handshake as she said "I am ready for this marriage, let's make the best of our partnership" he shook her hand as she smiled and he had his normal stern no smiley face look.

Then she teased him as she asked "So what do I call you after we are married, honey, baby, suger plum" he looked at her as he said "There won't be any need for that, you can call me Mr. Reed" she looked at him confused as to how a wife would call her husband that, then she said "How about I call you Chris, that would do right" he looked at her and said "You would have to earn that, in the meantime call me Mr. Reed and I will call you Mrs Reed that of course after we are married".

She nodded as she sighed, she just had to agree to it because arguing about it will be futile so she nodded and said "Okay, Mr. Reed".