Chapter 4 Ready or not

"My boss sent me to you" he said, his hands searching his shoulder bag before bringing out a file.

"And who's your boss?" She asked, her eyes filled with curiosity.

He streched the file to her. "Agree to the terms of this contract and your sister's medical bills will be taken care of, her education and also her living expenses will all be sponsored by my Boss."

Jennifer's eyes widened, what was the catch? She snatched the file and read through it, her mind raced with the implications of the offer, it sounded too good to be true.

"What!!" She exclaimed, looked at him, then scoffed. "Is this some kind of joke?" She questioned, staring deep into his eyes. His expression doesn't change but remains still and serious.

"So you expect me to randomly marry your boss who I haven't even laid my eyes on? What kind of contract is this?" She demanded, trying to keep a steady voice.

"It's a marriage contract, Miss Jennifer." He replied, his expression neutral.

Jennifer stared at the contract again. She just had to agree to the contract marriage and bear the Mrs, simply just portraying to be his Wife. Something felt off, just that?

"It says here, that we only pretend to be in a lovely marriage by his rules, in front of the family and the public. Does that mean we won't be sharing the same bed just like other couples" she questioned.

"Everything stated on the contract is exactly how it will be ma'am" he replied, as he stretched out a pen.

Jennifer's heart wasn't still at peace, it felt too easy and good to be believable. Who were these people? Could they be Organ harvesters? What if she was wrong and what did the 'pretending to be in a lovely marriage in front of the public' mean? This could only mean his boss was some influential person.

"I'll think about it" she finally concluded, as she snatched the pen from him.

He nodded, "then I'll be expecting to hear from you Miss Jennifer. The contract expires by midnight by the way, if you end up changing your mind, do reach out to me." He said , as he handed her his card before walking out.

"Richard D" Jennifer mumbled the name written on the card. Everything felt strange, the business card wasn't an exception. No details of the company he worked for, just a name and a phone line, it all appeared sketchy. She stared forward as she watched him get back into a black car with tinted glass.

***

"I've carried out the task Sir, she suggested she'll try giving it some thought" Richard's said.

The man at the back of the cars laughs a bit, his voice deep yet resonate. "Of course she'll say that. And you told her exactly what I told you?" He questioned before lighting up his Cigar.

"Yes, but what if she changes her mind boss? She didn't seem to trust anything I said" Richard replied, his eyes filled with concern and questions.

"Ohhh she will, that's why I asked you to make enquires of her situation at hand. She will" he said with a smirk on his lips. "Take me back home now Richard."

"Ohhh, yes Sir" Richard complies.

***

Jennifer rushed back to the hospital, her heart raced with anticipation as she headed to the doctor's office in order to plead her case. She stared at the business card she was given a few moment back, hoping she wouldn't be in a tight spot to accept the offer.

"Please doctor" she pleaded dropping the stack of cash on his table. " this is 2.3 million dains, it's all I could gather for now. I should be able to get the remaining balance by tomorrow, I promise."

The Doctor's expression remained reluctant yet sympathetic. "I'm afraid the money you have brought doesn't change a thing Jennifer, we can't start the treatment with this amount and I'm afraid you're running out of time."

Jennifer's face fell, her eyes were already red and swollen due to the amount of times she had cried her eyes out.

"Your sister's condition is gradually deteriorating and if conditions aren't meant to begin treatment, I'm afraid we'll have to move her out of the ICU. We've tried enough."

"Deteriorating?" Jennifer asked.

"You see, her liver seems to be already getting affected which would make it gradually swell and cause discomfort, now when that happens we'll have another thing to work on increasing the cost. If you'd like, I'd take you to see your sister right now" the doctor replied.

Jennifer's head fell on her hands, she wiped off her teary-eyes as she proceeded to follow the doctor to the ICU after being clothed properly.

She walked into the ICU, the sight of her sister laying there pale and frail made her blood run cold. She walked slowly to where her sister laid, her eyes welling up with tears of sorrow and regret. Her eyes locked unto her sister's face as her sister's eyes opened lightly.

Erica's stare filled with helplessness and weakness but happy to see her sister. Jennifer's heart broke at this sight as she reached for her sister's hand.

"I'm sorry" Jennifer whispered, "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you when you needed me, I'm sorry I never had an idea."

Jennifer stared at her eyes, she could sense Erica's pity and sadness. Her heart shattered when she realized her sister trying to communicate but couldn't. Erica was always the one to lighten her mood anytime she felt down and distressed.

Jennifer squeezed her sister's hand gently. "I'll get you out of here pretty soon, I'll do everything to make sure you get better. Just hang in there for a while and stay strong for me."

Erica's eyes searched her sister's with hope. Jennifer felt a surge of resolve, she'd do anything to save her sister."

She proceeded to leave the ICU room with a heavy heart but before she could take a step, the cardic arrest monitor just above her sister's bed begins to beep continously.

"What's going on?" Jennifer began to question as the nurses started rushing around the room in the sense of urgency.

"Leave the room now Miss Jennifer" the doctor yelled in a firm and commanding tone.

Jennifer resisted, desperate to be at her sister's side, however, few nurses firmly guide her out of the room.

Through the door, Jennifer watched her sister fight for her life in there, the beeping continued as the doctor tried reviving her back. This felt like horror and was painful to watch as tears continue to stream down her cheeks.

The beeping eventually slowed down and became steady while Jennifer continued watching, her heart racing.

The doctor emerged out of the room, his expression filled with exhaustion. He looked at Jennifer and took a deep breath before speaking.

"We were able to stabilize her" he spoke in a calm tone. "But we need to act fast. Most of her organs are beginning to fail and we must begin treatment as soon as possible."

"Wh..what does that mean doctor?" Her voice shaking with fear.

"It means we have to perform the bone marrow transplant as soon as possible, Erica's been on the waiting list for a bone marrow donor for long now and if payment can't be made before dawn, we'll be left with no other choice than to remove her from the list as there're other patients who'll need it too and probably discharge her from the hospital. The hospital wouldn't want to contain any patient who wouldn't begin treatment at the risk of their lives. I hope you're getting what I'm saying?" The doctor responded, his expression grim.

Jennifer felt a slap on her face, the doctor's words crushed her deeply, only she could solve her problems. She stared blankly at the card and file, she didn't mind getting married to an old beast for a year if it meant she could save her sister. She stared at the clock, it was just 11:37pm. There was still time but then pauses for a while, what about her pregnancy?

They could terminate the contract and she'd be at loss, nahh she couldn't do that. She'd keep it a secret for the meantime until her sister's bills are settled and Erica gets out of danger entirely.

She picked up her phone and dials the number.

***

"That's alright then, I'll be in the hospital in ten minutes so we finalize things and get everything under control." Richard said before ending the call.

He turn to face his boss with a triumphant smile on his face, " she accepted the offer Sir".

His boss twirls in his leather chair, puffed on his Cigar. His hands moved to the edge of his desk, picking up the Robin's cube and began twisting it.

"Go to the hospital and make the necessary arrangements for her sister's treatment. Make sure you fill her in more on the details of our agreement" he said, with a hint of smile on his face.

"Yes sir" Richard nods and proceeds to leave.