A Deal With Destiny

"Hello, hello. Who's this?" I spoke into the phone, gesturing to a co-waiter to take over.

I slipped past him, through the back doors and into the kitchens. One cook was huddled over a pot, ladling stew into a plate.

"Hello. Hello?"

"Darcy? Is this Darcy Henley?"

My heart got caught in my chest. "Yeah. Yeah, who's this?"

"Darcy, this is the hospital calling. One mister Adolf Henley just did get admitted. Reports says he slumped in a pub. His emergency info says you're family. Here's the address."

I tore a sheet from the waiting notepad and jotted down the address, my heart hammering. Not another problem. Not now. Not dad.

I ditched my apron and dived out the doors into the parking lot. It had gotten pretty dark out. I was soon in my rickety car of five faithful years and pulling out unto the road. I could barely keep my hands steady. I brought up the hospital's address on Google maps, and it was a good distance driving.

It was all just too much. I already had a lot going on for me for chrissake. I did not need the old man's help in adding to it.

I was just about halfway to the hospital before my cranky 10-year-old 1980 Chevy truck decided to take one of its expensive irregular naps. I was left stranded in no man's land, with cars zooming past at full speed. I got out and leaned against it by the side of the road, willing myself to not break down. Calm Darcy. Do not dent your stupid car further by kicking it. Calm does it.

Soon, the beams of a car's headlight that seemed to be slowing down shone straight at me. Thank God. A sleek black beauty pulled up behind my car. I did not recognize the brand, but it was definitely a car for royalty. A young man in his early thirties glared at me from behind the wheel as I walked up to him.

"What is it?!" He sounded rude. I didn't do well with rude people. But the cold had started to get to me.

"I don't know. I'm not a mechanic," I yelled back at him. "Could you help drop me off at Princeston Hospital? I do not know when I'll be able to get a mechanic at this time and it's urgent I get to the hospital..."

"I could," he interrupted. A sly grin appeared on his stupid face. "But what am I to gain from it? Perhaps the rest of your night?"

A headache, summed up. I turned to walk away but then, thought again. It was dangerous for a pretty helpless-looking girl to be alone at this sort of place. Especially at night.

I turned back to his smirking face. "Now, look here, my man..."

But his phone rang, and he held up a hand to silence me. I groaned in frustration. What I wouldn't give to get back at this spoilt, rich-ass smirking at me.

"Now?," he yelled into his phone. He turned and mouthed that I hopped in. I ran around the car and got into the seat next to him, thanking whoever had interrupted our game. The car jerked forward and pulled into the road. The man had only a hand on the wheel while he yelled into his phone.

"I am coming home with my fiancé. She is right in the car with me!"

I turned to see who else was in the car, the fiancé he was talking about. There was none. The man handed the phone out to me and ordered arrogantly,

"Say hello, to my father, Sally."

I froze. What in the world! He did not even know my name! Perhaps this Sally was his fiancé he had to pick up but was late. Not wanting to seem like bad business, as he'd actually stopped to help, even though he'd taunted my through it, I took the phone.

"Hello. Good evening ma... Uh, sir?"

"Oh. He's actually serious?" The voice was a rich baritone. Probably that of a rich, old man. "Well darling, I'm waiting. See you in a bit."

The line went dead. Huh. He snatched the man right out of my hands, the jerk. He began to mutter things I couldn't hear under his breath.

Now, as I turned to actually observe him, he looked like a handsome guy. He was actually a really handsome guy. His jet black hair he styled back. His nose was well carved, and though I couldn't see his eyes, I imagined them as blue. And he was a rich guy! With the car and that attitude, he definitely was. At once, I felt butterflies begin to flutter in my stomach. I was being given a ride in a hot, rich guy's car.

Shame on you, Darcy! Shame. Your father is dying in the hospital, and all you care to think about is this! I shook myself mentally. Get it over with.

"Sooo, what did you mean by that? Who's your fiancé?" I said, curious. He said nothing, and just continued to drive, the jerk.

Oh. That's how it is. No thank you. Just silence. Fine!

"So," he turned to me, not smiling. "You up to make some cool cash tonight?"

I served back the silence he had given me earlier. It felt good.

"Come on, now. Surely..."

"No. Not interested. Take your filthy desires elsewhere..."

"Even if it's five thousand bucks?"

That shut me up real quick.

"See, I could make a call. Send a plow truck to help with your car. What's it you were going to the hospital to do? Someone you know ill? I could send someone there too. Help with the bills and all." He rounded a corner and shot down the road. "Now, you do not have to sleep with me or anything. You just need to follow me to my family's mansion, and pretend to be my fiancé. Only tonight."

I couldn't talk. The prospects... Five thousand freaking dollars! That would go a long way.

"Come on. I know you need it. One doesn't own a car that old except they're actually poor." The insult was not lost to me. "Just do pretend girl, nothing more to it. Just that."

I swallowed. "Why? Am I going to be in trouble after? Anyone going to come looking for me?"

"Nah. Nothing. I told the old man I had a fiancé without actually having one, and now he's holding me to it. No one's going to come looking for you."

What are you doing, Darcy! Silly-ass question. Was he supposed to affirm that you will be in trouble after? Just take the goddamn deal. Life is all about risks.

"This, uhm, five thousand bucks. Do I get it before, or after?"

He laughed. I hated the sound of it. Now, God help me if he had only been teasing me. God so help us both.

"Clever girl. Here, wear this. It'd do to add a little glamor to the appearance."

He tossed me a ring box he had gotten out the car's glove compartment.

Inside, a diamond ring glinted in the light of a passing car's headlight. It was going to be a long, long night.

I had never sold my soul before. Not this cheap.

The Mexican smuggler and loan shark, Pedro Alejandro looked very much like a literal pig, except a pig was more presentable. He stank too, and as he shook his fat fist at my face, all I could think of was, please. Be over soon.

"Remember Darcy. Pay up soon, or your old man is gonna get it. I'll so make sure he never walks again. Ten thousand bucks, Darcy."

He stalked from me, heading to the restaurant's front door. I was finally able to breathe fine.

"Ten thousand, Darcy!" He slammed the door shut behind him. Luckily for me , there was no customer. Only Corin the barman stood behind the counter, and he did not look from his phone's screen.

Oh God. Oh, good gracious God. What was I going to do? What would I do now? Pretty much the whole money from the night before had gone. I had cleared my rent with it. Settled the many loans with my mechanic. Others.

Now, another thing had come. I could not believe my father wouldn't still leave gambling and loan sharks alone. After all it had caused. After everything.

I signed, and plopped down on a chair nearby to think. The night had not gone on as long as I thought it would. We had driven to his family mansion, as he had said. There'd been a really long expense of beautifully groomed palm trees leading to the mansion that I had thought would never end. And then, the mansion had appeared. It had been dark, but even then, I could make out it's majestic beauty.

He had driven into a parking lot where a seemingly infinite number of cars were sprawled. Then he had led me into the brilliant interiors which were I was simply too stunned to put a thing to memory. His father, a smug portly man with a mustache was polite, and pecked my cheeks. Then I had drunk a number of exotic wines. I had only seen his father, and a twin of his, who sat at a corner and stared drunkenly at me.

Then he told his father we had other appointments somewhere and pushed my person to the doors where he had written me a cheque and dropped me off at the hospital where my car already was waiting. It had all been a blur to me after all the wine.

Then, the doctor had told me it was a kind of liver disease. What my father suffered from. A large amount, more than I could afford, would have to be paid for a surgery. I didn't love my dad, no. He had been more than a bad father. He had been a bully. Coming home everyday drunk, he would hit mom till she could no longer take it and ran. Leaving only me.

A tap on the shoulders startled me. I jumped. Torsney Bernhardt, the guy from the night before smiled down at me. God, he was tall. Taut muscles rippled underneath the white T-shirt he wore. What did he come here for? Had he come to take back his money? Or had he just happened to show up? Was it just coincidence?

My mouth was agape, and he noticed before I could compose myself. A silly grin crept up his handsome face.

"How's it going, Sally? Good business day?" He drew a chair close and sat, his eyes penetrating my very being. I had been right. He had astoundingly blue eyes. Bluer than the skies on a clear cloudless day. And his lips, my God. I could barely stop myself from reaching down and feeling their pink softness.

I swallowed. He still watched me, still with the silly smile. "What is the best wine you have here? Get me a bottle. And two glasses."

I nervously stood, with my legs trembling. Threatening to give away from beneath me.

After I brought up the drink, he demanded that I sat. Without questions, I obeyed. The smile still would not leave his face.

"I have a proposal for you, Sally."

"My name is not..." I tried to speak, but he interrupted me with a wave of his hand.

"Yes, yes. It isn't. But as far as I'm concerned, you are Sally. No one else."

Now, who did this guy think he was. Come here, ordering me about. Telling me what was and was not my name. I endured.

"Now, Sally. Seems like you've got yourself a job. A big one. You wanna hear it?" Before I could say jack, he put up his hand again. This guy was shaping up to be the most arrogant jerk I had met in my life. And I had met really a lot of arrogant jerks, being a waiter and all. This guy clearly had a lot of people serving him, obeying to his every whim, and now, he thought he had constricted me too.

"You, Sally, are to be my wife. How's that for a change? You'd leave this shitty job for good and never lack anything good ever again."

"What? To be your what?"

"Come on. Don't be like that. Trying to play hard to get. It's smooth, though. Look, it's a contract marriage. We do not have to do anything, except you want somewhere in between." He showed me his immaculate white teeth.

I tried to stand, to look more imposing than the petite girl shaking in the chair, but my legs would not let me. "Man, look here..."

I half expected him to put a hand up and interrupt me, but he did not. And so, I found further words refusing to come. He watched me stammer my outrage with a satisfied grin, looking smug.

"Now, Sally. Don't be stubborn. It'll only be for a year or two. Then you will be on your way, with more money than you obviously had no hope of ever gaining from this restaurant. Say, a hundred thousand dollars. Two hundred... Just you agree."

"But... but why?"

"Because, my idiot father will soon be giving away his real estate multi-billion dollar company to a son of his that proves eligible. One of the clauses which include, getting married." It was the first time I had ever seen him upset. "So my destiny now lies on your small hands now, Sally. What do you say?"

I did not know when, or why, but I did nod. He jumped, excited, and before I knew it, he had his handsome face on mine, with his soft lips pressed into mine. I felt myself melt like wax for a moment, before I managed to push him off, sputtering with embarrassment.

"Gerroff."

He was already heading to the door, a bounce on his steps. At the door, he turned. "Evening time, mademoiselle. Gotta find us a marital home first." He dashed out the door.

My mind was racing. My limbs trembled. And quite strangely, I felt a wetness between my thighs. Gosh.

Corin the bar guy, stared open-mouthed at me when I turned to the bar.

"Darcy... Darcy, you are getting married! OMG!"

"Corin, shut your mouth."

A lady in denim jacket and blue pants was leaning against the Chevy as I exited the hospital building. Her chocolate complexioned face did not look familiar. I approached hesitantly.

She smiled when she saw me.

"Hullo. It's Sally, isn't it?"

I nodded, tense. She wore her hair in a bob and looked really beautiful. The brilliant white of her teeth against the dark of her skin stirred a bit of jealousy I didn't even know I had in my guts.

"Who are you?"

"It doesn't matter who I am, Sally. All that matters is that you are about to become a very rich woman. You are to be married to one Torsney Bernhardt soon, are you not?"

I hesitated in responding. Who the hell was this woman? What was it to her?

"What is it to you?" I asked.

"Now, I am not your enemy, Sally. I have a proposal for you. I need you to jilt Torsney. Do not get married to him. I'll give you twenty thousand dollars if you can do that. If you can leave the city before the wedding, I'll make it forty."

Was this some sort of test? I stared at her. Cold, unexpressive eyes stared back. I did not like her one bit. She scared me. Her lips smiled, but the smile did not reach her eyes. Her eyes were the darkest I had ever seen. This was probably some sort of test. To see if I could be trusted.

"I'm sorry," I said. "I cannot abandon the love of my life. I love him very much. And he loves me too. Now, if you'll excuse me."

For ten tense, frosty seconds, we both stood and stared down at each other. Then she smiled again, moving away from the Chevy's door she had been leaning against.

"Of course Sally. I shouldn't keep you. You have a wedding to prepare for after all. Good luck." Nothing had ever given me the creeps like those words. I tried a shrug and got into the car.

As I pulled out the gate, I glanced at my rear view mirror and she still stood there, watching my exit. I shuddered involuntarily.

Soon, I was on the main road and only then did I start to relax. Dad would be free to leave in a day or two. I had done my part in saving his life. Now, it was up to him to preserve it. I was never showing myself to him again. He could go toss himself at a moving train for all I cared. He had cost me a lot already.

I had nothing planned for the day, and since I was no longer a waiter, Torsney having seen to it, I had much time on my hands. I pulled over at a grocery store, and got chocolate before driving to my best girl's home at Hardee's drive.

Laia Maynard's flat was at the very top of the ten-storey apartment building, and I had come to loathe the long climb through the stairs anytime I had to visit and the elevator was down. Luckily, today it wasn't.

I never knocked, and when I pushed her door open, she was sprawled out on the carpet, with her crayons and sketchbook. She screamed excitedly when she looked up and saw me, but she did not stand.

"Oh. So that's how it is? No hugs." I pouted and pretended to be upset. She stood up, laughing and leapt at me. She held my hands and looked me over.

"How many days has it been? Three, four days since you meet your handsome man, and you've already started with the weight." She chuckled.

I aimed a weak punch at her cheeks, but she ducked under my clumsy attempt all the same, laughing. She grabbed the bag with the chocolates and ran. I pursued her.

Minutes later, with the chocolate gone, I was curled up comfortably on one of the settees watching her draw. She had an enviable talent, Laia. She had what looked like a cowboy in a top hat daintily painted on one of the many sheets she had lying around. I stared at it, intrigued.

"So, what about André? What you gon' tell him now, babes?" She asked.

"There's nothing to say to him, Laia babes. I never promised him a thing. He should be smart and get the sign that I am not just interested."

"Ice cold, babes!" She whooped. "About your man, tell me about him. What's he like? "

"Girl, I told you! He is not my man. It's a contract thingy."

"Yeah. That is what we all think at the beginning. Before falling heads over heels." She started to tease me. "My girl's soon gonna be in love. And with a filthy rich hotness. Dang!"

"Laia, stop!"

"Tell me about him then."

"Alright, fine. I do not know what he's like, since yunno, I haven't been with him long. But he could be a jerk at times. And a bit arrogant." I began to wad deeper in without even knowing.

"But he can be a baby at times, and it's really cute how he does it. And he is really tall, with his perfect shoulders and biceps and abs. And his eyes are really blue. So blue. And his lips are so pink and soft."

The memories of that kiss flooded back. There was a sudden heat and in between my thighs, I got flooded as was the usual anytime I let myself remember that moment. Oh man.

"Heads over heels in love, darling. Heads over heels," Laia said.