Possessed By Her Contract Husband

"Oh my God! Mum!"

The blood-curdling scream came from downstairs followed by a loud crash. Megan dropped her work bag without thinking and ran out of her room in a panic.

Her heart was pounding so hard, it felt like it would come out of her chest as she rushed towards the stairs. She tripped and stubbed her toe but she didn't even notice and kept running.

Her sister let out another frantic scream. "Mom! Wake up please!"

Megan's trip down the stairs was the longest 7 seconds of her life. She could literally feel the blood rushing through her veins.

"What's wrong Lacey?!" Megan asked as she ran towards the kitchen where she heard the scream from.

She met her sister kneeling next to their mother's lifeless-looking body on the floor, crying hysterically.

Megan ran towards them, not noticing the broken glass plate on the floor as she ran over them. She felt a dull pain at her heels that she barely registered.

She fell to her knees beside Lacey and started to shake her mother's body.

Megan let out a sharp, high-pitched wail that pierced the air like a knife. "Mum please..." she said distraughtly as she tried to shake her mother awake. Her mother looked as pale as a ghost with her right hand holding her left arm in a deathly clutch. It looked like another heart attack. There was also a deep cut on her forehead that she must have gotten while she fell.

Megan frantically searched for a pulse. She became horrified when she couldn't find one.

"Lacey call 911!" Megan said with tears in her eyes.

She turned to look at Lacey who was frozen to the spot with a panic-stricken look on her face.

"Lacey!" Megan shouted again.

But Lacey just burst into tears, trembling helplessly in fear.

Megan stood up and ran towards the phone and with shaky hands, managed to call 911....

"Megan? Megan!"

Megan shook her head, bringing herself back to the present. She and her sister were sitting across from each other in the hospital waiting room.

She had been lost in thought, thinking about the events that happened before her mother had been rushed here about an hour ago.

"What's taking so long Megan?" Lacey asked with trepidation in her voice. "Do you think mom's alright?"

"I'm sure she's okay Lace," Megan said reassuringly. "The doctors are taking good care of her."

"I'm really scared. She looked so pale when I found her."

"Oh sweetie... come here," Megan said beckoning with her arms.

Lacey went over to sit beside her and Megan held her in a warm embrace. It was her and her sister against the world. It always had been.

Megan stared at the hospital room door, dreading when the doctor was going to come out. She already knew what he would say. Dr Evans had been insisting on surgery for her mother but he understood that the money wasn't available so he usually sent them home with medications.

Megan instinctively knew that it wasn't going to be the case this time. Her mother needed that surgery or they would lose her. She couldn't imagine losing their mother. What it would do to her. What it would do to Lacey. She couldn't bear that thought.

The door to the hospital room swung open and Dr Evans walked towards them. Lacey sat up expectantly and Megan stood up.

"How is she, Dr Evans?" Megan asked anxiously.

"She's alright for now. She's stable and we've done all we can. But you do know Megan, that this is just a temporary solution right?"

Megan dreaded the words he would say next.

"Can I talk to you alone please?" Dr Evans said to Megan.

Megan gave Lacey a reassuring hug and followed the doctor to an empty corner of the waiting room.

"She needs the surgery, doesn't she?" Megan said with resignation.

"I'm just going to be frank with you." Dr Evans said. "She won't last a month if she doesn't get that surgery. She had a cardiac arrest and her prognosis does not look good. Her mitral valve needs replacement. We've discussed this before "

"I know Dr Evans but is there any way I can have more time?"

"I have done the best I can over the last few months Megan. I'm sorry but there's nothing more I can do. She needs that surgery as soon as possible "

"I understand," Megan said with acceptance. "I'll do my best to make sure she gets the surgery before next week "

"You know I would have done the surgery anyway but the hospital has certain policies " Dr Evans said in a compassionate voice.

"I know that sir. Thank you for all you've done. I'll see to it that the surgery happens."

"She would have to stay here at the hospital where we can monitor her before you're ready"

"That's alright doctor"

Dr Evans gave Megan a reassuring nod and walked away.

Megan went back to her sister who was sitting, anxiously waiting to hear what she would say.

"Mom is going to have the surgery next week," Megan told her

"Next week? But the money..."

"I have the money ready. That's not a problem " Megan said, trying to be confident. Her sister didn't need to know that she had no idea where she was going to get it from.

"Are you sure?" Lacey asked with a doubtful look on her face. " I mean... it is quite a lot"

"Don't worry about that Lace. I got it. Come on, let's go home"

"No. I want to stay here with Mum."

Megan sighed. "Alright, but I have to go back to work. I'll see you at home okay"

"Okay. I love you" Lacey said, tears coming to her eyes.

"Lace... I love you too. We'll get through this okay " She gave her sister another hug that lasted a while.

After saying goodbye, Megan walked out of the hospital. She wasn't even paying attention to her surroundings. She just wanted out of there. She couldn't even bear to go see her mother's face. She didn't trust herself not to break down in tears. And she needed to put up a brave front for her sister.

Her head was spinning. Everything was becoming a blur. Why was all this happening? What was she going to do? How was she going to come up with the money in less than a week?

There were so many pressing needs that she was still trying to wrap her head around.Her mother had been due for surgery for months now but they had been putting it off because they hadn't come up with the money for it.

Between paying the mortgage for the house and the medical bills that kept mounting from her mom's frequent visits to the hospital, money had become tight.

Megan even had to make a really difficult decision at some point which was to use Lacey's college fund that she had been saving up for years to attend to some pressing needs. She still hadn't told her mother or sister that she had had to use the money.

That wasn't the only sacrifice she had made. She had always dreamed of having her own restaurant. But the money demands were so much that she didn't have spare money to save towards that.

As if things weren't bad enough, Megan started receiving warning letters concerning the mortgage payment of their home. They were already two months past the due date and they had just a month more before their house would be repossessed.

As all these thoughts were running through her mind, tears began to come to her eyes. She had no idea what to do. She had absolutely no one to turn to. All she wanted was to protect and provide for her family but she couldn't do that with her waitressing salary.

Megan was so engrossed in her thoughts that she bumped into a guy by the hospital's main doors.

"Hey!" he exclaimed but stopped when he turned to see her face. "Are you alright?" He added.

"Yes, I am. I wasn't looking where I was going. I'm sorry" Megan said apologetically.

"That's alright beautiful" he said with a smirk looking her up and down.

Megan nodded and walked away before he could say anything else. She was used to being noticed by men. With her curvy body, she drew more attention than she would've liked.

This usually made her feel insecure. She wished she had a lean, athletic body. But instead, she was like this.

She walked down the street trying to hail a cab. She needed to get back to work. She was sure she was already in trouble with her manager because she left without taking permission.

Megan's phone suddenly rang. She saw her friend, Anna's name across the screen. She picked up the call.

"Where are you, Megan? He's asking for you."

Megan's heart dropped. Her boss must've noticed her absence.

"I'll be there really soon. Please cover for me" Megan said distraughtly and ended the phone call.

"The next time I have to talk to you about this Megan, you're fired!" Her manager had said the last time she had to leave for some emergency.

She finally got into a cab so she could find a way to salvage her job. She was already so nervous. Hopefully, she wouldn't get fired. There couldn't be a worse time for that to happen. She needed the money.

"I hope I'm not in too much trouble" Megan anxiously asked her friend and colleague, Anna as soon as she walked into the restaurant.

"Mr Thomas is pretty mad too be honest. Where have you been?" Anna asked with concern on her face.

She came around the counter where she was standing to hold Megan's hands. She could see the distress on her friend's face.

"My mother...."

Anna quickly nodded in understanding. She and Megan were quite close and she knew all about her mother's ill health and how she frequently had to go to the hospital.

"I've used that excuse so many times," Megan said. "I hope he even believes me this time"

"Do you want me to come with you to plead with him?" Anna offered.

"No... it's alright." Megan took a deep breath. "I'm sure I can figure out a way to reason with him"

"Alright then good luck"

Megan quickly walked over to the manager's office and knocked on the door.

"Come in," He said. He didn't sound like he was in a good mood.

Megan walked into the office.

Mr Thomas was sitting at his with his legs up on his desk. He wasn't even paying attention to whoever had come in the door. He was so engrossed in the football match he was watching on the TV mounted on the wall across from him.

"You've got to be kidding me! What the hell? What are you even doing?!" He exclaimed, shaking his hands at the screen. He was mad at his team for not playing well.

Megan stood for a few seconds waiting for him to acknowledge her.

He finally did. " Megan? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be out there working? You get paid by the hour you know." He said, with a frown on his face.

Megan had been ready to start defending herself but he hadn't even realised that she had left earlier.

"I'll get right back to it sir. Sorry for interrupting your game" Megan quickly said, releasing a sigh of relief.

"Or was there something you wanted to tell me?" Mr Thomas asked.

"No, I was just..." Megan didn't get to complete her statement. His attention had already returned to the game.

"What is wrong with this guy?!" He shouted at the screen again.

Megan quickly let herself out before he paid too much attention to why she came into his office.

She was so relieved. He hadn't even noticed she was gone so she had been worried for nothing. Now she could focus on worrying about what she was going to do about her mother's situation.

Megan took an apron, put it on and picked up some orders that were ready to be served. She took them over to a table where she could see two men sitting as she approached.

"Here are your orders gentlemen" she said, setting their food on the table. "Can I get anything else for you?"

"Well unless you're on the menu... I don't want anything else" one of the men said, grinning from ear to ear

His friend laughed mockingly

Megan had faced this before. Men hit on her anytime she went to serve them. She had complained to the manager before but she quickly soon realised that she was on her own and had to defend herself each time.

Megan chose to ignore them. "Well if there isn't anything else..." she turned to leave.

"Just give your number mama" the man said again. He nudged a paper napkin on the table towards her, indicating for her to write it down. He had this confident look on his face.

Megan studied him. With his nice features and overly slicked-back hair that looked like he was trying too much and the cocky look on his face, she was sure he was used to getting the women he wanted.

Well not this time, Megan thought.

"Have a nice meal gentlemen," Megan said with a tight-lipped smile.

She would've given him a piece of her mind but she had learned long ago to just ignore and move on in situations like this. She didn't want to lash out because they might leave and Mr Thomas wouldn't like that very much.

She walked away with the men still laughing to themselves in jest.

She walked towards Anna who was giving the men a dirty look from where she was standing.

"Those assholes..." Anna said with a scowl on her face. "I wish you hadn't let them off so easy"

"It's fine Anna. I have other things to worry about anyway" Megan said with a sigh.

"About that, I know this can't solve all your money problems but it's something."

"What's that?" Megan asked with interest.

"So I got this gig. It's a charity event. You know rich people stuff" Anna told her. "It's good money. I can put in a good word for you so you can work it too."

"When is it?" Megan asked with a hopeful look on her face. Any way to make some money, no matter how small would be really helpful right now.

Anna laughed. "Aren't you even going to ask what the event is about? Or how much the pay is exactly?"

"I don't care. Just tell me when and where and I'll be there" Megan said with a dismissive wave of her hand.

"Okay, I'll send you the details. But for the dress code, you'd have to wear a black dress. Preferably knee length."

"Got it," Megan replied. She was so relieved. Maybe the pay would be high enough to pay for at least half of the surgery bill. The elite of Chicago loved to spend their money.

The rest of the day went by in a blur. Megan got so busy with taking and bringing orders that her feet were hurting at the end of the day.

By the end of her shift, all she wanted was to go home. She checked her phone and saw that Anna had already sent her the details of the event. It was going to be tomorrow. That was a little too soon but whatever.

The venue was at La Mirage Hotel. Megan stared at her phone screen in awe. Everyone knew La Mirage. Home to the rich and influential. She had never even stepped foot in there.

At least that was a good thing because it meant the pay would be good.

Megan checked out of work and after thanking Anna for the details, she headed home.

When she got home, she spotted yet another warning letter sitting at the door. She had managed to hide the news about the impending repossession of their home from her family but she knew she'd have to come clean soon.

She picked up the letter and went inside.

She then called her sister who was still at the hospital with their mom. Lacey reassured her that everything was alright with their mother and she planned to stay the night in the hospital with her.

Megan then finished up the call and went into her room. She was so exhausted that as soon as she laid down on her bed, she slept off.

Megan woke up to her alarm ringing the next morning. She still felt tired but she had to go on about her day. She packed up her black dress and shoes for the event in a bag.

She quickly took a shower and dressed up for work. She had no idea what the day would bring but she hoped whatever it was would be good.

She decided to just skip breakfast and head on to work, carrying the stuff she had packed for the event later.

It took a while before she was able to get a cab and with the hot Chicago sun that was shining so brightly, she had already broken down in a sweat before she got one.

She got to work in good time regardless.

She and Anna discussed what the charity event would be like later while they worked.

They managed to get Mr Thomas to let them go earlier so they could leave on time.

After work, they both headed over to La Mirage. It was a five-star hotel located right in the middle of town. You couldn't miss it even if you tried.

The building itself was very tall and large. With its prominent neon sign right in front. There were so many flashy cars in front of the building with the valet boys trying to get them parked.

Megan could smell the wealth and privilege in the air. People dressed in very fleshy and expensive clothing were walking into the hotel.

Anna pulled Megan in the direction of the side door reserved for staff. Apparently, they weren't worthy enough to walk in through the front door.

They got in and we were directed to the changing room. They quickly got changed. They were already late. The waiters were supposed to be ready before the guests started to come in.

"Wow you look really sexy in that," Anna said, looking at Megan with appreciation as they walked out of the changing room and towards the ballroom of the hotel.

"That's not exactly what I was going for... I'm just following the dress code" Megan said sounding alarm. She wanted to look professional, not sexy but then again it was hard to hide her curvy beneath the clingy black dress.

"Well, that's how you look. And with those heels. All eyes are going to be on you" Anna said, winking at her.

Megan groaned. She didn't like male attention. She didn't know how to handle it. She was uncomfortable and flustered. She decided that she was just going to mind her business and do her job. She needed this money

Megan and Anna walked over to a table where trays of champagne were lying. There was a staff standing there handing them out and giving directions to the waiters.

They collected trays too and walked into the ballroom.

When Megan walked in, she couldn't help looking around in awe. The decor was so opulent. With the high ceilings and the expensive-looking chandeliers, Megan felt so out of place.

And the fact that she was amongst the richest in Chicago wasn't helping. They were seated at their various tables facing the stage.

She tried to act and walk confidently and went forward to serve whoever wanted some champagne.

Megan was serving the glasses on her tray to an older couple on a table when she felt an intense feeling of being watched.

She looked back without thinking and glanced around until she spotted a handsome-looking man sitting at another table.

Their eyes met and his striking blue eyes were staring right at her.

Astor Thorne sat at the table looking at everyone around him. He wasn't a fan of events like this. But as part of the turn family he had to keep up appearances and show up for charities like this.

He would rather be in his office working on some deals or be at home working out in the gym than be in a place like this where he had to socialize and smile at people and do a lot of small talk.

"You need to see the look on your face right now," his brother said with a mysterious smile on his face.

His brother, Carson was the cheerful and lively one. They were brothers with the same father and mother but they couldn't be any more different.

Whereas Carson was a very likeable and approachable person who seemed to get along with everyone he met, Astor, on the other hand, was known for his cold demeanor and his stoicness.

He always had this expressionless look on his face which made him seem unapproachable and out of reach.

It was very hard to get a smile or a reaction out of him. The only thing that seemed to bring him joy was closing major deals at work and when he got to release stress at his home gym.

"What look" Astor said looking disinterested.

"Like you want to murder someone. Seriously you need to take it easy."

Astor inwardly rolled his eyes. Everyone knew to leave him alone when he was in a mood. But not his family. Especially not his brother.

"Or are you still thinking about the whole marriage thing?"

"When am I not thinking about that?" Astor said with annoyance. He had quite a big issue.

His company was on the line. And it was all because of his grandfather. The company had been handed over to him by his grandfather years ago but on the condition that he was married by 30 for at least 18 months.

Astor had no intention of getting married any time soon. Probably ever. He had yet to meet anyone that he could even consider being with for life. Maybe it was the fact that he was wealthy, and money attracted gold diggers, not love.

Not that he believed in love anyway. That was a foreign concept to him. He would have gone against his grandfather's wishes but unfortunately, the marriage clause was in the contract he had signed.

He guessed his grandfather knew him so well that he knew it would take something as serious as losing his company to get him to marry someone.

"I find it hard to believe that you still can find a wife," Carson said, interrupting Astor's thoughts. "I mean you must have a lot of options."

"Yeah well none of them look appealing to me," Astor said. All the women in his life were there because of what they could benefit from. The rich lifestyle they could live. If he got married to any of them, there was no guarantee they would let go when it was time.

What he needed was someone who also had something to lose. Someone he could be on the same page with. Who would not let feelings get in the way of everyone getting what they wanted.

"Well, your time is running out. You're going to be 30 in a few weeks."

"Don't remind me," Astor said with frustration in his voice.

Carson laughed. "Grandpa sure has a weird sense of humour. To think the fate of your whole company is banking on you finding a wife."

Astor didn't reply. He picked up his glass of champagne and took a big gulp.

While holding his glass, he looked around the ballroom. He stopped when he spotted one of the waitresses standing some tables away. What caught his gaze was her body, with her long auburn hair flowing down her back. He wanted to see her face.

He took another sip out of his glass, still looking at her.

Carson caught him looking. "See something you like?" He said with a mischievous grin on his face.

Astor shook his head at his brother. He wouldn't mind finding someone whom he was also attracted to. He was strongly against cheating in a marriage. After watching his father cheat on his mother for so many years, he made a promise to himself that he would never be like that.

Getting someone attractive was a plus because he was a man and he had needs. As long as she was on the same page, that is.

The woman finally turned around and their gazes met. She looked flustered. He held her gaze, refusing to back down. He wanted her to be sure that he was interested.

She blushed and quickly turned away. Astor smiled with satisfaction. He liked the effect he had just left on her.

He followed her movements across the room until she finally left. It had been a while since he had instantly been attracted to someone. And he made up his mind that he was going to find out who she was.

Megan gave a sigh of relief as soon as she left the ballroom. The event was finally over. She was disconcerted. A vivid image of those blue eyes was still in her mind. How was it that a simple gaze left her feeling so flustered?

She shook her head and walked towards the serving station. She needed to get it together.

She was tired and her feet hurt after walking around for hours. She was beginning to regret wearing high heels to work.

Anna came out right after her. "I'm so glad it's finally over." She said with a sigh.

"Seriously. I'm used to being on my feet for hours but this was just...." Megan shook her head.

Megan looked at her phone to see a missed call from her sister. She gave out a loud sigh.

"What's wrong?" Anna asked.

"My sister..." Megan replied. "She called me earlier."

Anna gave her a sympathetic look. "I know things look dire right now but I'm sure everything will turn out okay."

They were walking out of the hotel. They hadn't bothered to change out of their waitressing clothes.

"It's just you know... our house is about to be repossessed and I don't have the money for my mother's surgery," Megan said with frustration. It was hard to see just how things would turn out okay.

"Hey Anna!" they heard someone call out as they were walking. Another waitress walked towards them. She was holding a note. "This is for your friend, she said, holding out the note towards Megan.

"Thank you," Megan said. She wondered who the note was from.

Anna was also curious. "Who do you think it's from?" She asked.

"I have no idea," Megan said opening up the note.

It read, "Meet me at the bar for drinks?" It was signed, Astor Thorne at the bottom.

"Astor Thorne?!" Anna exclaimed. "You have to go Megan." She jumped up and down with excitement.

"I don't even know who that is," Megan said nervously. What did this person want? She wondered.

Anna looked at Megan incredulously.

"Uh... what do you mean you don't know who this is? Aston Thorne. One of the few billionaires in Chicago? And he's so handsome too!" she said excitedly.

"I don't know..." Megan said with reluctance.

"If you let this opportunity pass you by, I'm gonna be so mad at you!" Anna said.

"Okay okay," Megan said with a chuckle. "I'll go see what this Mr Thorne wants"

"I want all the details, Megan. Don't hold out on me."

"Alright. I promise"

Megan shook her head and headed back into the hotel. What did he want? She hoped he wasn't asking her out, expecting her to put out. She wasn't like all the women he must be used to.

But she had to admit that she was curious.

Megan got into the hotel and headed towards the bar. When she stepped in, she glanced around trying to see if she could find this Astor Thorne even though she didn't know his face.

As she was looking, she met the same set of blue eyes she had seen earlier. He gave her a beckoning nod.

Blue eyes guy? Really? That was Astor Thorne? Those questions kept running through her mind.

As she walked towards him, she could feel his scrutiny. His gaze on her was so unshakable.

She began to feel nervous. What could one of the richest men in Chicago want from her?

She guessed she was about to find out.