The 365 Days Contract

"Where is that useless son of yours?" I heard my dad's voice reverberate through the thick walls of the house, jolting me out of my sleep.

With the speed of light, I scrambled out of bed, putting on my underwear and went to wake the lady beside me. How could she be sleeping like the dead with so much noise. I hurriedly tapped her to get up and get out of my room before my dad got in here. I didn't even know her name, I just brought her home and had a wild night with her yesterday in my drunken haze.

"Hey, you!" I hissed in irritation. She opened her eyes and smiled at me, totally misreading the situation, without eating anytime, I picked her underwear from the ground and threw them at her.

"Get dressed and leave here now!" I ordered through clenched teeth.

Thankfully she didn't waste any time with baseless arguments or complaints and just obeyed my instructions. She had barely only put on her too when my dad barged into the room.

Fuck!

"You good for nothing imbecile!" his eyes were almost popping out of his head as the veins all over his face protruded. "Do you really have no shame left?" The girl in my room scrambled to gather the rest of her clothes and fled the room with the clothes in her hand.

Good for her, if only I could do same.

"Good morning dad" I greeted as he scrutinized me with disgust written all over his face. I stood there like a twelve years old, waiting to be grounded.

"I will be forced to hit you with this if you say that to me again" he shouted pointing his walking stick at me. "what is wrong with you. I have seen that there is truly no redemption for you, I gave you several chance to prove yourself to me but you have failed yet again and this time, you cost the company millions!"

What! No, no, no!

My eyes bulged as I remembered that I had a meeting scheduled for this morning with some Asian investors. I began scattering the bed in search of my phone, why didn't my secretary fucking call me? I found the phone.

Four missed calls.

"God! I'm really sorry dad! I can still make it in time for the meeting"

"The meeting was scheduled for 8:00am, look at the time you idiot" I looked at the clock on my bed stand, 09:37am.

"You kept our investors waiting for almost two hours, they left in anger and didn't fail to mention how they would not be doing business with us in the future." The disappointment in his voice was heavy, and this time I knew that I had truly fucked up.

"I'm really sorry dad, it was the alcohol. I overslept" immediately I made the statement I wish I could retract it

"You went out drinking the night before an important meeting like this?" he shot daggers at me with his eyes and then continued.

"I was blind to it before because I wanted to have faith in you and kept making series of excuses for you as my only son, but no more. You are not fit to be the CEO of the Fisher company. I would rather die than allow you run the company which I built with my blood and sweat to the ground" he spat and marched out of my room. I saw my whole world come crashing at my feet.

I had no problem disappointing my father because as far as I'm concerned, he was disappointed with everything I did, but this one is different. I actually loved the company but didn't realize how much till this point.

I quickly chased after him.

"D-dad please, one more chance! Just give me one more chance to prove that I can be trusted with the company and I promise not to let you down this time." He stared at me with disgust, making me feel small even though I towered over him.

"No, you have done enough! I'll employ an outsider to become the acting CEO once I retire"

"Do you really want to do that? Dad you know that will not end well, just give me this one more chance to prove myself to you and I promise, if I fail you again this time then I will never ask for another chance" I pleaded, I could see the wheels in his head spinning and I felt a little relief that he was considering it.

"Fine! I will consider it on one condition"

I smiled triumphantly "I will do anything."

"You get married within a year" he said with a devilish glint in his eyes.

"What!"

EMILY

"Doctor, how is my daughter?" I asked with a small, shaky voice.

"Well, Miss Emily your daughter needs a kidney transplant as soon as possible." He replied his eyes soft and filled with empathy.

My heart sank. I am currently living my greatest nightmare.

"Doctor, please do everything to save my her, she's all I have in this world." I choked on the words as tears threatened to fall down my face.

"Yes, we will do everything in our power to save her, but the process for Kidney transplant is pretty expensive you need to get ready financially"

"I'll pay whatever it is to save her life. How much is it?"

"Hundred thousand". He said, studying me intensely.

"One hundred thousand!" I yelled then clasp my hands over my mouth in a bid to hold back the sob that was threatening to escape.

His pager beeped, causing him to look down at it briefly.

"Ma'am I'm sorry, I have to go check on my next patient now. See you next time." He said as he walked off.

I couldn't hold it in anymore. I let the tears fall freely, without control, it get like my heart had been taking out of my body. I couldn't afford to lose my child she's my life, my everything.

I left the doctor's office and dragged my feet to the reception where my cousin Ava was waiting for me.

She saw me and jumped up, coming to meet me. Her face sank when she saw my expression.

"What is it?" She asked reaching out to hold me.

"She needs a kidney transplant urgently and the process is going to cost about one hundred thousand." I recited what the doctor said like a robot.

"My God!" She gasped. "Where are we going to get that amount of money?"

"I don't know Ava. I really don't know"

We walked out of the hospital in silence and then when we got to her car she began talking again.

"I know you don't want to hear this but I think you should go and ask Mia's father for help." She said gently, knowing it was a sensitive subject for me, especially now that Mia has been sick for a long time

"The same bastard who abandoned us after getting me pregnant five years ago? The idiot never cared about his daughter so he doesn't even deserve the right to be called her father." I was left in fury whenever I thought about him, I am never letting that man close to me or my child.

"I know Emily, I honestly do understand your anger, but this is an emergency. Your baby's life is at stake"

"I know, and I will find a way." I retorted. No way in hell am I going back to him to beg for money to save his own child's life after he deliberately abandoned her.

"I hope so." Ava said, giving up.

"Take care of Mia for now. I'll be back shortly".

"Where are you going?"

"The church opposite the hospital, God knows I need a miracle right now."

"I'll take care of her. You take care of yourself please"

"Thank you very much. I'm really grateful for everything" I said with all sincerity. Ava has been a great help through this hard phase and God knows I can't thank her enough.

"There's no need for that. We're a family, aren't we? And family always show up for each other in times of troubles" She says as she hugs me.

"Just call me if there's an emergency."

"Alright I will". She called out as she headed back into the hospital

I started walking towards the other side of the road heading to the church, when a car suddenly came from nowhere with high speed and almost hit me. Thank God he was sensible enough to use the brake on time, but I still fell to the ground in shock.

The car stopped and its driver got out.

"Are you crazy!" He shouted at me after confirming that I was alive and alright.

"Am I crazy?" I asked incredulously, wasn't he the one who just hit me while driving like a maniac? "Are you insane! How can you drive so recklessly! Are you trying to kill me?" I yelled at him raging with anger.

"Recklessly!?" He retorted, equally yelling just as loud. "I am the reckless one? You were casually strolling in the middle of the street like you own the god-damn road or something and I kept honking but you wouldn't move. Tell me, were you trying to commit suicide?"

That was when I turned around and realized that I was indeed in the middle of the road. I had gotten so lost in thought that I didn't realize that I had gotten into the middle of the street.

I started sobbing and he began panicking.

"Are you okay?" he took my hand and spun me around a bit dramatically, checking if I had any visible injury

"I'm fine, I'm not hurt." I said as I dis-entangle my hand from his. "I'm sorry I was really lost in thought, I didn't realize I had walked into the road. You see, I'm a single mom and my daughter is in the hospital." I said pointing towards the general direction of the hospital. I was just told that she needs a kidney transplant and I don't know where to"... I caught myself mid-speech realizing that I was babbling about my personal problems to a total stranger who couldn't care less.

"I'm sorry". I apologized and attempted to leave immediately as embarrassment washed over me.

God! What had come over me? Making me spill my whole life history to someone whom I don't know? Was it his domineering presence

"How much do you need?" He suddenly asked, stopping me in my tracks.

"Excuse me?"

"How much do you need for the kidney transplant? "He asked again

"One hundred thousand" I said shamelessly. If taking money from people in the street is what it takes to save my child's life. I will do it without a single hesitation.

"Perfect." He simply said

"What do you mean by perfect?" I asked seriously confused and on the verge of anger. My problem was perfect?

"I'll give you two hundred thousand." His facial expression was straight, giving no indication that he was playing a prank on me.

"Excuse me?" I took a step back, away from him and looked around, making sure we aren't alone on the street. This man could be a kidnapper, he could easily bundle me and put me in his car, seeing that he's huge and I'm petite.

Or does he think I'm an escort. Who even pays that amount of money to an escort?

"Are you joking? Why would you give me that amount of money?"

"Because you need it and I have it." He said frankly. "Now wouldn't I be such a terrible man if I could save a child's life with such a mundane amount of money and I refuse to?"

Oh my God! Tears began to well up in my eyes again and I started sobbing, but this time, they were tears of joy, not sadness. I hadn't even made it to the church yet and my prayers were already answered. Dear Lord I'm so sorry for all the times I doubted you. I couldn't believe I was standing face to face with a real life angel, because who else would be willing to help a total stranger in such a way?

"And I'll need a little something from you in return". He said looking at me, the smile had vanished, this time his face was serious and businesslike.

My heart sank. Of course he wanted something in return, how naïve and stupid of me to think he'd just give me money without asking for anything in return. I took everything I said back, he's no angel. He doesn't even look like one, he looks dangerous with his chiseled face and evil smirk. He looked more like a demon.

What could he want from me? I thought and then realization hit.

Sex!

For that amount of money be would want lots and lots of sec from me, I'd practically turn into his sex slave by the end of the day.

"I'm not going to have sex with you!" I spat, totally disgusted and annoyed with the thought.

He started laughing uncontrollably.

"I know you don't know me, but what do you think I am? A savage? I don't want to have sex with you".

"Then what do you want?" I asked as relief flowed through me.

" I want to marry you".