Chapter 5

Anastasia's POV

Bang! Bang!! Bang!!!

I woke up from the incessant banging at the door outside, looking up to check the wall clock above my door, I was that it was some minutes past 6 in the morning.

Slipping on my footwear, I marched towards the door and unlocked it. My face came in contact with Madam Floral. I made to greet her but she cut me short.

“There's nothing good about the morning Anastasia, I didn't get the rent like you promised yesterday”.

Crap, I totally forgot about it, “I'm sorry Madam Floral, mom had a crisis yesterday,I have been busy attending to her, can you please give me till next week? I'll pay up then”.

She eyed me menacingly and said, “the only help I can do, which by the way, is because of your sick mother ,is to give you the grace till tomorrow, if by this time tomorrow morning, I'm yet to receive your payment, be rest assured that I would have your things thrown out!” She finished and left without looking back.

I let out a sigh of relief and went inside, sitting on the sofa. Here is another trouble added to the already full plate of misfortune I have.

Where do I get the money for rent in 24 hours? I had decided to quit working at DRIC Interiors since my boss said all he said last night.

“It won't be such a bad idea” a tiny voice opined in my head. At least, you'll be able to take care of yourself, your sick mother and cater for Daisy. Plus, your baby in months time, the voice concluded.

Having thought it through, I decided it would be for the best if I took Mr. Jones' offer.

I contemplated calling him on the phone but figured out he'll be at work already.

I went inside and got dressed while being careful not to wake Daisy.

I went outside to fix breakfast for Daisy and left her a note before heading out.

As I wasn't really feeling up to walking so I took a taxi and within seconds I was at the company. I got down and went in.

I still had my card, so it was easy for me to gain entrance.

“Good morning Sophia”, She replied with a smile and I made my way to the elevator. As I pressed the button on the wall to take me to the last floor, my heart began to thump rapidly.

I suddenly became scared, I wasn't sure how he would react especially since I turned down the offer last night.

Finally, I got to the last floor and matched to his door, I took a while to steady my heart and I knocked.

“Come in”, his thick voice said from within, I slowly opened the door and walked in meekly.

He looked up slowly, removed his computer glasses from his eyes and motioned to me to take a seat.

I sat down gently placing my now shaky hands together on my lap. “I would like to take the deal if it's still on the table”, I announced.

Slowly, he removed a brown envelope from the drawer in his table, slipped it towards me saying “of course, Miss Sterling, it's still on the table. Have a look at it”, he continued.

I really don't have to counter back, I just have some questions, I paused, “Why me? And please give me genuine answers”.

“Like you know, I'm the only heir to this company. Days ago, I became aware of my grandmother's failing health. As her dying wish, she wants me to get married and give her a great-grandchild. I've never been one that sees settling down as an option, so I knew I couldn't have any of those ladies I had in hand. You came just at the right time”.He concluded.

“How long would this deal last for”, I asked, I knew I could have checked for this information myself, but hearing the answers directly from him feels much better.

“Two years max, during this time, you will live with me as my wife of course” he said, “by then you can decide to file for divorce”. “However, be rest assured that even after our divorce ,you and your child would forever be taken care of. Also like I promised , I'll have your mother taken care by my best doctor”.

“It was also brought to my hearing this morning that you have a problem with payment of your apartment, I'm I right?”

“Nothing seems to get past you”, I replied nodding

He smiled smugly, continuing his explanation. “If you would sign this, he pushed the envelope further up to me. I'll have it taken care of right away”.

I opened the envelope and brought out the contract. I skimmed through it for the first and final time before appending my signature.

I pushed it towards him, he picked a pen from the stack of pens on his table and signed it too.

“I think it's better we address each other by first name now, yh?Let me know when you are ready to pack your things to my house, Benjamin would be there to pick you”. And we also have a wedding to prepare, that's of course after meeting granny, he said”.

“A wedding? That wasn't included in the contact, I exclaimed dumbfoundedly.

“Look, I know this isn't real one bit, but we need to make it look realistic enough for people to believe us. I don't want anyone, especially my grandmother, to find out that this was all a sham”. I'm sure you know that the press is always on the lookout to say something about me, not tying up necessary loops might jeopardize the company, my image and successful transition of the company to me”. he explained.

“Moreover, I do not want granny finding out about any of this, I want to do what she wants and make her happy like I promised to do. Plus, we need to get to it quickly before you start showing, he motioned to my still very flat tummy”.

I nodded showing that I understood all he said.

“About my mother..” I finally remembered her.

“Oh yes, I have this organization that supports cancer patients. A part of me knew you would be here this morning, so I had spoken to the Director of the hospital she was rushed to. They've commenced necessary treatment on her”. He said and I immediately felt better.

“I would like to break the news of our dating to my mom and sister, I don't want her to hear it from the press”, I said and stood up to go.

“Of course Anastasia, thank you for this, you definitely won't have any regrets” he finished.

“See you around”, I said walking out of the the door and out of the company

***

I got out and dialed Daisy's line, “Hey Dee, sorry I left early, I had some business outside, I'm going to meet mom at the hospital, why don't you join me there?” She agreed to meet me there and I ended the call.

I got to the hospital quickly than her but waited for her in the lobby, when she came in, we entered together and went to mom's room.

Apparently, she had been moved to the VIP room due to Alex’s influence. We got in and I saw her lean body on the bed, attached to her were several lines connected to a peeping machine.

“Hey Mom”, we said together, she opened her eyes and smiled feebly at us.

“How are you feeling?” Daisy asked, she replied that she was feeling better especially since she was moved to the room and the doctors and nurses had been all over her since a friend of her daughter had put in a word of favor.

“Who is this friend of yours, how come I have never met him at all?” she enquired.

“Actually, he's my boyfriend, I deadpanned, I know it sounds somehow but he has been asking me out before Desmond. I never paid attention to him because I was too fixated on Desmond. Fortunately for him, Desmond started misbehaving and finally sever ties with me. I decided to give him a chance.

When he heard about your condition, he decided to help me.

“There's more”, I said making both mom and Daisy fix their gaze on me. “He proposed to me last night”, I concluded my well packaged script.

“That's odd, you aren't the type to double date , is there anything you are not telling me?”

“I replied negatively and told her to focus on getting better.

Daisy and I waited for another hour and left her before heading back home. On our way home Daisy finally spoke to me.

“So, does that mean we have a wedding to plan? She asked happily.

“Yes Dee, we have a wedding to plan”, I replied weakly.