Chapter 4. The contract

Nora

I found Max pacing up and down on my porch, his anxiety showed through a deep frown and slitted eyes. I called him in. He remained standing. My old sofa really did him dirty.

“I will marry you.” I mumbled, my eyes on the floor.

“Sorry what?.”

I raised my voice, almost shouted,“ l said l will marry you.”

A big smile split his face. Dammit, he was a handsome beast.

Granny got up,“Well kids, l will leave you to talk. l need to rest.”

Max went to her and shook her hand, “thank you Mrs Reidy, I will start the ball rolling. Before the end of next week, you will have your surgery.”

Tears of gratitude filled my granny’s eyes. “Thank you young Ratliff. You have no idea what you have done for me.”

Max patted her back and steered her towards her room.

He came back and towered over me. “Let's go to the Ratliff Restaurants, we will talk there.”

“Why can't we talk here?.” l shot back, my stubborn nature revealing itself. He eyed the sofa like it was a poisonous snake.

“Ok, let's go. Let me fetch my phone.” I informed my granny we were leaving.

As we approached the cars, a man opened the door, we got in. My word, such luxury. Some individuals came to the world holding a silver spoon.

We arrived at the restaurant. The same waiter who helped me yesterday shepherded us to a private booth. A lone man sat on the couch with a laptop on his knees.

Max nodded at him, the man smiled,

“Mr Ratliff.”

We took our seats. Max handed me a menu,“ order anything you like.”

Lord, the names of food on this thing, l had no idea what they were. Granny and l never went to lunches or dinners. Even at medical school l shied from going to those social events. Too expensive.

I pushed the menu back,“ I will have whatever you are having.”

Max pinned me with an amused stare, “Ok.”

Our orders came, as we ate, Max kickstarted the conversation. “ This is how our arrangement will work, we will be married for two years. In those two years, you will bear me a male child. If it's a girl, you will get pregnant until you give me a boy. When it's time for you to leave, l will give you any amount of money you demand.”

My appetite dwindled to zero. I pushed the plate away. “You are kidding right? You mean if l keep delivering only girls, l might be tied to you for years until l give you a son?.”

“Correct.” A hard, cold glint entered his eyes.

Max's arrogant baritone irritated me. l stood up. The room suddenly felt stuffy, l needed air. He sprang to his feet. l hurried to the door. A hand spun me around, my forehead hit his sturdy chest. A hand closed around my chin and jerked it upwards. The other encircled my waist.

“ One of the things we have to look at is your attitude. You don't walk out in the middle of conversation, it's rude. I wonder what kind of Dr you are going to be, you are mannerless.”

l slapped his hand away,“ so why are you marrying me? Marry one of your well behaved socialites, leave me alone.”

I wrenched myself out of his arms and continued to head out.

As my hand touched the door handle he said,“ your grandmother looks like a good woman. It would be a pity to lose her because her granddaughter is a tantrum thrower.”

I spun around and glared at him,“that's low, even for you.”

“But it's the truth. We are talking, the next thing you throw a tantrum and walk out. Come back, let's finish this. l'm a busy man.”

l dragged my feet back to the table and sat down. He snapped his fingers, took a seat and waited. The man closed his laptop, opened a briefcase, retrieved an envelope and brought it over.

Max unsealed the envelope, pulled the contents then pushed them towards me with his forefinger on each document. I did not move. I stared at the documents like they were live coals.

“Nora, you may have all the time in the world. I don't. Sign the damn things!. With your character, l need your signature. You might turn on me and accuse me of forcing you into marriage”

l had a mind to tear the damn things into a million pieces, turn them into confetti and throw them at his smug face. The worn out and sickly face of my grandmother interjected itself on my mind. I furiously signed the documents without reading.

Max snatched one paper, left the other on the table,”Your copy madam. Monday morning, meet me at the City Hall at ten o'clock. l don't trust you. Your grandmother’s surgery will take place after we get married, clear?.”

I bobbed my head in consent, it sucked to bow to Max like a low life. I hated it. The day l got the job, this marriage would see the last of me. My shoulders sagged, I sighed tiredly ,"ok.”

He straightened up, walked to the door,“ finish your meal, l have to be somewhere else.” He exited before l could reply.

My appetite had long gone. l snatched my phone and headed out.

Mrs Ratliff spotted me as l passed.

“Nora, you were going to leave without saying ‘ hello’ to me? Child, what did l do to you?.”

She opened her arms and l eased into them. She gave me a tight hug.

I clung to her like a koala bear. Her son just pushed me into a corner. I was bleeding inside, I craved solace.

“ Hey, what's wrong?.” She took my head from her shoulder and studied my face, l shook my head.

She held my hand, brought me to her office. “Sit down and tell me everything, is it Max?.”

My head bobbed up and down like an eyoyo.

“What has he done now?.” She held my hand on top of the table.

“l accepted his marriage proposal but his conditions are horrible. l will basically be his slave for years. Mrs Ratliff, can you cover my grandmother’s costs? I will work for you for free until you recover your money.”

Marylin gave me a pitying look.“Listen, l would like to help, but l can't because i too want you to bear us a child. If l help you, Max will lose out. l can't do that to him after finding you and getting you to agree to the marriage. Nora, he is not a bad person. He is lashing out because we forced the marriage on him. Wait and see, he will surprise you.”

I turned my face from her and watched two doves on the fence outside the window. How free they were! I envied them. I gently extracted my hands from hers and bade her goodbye.

She accompanied me to the door, hugged me again, “ welcome to the Ratliff family daughter.” She kissed my forehead and let me go.

I walked aimlessly around town until I got tired. l decided to get some ice cream on the other side of the street. As l passed by some offices l saw a familiar figure with a stunning woman by his side.

What was he doing in this part of town?. His kind rarely came up here. I retraced my steps, peeked behind the window, they had disappeared.

I crossed the street, bought the ice cream, licked it in quick succession, my mind hot with jealousy and suspicion.

The tabloids said he went through women like an electric razor. Was this a preview of how my life was going to be like? Watching my husband trapsy around town with other women in broad daylight? I threw the ice cream cone away. My steps quickened to the building my husband -to -be disappeared in.