Chapter 2

A tall, imposing woman dressed head to toe in designer clothes strutted into the ward like she owned the place. Glancing around the room, she scoffed in contempt as she took in the sight before her, sizing up the two people in the ward.

"Excuse me, what did you say?" Leslie asked, looking at her like she was speaking a foreign language. She glanced at her dad, and he shrugged, indicating that he had no clue who the lady was.

"I don't repeat myself very often, young lady, so I need you to listen carefully," she bit out. "I can be of assistance to you."

"Look here, lady, I think you have the wrong ward—" Leslie's dad started to say but was interrupted by his daughter.

"Dad," Leslie said, "let me handle this, okay?" She spoke softly, patting his arm. She didn't want him getting worked up about anything at this point. She glanced back at the woman, who was still looking at them like they were a bunch of nobodies, and said in a firm and resolute tone, "Ma'am, if you have any issues to discuss with me, I suggest you—"

"Let me cut you off right there," the woman interrupted Leslie rudely. "If you want to know why I'm here, meet me at the café beside the hospital in exactly 15 minutes. Do you understand?"

"But I don't—" Leslie never got to complete her statement because the woman just turned around and walked out. An unknown sense of unease came over Leslie.

"People are crazy these days," her dad said, his voice tinged with tiredness.

Leslie felt sympathy and heartache for the man, so she tucked him in and cooed, "We'll talk later, Dad. I promise. I'll tell the nurse to reheat your chicken soup when you wake up, okay?"

He raised his droopy eyes and questioned, "You're not gonna go after that strange woman, are you?"

"I have to, Dad, at least to know what she wants."

"Alright," he said and yawned loudly.

"I'll get some rest. Bye, Dad," she said and kissed his cheek.

"See you later, Les."

… 

Leslie walked briskly down the hallway and stepped into the elevator, all while deep in thought. Who could this lady be? She seemed like someone of deep sophistication. What was she looking for in her dad's ward? Did Dad owe her money? She thought out loud but then crossed that one out. Dad isn't the type to go around owing debt, she said but still felt skeptical about the woman's sudden appearance.

The walk from the hospital to the café was about 5 minutes. She arrived at the brightly lit small café and spotted the woman almost instantly, mostly because she stood out like a sore thumb. She approached the woman's table, and she turned to look at Leslie with reproach in her eyes.

"Took you long enough," she said in a sharp voice that made Leslie flinch internally, but she maintained a calm exterior.

"May I take a seat?" Leslie asked, pointing to the only chair at the table.

The woman glanced up at her and sighed angrily, "You may."

Leslie took a seat despite the feeling of trepidation in her heart and said, "My name is Leslie Harrison. Maybe you could explain why you came into my father's ward and claimed that you could be of assistance."

"Claimed?" The woman scoffed smugly. "Did you just say 'claimed'? I don't make claims, dear child. Everything I say, I do it. Besides, do you even know who I am?"

"Am I supposed to know?" Leslie retorted carefully, her feeling of unease multiplying.

"My name is Eleanor Blackwood," she said, impatience tinging her words.

Leslie let out a small "Oh," and then it hit her. Blackwood wasn't a common name in New York. Only one family used that name around here. Her eyes widened in shock, and she gasped loudly. "Blackwood, as in Blackwood Empire?"

"The one and only," Eleanor said, the smugness evident in her tone.

"What's an influential person like yourself doing here, ma'am?" Leslie asked, confused. "I don't understand why—"

"Let me cut you off there for a second. I have a proposition for you," Eleanor said, settling into a more comfortable position in the chair.

"A pr...oposition? What kind of proposition would you have for someone like me, ma'am?" Sweat dampened Leslie's hands, and she swiped them over the sides of her dress.

"I'll go straight to the point. I know of your father's cancer, and I also know that you're financially unstable and can't keep up with the bills."

A flush of embarrassment came over Leslie. "H-how did you know? I thought the hospital was confidential about these things."

"Oh please, do you really think anyone can stop me from getting what I want? Besides, I was in for my monthly Botox check-up when you walked out the door. The doctor casually spoke about you with pity, so I decided to see for myself. Besides, your wailing could be heard from a mile away," she said, rolling her eyes.

Another flush of embarrassment came over Leslie, and she clenched and unclenched her fingers repeatedly. "So, what do you want with me?" she said in a small voice.

"My son Julian needs a wife. It is important for him to inherit the Blackwood legacy, and I think you're the perfect candidate," Eleanor continued, her eyes unwavering.

Leslie's mind went completely blank for a moment. A marriage proposal? Was she hearing right, or had she suddenly started hallucinating?

"Yes," Eleanor continued, her eyes unwavering. "Don't worry, it would be mutually beneficial. In exchange, I will take care of all your dad's medical bills and make sure he receives the very best."

Leslie's thoughts roamed wild. Is this some kind of scene from a movie? The deadline was almost up, and heavy bills still needed to be paid. But marry a complete stranger, someone she barely even knew who's infamous for being unapproachable?

Eleanor drew closer to Leslie, as if sensing her hesitation, and said, "I understand that this might be a lot to take in, but take this as a chance to save your dad's life. This might be the only chance you have left," she pressed on.

Leslie felt tears build up at the base of her eyes. Why did life have to be so cruel to her, leaving her to choose between her father and her future? She couldn't utter any words. Eleanor passed a small purple card to Leslie and said quietly, "I'll give you 2 days. Remember, the offer won't be on the table after that." She smiled cunningly, stood up, and left the café without another word, leaving a flabbergasted Leslie behind.

Leslie's mind raced as she thought of so many different things: her father, her future, and her ridiculous bad luck. What do I do now? Can I really go through with this?