Chapter 9

(Lily’s Pov)

It’s already 5am in the morning and all I had in my mind was signing the contract and paying for the hospital bills, I can’t remember sleeping in the night, I was filled with so much anxiety, it was like the longest night of my life, I watched my Dad sleep so peacefully, each time I looked at him, I went close to him and put a finger close to his nose just to make sure he was still breathing since I didn’t hear him snore as usual. My dad is such a chronic snorer that one would hear him snore even in the next room, so it gave me great concern when I didn’t hear him snore all through the night.

The day was getting brighter and the hospital was filled with sounds of patients and guardians greeting each other and praying, the cry of children wasn’t exempted, there was a particular kid who didn’t allow the whole ward rest in the night, he kept on crying out of pain and I wished he could get well that night but wishes aren’t horses.

I got prepared and woke my dad up to tell him that I was about going to Jack’s house for the contract. I got his breakfast ready but he said I shouldn’t bother that he can feed himself and moreover he wasn’t ready to eat that early morning. I kissed him on the forehead and promised to be back before he knew it.

I left and arrived Jack’s home before 7am, no doubt he lived in a luxurious house and has everything expensive attached to him, but all these, I’m not attracted to any.

I knocked severally and when the gateman finally opened the gate, he asked who I was looking for, I told him and he asked me to wait for a moment so he could confirm. I stood outside for almost 10 minutes before he ran back and asked that I come in.

I went in and he led me to the sitting room where I sat waiting for the “almighty” Jack. As I sat patiently waiting for him, I saw a family picture hung on the wall and several other pictures, “that must have been his parents” I thought to myself. 

Their house was decorated in a very entertaining manner that one could watch the pictures on the wall for a whole day and still not be done, it’s always a picture of one event or the other, and all pictures where taken in a very expensive place except for the old pictures of their parents that I didn’t even know where it was taken. “how can a small family like this have so much pictures” just I was pondering how a family of four can have so much pictures I heard a knock on the door and it was a man who would be in his mid-50s, from his dressing, it was clearly written all over him that he was a Lawyer.

“Miss. Lily” he asked pointing at me

“yes” I reluctantly answered

“Oh we haven’t met officially, nice to finally meet you, I’m Jack’s lawyer”

“okay, nice to meet you” I stretched my hand for a handshake and we shook hands.

“how’s your father’s health?”

I wondered how he got to know about my father not being fine

“oh dear, Jack told me, hope you’re not angry?”

“no I’m not” I answered imagining how many things he must have told the media about my dad or about me.

The lawyer must have been observant to notice that I wasn’t comfortable with him knowing about my dad and didn’t ask about my father again or ask me any other question. There was silence in the sitting room before it was finally broken by Jack who walked majestically down the stairs as if he was one sort of a king. 

“Helloooo people” me and his lawyer are the “people” he’s referring to, ruthless idiot.

“what have I gotten myself into” I thought to myself.

“our little miss did very well by not coming late, I think I’m beginning to like you” he said as he gave me a wicked look

“time to save our poor old man” he hasn’t even finished when I cut him out

“excuse me, you can’t talk to my father in such a manner please”

“okay then, maybe you should go back to wherever you’re coming from and foot your poor father’s hospital bills and when he finally gets well, you both should make sure you sleep on the street because before you know it, your father’s properties including his house will be in my name. how about that our little miss?” he got up and was about to climb upstairs where he came from.

I burned with so much furry and almost exploded but I can’t let anger elude me, I still have my father to take care of and there was no place I could get the hospital bill from if I didn’t sign the contract. If only Austin helped me, since he promised to do something I never heard from him, he never called and even when I do which number would always not be reachable.

Sometimes I wondered if he did it on purpose to punish me for ending things with him, it took be so much courage to call him and ask for help but I should have known better, there’s no way a man I left would help me. He was avoiding me, because if he weren’t then he would have called to let me know he wasn’t able to raise the money or at least check on me and my dad, I was deeply hurt but I had to move on and take advantage of the only option left which is this.

“where’s the goddamn contract” all I wanted was to sign the contract and leave his house.

“good girl” he turned to his Lawyer and said “help her with a pen”

Just as his lawyer handed me the contract papers, I carefully read the terms and conditions and it dawned on me that the only business I had with him was sex and making a baby. He was going to determine my fate till the end of the contract, I didn’t have much of a choice so I signed the papers and handed it over to his lawyer who was felt pity for me but there was nothing he could do, he was doing his job.

After seeing that I’ve signed the contract, he went to his mini bar and brought a red wine with three glass cups, gave one to his lawyer, and came close to hand me one

“I’m not interested” I said turning my face away.

“learn to be a good wife, now take” he bent slowly and whispered in my ears.

I knew Jack was ruthless but it seemed like I only knew a better part of him, I’m yet to meet his cruel part and I don’t even know if I’m ready for it but what can I do? He’s the only one that can help me pay the hospital bills.

He poured me some wine, poured some for his lawyer and proceeded to making the meaningless toast to a contract marriage.

He was the only one happy in the room, he danced with both shoulders raised and he excused himself for a moment. He came back with a piece of paper and handed it over to me. He dropped it on the floor just when he noticed I was about to collect it from him, “pick it” he said with his mischievous smiles.

“it’s a cheque of a Two Hundred Thousand Dollars, it should be enough for whatever the hospital is asking for, come back for more if it’s not enough” he said falling into one of the cushions in the room

“so we’re done?” his lawyer who got tired of the whole show said, ready to leave” 

“yes, you can go” Jack said pointing at the door

His lawyer left and as I stood up to follow him, he called me back, “hey miss”

“you’re now in my custody so whatever you’re doing, you need to ask me first, is that understood? You don’t do anything without my permission”

It dawned on me at that moment that I’ve entered into another phase of my life where everything I would ever do will be dictated to me, that I’ve been deprived of my freedom too, there was no difference between me and one who is in a prison since what I think or feel doesn’t even matter or count, all that matters was whatever jack says but I was driven by the untold pain of losing my dad so whatever Jack does or says were the least of my problems.

“yes” I gave him a hard stare and left.