Desperation.

...

Katherine exhaled lightly before accepting the seat she was offered in the doctor's office, she waited for him to finish up with whatever he was doing at his desk before attending to her.

"I'm certain you are aware of your father's condition?" He started and Katherine nodded twice, gulping at nothing.

"I am," she vocally intoned.

"Well, I will not go into details and explain the reason he passed out because the most important thing you should know is that your father needs to undergo surgery for a heart transplant as soon as possible. He's been suppressing it for too long and the suppressants are no longer as effective on his system. The best option right now is an immediate transplant." 

"How soon?" Katherine asked, batting her lashes to push back the tears.

"It will be fantastic if we can commence today, the waiting list is long but your father's is at the critical stage and he can be attended to immediately, but it all depends on you," he expatiate. "If he is not operated on in six days, it could be worse."

"Worse?"

"He could die. Currently, he's being prepared for surgery already and should be in the operating room by tomorrow, that is the most I can do. It's against my conduct but I had to make an exception for him. Your father's case is not my field hence the surgery will be handled by a professional surgeon, and then the basic equipments needed for the surgery, we need money to get all of these." 

Katherine moistened her lips, pursed it tightly and spoke, even though she knew she had no starting point on how to raise such an amount of money. 

 "I understand. Please begin the surgery as quickly as you can, I promise I will get some money before the deadline." 

..

Jude choked on his drink. Grabbing a napkin, he wiped the mess off his lips, flashing an apologetic look to Anderson.

"Sorry but did you just say tomorrow?"

Anderson sighed, "that's right." 

"But you don't even have a girl yet." 

"You think I don't know that?" Anderson arched a brow at him.

"Look Jude, I know I messed up on that one but that was the only thing I could think of. Reynard is bringing his fiancee over for dinner and we're all going to be there. I can't lose my inheritance to that sicko," he intoned.

"True but.. what are you going to do now, man?"

Anderson slammed his palm on his forehead, restlessly pacing about the spacious office. "I never thought I'd say this, Jude but right now I'm desperate," he expounded.

"I truly don't want to lose the conglomerate," he added with a huge sigh.

Jude noticed the flickers of sadness resting in his eyes as he released the words, it wiped off in a flash.

He placed a palm on his shoulder, "I'm sure there will be a turn up before nightfall, the advertisement is still running; you might just find the right person before the deadline" 

"That advertisement was a shitty idea from the scratch, please take it down before someone important figures out I'm in charge." 

"Okay, and what next? Do you have a better plan?" 

"To find a temporary wife? Not yet," Anderson shook his head and grabbed his jacket.

"Where are you going?" Jude asked, keenly watching his disordered friend. 

Anderson was already at the exit before he paused and gave him an apathetic response; "I'm going to talk some senses into my parents, I should have done this from the scratch! They can't treat me like this!"  

..

Katherine ran a palm over her curly hair repeatedly as she scooted closer to her. Her lips stretched in a faux fixed smile. Despite how weighty she felt with the emotions, she tried effortlessly to camouflage it from Yvonne. The last thing she wanted is giving her tender mind something so heavy to think on. She had enough on her chest to worry over already.

"Why isn't daddy home with us, Katy?" Yvonne's questions disrupted her from her thoughts.

"The doctor advised he rests in the hospital for a few more days so he can be super healthy," Katherine replied, stretching her smile even more. 

"Will daddy really be okay?"

"Of course! I told you already, didn't I? Do you not believe me?"

"I do," once she saw the smile in Yvonne's eyes, Katherine knew her lies had somewhat paid off. 

"Goodnight. Now, don't worry about daddy, and go to sleep." 

"Why don't you get some sleep yourself, Katherine. You've haven't had a proper rest all day" Maggie walked up to them. 

"Don't worry, I'll stay until she sleeps off. You get some sleep too." 

"Thank you, Maggie. Goodnight." 

Once Katherine was enclosed and safely soundproofed by the walls of her room; she fell to her knees and burst into tears. She didn't know for how long she stayed in that position, crying but when she stood; she felt her strength wearing off.

Was crying going to solve anything? She knew it was the only thing she could do at that moment but she wondered if that was going to solve even the tiniest portion of what she was facing.

She sniffed, trying to stop the tears which kept trickling down belligerently.

With shaky steps, she walked over to her table and turned the computer on. Her sight blurry, Katherine operated the mouse with uneasy movements, constantly dabbing the tears off as she did but it seemed unstoppable; her heart was too heavy that even her precocious determination to blin the tears appeared futile.

Going through the list of available jobs, Katherine eventually found one matched her qualifications, she wasted no time in applying; hoping her state doesn't eliminate the effect her application should bear.

When she submitted the application and got a feedback, she began wondering if getting a job was what she truly needed. She had a lot of bills to settle in just six days, the job; if gotten was not going to cover even quarter of the all the expenses already laid at her feet. 

Should she just take a loan? 

So many similar thoughts rammed into her head as she distractingly tapped on her mouse continuously.

Five hundred thousand. The Ad she saw earlier that day found its way into her head or should she say, she hadn't been able to take her mind completely off it ever since she came across it. The payment was just too good to be true.

With quick movements, Katherine clicked on her server and filled in the long space. She didn't know how but she was certain she memorised everything about the advertisement the moment she saw the ridiculous amount of money ready to be dished out for a ridiculous job.

She heaved a relieved sigh after discovering the ad was still available, without wasting time; she went through the requirements and began ticking as she met them but a halt came at the last one.

Her gaze dart to her stomach and rested on the tiny pregnancy bump, it was so obvious to her gaze at that moment, she felt it was reminding her all over of her incapability for the required job. 

"I'm sorry," she ran her palm around the bulge, "but mommy is desperate right now. Please understand," she smiled as she whispered the words of apology to her developing foetus and without a second thought, she ticked the last one, opened the mail and began typing her interest for the position.

...

Anderson lowered the drum bell, grabbing a jar of milk he added a little more to pretty's bowl before going for his cellphone. With just a glance at the caller's ID, he answered and grabbed a towel, wiping the little beads of sweat from his forehead.

"Yes Jude?" 

"Hey, I was expecting a feedback after yesterday. Were you able to convince your old man?" 

"It was a disaster," Anderson hung the towel across his neck and grabbed a bottle of water.

"What? He didn't agree?"

"No. It ended in a huge argument between Reynard and I."

"Phew" Jude breathed out, "so what now?" 

"Well.. I have about.." Anderson paused to take a look at the time, "eight hours to find a lady who is not in love with me, introduce her to my parent and make her my wife or I lose my cause to live," Anderson exhaled, knowing his sarcastic words bore some honesty.

"And what are you doing about that right now?" 

"Letting fate do its thing--

"You're kidding, right? Did you even check the website at all for the last twelve hours?"

"Why would I? I asked you to-- wait, you didn't delete it?" His face crumpled.

"Yes. And you're welcome because last night there was an application and this one meets all of the requirements."

"Don't play with me right now, man," Anderson ran a hand over his face, his expression was that of disinterest.

"You think I have time for that right now? You should be thanking me, you ingrate." 

There was a quick swipe at Anderson's expression as the sincerity of Jude's words hit him.

"Anyways, I already did all of the hard work, and she's about three years younger than you which I think is just great. So, I set up a meeting but I'm yet to give her a venue and time because I don't know when you my friend will be available--

"Right away. We're meeting her right away."

Jude burst into laughter, "I thought you said my idea was useless--

"Now is not the time, Jude. I'm hitting the shower now, pick a venue and text me the address!"  

..