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Contract Marriage

Chapter three

 "What's your name?" I asked the lady sitting beside the driver.

  "Mia Johnson," she replied, fidgeting with the tip of her dress.

"Mind having a brief conversation with me, I guess it will really help you a lot," I said arrogantly while scanning her body. 

  She nodded her head in response to what I just asked her.

  "Drive us to the nearby restaurant and I suppose you know what to do when we get there, right?"

  "Yes sir," he said at once while navigating towards another direction.

  I hope this really works out because this is my last hope, I don't mind crawling on the floor which is actually the last thing I did to get the contract even if I'm to lose to anybody not that abandoned being.

  The ride to the restaurant was smooth, my driver got down to ask the manager to lock down the restaurant for me,  you know I can't really be dining where commoners are.  

  Jamie, who happens to be my driver, came out of the restaurant with a satisfactory smile playing across his lips but it vanished immediately when he got to my side.

  "It's done sir."

 I wined down the glass a little bit to see those dining in the restaurant before trooping out with angry faces some little kids who came with their parents stumped their tiny feets on the ground in protests of why they weren't allowed to finish their meal while some cried on their mother's shoulders even the mother's weren't left out.

  I got down from my car, running my finger in my brown soft silky hair brushing my hair backwards. I nudged the lady to follow me. Walking gracefully into the restaurant all the employees all lined up to welcome me while bowing their heads in respect. I was ushered to a cozy part of the restaurant where I sat comfortably. 

  The lady walked in and made an attempt to sit but my voice stopped her.

  "At least you should have manners. I never offered you a seat so remain standing,"

  She try to object to my word but a single glare from me shut her up. 

"First of all why did you want to commit suicide? And even if that's the best solution to your predicament, must it then be in front of my car so people can rant and rave at me huh?" I yelled, taking her aback with surprise.

  She opened her mouth to talk but nothing came out of it, instead tears flowed freely from her eyes down to her check which angered me more.

  "Ohhhh, now you're acting pitiable huh, when you know you're tired of your pathetic life you should have jumped into the river or better still poisoned yourself," the more I talked the tears flowed down like a running tap from her face. 

"I'm so sorry," she managed to speak up while hiccuping… she turned around to leave but then I remembered why I had come outside in the first place. 

  "Will you marry me?" I asked which made her halt her step immediately.

  "Huh?" was the only thing she could utter.

****

Mia's pov

I peeped through the small opening in the door when I heard a soft knock on the door. I was shocked when it turned out to be my kid brother Samuel, without thinking twice I opened the door ajar.

  "Samuel, what're you doing back home?" I asked, holding him tightly as if he was gonna disappear any moment from now. 

 "I was sent back, Sis Mia, because of my school fees," the little boy said while crying on my shoulders.

  "C'mon the principal shouldn't have done that at least I already promised to pay it up," I said while patting his back.

  "But how? you and I know we have no money to pay them," he said, disengaging from my embrace while looking deeply into my eyes as if searching for something in it.

  "I will pay them okay… now pick up your bag let's go," I said while helping him pack his bag very well before heading out of the house towards his school.

  After what seems like forever because the walk to his school isn't a short distance at all and the morning sun also did an injustice to me because it brought out his shining glory early in the morning without putting the peasants who do trek their way down to their destinations.

   

We got to the school entrance, after exchanging pleasantries with the security man, I walked down to the principal block and knocked on her door politely.

  "Come in," I could hear a faint voice inside the room. Maybe she's not alone or probably she's on call, I guess. 

  I walked into the room holding my brother's hand tightly while making myself comfortable on the seat. 

  "Miss, Johnson, how may I be of help to you?" The woman in late fifties spoke without even sparing me a glance.

  "Uhmmmn, I came to plead with the school authorities to give in little time for me to gather the money I'm owing so I will be able to pay up," I said trying to sound so soberly maybe it will calm her heart because judging by the disgusted look on her face she's ready to throw us out of her office.

  "The last time we both checked you know I'm not the owner of this school, I'm also employed to take care of it so it's my duty not to let it go bankrupt… if you may excused me kindly make use of the door and when you have your outstanding bills my office is always opened to welcome you in," with that, she made gesture towards the door which I understood what she meant immediately.

  I tried talking but was cut short by her dangerous glare, Samuel cluthed to me tightly because if glares could kill we should have bitten the dust and be six feets under by now. I respected myself so I walked out with a heavy heart. 

  I walked my way back to our one rented apartment when Samuel suddenly slumped to the ground. 

  The tears I've been holding back in suddenly broke out freely.