chapter 3

Shirley's POV 

I snapped out of my thoughts and pulled away just as the driver walked up to me. 

He frowned down at the little boy and pulled him away. “I apologise Miss but he must have confused you with someone else. He does this a lot so pay him no mind.” 

The little boy in question struggled against him and kept stretching to touch me. 

I sighed and leaned down, picking him up in my arms. Immediately his cries and protest stopped. “I'll just stay with him until he falls asleep.” 

The driver opened his mouth to argue but I shook my head. 

“If that's okay, of course,” I added as he struggled within himself. 

He gave me a curt nod and I smiled. 

“Could I get some dry clothes?” 

He sighed and nodded, motioning for me to continue walking. 

I adjusted the boy's head on my chest and started walking up the stairs again. Once we reached the top stairway, the little boy raised his head and pointed at a door. 

“That's your room mummy!” He yelled excitedly and started bouncing in my arms. 

I grunted in pain and realized that was the same arm where the IV had been for only a few hours ago. However I didn't make a fuss not wanting to scare the boy. 

“Is that the room you were going to take me to?” I asked the driver.  

He shook his head. “No one is allowed to go in there.” 

I stared at the little boy in my arms but he was fast asleep. I smiled and turned back to the driver. “Mr…”

“Call me Adam.” 

I nodded. “Mr Adam, please show me to my room.” 

He led the way and I followed, my head swirling with different questions. 

Why would he call me mummy? I had never seen this boy before or been to this house. 

I'm sure I'd remember if I had seen such opulence and elegance before. And the little boy had such a cute face, it'd be hard to forget meeting him.

“Let me take him back to his room.” He stretched his hand out to take the child but I hesitated. 

For some strange reason, I didn't want to let go of the little guy which was absurd since he wasn't mine. Eventually, I handed him over and walked into the room. 

“I'll send a tray of food for you later and once my boss is back, I'll inform you.” 

“Thank you,” I whispered and shut the door behind me. 

**** 

“The boss would like to see you now,” Adam said once I opened the door. 

I yawned and rubbed my drowsy eyes. “Now?” 

He motioned to the stairs and I followed knowing fully well that anything could happen but also aware that this man had saved my life whoever he was. 

We walked down the stairs and through an empty hallway, the silence of the house greeting us. 

“That's his office,” he whispered and took a step back signaling that I would be going alone. 

I gulped and walked forward. 

“Come in,” I heard from inside the room and sighed. 

Here goes nothing. 

Taking a step forward, I opened the door and walked in. 

“Come in Miss Anderson.” 

I gasped at the mention of my name. How did he know my name? 

“Don't be afraid,” 

I swallowed and walked in, approaching the table in the room consciously. 

“Please sit. I'm sure you have a lot of questions.” 

I nodded and leaned forward after sitting down. There was no lighting in the room save for the lamp on the table. 

“I hope the room you were given is to your liking.” 

I nodded, still unable to speak. 

“Feel free to ask me any questions you might have. My name is Jackson, Jackson Storm.” 

My eyes widened. “Stor–m?” I stammered as I recalled an instance where I had heard the name. 

He laughed at my reaction and leaned back in his seat. “I know you must have heard a lot about that name.” 

“You're…” I gulped and cleared my throat. “You're the mafia lord.” 

He nodded, not bothering to hide his identity. 

“What do you want with me?” 

He didn't respond immediately. “Adam told me you met my son tonight.” He said and I nodded wondering what that had to do with anything. “I believe he called you his mummy,” 

I flushed and looked away. 

“It's okay. Actually he called you his mother because you look so much like my late wife.” 

My ears began ringing. What did he mean by that? 

He stood up and walked around the table. I moved back, the chair's legs scratching the tiles noisessly.  “You don't have to be afraid of me.” he held up his hands. “I'm not going to hurt you. I just need your help and in return you can ask anything of me.” 

I closed my eyes and then opened them. This wasn't a dream. 

He reached back towards his seat and pulled out a drawer. He brought out a photo frame and handed it to me. “That's my son's mother,” 

I almost dropped the frame in shock. “That's impossible,” I muttered, my eyes wide in shock. 

How could we look so alike?

“I was surprised as well when I almost ran you off the road the other day.” He let out a humorous chuckle. “It seemed like I was staring at a ghost.” 

I looked up at him and my breath caught in my throat when I saw the raw pain in his eyes. 

It was no wonder he kept a shrine for her in this house. It was because of how much he loved her. 

That still didn't explain why I was in his house. “What do you want from me?” 

He leaned back again and pulled out something from the drawer again. 

“What is this?” I stared at the stapled papers in front of me. 

“It's a simple contract.” He leaned down on the table and looked at me. “All you need to do is marry me for a period of one year and take care of my son. In return, you can ask for anything you want.”

“And if I refuse?” I asked, my heart beating wildly in my chest.