Chapter 2

JACQUELINE

“Who the hell are you?” Tracy snapped, her eyes narrowing as she glared at me, her voice heavy with irritation. Actually I’d like to ask her the exact same question because the last I heard was that she was his flipping cousin.

“I—I’m Jeffery’s G…”

“Casual assistant,” Jeffery cut in swiftly, his tone cool and dismissive. He didn’t even look at me as he slid an arm around her shoulders, his facial expression instantly softening for her.

“I forgot to mention,” he said to her, stroking her shoulder affectionately,

“I have a meeting with all the department heads today. Gotta get everything in order before we leave for our wedding”

Tracy’s glare lingered on me a second longer before she turned to him, expression softening.

“Oh,” she murmured.

“Didn’t you say you wanted to get your hair done before we leave?” Jeffery added smoothly.

“Go ahead. My mother will go with you. The other staff would start coming soon” he said to her with a small smile. She nodded, but not before shooting me one last glance—a smug, victorious smirk curving her lips.

“Love you,” she said pointedly, rising onto her toes to press a lingering kiss on his lips as if she was trying to spite me. Jeffery smiled as if nothing was wrong.

“Love you too, see you soon, honey.”

The door hadn’t even clicked shut before Jeffery rounded on me.

“What the hell are you doing here without texting me first?” he snapped, his eyes blazing. I flinched at the intensity of his voice. He has never yelled at me before, he has been an angel until now. He said he was traveling, but conveniently forgot to mention it was actually for his wedding? If you don’t fear men, you scare me!

“You told me Tracy was your cousin!” I shot back, disbelief surging through me. He shrugged, completely unbothered.

“And?”

“What do you mean and?!” I yelled, my voice cracking.

“Isn’t it weird that you’re getting married to your cousin?!”

He rolled his eyes like I just said the most unreasonable thing, which of course I just did.

“Come on now, don’t be stupid, of course she’s not my cousin. Tracy is my fiancée”

I staggered a step closer, my heart slamming against my ribs. My voice dropped to a whisper and I muttered suddenly tired of loving and losing,

“How dare you stand there and trivialize this whole thing! You’ve been lying to me the entire time! Knowing everything I’m going through? If you could not heal me you could have just left me alone Jeffery!”

“I poured my heart into this relationship! I gave you my body! You used me!”

He snorted.

“Oh, please. Dont play that card. We used each other. We were mutually used.”

I stared at him, stunned. How gullible must have I been to have fallen for someone like him.

“Besides, what made you think we’d ever work out? You’re not even my type. You’re only here because of my money and me because of how good you taste”

“It was mutually beneficial. I thought that was obvious.” He sneered.

“A miserable single mother with a dying child? Come on. Not my style”

The air left my lungs in one breath.

“Don’t you dare bring my child into this,” I growled, my voice low and shaking with fury. Honestly I didn’t have the time for this, my daughter is laying there fighting for her life and I need to come up with five hundred thousand dollars in twenty hours or less, I cannot be doing this right now.

“You know what?” I hissed.

“Fuck you. And fuck your filthy money.”

I turned on my heel.

“I hope your marriage is as miserable as your soul,” I spat before slamming the door behind me.

*****

I sat hunched forward on the worn wooden bench at the park somewhere close to the hospital, my arms folded tightly across my chest as I stared into space.

My phone buzzed beside me, the screen lighting up with a message. With a weary sigh, I picked it up from where I’d placed it faced down. It was from my landlord.

-I’ve had your things removed from my property. They’re outside. If you still want them, come and get them. If not, that’s your problem. In two days, I’m selling them. Consider it compensation for the four rent-free years you lived under my roof.-

A bitter laugh escaped me as I read the message, my vision blurred as my eyes became glossy and my laugher increased. I suddenly stopped laughing, my fingers clenched into a fist, almost squeezing my phone in my grip.

When does life actually get better?

I’m exhausted. Not just physically, but in the way that digs into your bones and makes even breathing very painful. But I can’t afford to give up—not now. Let the landlord throw my stuff into the streets, let him sell every last piece—I don’t care anymore. I already lost my job, what’s the worse that could happen that already hasn’t happened?

All that matters right now is Jessica and I’ll do everything to not loose her!

My phone buzzed again. This time, it was a credit alert. I opened it quickly.

$2,000—my monthly salary.

I stared at the screen like it might somehow grow a few extra zeroes. It didn’t.

Two thousand dollars. A far cry compared to what I actually need. I don’t even have a single cent saved—we’ve been living from hand to mouth for years.

I need money. Eighteen hours. That’s all I have to come up with the amount, and there’s no clear way out. I’m extremely desperate now, illegal money or legal money, I don’t really care, as long as I get the money.

I stood to my feet abruptly I spun around hastily to leave, but I crashed right into something solid.

No, not something. Someone.

I lost my balance, and I felt myself falling backward, before I could hit the ground, strong arms caught me just in time and pulled me back up against his body.

My breath hitched. His scent was clean and expensive. His grip was steady, effortlessly keeping me from falling .

“Are you okay?” he asked softly, his deep voice pulling me back into reality.

My mouth spoke before my senses did.

“I will be … if you can give me five hundred thousand dollars,” I blurted out, more out of desperation than sarcasm.

His brows furrowed in confusion, eyes locking with mine.

I realized what I’d said and immediately recoiled stepping away from his grip.

“I— I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—”

*Beep.*

My phone lit up in my hand. I looked down at the screen, expecting another useless notification.

But it wasn’t that.

-“I’ll settle your daughter’s medical bill.”-

My eyes widened. My fingers trembled. My knees nearly gave out.

What?!. This couldn’t be real.

“I—Excuse me,” I whispered, barely audible, brushing past the man hitting his shoulders slightly, with my heart pounding so loudly I could hear it in my ears.

I took shaky steps away from him.

*Beep.*

Another message.

-You just have to marry me-

My breath caught in my throat and my movement abruptly came to an halt.