Ch. 4 - A DESPERATE AGREEMENT

JENSYN

My feet pounded against the pavement as I rushed towards a shop; the cold watch in my hands felt like a lifeline. It was insignificant compared to my mother's life. I was going to sell it.

I entered the shop with a faded sign that read ‘Parts & More’ plastered on the door. I had been here with River, my friend, to sell a necklace. I would be able to sell the watch here, but I hesitated for a moment, clutching the watch tightly in her hand before stepping inside.

“What if Derek finds me?” I asked aloud, my voice failing me.

Sell the watch and do the rest! A voice screamed in my head and I walked to the counter to meet the owner of the shop.

He was middle-aged and grumpy, with a hard face that told me he didn't really give a shit about the world around him.

I didn't waste time. “I need to sell this.” My voice was cool as I stretched the watch to the man and watched as he assessed it.

He didn't respond immediately. He turned it over in his hands, examining it. After a long pause, he glanced at me, his eyes filled with suspicion.

“You don’t look like you’re in the business of selling watches,” he grunted. “What’s the catch?”

I swallowed the lump of saliva in my throat. I didn't have all day to explain anything to this man. I was even glad that he didn't recognise me. River wouldn't have to know about this; he shouldn't know. 

“Five hundred thousand. How much will you buy it?” I asked instead, desperation creeping deep into my voice.

The man eyed me for a moment, his expression unreadable. “You know this watch is worth more than you’re asking for,” he said slowly, tossing it back into his palm. “But I’m not in the mood to haggle. I’ll give you a fair price, though. You need the cash, I can see.”

I could only nod at that, my throat felt tight. I didn’t care how much it was worth. I just needed enough to pay for the chemo. “So, how much?”

The man lowered the price significantly, and I laughed in his face. I didn't know how much the watch cost in the market, but it was brand new; maybe that was the first or second time Derek would be wearing it.

I set my jaw tight and looked at the man. “Four fifty. I’ll take what I’m offering now,” I said firmly. “Take it or leave it.”

The man paused, his eyes scanning my face, assessing whether I was bluffing. After a long moment, he grunted and agreed. “Fine. You’ll get your money, but this better be the real deal. Four fifty is it.”

Without another word, he disappeared behind the counter, rummaging for cash. My heart thudded in my chest as I waited. Soon, he returned, handing me a bundle of money. He also gave me a bag to keep it.

I didn't even count it. It didn't matter. I just pocketed it and rushed out of the shop, desperate to get back to the hospital.

***

I was almost at the bus stop when I heard the sharp sound of footsteps behind me. My stomach turned; beads of cold sweat broke out on my skin. I glanced over my shoulder and saw two men in dark suits, their eyes locked on me. The only thing that came to her mind was Derek.

Without a second thought, I sprinted toward the nearest restaurant. I knew the men wouldn’t dare follow me inside. The restaurant was bustling with people, and it provided just enough cover for me to disappear into the crowd. I slipped into the restroom, took a deep breath, and tried to calm myself. The clock was ticking, and my mother’s life was on the line.

“Shit!” I cursed, my hands gripping the sink in desperate measures to calm my racing heart.

After a while, I left, my chest heaving as I ran into the street. There was no time to waste. I needed to catch the next bus.

Soon, I arrived at the hospital, the money bag clutched in my hand. I made her way to the front desk, my breath ragged. “I've come to pay the bills.” I said quickly to the receptionist.

The receptionist nodded, taking the money from me without question. “It’s going to take some time to process. You’re lucky we have a spot for your mother. We would have stopped everything for her.”

I nodded, my heart in my throat. It wasn’t much, but it was enough for now. “Thank you.”

The doctor then called me; his face was grim as he looked over my mother's file. 

“We can resume chemotherapy,” he declared. “But she wouldn't last long before we removed her again, Ms.”

My stomach dropped to the floor. “What do you mean?”

“You owe the hospital a significant amount of money,” the doctor said carefully. “This payment will cover two weeks, but after that...” He didn’t finish his sentence. His eyes lingered on mine, pitying, as if he knew I had no way of coming up with the money again. “We would remove her.”

My world turned upside down when I heard that. It wasn't as if I was not prepared for this; I knew. I knew but still told myself it would be fine. The realisation hit me like a punch in the gut. 

No matter how hard I tried, it would never be enough.

When I arrived back at the apartment, the weight of failure pressed down on me again. I had forgotten. I had been locked out. The landlord's note was still there, and the note from the escort company. 

When Linden said he had a gift for me, I thought he was being mischievous until I got home and found two letters waiting for me; one from my landlord and one from the escort company.

“What would I do?” 

I stood there for a moment, staring at the closed door as if there was magic somewhere to help my miserable life. I had no home, no job, no safety nest. I had nothing.

“Heaven help me.” I cried out bitterly, my hands wrapping around her in an attempt to warm myself.

Then, I saw someone.

A figure loitered in the distance, moving with a delicate step that made my heart recoil. The realisation that it could be those men at the bus station crept into my guts. I couldn't afford to be caught, not now.

I backed away slowly, trying not to draw attention to myself. But before I could get far, I was cornered.

“Sweet Jesus!” I exclaimed, my hands flying to my mouth, but I still looked up.

Linden Rawlings stood before me, his face blank and somewhat angry. “You really thought you could escape from Derek Mills?”

My body was tense. I wanted to lash out, to scream, to run. But I knew that would only make things worse. Linden’s face was twisted in a grimace. It was as if it hurt him to speak to me.

He stepped closer, his voice smooth like velvet cream on a cone. “Jensyn Sawyer, give yourself a break, will you?”

This was the end, wasn't it? What could possibly go wrong if I agreed to be his fake wife. Nothing, I guessed. I was going to be free at last.

I swallowed my pride, not wanting to be bruised by his words. I was out of options. In two weeks, my mother would be off chemotherapy, Derek Mills would find me, and the escort company would arrest me. There was only one thing to do.

“I’ll marry you.”

Linden's face immediately masked a glint of amusement that ran up to his lips. “Jensyn…”

“Take me home.”

He did. I followed him to his car, and as soon as we were inside, he asked his driver to leave us alone. In no time, Linden pulled out a suitcase, settling it between us. I glanced at it, my curiosity piqued.

“Linden,” I started, testing the rivers. “Why do you want to marry me? What do I get apart from you helping my mother and all those things I told you?”

“I need a bride to marry me in two days' time or lose my shares. A marriage, for one year. After that, we can quietly divorce and pretend like this never happened,” he said and continued, “and what else do you want, Jensyn.”

“Twenty percent of that shares,” I stated without thinking.

He laughed at my suggestion and I low-key expected him to flat out refuse. “That wouldn't happen. Not for this, at least.”

“Ten or Fifteen?”

“No. You will get five million dollars at the end of the year. Consider it an anniversary gift,” he said.

“Ten percent of the shares,” I countered, but his face remained blank. “Five percent?”

“3 percent,” he finally agreed.

“Absolutely good. Nice doing ‘business’ with you, Mr. Rawlings.”

“Now, sign this contract Mrs. Rawlings. The charade will begin as soon as possible."

I scanned the contract and realised there were no rules for him. Maybe he saw himself as too COMPETENT to break the rules. With a resigned shake of my head, I signed it.