Chapter Two: Hope Came With A Price

On entering their apartment, Sophie froze--her Mum was seated on their only armchair.

 "Hi, Mum. Didn't the doctor say you needed more rest?" Sophie asked in confusion

 "Yes Sophie, but the doctor thought the house is a better place to rest, plus, the smell of antiseptic was making me feel nauseous".

Mrs Richards knew she was very bad at lying especially to her daughter, Sophie, but she was already too much of a burden to her, or so she thought.

'I can't tell her that Doctor Byrnes couldn't keep an inpatient who hasn't started any procedure'

 "Well, I do not like that he discharged you without first letting me know", Sophie tried to distract herself from her mother's lie, she knew the obvious reason as to why her Mum was discharged.

No payment has been made yet, neither for the dialysis nor for the transplant, in actual fact, there was no space for an inpatient who hasn't made any payment. Doctor Byrnes only spared them a few days out of pity, but he could not go in with it. Sophie didn't want to dwell much on this.

 "It's okay Sophie, why are you looking like this, what happened?" She tried to steer the conversation away from herself, looking at Sophie's grubby appearance - her hair was dishevelled and wet, her clothes weren't left out in the state of disarray, there was a tiny hole close to the hem of her top and the knees of her jean trousers were dirty and torn as if she was dragged on the floor while kneeling down.

 "it's nothing Mum, just a minor accident" Sophie replied looking away and walking towards their kitchenette.

She avoided her mother's extended hand while she passed her, i hate lying to her in this manner she thought to herself. If there was anything she hated most, it was this feeling of helplessness, and seeing her mother in pain, and she hated the fact that she couldn't do anything about it.

 She heard her phone ringing and snatched it from the table before her mother could get to it, it was an unknown number.

 "Hello?", she went into their room to answer the call.

 "Hi Sophie, it's Mrs Ken"

Sophie caught her breath.

 "I'd love for you to come over so we can talk, it's for the betterment of your mother's declining health condition"

 Her last sentence made any protest Sophie was about to make get stuck in her mouth.

 "I'll text the address, will be expecting you in thirty minutes" the line went dead before Sophie could say anything, she grabbed the edge of the dressing table, her head hurt.

 She quickly put herself together, had a shower and dressed up.

 Mrs Richards caught a whiff of the shower gel as Sophie came to the sitting room.

 "I'll be back soon mum, don't wait up for me, you know the doctor asked you to rest" She knew her mother all too well to know that she'd wait up for her even till the next morning.

 "I'm sorry, Sophie, if I wasn't so sic-"

 "Stop, Mum!" Sophie's scared herself with her scream "You're not a burden to me, not in the least. For God's sake you are my whole life, and I can't bear to see you in this state." 'and I'll do any thing to make you healthy again', she said within herself.

She didn't want to make her Mum worried, and she was sure now more than ever that whatever Mrs Ken wanted, she'd be more than willing to do it; so long as it saves her mum. Mrs Richards reclined into her chair.

 "It's late Sophie" Mrs Richards voice was barely audible, it was as if she found it very difficult to exert any form of energy at all. Sophie stared at their wall clock 6:49pm.

 "Mum, I'll be back before you know it" She walked swiftly to the door without waiting for another word from her mother.

 Mrs Richards sat in the dimly lit room, staring blankly at the wall, 'everything would've been fine if I wasn't such a burden.' 

 She knew Sophie didn't want her to think that way but she could not help it, that was the main reason she didn't ask her daughter any question regarding her call which resulted in her impromptu outing; she knew her daughter meant the best for her and so she wasn't going to control her movements.

'She's an adult who can make her own decisions'. The sound of the creaking door made Mrs Richards jerk; Sophie had left five minutes earlier 'Did she forget something?'  

"Sophie?"                                                                                  

"Honey did you leave something behind?"

The shadow blocking the moonlight made her tremble with fear. 

Her mouth was swiftly covered with a white handkerchief before she could make anymore noise. Waving her hands frantically, she felt her side table and immediately grabbed the fruit knife Sophie always left her; she stabbed her assailant with every ounce of strength she could muster.

"Ahh you bitch!!!" The sharp baritone voice pierced through the quiet room.

The disgruntled assailant held the handkerchief firmly over his victim's nose. The next minute passed in a blur for Mrs Richards- -then she saw pitch black.

Outside, the night air felt heavy against Sophie's skin, a sleek black car was parked, waiting by the curb - on the wheel was the driver Sophie had seen Mrs Ken with earlier that day.

 "Good evening Miss" he greeted, but Sophie's mind was too hazy for her to answer.

 They finally halted after what felt to Sophie like forever.

 On alighting from the car, she was directly facing a very tall skyscraper, the moon reflected on the topmost glass.

 'Ken Group' she read under her breath.

 The elevator ride was short, yet suffocatingly tense.

 She was led through a partially empty space--probably an office, it only contained a large table, and four chairs around; the large space was quiet - too quiet; Mrs Ken backed them, facing a glass wall which overlooked the city below making the houses look like tiny shards of light, they must be on the top floor, she thought absentmindedly.

 "Good evening to you Sophie" Mrs Ken's calm and composed voice came.

 "Good evening Ma'am" Mrs Ken didn't remind her to drop the formalities.

 "You may go now, Seth" The driver gave a slight bow and left. "You came quickly, that shows how eager you are to save your Mum"

 "You said you'd make enquiries" Sophie replied, Mrs Ken nodded saying, "Very true and I've done just that. I just rang my son, he'll be here any moment from now, because, Sophie, I called you here for something very important".

 She dropped a file on the table before them and continued speaking.

 "You see Sophie- " the door opened without prior notice.

 "Ah!, the man of the moment"

 Jerome Ken stood at the doorway with an air of nonchalance - sleeves rolled up, top button loose, giving Sophie a glimpse of his firm chest, his hair looked like he had run his hands through it.

 Mrs Ken stood up and walked towards him, receiving his kiss on her cheeks, the love between mother and son was evident. Sophie's eyes met his and she quickly averted them. "This is my son,- " Mrs Ken started.

"Jerome Ken" Jerome finished "If it isn't the girl who was disgraced by her own father" his deep voice sounded more like a discovery than a mockery.

"I see you both have met each other?" Mrs Ken chided

 Sophie looked down shyly, he had seen all that.

 "Let's get right into it, shall we?" He sat down in the chair at the head of the table and was joined by Sophie who sat to his left, and Mrs Ken, at the far end.

 "You see, Sophia," he began

"It's Sophie sir"

He continued without paying any attention to her.

"I know of your predicament, my Mum told me all that I need to know, and together, we've decided to help you" he paused, letting his words sink and hit the right spot, but Sophie only felt shame, she had become a charity case to these people but she didn't mind - so long as her mother was saved, she was fine with being their charity case.

 "How do you plan on doing that sir?" yes, she was their charity case, but she was determined to ask valid questions in order to not look like a weakling before them.

 "Feisty" Jerome smirked "We are going to handle everything - the dialysis, the transplant, whatever will aid faster recovery"

 Sophie's eyes glistened with tears of gratitude "Thank you sir, thank you ma, I'm very grateful"

 "There's a condition Sophie" Mrs Ken chimed in between Sophie's sobs.

 of course, Sophie thought, these kind of people didn't put their money in anything without expecting something in return.

 Mrs Ken continued when she got no reply from Sophie; She pushed the file to Sophie's end "This file contains a marriage certificate, all the necessary things have been documented, we just need your signature"

 Sophie thought she heard wrong "Ma-marriage? why?" her eyes stung who did these people think they were ordering her about the way they wanted..and marriage? 

 "You see Sophie, My son, is in need of a wife. even though he thinks it isn't necessary, which is why I took it upon myself to find him one, you don't need to have any affiliations other than this document, plus, it's just for a year".

Sophie glanced at Jerome who sat reclined in his chair with eyes peering into her bones.

She knew what Mrs Ken meant, they don't need to consummate their marriage; she thought about her sick mother and the little time they had left - it was a matter of urgency and so there was no time to waste. However despite the urgency, she had their dignity to protect, she was going to back every dime.

"I'll agree to this on one condition" 

 Mrs Ken stared at her with rapt attention, Sophie piqued her interest - she was calm but fierce, gentle but swift, all at the same time. Jerome on the other hand stared on with a bemused look.

 "What is it?" he asked glancing briefly at his gold wristwatch which must have cost him a fortune.

 "In order for me to pay you back every single dime you'll spend on my mum, I want to work in your office" she stared calmly.

 "Done, start on Monday" Jerome replied standing up.

His phone screen lit up from a message notification "As we speak, your mum is being taken to the Ken family hospital, where she will begin treatment without further ado".

He stared imploringly at the papers before her and she signed them and handed them to Mrs Ken, who received them like a child who was given candy.

 " Thank you very much, I'll take my leave now" she stood up to go.

 "Leave to where, wife?" Jerome asked and she stared wide-eyed at him.

"Sir!" Ryan burst through the door breathlessly, "there's a problem"