6

JENNA

I jolted awake with a rush of adrenaline.

A dull ache wrapped around the back of my head. Something about the hazy memories from last night. It all came rushing back. Like some god forsaken nightmare gnawing back at me.

I pictured three moments.

In one, my fingers quivered as I worked them against the discharge slip in the reception. In the second, I shuffled out of the hospital and ordered an Uber ride.

And the last?

Chaos.

Total chaos.

My breath hitched and for some awkward reason, my senses awakened.

The soft smell of pine in the air was the first thing I noticed.

The first sight that graced my eyes was the high ceiling.

My ears welcomed the repeated beeps of a life machine.

I didn't bother to wonder where I was. I'd lived this scene before. Except I didn't expect the walls to be this white and for the ceiling to be that high.

The hospital room I stayed at had low ceilings and it reeked of antiseptic. Not pine. I lowered my gaze, yawning slowly as my eyes darted around, check-in everything in its path.

“You're awake.”

My heart jumped in my chest when I saw him. 

Tall frame. Lustrous dark hair. And eyes that locked me deep in an abyss of total darkness.

The stranger in front of me wasn't just hot. He looked dashing.

He had on a four piece suit and hair that slicked back smoothly. His shoes looked like they were carved from the richest leathers. They glistened with every step.

I'd barely taken in enough air before I spoke.

“Who are you and why ar—”

I paused. Not because I ran out of air but because his gaze landed on the side of my neck.

I froze, heart heavy in chest as he made his way over to the side of the bed.

“It really is real.”

His fingers moved, touching the side of my neck where my birthmark was. 

“Excuse me, get the hell away from me. Who the hell are you?!”

I lost my cool and nudged his fingers away from me. I didn't know who the hell he was and he was running his fingers against my flesh.

Against my birthmark.

The doors to the room opened almost immediately and two heavily built men dashed in. Fear clutched my heart when another one stepped in, he looked huge.

“Are you ok, boss?”

One asked, turning to the man in the suit.

Boss?

“Did she try to hurt you?”

I couldn't help but blurt. “Hurt? More like your boss here was stalking towards me and having his fingers all over me. Who the hell are you people?”

The silence that followed my voice dipped deep in tension. I bit my tongue, expecting the so-called boss of theirs to say a word but he didn't.

Instead, he signaled to the men behind him and they all left one after the other. 

My chest rose as I watched them leave the room. Just as the last one of the guards was about to leave, the boss called.

And for the first time, I heard his voice.

It was dangerously low. 

“Bring in her daughter.”

I choked on my breath. “Daugh—” 

He turned to me. 

I stiffened almost immediately. 

The door clicked open shortly after and just like he'd requested,Ivy rushed into the room. My heart leapt in my chest as joy rocked my world.

I had the biggest smile on my face.

It'd been a long time since I'd seen my baby.

She rushed towards the bed and struggled to get on the bed. I moved to help her up but he was faster. He lifted her into the bed and into my arms.

My eyes locked with the stranger's.

I wanted to ask him to leave but I could barely contain my emotions.

“I've missed you, Mommy.”

Tears burned in the corner of my eyes. “I have missed you too, Ivy. Very very much.”

The tears in my eyes continued to gather as I fought them, sniffling softly so I wouldn't alarm her.

“Are you crying, mommie?”

I blinked. Hard.

Then opened my lips. “No darling.”

I cradled her in my arms as I raised my gaze at the stranger in the room. Questions circled through my mind. A bunch of them.

I wanted to pause my conversation with Ivy to ask the man how he got home to my daughter and why I was back in a hospital room after getting discharged but all of that could wait.

I had my daughter in my hands and that was all that mattered.

“Tell me, how did you get here?”

“My friend brought me here.”

My brows quirked. “Friend?”

Ivy pointed a finger in his direction. “He saved you, mommie.”

“Saved me?”

I nearly choked on my own words as I raised my head and met his gaze. I met his eyes again and this time, I didn't relent. Didn't get lost in the abyss they held in them. 

He lowered his gaze shortly after and that told me all I needed to know.

He was the one who ran me over last night.

How could I have missed it?

My fingers slipped away from Ivy's body. “Get. Out.”

My words were firm.

His lips opened to speak. I tried to stop him but he was faster.

“I can explain.”

“I think I get it already. Let me guess, this is your cue to try to apologize to me? To try to persuade me not to sue?”

His lips quivered. “N-no.”

He was struggling to find words. 

Good.

I'd been stumped upon by far too many people in the last week and I wasn't going to let him walk all over me.

“Again, I'll guess. This is your cue to offer cash as a price for my silence?”

He shook his head and was about to speak when I felt Ivy's fingers on me again. 

“Mommy, no!”

My brows creased. “What?”

“He’s not a bad man, mommie. Dad changed after my birthday. He came home with a bad woman. She neglected me, mommy. She told the maids not to feed me and didn't let me come out of my room. She said if you didn't come to pick me up any sooner, she'd send me away. To that building you said it was for orphans.”

“An orphanage?”

I sniffed, blinking back tears.

“Yes. He saved me. He took care of me even more than Daddy in his mansion and ever since,we became friends, Mommy. He'll be your friend too soon. He's very nice an—”

I cut her short. “Not every one is nice, Ivy. Some have ulterior motives.”

“I promise I do not.”

I raised my gaze to meet his. Something about his eyes calmed my emotions.

I wanted to talk back but I didn't want it to be in front of Ivy. I guess he'd picked up on that too.

He turned towards the door.

“Donna!”

He called and a red haired lady stepped into the room.

“Take Ivy here back to the hallway.”

I wanted to object but his eyes met mine. And for the first time in a long long while, they softened. 

Right in front of my still eyes, they transitioned— pitch black to midnight blue.

“She's in safe hands. You don't have to worry.”

The moment the door closed shut, rage warped around my throat, choking me of my every breath.

I felt the freedom to express myself and all of the rage bubbling deep within me. 

My lips moved. 

“I'd like to get this over with as soon as possible, Mr man.”

“Brandon.” He corrected me. 

“Brandon steel.”

“Well whatever. I'd like to get it over with. What do you want from me? And how the hell did you find out about my daughter? You better start explaining.”

My breath caught in my throat. 

He passed me a cup of water. I received it with shaky fingers, stared hard at the content for a while then raised my gaze back up to meet his. 

“I know everything. About your husband. His betrayal. The divorce. Nice don't ask how I got the information, I have my sources.”

“You really took your time tailing me, ugh?”

He shook his head. Yeah, right.

My eyes rolled.

“What do you want?”

He didn't give me a direct answer like I was expecting. He ignored my words. 

“I know how much you don't want your daughter to land up in an orphanage and have a rough childhood like you. I have a deal.”

“And what would make you think I'd want to get into a deal with you? I barely even know you.”

“But I do. I mean, partly. But the birthmark on the side says something different. You are the last standing heir of the Caldwells. A family that once used to be at the same stance with mine.”

I almost laughed. 

“This has to be some twisted joke.”

“No. No. I'm not joking.”

He had to be joking.

He moved closer, his hands grabbing mine tighter as he stared deep into my eyes. “I know how much you want revenge against your scumbag ex. I can help you get that and also protect your daughter. Bright kid. She deserves a great childhood.”

I nodded.

“I need a bride. A pretend bride. You're the right candidate. It'd make headlines if the media finds out Caldwell's long lost heir is back. You have a deal in front of you. The ball remains in your court.”

He finished.

“Play it.”

I rubbed my fingertips against the side of my birthmark. 

My husband hated it. Well, Ex husband. He could go fuck himself.

This same mark he'd berated me for was now a gateway for me to redeem myself as something other than the spineless orphan he'd kicked to the curb.

“One year, Jenna. Be mine for one year. What do you say?”

My mind raced as I pondered on all of my choices.

Ivy deserved a better life.

He offered one.

I knew it'd be crazy to agree to the deal he was offering. I just couldn't help keeping my hands out of trouble.

“Yes.”