Falling For The Contract

Ocean Depth 2021 ……

3:30pm …

Janelle.

I knelt by the side of my mother’s bed in the hospital ward, my fingers entwined by her side supporting my chin as I let tears roll freely down my face.

Three months ago if someone had told me that I would be in an hospital in this exact position, hoping and praying that my mother doesn’t die because of lack of money, I would have laughed it off and called the person drunk.

But here I am, my face a crying mess by the side of my dying mother’s bed.

My phone began to ring, I sniffled in deeply, wiped my face and stood up, I walked a little bit away from her and picked up the call.

“Diane,” I muttered as soon as I picked up the call.

“There was another attack from these ridiculous Mafia guys yesternight, you’re in charge Janelle! How come you’re never here!” Diane retorted at the other end of the phone.

My grip on the phone tightened and in the spur of that moment I felt like calling quit and telling her to leave me the hell alone, but I knew I definitely couldn’t do that.

There was no hope that my Dad’s company would go back to normal and I would need my job to survive.

“I’m sorry, I’ll be there tomorrow morning unfailingly” I replied calmly as against my frustrations, the line began to beep signalling that Diane had ended the call .

I exhaled deeply, slowly tucked my phone in my back pocket, I took slow steady strides back to my mother’s bed, sat by her side and gently patted her hair.

Her eyes slowly fluttered open and she looked up at me, my heart broke all over again, she feebly reached out and placed her hands on my cheeks using her thumb to caress it slowly.

She has been on this hospital bed for two months and those two months has been draining for all of us, especially financially.

“Don’t cry darling,” She tried to reassure but her attempt to comfort me seemed to make my heart ache more, her face looked pale and white like a ghost, unlike the usual lively and bubbly mother I know.

“Janelle dear, we know that all things work together for good for that love him,” she added in a whisper, I nodded with shaky breath as I gently grabbed her hands and held it tightly in my hands.

“Yes, yes, I know,” I whispered shaking my head continuously.

I gently let go of her hands and placed my hands in her head caressing it slowly, at this point I need to act really fast, my mind began to wander to which friend I actually have that would borrow me the money I need in the next twenty four hours.

But reality was that I was the rich friend in my circle and it would be difficult for any of them to come up with that money in twenty hours.

“Peter,” I whispered as I gently took out my phone from my pocket,

“Yes, yes Peter!”

-“Babes, please I need your help”- I typed and clicked send immediately.

Peter was my boyfriend, we have been dating for one year now with marriage in mind, he is the perfect person to help me now that everything is going south.

-“Drop by the house, I need to speak to you also,”- he texted back almost immediately, I wanted to worry about what it is that he wanted to tell me, but I just knew he probably wanted to complain how distant I’ve been these past week, I just want my mother to be okay that’s all.

Just then the door flung open and my father walked in, I turned off my phone screen and placed it in my pocket immediately as I turned back and walked back to my parents.

“Still Dead ends,But I’m sure we’ll find something soon!” My Dad muttered as he leaned in closer to Mom and placed a small kiss on her forehead.

“You’re going to be just fine sweetheart,”

I stepped back folding my hands across my chest and stared at them, just fine?! How?! When?! The way it looked we are far from being fine and if I don’t hurry up and speak to Peter about the money, we very much won’t be fine.

The doctor says that we have to perform a surgery within the next two days or she may not survive it and they still think we would be just fine?! How?!

My parents actually own a big and thriving chains of hotels in the heart of the town, and in other locations in the country.

But very rencently Dad made a bad investment and he was scammed of a whole lot of money.

Sales and daily income dropped drastically, we fought and fought to stand but ended up being overthrown by the new guest house, suddenly everything changed, bills piled, debts piled.

Asides the fact that we are trying to settle mother’s bill, debtors are breathing down our necks, and my salary as an Investigative Journalist did nothing in all these ocean of debts.

“Dad, I…” I began, but my statement got cut off as Mom suddenly began to cough.

“Take it easy” Dad said and he gently patted her back, but the cough suddenly became persistent, she grabbed her chest and blood began to come out of her nostrils as she coughed.

My eyes widened in horror, I just stood still there completely lost on what to do, beads of sweats formed on my forehead as hot tears fell off my face.

“Get the doctor!” Dad yelled, he raised her and placed her on his laps, I dashed out through the door immediately yelling my mind all over the place.

“Mom!” I yelled but a nurse pulled me back and held me down, preventing me from following them any further..

One hour Later ….

I exhaled deeply as I stood in front of Peter’s Mansion, this was the best thing to do, this was the best thing I do, I thought as I made my way into the house.

Immediately I got to the entrance I took out the access card that he had given to me and walked into the house.

The living room was empty, but i didn’t stop, I made my way up towards his room.

Right now I just wanted to fall into his arms and have him comfort me, I really need that, as I drew closer to the room I sensed something off but I really couldn’t place it.

I heard sound coming from his room and the closer I got to his room the clearer I could hear the sounds, my grip on my bag tightened as I swallowed hard, slapping of flesh, whisperings, Moanings.

Wait what ?! Moaning?!

“You’re head over heels for me, only someone as Gullible as Janelle can’t see that,” A distinct feminine voice said and I could recognize it clearly.

“No no,” I muttered shaking my my head repeatedly, with shaky hands I reached for the door knob and pushed the door open, my ears weren’t actually deceiving, I tried not admit it but the person my Fiancé was screwing Mercilessly was my best friend, my already broken heart dropped to the ground all over again.