Chapter 2 - The Hospital Bill

Maria could not remember how she got herself to the bus stop.

Her legs were moving on their own. One step after another. Her body knew the direction of where to go, even though her mind was still pondering on the incident that just happened inside the salon a few hours ago.

The sun was still very hot. It made everything feel worse. She felt like falling and being carried like a child because it was too much for her to bear

She sat on the wooden bench at the bus stop and stared, feeling so weak and still crying. People passed her, Cars drove by, Life continued as if nothing had happened.

But a lot of things had happened in the past few months in Maria’s life.

She just lost her job.

.

Just like that.

Maria bends her head andcoversd her two hands against her face. Her hands was justr shaking. 

Her phone was ringing; someone was calling her.

She looked at the screen with her teary eyes but could not concentrate and left it.

Unknown Number

She ignored it.

The phone vibrated again.

She sighed and said, Whatt again, can’t I just have a moment of silence around me after all the noise in the world?d” and then picked up the call.

“Hello?” Her voice sounded weak.

“Maria Collins.”

Her heart skipped at first.

The voice was deep. Calm. Familiar.

She stood up slowly to regain consciousness. “Who is this?”

There was a brief pause. Just one second.

“The man from the salon.”

She felt a sharp Pain in her stomach, feeling like throwing up.

“I didn’t give you my number,” she said,d confused.

“I have my ways,” he said.

Maria closed her eyes. She did not like how easily he said that. Like it was nothing.

“Why did you call?” she asked.

“You lost your job today,” he said.

“Yes,” she answered. “And?”

“You need money.”

Her fingers held her phone firmly. “You don’t know that.”

Another pause.

“Your father is in the hospital,” he continued calmly. “St. Mary’s. Intensive care.”

Maria felt the ground around her.

“Who just called ? Me,” she asked herself.

Silence.

Said again, “I told you. I have my ways.”

Fear engulfed her evinnto her chest. Not the loud kind. The quiet kind that makes you feel so cold.

“Why exactly did you call me?” she asked.

“I want to assist you,” he said.

Maria laughed out, but it came out shaking. “You already helped me enough today.”

“I’m serious.” He spoke.

She leaned against the bus stop pole to support herself. Her legs felt so weak again.

“Help costs money,” she said. “I don’t have any.”

“I do and have enough to help you.” 

She took a hard swallow. “What do you want in return?”

“I need a wife.”

The world went quiet.

“What?” Maria said.

“A wife,” he repeated. “For a year.”

She laughed again with a weak face, trying to process what he was saying. “You must be a comedia,n I guess.”

“I’m not.” He replied

Maria shook her head. “You don’t even know me.”

“I know more than you think.” He spoke

She got angry now. “I am not desperate like that or cheap.”

There was something cold in his voice when he replied. “You are.”

The words hurt more than she expected.

“What…I won’t sell myself,” she said firmly.

“You’re not selling yourself,” he said. “It’s a contract Marriage in name only.”

She shut her eyes. “I’m hanging up.”

“Your father’s bill is $4,200,000,” he said suddenly.

She stopped breathing for a moment.

She didn’t move. Didn’t speak.

“If it wasn’t paid,” he continued, “the hospital will stop treating your father by Friday.”

Tears filled her eyes.

“You’re wicked,” she said, crying heavily.

“I’m telling you the truth,” he replied. “Let's meet tomorrow at eight a.m. Blackwood Towers.”

The call ended.

Maria slid down and sat on the ground, hopeless andinh tears.

Her heart burned within her. Her head was spinning. Nothing was alright at this point.

She was losing it; she didn’t know how long she stayed there.

The hospital smelled so horrible and was filled with sadness.

Maria sat beside her father’s bed, holding his thin hand. His eyes were closed, sobbing. His breathing was becoming faint.

“Daddy,” she said sorrowfully.

No response.

She tooka lookd at the machines. The tubes. The numbers on the screen she could understand.

A nurse just came shortly and gave her a paper.

The bill.

She looked at it for some time.

$4,200,000.

It was as the man had said earlier.

Her phone buzzed again.

Unknown Number.

She didn’t answer.

It buzzed again.

And again. After missing rejecting the call like 16 times.

Finally, she answered.

“I said tomorrow,” his voice said. “I like to don’t repeat myself.”

“You planned this,” she said, her voice breaking. “Didn’t you?”

“No.” He replied immediately in defense

“Yes, you did,” she cried softly. “You knew I had no choice.”

“You always have a choice,” he said. “You just don’t like them.”

She cleaned her face. “What’s your name?”

“You can call me Walton James.”

She repeated it quietly. “Walton James.”

“I’ll send you the address,” he said. “Be on time.”

He ended the call.

Maria that evening found it so difficult to sleep.

She just lay on the floor of her apartment, looking at the roof. Every sound made her scared.

Marriage.

To a stranger.

A billionaire.

A man who looked at her like nothing.

She turned to her side.

“What kind manof buys a wife?” she whispered to herself.

Her phone buzzed.

Blackwood Towers. 8:00 AM. Don’t be late.

She shut her two eyes.

The building was so tall that she had never seen a building like that.

Blackwood Towers.

Solid tempered glass. Steel. Guards are everywhere in and out of the building.

Maria held on to her worn-out handbag and walked inside.

The receptionist looked her up and down so disgustingly.

“Name?”

“Maria Collins.”

She made a call. “He’s expecting you.”

The elevator ride was long from the floor.

When the doors opened, Walton James was standing there.

Black suit. Calm expression.

He looked even more trembling from close view.

“You came,” he said.

She nodded. “I want to hear the terms and conditions of this contract.”

He handed her a folder casually.

“Read.” He said

She sat down and opened it.

One year.

No love.

No interference in his personal life.

Public appearances only.

Paymenis t made immediately after she accepts the contract.

Her hands were shaking as she opened the pages.

“This is not a marriage,” she said calmly.

“It’s an arrangement.”

She covered the folder. Give some time to think about it.”

He then looked at his expensive wrist watch. “Your father does not have time.”

Silence filled the room.

Maria stood up.

“If I do this,” she said, “it doesn’t mean you own me.”

His eyes looked slightly. “Everyone belongs to something, Maria.”

She heaved a sigh.

“Let me think about it.”

“You have until midnight,” he said.

She walked out.

Her heart was pounding.

Marriage.

Midnight.

Time was running out.

And she knew the answer was filled with uncertainty which may be of great danger for her later in the future as an ex-wife; she just wanted to make sure she took her time to think again.