FIVE

We pulled up at a building that looked more like an expensive hotel than a medical facility.

"What is this place?" I whispered to Elijah as we stepped into an elevator.

"It's a private hospital." He explained. "My family has been members for three generations. They cater to the Washington family only."

I guess rich people didn't have to go to normal hospitals like us commoners.

I had no idea what I was walking into. I'd just signed a contract with this man hours ago and now I was about to meet his grandfather while pretending to be madly in love with him.

What a terrific day I’m having. 

When the elevator opened, we stepped straight into what looked like a private wing. There were no patients in sight and the place was so quiet and very beautiful. 

Before I could take it all in, a woman rushed over to us making me jump back in fright. She threw her arms around Elijah. She smelled heavily of perfume. 

Elijah appeared uncomfortable at first, his body going rigid but he slowly hugged her back and I noticed the way he softened. Could this be his mother? 

I played with the strap of my purse and stood there awkwardly because I felt like I was intruding on something private. 

"Elijah, darling," the woman pulled back but kept her hands on his arms. Her voice was shaking. "They won't t-t-tell me anything….They just keep saying he's stable but they need to run more tests and I don't understand what that means. I don't know if he's going to be okay? It was very sudden and it's unusual. Should I call your uncle? What if—"

She must have finally noticed my presence because she stopped mid-sentence and turned to me. She raised one eyebrow as she looked at me curiously. 

"Who are you?" she asked.

“Um…” I suddenly did know what to say and felt very uncomfortable in her presence. 

"She's my wife," Elijah simply responded calmly. 

"Wife?" Her eyebrows shot up in genuine shock. She looked at him, then back at me, then at him again in a comical manner. "When did this happen?”

"We met a few months ago and got married privately.”

"A few months ago?? But what about Victoria? The family has been planning..."I could clearly hear the hurt in her voice and I strangely felt bad. I mean, imagine your son just showing up with a strange woman and claiming her to be his wife. 

"What about her?" His voice had a slight edge that his mother either noticed or chose to ignore.

She opened her mouth to say something else, and I braced myself for more questions I didn't have answers to.

But then a man in a white coat approached us. I felt releived. He just saved me from whatever interrogation was coming. I think he's the doctor. 

"Glad to see you Mr. Washington." He greeted. 

"How is he?" Elijah demanded. 

"He's stable for now. It appears to be a cardiac event and we're re running additional tests to determine if it was a heart attack or something else." The doctor glanced at his chart. "The good news is he's now conscious and asking for family."

Elijah looked relieved and be nodded, then surprised me by taking my hand. "Come on."

"Elijah, wait. We're not done talking about this." His mother tried to step in his way. She had a look of confusion and hurt on her face. 

"Not right now, Mom. We need to see Grandfather first." He said as he moved past her. 

I purpose avoided bis mother's face as we stepped into the room his grandfather was in. 

It looked like a private suite and lying on a bed was an elderly man with salt-and-pepper hair and a face that must have been handsome in his youth. He had wrinkles on his face but even though he was immobilized. He looked huge with broad shoulders but despite his size, you could notice his paleness and the way his hands trembled. 

But his eyes were clear and sharp when he looked at us. 

"Elijah." He had a loud raspy voice that made him sound older. "Stop looking at me like I'm dying. I'm not dead yet. You of all people know I'm not going out that easily."

Elijah smirked. "I wouldn't dream of underestimating you, old man."

"Old man?" His grandfather laughed very loudly and started coughing. "I could still take you in a fight."

"In your dreams, maybe."

"Keep talking like that and I'll write you out of the will." 

"You've been threatening that since I was twelve. I'm not scared of you." Elijah said. 

“Oh yeah. Try me.” The grandfather's suddenly had a stern look on his face as he stared Elijah down. Elijah’s jaw tightened as he looked back at his grandfather. 

Then all of a sudden they burst into laughter. 

“You rascal.” His grandfather chuckled. Then his eyes suddenly shifted to me. "Who is this?"

"This is my wife," Elijah said. 

"Wife?" His grandfather's eyebrows shot up in surprise. I tried all I could to maintain my composure as he assessed me now with hawk like eyes. 

I felt like he could see right through me. He has a very commanding presence and despite his age, it was obvious that he wasn't someone to be messed with. 

"You're very beautiful," he said finally. "Elijah has always had a taste for fine women but he was never able to keep one. What's your name my dear?"

“Breanna.” I replied politely to which he nodded. 

"Elijah was always adverse to the idea of marriage in the past. Fought me tooth and nail about settling down." He continued and there was amusement in his eyes. 

I glanced at Elijah, hoping for some kind of cue on how to respond but he was already looking at me with a blank expression. 

"I guess I should be glad he's eventually married," his grandfather said, still watching us. "And to a fine young woman like you at that."

"Thank you," I said in a small voice. 

"My 80th birthday gala is in two weeks," he turned to Elijah, settling back against his pillows. "I'm not getting any younger, as today has made abundantly clear."

Elijah's jaw tightened slightly.

"I expect you both to attend, of course. It'll be the perfect opportunity to introduce Breanna to everyone. The press will be there, all of high society..." He smiled, clearly pleased with himself. "The world should see how happy you two are."

"Of course, Grandfather," Elijah replied calmly. "We wouldn't miss it."

"Wonderful. I want everyone to meet the woman who finally tamed my grandson." His grandfather chuckled. "And who knows? Maybe by next year's gala, I'll have a great-grandchild to celebrate with."

"Grandfather." Elijah's face hardened. 

I felt a flutter in my chest. Hold up. He didn't tell me about any babies.

"What? I'm not getting any younger, and I want to see this family grow before I'm gone." His grandfather's eyes landed on me again. "You do want children, don't you, dear?"

I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. What was I supposed to say to that? We'd signed a one-year contract. There were no babies in that contract. There was barely a marriage in that contract.

"We're still newlyweds, Grandfather," Elijah cut in, saving me. "And we'd like to enjoy each other first."

My face felt like it was on fire. 

"Well, don't wait too long," his grandfather said with another chuckle. "At your age, Elijah, you should be thinking about legacy. Family is so important. Before you leave call your mother in, I want to talk to her."

I forced a smile, but my mind was racing.

What had I gotten myself into?