CHAPTER 3 THE STRANGER

chapter 3:

The stranger closed his umbrella with a soft click and dripped from the tip onto the ground between us.

"You're hurt," he said. His eyes dropped to the red marks on my wrist where the debt collector had grabbed me.nI quickly pulled my arm back and hugged myself.

"I'm fine." I responded but he didn't believe me. Of course he didn't.

"One hundred and fifty thousand pesos," he said quietly. "You need it in three hours."the questioned and my heart stopped.

"How do you know that?" I asked him.

"I know everything about you, Maya Reyes."

The rain continued falling between us. Every instinct told me to run, but where would I go?

"Who are you?" I whispered.

"Someone who can help you." He took one slow step closer.

Despite the heavy rain, his charcoal suit looked untouched. Not a wrinkle. Not a drop out of place.

"Or," he continued, "someone who can make things much worse. Your choice." A chill crawled down my spine.

"What do you want from me?" I asked. He reached into his coat and pulled out a neatly folded document.

"Sign this." He held it out to me. "The money will be in your account tonight."

I stared at the paper. My hands trembled so badly that I almost dropped it.

"What's this?"

"A contract." His dark eyes never left mine.

"Six months. You pretend to be my wife. I pay your debts. We both get what we need." he replied confidentialy and Iblinked.

"Marry you?" The words barely came out. "Just... like that?" I asked him.

"Desperate people don't get to negotiate, Miss Reyes." His voice remained calm, but something cold hid beneath it. "Your grandmother has three hours. Those men will return long before then. You can keep arguing... or you can save her."

I looked down at the contract again. Six months, a fake marriage and no explanations This had to be a joke.

"What if you're lying?" I asked.

"I'm not."

"What if this is some kind of scam?"

"If it were, I wouldn't know that your Lola is lying in Room 312 at St. Gabriel Medical Center." My breath caught. "I know the surgery deposit is due tonight..." He paused. "I also know that you only have two hundred pesos left."

I tightened my grip on my bag as I wondered how could he possibly know that?

"I've been watching your situation for longer than you realize," he said quietly. "I don't have time to explain."

I thought about Lola, her tired smile and the way she always called me her little sunshine. The machines keeping her alive, the hospital bill folded inside my bag and clock was ticking.

If I refused... she could die. Tears burned behind my eyes and my pride suddenly felt very small cmpared to Lola's life...

With trembling fingers, I reached for the pen he offered. "Fine," I whispered "But Lola comes first." For the first time, a faint smile touched his lips.

"Wise choice." The paper felt cold beneath my hand, my signature looked strange.

I was Maya Reyes, future wife to a complete stranger.

He carefully folded the contract and slipped it back into his coat. His phone buzzed and he glanced at the screen. For the first time, something resembling concern crossed his face.

"We need to leave."

"Where?"

"Somewhere safe." He opened his umbrella again and held it above me. "This city isn't safe for you anymore."

We walked through the rain toward a sleek black sedan waiting at the end of the alley. A driver stepped out immediately and opened the rear door. I hesitated before climbing inside, I looked back.

The alley where everything had changed was already disappearing behind the curtain of rain. Once I got into the car, warmth wrapped around me. The leather seats smelled expensive and the world outside suddenly felt very far away.

The stranger sat beside me, leaving enough space between us that we never touched. I clutched my bag tightly. The two hundred pesos inside felt meaningless now.

"What's your name?" I asked. He looked out the rain-covered window before answering.

"You'll call me Mr. K." I frowned.

"Mr. K? That's not a real name." I replied.

"It's the only name you need for the next six months." He finally turned to face me. His expression was impossible to read.

"The contract has rules, Maya." He counted them calmly. "No falling in love, no questions about my business and you will play the role of my wife perfectly." he said at that moment my stomach twisted.

"And if I don't?" I questioned.

His voice stayed quiet. "Then your Lola's hospital bills won't be paid." He held my gaze "And those men will find you again."

Silence filled the car. Rain raced down the windows as the city lights blurred into streaks of gold, because I had just traded six months of my life for Lola.

Nearly forty minutes later, the car slowed before enormous iron gates. Security guards stepped forward immediately and the gates opened without a word. Beyond them stood a mansion so large it looked more like a luxury hotel than someone's home.

Every window glowed with warm light. The driveway curved through perfectly trimmed gardens before stopping at a grand entrance.

Mr. K stepped out first, he walked around the car and opened my door.

"Welcome home..." He offered me his hand. "...Mrs. K."

I stared at the mansion. Then at the man who claimed to know everything about me and that's when I realized that signing the paper had been the easy part. I did not know what would come next, but the thought of it made me nervous.

I had so many questions that I needed answers to but I knew that I was in no position to ask Mr. K anything. After all, less than ten minutes ago he has out lined the rules for me.

"Are you going to come out or do I have to carry you out of this vehicle?" he asked me and I swallow hard.