The Billionaire's Ultimatum

LAURA

I took her hand in mine as I checked the her vitals and her pulse. I noticed that her heart monitor beeped slower than it had this morning. I couldn't help but feel the sadness growing in my heart as i watched my favourite patient slip little by little everyday.

Grace Blackwell.

A successful business woman who walked through the doors ready to conquer six months ago, with an optimistic look set on her face. Now, cancer has turned her into the shadow of a woman who walked through the clinic. Her shiny skin was now looking rippled like crumpled paper, her beautiful silky hair taken away by the aggressive chemo.

Having checked her pulse, I let go off her hand but she squeezed mine tightly. 

"Laura dear," Grace's voice was strained. "Don't go. Please."

"I'm here, Mrs Blackwell" I whispered back.

"Grace," she corrected, "how many times will I tell you this?"

"Grace," I muttered with a small chuckle.

"Sit down please, I have something very important to tell you."

I sat down on the chair opposite her bed.

"My son, Xavier will come today. I've called him here to discuss my will." She stopped, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. "I'm leaving everything to him. My companies and estates, all of it."

I nodded. I heard from the news that Xavier was her only son, so it made sense.

"But it is all under a condition." She locked her blue eyes on me. "He has to marry you within a month, else he loses the inheritance."

"I'm sorry, what--" I blurted.

"I want him to marry you, Laura. You're gentle and nice, and nothing like those wolves who parade themselves as women only marrying him for his money and will tear him apart once they get in." She must have seen the incredulous expression on my face because she added. "That's my final wish, Laura. We both know that I'm not making it out of here, alive."

"But he doesn't even know me." I said, as my heart hammered against my ribs. "And I don't know him either..." I said standing up quickly. And from what I've heard, he is a cold tyrant. "Grace, this is crazy. You can't just---"

"Laura I know this is too soon," she rasped, "but I have already contacted my lawyer and he has drafted the necessary papers needed for the court marriage. Xavier has to marry you and stay married to you for at least two years. If he doesn't, the entire company goes to charity." She coughed again and I reached for water on her bedside table but she waved it away. "The only way the marriage can end before two years is if either of you is unfaithful."

She was still holding my hand and I quickly retrieved it back. I missed. "Grace, you really need to think about this. I'm just your nurse and your son will never agree to this arrangement."

Grace's eyes closed. "He will. He wants the company too much. I made sure he spent his entire life proving he was worthy of it as I did for my own father. He won't let it slip away now."

No sooner had she finished talking that a man came into the room. Despite myself, I couldn't help my mouth from hanging loose. He was incredibly handsome and all those pictures on the Internet did him no justice. He also has this intimidating aura that made me want to cower on the corner of the room. His eyes bored down on me and it felt like I was being assessed by a machine that was calculating my worth in seconds. I removed my eyes quickly.

"Mother," he said, "his voice was like the arctic and a shiver ran down my spine.

"Xavier," Grace opened her eyes. "Well thank God you are here. We were just talking about you, come and meet Laura Grey. She's been my nurse for the past six months."

Xavier's gaze flicked to me again and it was so harsh I had to avert my eyes. "I think we should fire her mother." I perked up immediately. "She's really doing a terrible job here. We paid her to make you get better and not deteriorate to this extent." 

"Xavier," Grace warned. "Be nice."

His eyes flickered between both of us before he clenched his jaw and offered his hand. I brought out my own shaking hands. I was this close to peeing on myself. His grip on mine was downright painful and I had to bite my inner cheeks to keep from whimpering.

"Leave us," Xavier snapped once he flung my hands away.

"No,". Grace voice came out strong. "She says, what I have to say concerns her too."

His jaw tightened as he moved to the opposite side of the bed. "Then say it."

I watched Xavier's face as Grace narrated the terms. I honestly wondered how I could live with an emotionless beast lie him for two years, his face revealed nothing.

"No," he said finally.

"Xavier---"

"No mother. This is manipulation and you know it. You know how much that company means to me and how much I've spent my youthful days preparing to be the right heir. You can't hold it over me like this."

"I just did." Grace struggled to sit up and I lurched forward to help her. "You've become cold and ruthless, Xavier. Just like your father, and you were nothing like this before you got entangled with his mafia side. I can't hand over my company to someone who cares only about power."

"Then what does she have to do with all of this!" He exploded, but Grace didn't even flinch. "Marry Laura so that she could be a reminder to you that there are good people in this world. Let her be a balance to your grey side. If after two years, you want to divorce her then fine. But give her a chance."

"You're asking me to marry a stranger." He chuckled. "Surely mother, you can be wiser than this."

"So are those other women you have your eyes on. All strangers." She finally turned her head to look at me. "Grace I know that I brought this up on a very short notice, and it's a lot to ask but I'll make sure that you are compensated greatly."

My mouth went dry as I thought about my student loans I was struggling to pay up, the dream I had since I finished nursing school to open a clinic for terminal patients. Grace was offering me a way out of my financial hole. I had nothing to lose, and everything to gain. 

"I need time to think about this." I muttered. 

"There's no time." She started a violent cough, and her heart monitor started beating irregularly. I stepped in as I laid her back down. "Grace, you need to rest."

"Promise me you both are going to go through this." She grilled our hands tight, her monitor was still beeping irregularly.

"I promise," I said quickly, if that's what she needed to calm down.

As soon as I spoke, the beeping slowed down.

"I promise," he gruffily replied. She smiled in peace and the monitor flatlined. I checked the pulse of her limp hand and my mouth fell. Just like that, she was gone.

I looked up at Xavier, expecting tears, or grief or something...his face was blank and empty. Another shudder ran down my spine. He straightened his jacket and took his briefcase. "The funeral would be on Saturday, make sure her body gets a good dressing. My assistant will send all the details." His voice was detached.

"Mr. Blackwell, I'm sorry for your loss."

He replied with a bored tone. "It changes nothing Laura, you're just a contract to me and that's all you will ever be."

He left swiftly and I stood, holding Grace's hands, my knees shaking. What has I just agreed to?

I looked down on Grace's dead face and that was when I exploded with tears. What have I just agreed to?