Chapter 6: The Choice She Never Wanted

Well after Damien Kingsley was out of sight, Aurora remained under the old oak tree.

The black business card was in her shivering hand, as if it weighed a ton.

She looked at the beautiful embossed silver letters on its surface.

Damien Kingsley

No phone number.

All that's needed is the Kingsley Holdings logo and a QR code.

If everyone didn't know how to find him already.

Aurora burst out with a shaking laughter.

"Unbelievable."

She folded the card in her hand.

"I'll never do it."

Turning, she walked away.

But each step was followed by another thought that came to her.

Your tuition...

Your mother's surgery...

She stopped walking.

"No."

She shook her head from side to side.

“There's another way, I'll find another way.”

She had to.

There had to be some other means.

That night Aurora was fifteen minutes early at Moonlight Café.

Upon noticing her white face, her manager, Mr Collins, realized that something was not right.

"You look worse than yesterday."

"I'm fine."

You've told me this all week long, right?

Aurora managed to give her face a smile.

"I'll survive."

He studied her for a while and then sighed.

"Take Table Nine."

She nodded and picked up her notepads.

This café was unusually crowded.

Students laughed over coffee and couples shared desserts.

Aurora walked from one table to another, hiding storm inside her heart, performing with skillful efficiency.

Almost she had forgotten about Damien.

Almost.

The bell above the door rang.

Instinctively, she looked up.

Damien walked in.

This was the first time he was left alone.

Their eyes met.

Aurora turned away and served another customer right away.

She wouldn't let him know how much his offer had impacted her.

Several minutes passed and then she walked up to his table.

What would you like to eat today?

"The usual."

She wrote it down.

"Anything else?"

"Sit down."

Aurora shook her head in amazement.

"I'm working."

It will just take a minute, don't worry.

I can't sit with the customers.

Damien looked at Mr Collins.

I've already asked your manager.

Aurora frowned.

"You what?"

"He agreed."

She turned to the counter.

Surprisingly, Mr Collins nodded at her.

Confused, Aurora slowly sat across from Damien.

He handed over an envelope on the table.

"What is this?"

"Open it."

She was hesitant to retrieve the papers within.

Her eyes widened.

It was a contract.

Twenty pages.

All pages printed in a neat manner.

Her heart sank.

You really drafted a contract?

I am a student of business.

She looked at him.

You schemed it all out!

I don't like to leave things to chance.

Aurora leafed through the pages.

There were rules.

For three months, she would go around pretending to be Damien's girlfriend.

She would go along to the university as his stepmother.

When Vivian was there, she would go with him.

She never would tell the deal.

She was to be paid monthly.

Her tuition would be paid on the spot.

Her mother's surgery would be covered 100%.

After the end of the contract...

They would walk away from each other.

Nothing more.

Nothing less.

Slowly Aurora returned the papers to the envelope.

"Everything you've thought of.

"I try to."

"No."

She pushed him and began to move her envelope back toward him.

"I can't."

The first time, Damien really seemed surprised.

“You're not done reading yet.”

"I've read enough."

"You need this."

Dignity I really want more.

Damien's expression hardened.

"When you're in a hospital, you don't get paid for your dignity.

Aurora's eyes gleamed with anger.

“You just don't know the meaning of dignity.”

She stood up.

I have been working since I was sixteen.

I went without meals so that my mom could eat.

Went in the same shoes 2 years.

“Have never sought anyone's pity.”

Her voice trembled.

“So, please don't stand there and think that you are saving me.”

The café was a bit quieter than usual.

Some of the close by customers had started to listen.

Damien remained calm.

I don't come to you saying that I'm saving you.

"Then what are you doing?"

“It's a business proposition.

“Rather than a business investment I…”

"No."

He raised his gaze to her eyes.

“You are the answer to my dilemma.”

He was a great shock to her with his honesty.

There wasn't an ounce of romance in his voice.

No false promises.

No fake kindness.

Just cold calculation.

For some reason...

This was even more of a pain.

Excuse me," Aurora said quietly.

But I can't sell myself," I was saying.

She removed her tray and stood up, walking away.

Damien watched as she went inside the kitchen.

Lucas was right.

She was different from all the others.

As it was closing time, Aurora went to them and removed the rubbish.

The evening wind was cool, soothing and quietened her mind.

She put her eyes to her head,

I have what I ought to have done!

"Did you?"

When she heard the familiar voice her heart instantly ceased beating.

She turned.

Damien was standing next to his car.

"I said no."

"I know."

So what are you waiting for?

Rather, he gave her his cell phone.

I could see the words on the screen but I think Aurora was puzzled.

Her blood ran cold.

City Heart Hospital called.

Surgery confirmation must be received within 48 hours of the surgery.

She lifted her head in horror.

There you were watching me.

I've called a couple of times.

"That's insane."

"I prefer thorough."

Aurora's eyes were filled with tears.

"You had no right."

"You're right."

She was surprised with his reply.

"I didn't."

They fell into silence.

Next, Damien said.

I will still pay that same price!

Aurora looked away.

What if you don't take this thing, never at all?

Without hesitation, he replied.

If so, then it's the best if you say "good luck".

No threats.

No blackmail.

These are 4 words to the right.

Something in them, it was, that gave her the greatest fright.

He got into his car.

I'll give you until tomorrow afternoon.

The engine started.

"If you come..."

He was looking her up and down one last time.

"...take the signed contract with you.

Then he drove away.

Aurora went home after sleeping till after midnight.

She softly knocked on the door of the apartment.

Lights still lit.

Grace was lying on the sofa, gasping for breath.

"Mum!"

While they were running, Aurora ran to his side.

Grace whispered: "I'm okay.“Gracious, I'm fine,” Grace said softly.

"No, you're not."

There was another violent, coughing cry, then.

The medicine was picked up by Aurora immediately.

Grace's hands were shaking, so she was unable to hold her water glass.

Between her lips she said, “I'm sorry.”

I'm kind of an old fart.

Aurora was immediately embraced by her.

“Don't ever tell me that.”

She cried and her eyes fell down, tears ran down her face.

"I'll fix this."

"I promise."

Later that night when she had finally assisted her mother to bed, Aurora was alone in her room.

She began her box at her work desk.

It was discovered that the contract was inside.

It was a product of her ignorance and had been caught from the café.

Her gaze fell on the last page.

To the area for signatures.

She gingerly raised her right hand, where she held a pen.

As it happens...

Exhaustion overtook her.

She put her head on the desk.

It didn't take her long to fall asleep.

Once more the familiar garden of the moon was before them.

A strange man was waiting for her.

This time he was sad, she heard it in his voice.

"Don't sign it."

Aurora's heart stopped.

He put his hand in her soft hand.

Darkness is the half of the night;Darkness is the other half of the night;

His grip tightened.

“…don't let anybody tell you that your heart is for sale.”

Aurora's sobs dripped down her cheeks.

I can't think of anything else to do with my time.

The man rubbed the girl's tears, and then came close to wipe away her tears.

“You will come to see me soon.”

Her eyes widened.

"What?"

"When you do..."

His voice was lowered to a whisper.

"...trust me."

Aurora jolted awake.

The morning was sunny, with the sun shining through the window that opened in her room.

Her heart was beating rapidly.

She went through the contract.

In addition to the other pen.

For the first time…

She was not sure whether or not to believe the man who was offering her money…

Or the one man that she had only dreamed of.