Chapter 7: The Signature

Aurora was frozen to the spot on the side of her bed.

The morning sun was flooding her desk, shining on the contract which Damien had given her. Next to her was the pen she had taken out before going to sleep.

She had gone over her dream over and over again in her mind.

Don't sign it.

Her chest still hurt from the voice of the mysterious man.

She grabbed hold of the contract.

Then hurriedly withdrawn her hand.

What do I need to do? 

She was interrupted from her thoughts by a knock.

"Aurora?" There was a knock on the door and Grace called out from the kitchen. "Breakfast is ready."

Aurora hurriedly put the contract back into the drawer.

"I'm coming."

Grace was already putting two simple plates out on the little dining table.

Toast.

Scrambled eggs.

A cup of tea that they tried to make, was better than it really was.

Grace commented, "You didn't get much sleep, did you?"

Aurora twisted her mouth into a smile.

I had a dream that was strange.

Handsome man again?

Almost, but not quite, was the case with Aurora, who choked on her tea.

"You remember?"

Grace laughed softly.

Since you were sixteen, you've spoken in your sleep about him.

She looked at Aurora.

"I... I have?"

Grace nodded.

Whenever you had a dream about him, you always smiled.

Aurora looked away.

Until last night...

She hadn't smiled.

She had cried.

---

Following breakfast, Aurora and her mother went to the local pharmacy to get Aurora's medicine.

The pharmacist presented Aurora with the bill, and she frowned.

The old pharmacist apologized, "I'm sorry. This week, the price went up.

Aurora counted her money in her purse twice.

She was short.

Very short.

She tried to reassure him, "It's okay. I will be back tomorrow.

Grace blocked her path as she was about to leave.

"No."

She took off her finger ring, which was thin gold and was a wedding band.

"Mum..."

"Sell it."

Aurora's eyes widened.

"You can't."

Your father's," said it was.

"I know."

Well, then, I can't.

Grace softly wrapped the ring around Aurora's finger.

He would want you to use it if it meant that you will be safe for the future.

Aurora shook her head, tears threatening to fall from her eyes.

All I have left of him is this.

Grace smiled sadly.

"You are what's left of him."

Aurora clung to her mother, holding her close.

This was the most helpless she had ever been.

---

At noon Aurora was outside a little jeweller shop.

The ring owner took a closer look at the ring.

"It's beautiful."

It was once my father's.

He nodded sympathetically.

I can pay you eight hundred dollars.

Aurora's heart sank.

The ring had a much greater value than that emotionally.

Of course, if she would have accepted...

All that would be still be insufficient to pay her school tuition.

Nor her mother's operation.

Without making a fuss of it she returned the ring to its place.

"I'm sorry."

There's no need to feel bad.

She took her leave, her eyes smudged with tears.

All the solutions she found were...

Brought to another stop.

---

Her phone vibrated.

**Unknown Number**

She was reluctant to respond.

"Hello?"

"Miss Bennett."

Finance office was it.

"Courtesy reminder, this is the last payment due date.

Aurora closed the eyes closed.

"I understand."

“If not paid before 5pm...”

The woman paused.

Enrollment will automatically cancel.

The call ended.

Aurora put down the phone.

Five o'clock.

There were just three hours left.

---

Across town...

Damien was in his office at Kingsley Holdings, gazing out at the cityscape.

Lucas walked into the door without knocking.

"She's not coming."

Damien didn't answer.

"I told you."

Still nothing.

Lucas put a folder on his desk.

I delved into her finances.

At last, Damien took a look at him.

She has tried all of his/her options.

"I know."

"Scholarship office."

"I know."

"Bank loan."

"I know."

“She's even attempting to sell her dad's wedding ring.”

Damien's jaw tightened.

Since signing the contract, it's the first time that...

A look of remorse passed over his face.

Lucas noticed.

There's still time to get out.

Damien's chair went back,

"If I walk away..."

He recalled Vivian smiling at him.

"...I lose."

Lucas sighed.

“It was never going to be about Vivian anymore when you decided on Aurora.”

Damien glanced at the time.

4:15 p.m.

"If she's coming..."

He murmured.

“Soon”, she will be here.

---

Aurora was outside Kingsley Holdings.

The glass tower rose up high above her, like a monument to a world that she did not belong in.

The staff in costly suits walked with a confident step through the revolving doors.

A line of luxury cars lined the drive-in.

In her shivering hands she took a look at the contract.

Her mother's face came to her mind.

Hospital costs not covered by insurance.

The tuition deadline.

Her father's wish for her to be an architect.

Slowly...

She stepped inside.

The receptionist was very courteous.

"May I help you?"

I'm here to see Damien Kingsley.

The receptionist looked like she was looking forward to her.

“Wait, Mr. Kingsley is waiting for you.”

Aurora's heart pounded.

She went with the receptionist to the private elevator.

As she climbed a floor she breathed deeper.

The doors of the elevator opened and there was Damien standing in front of a large window that stretched from the floor to the ceiling, looking out at the city.

As she entered he turned and looked at her.

Both were silent.

For several long seconds: ...

There was complete silence in the room.

Last, Damien perused the papers in her hand.

"You came."

Aurora carefully laid the signed contract on his desk.

"I have conditions."

Damien's face lit up with a slight smile.

"I'm listening."

She met his eyes.

You will never disrespect my mother.

You will not ever get in the way of my education!

No one would ever touch me without permission.

“As soon as this contract expires...”

Her voice trembled.

"...we become strangers."

Damien studied her, carefully.

Then he got a pen.Then he grabbed a pen.

Let's not read the conditions again...

He wrote under her name.

He stretched out his arm.

Good morning Miss Bennett, that's the agreement.

After some hesitation, Aurora gazed at his hand for a few seconds and then finally shook it.

When their hands came in contact...

But neither of them noticed when the old grandfather clock in Damien's office chimed.

In a different part of the city, miles away...

In the middle of board meeting Adrian Kingsley paused.

A strange pain gripped his chest.

After that, as fast as it appeared...

It disappeared.

He glanced out the window, and a disturbing sensation came over him.

"Is there something I've lost?