CHALTER 4

It was a sunny Monday, and Briana was preparing to go to the office, she sat down on a couch in her room and was thinking, she was lost in thought, and suddenly her dad came in.

"Briana, I have to get to the hospital now"

He said

"Why day"

"The doctor just give me a call now that your mom's condition is critical at the moment"

Her eyes become wider and a lot of things run through her delicate mind in a few seconds before she replies

"What, okay am coming with you, Dad"

"No, you are late for work, let me go alone"

"No Dad, let's go together"

"Alright, dear"

They both rush out of the house and stop a taxi and as soon as the taxi reaches the hospital, they rush out of the car and head straight to her mom's ward.

As soon as they are about to enter the room, they came in contact with the doctor,

"Mr. Merra, I have told you your wife's condition is critical and she will need an operation in the next 24 hours otherwise, we can not predict what will happen," the doctor said

"Thank you, sir, we are trying our power to raise the money, how can you help us sir" Briana replied as his dad was dumbfounded

"I don't have anything in my power, excuse me, " the doctor said and headed straight to his office.

They both rush to the room, Mrs Merra was seen lying in the bed, she's so pale and she has lost a lot of weight too.

"Mom" Briana called out

And her mom looked at her, they held hands as she sat beside her on the bed, Mr. Merra also moved closer to his wife, rubbing his hand in his face.

"Are you okay dear" Mr Merra asked looking so confused.

"Yes, of course, have told the doctor not to call you, and you why don't you go to work"

"Mom" tears started to flow through her eyes, as she called her mom,

"Are you not getting late already, I think you should get going while I stay here with your mom since your sister is not around"

"Okay Dad, take care of Mom," she said as she walked out of the room.

As soon as she walk outside of the room, she saw the doctor talking to a man in a suit just very close to her mom's room, she move closer and was surprised to see who he was

"What, sir Briana exclaim

"What are you doing here sir"

"Okay, this is my business card," the doctor said handing over his card to Jack

"Alright," Jack replied facing Briana as the doctor walk away,

"Is that how to greet your boss in the morning"

"Sorry sir, good morning sir"

"Good morning, how are you "

"Fine sir " are you stalking me, sir, Briana said looking straight into his eyes

"Do I look like a stalker, funny girl let go to the office"

"No sir, I demand an answer"

"Am here for business and why are you here also" Jack replied he was here to find out the cost of her mom's surgery and now he pretending he doesn't know anything

"A business at the hospital, well my mom is here for some treatment"

"O sorry for that, can I say hello to her "

"No sir, she is sleeping already"

"Alright, can we go to the office now"

'Okay sir"

They both head to Jack's car, and they zoom off. They reach the office in no time.

As soon as they came out of the car heading to their office, Edward saw them and immediately frown his face,

"How come they both came in at the same time " he wondered as they walked past him, they all exchanged greetings and everyone went to their various offices.

As soon as they enter the office, Jack sat in his chair, and Briana keeps standing, everywhere was so silent, and no one to break the silence, she started feeling uncomfortable and eventually speak up,

"Do you need anything sir, I would like to….. she started to stammer as she don't even know what to utter next

"Briana, please sit down," Jack said looking straight into her eyes

"Okay sir" she replied facing down

" I know that since have discussed the contract marriage with you, things are not the same anymore, and we are not free around each other "

"No sir is not like that"

"See, please accept this contract, I really need it, do this for me, and apart from the fact that you are helping me, I would also help you pay all your bills including your mom's surgery, your sister's school fees, and anything "

As soon as he made mentioned her mom, her heart raced a bit,

"So that's the business you went to do at the hospital right," Briana asked facing him

"Am sorry, I just want to find out the cost of your mom's surgery that's all, and the doctor said she needs the surgery in the next 24 hours "

"Yes sir, that's what the doctor says "

"Well this is a check of 12 million nairas and the contract paper, use 10 million for the surgery and the remaining money for other things she would need"

Jack said pointing a çheck along with a file

Briana stares at him for some minutes, and different things flow through her mind but in the end, she concludes on saving her mom, so she has no choice but to accept the offer from her boss.

Edward enters the office and met them staring at each other with Jack holding some papers,

"And what is happening here," Edward asked

"Well as you can see, am begging her to please accept my contract, so can you help me talk to her, is it for her good too"

Jack replied

Edward looks so angry but he has to control his anger and pretend as if he's not concerned

"But Jack I told you already that she won't accept the contract, she is not that kind of a girl, so please stop bothering her" Jack replied

Jack looked at his friend and was angry, he was about to utter something then boom, Briana surprised them both.

Tbc