chapter 5

"I will accept it, sir," Briana said and everyone was quiet for some minutes

"Yes" Jack shouted happily

"What, do you know what you are doing" Edward exclam and tried to confuse her not to accept the offer

"Yes sir, my mum's life depends on this contract sir and I have to save her with all costs"

Edward was dumbfounded, looking furiously at Jack,

"But sir, I have my terms and conditions before accepting the contract"

"Anything for you dear"

As soon as Jack used the word dear both Edward and Briana look at each other and Jack understand why they do so, he burst into laughter

"Come on guys, remember we are to pretend as husband and wife for a good six months so we have to start practicing now," Jack said

"And isn't that too early, hear her out first" Edward replied happily hoping Briana is going to give Jack some rules he won't be able to cope with.

"Good, let us all sit down please"

They all sat down forming a circle, and Jack ordered her to read the contract she was holding before coming up with hers, Briana read everything and nodded her head in satisfaction.

"Can you explain your terms and conditions now since you have gone through the contract? " Jack said

"Some of the things I wanted to mention were already in the contract, so I think everything is okay for now"

"Great, you can take this week as your off, pay your mom's bills and spend some time with her, and prepare yourself by next week Monday I will come and pick you up"

"Don't forget to pack some necessary things you would need"

"Necessary things as how," Edward said looking confused

"Starting next week she would be staying with me"

"Why"

"Don't you think is off, if I should tell Grandpa am getting married and my wife-to-be is not staying with me, how do you want him to believe what we are doing "

"Oh! That is true" Edward replied in affirmation even though he was not happy with the decision for two grown of the opposite sex to be staying together in one apartment but there is nothing he could do at the moment

"Excuse me guys," Edward said walking out of the office, he felt like a loser for not telling Briana his mind all this while and he blamed himself for losing her to Jack.

"I should get going now," Briana said

"Let me go with you" Jack replied

"No it's okay sir, I can manage "

" Are you sure"

"Yes sir" She replied and walk out of the office, She went straight to the bank to cash out the money to go and settle the bill for her mum's surgery, as soon as she step out of the bank, she saw Jack standing beside his car, and she looks surprised, she walks towards him

"What are you doing here sir," She asked

"And where are you going with that kind of money at this hour of the day, don't you know you are now my wife,

She raised her brow immediately after she heard the word wife and before she could utter anything Jack interrupted her

"Wife …….

"No no I mean, my contract wife" and her mind was at rest again

"Enter please"

"Thank you, sir"

They both enter the car and the driver zooms off.

They reached the hospital and she bid farewell to Jack, she aided straight to the cashier to make the payment,

*************

Back to the ward

Mrs. Merra was sleeping, while Her husband has also dose off in his chair, a doctor and a nurse holding some files enters and Mr. Merra woke up immediately after hearing the sound of the door,

"Well done sir," Mr Merra said

The doctor moved closer to Mrs Merra and placed his hand on her forehead, he then made some necessary checkups on her and he was telling the nurse some things that she wrote down in her file.

"Hope no problem, sir," Mr Merra asked

"Nothing, we are moving her to the theater room immediately " Doctor replied, Mr Merra look happy and at the same time speechless

"How come sir" we have not made any payment

"This is the receipt I received from the cashier, your doctor just deposited the money for the surgery and also for drugs too," the doctor said and faced the nurse to discuss some other things and they both headed out of the ward.

Mr. Merra was standing there speechlessly, at this time Mrs. Merra was already awake

"Where did my daughter get that kind of money from, I hope she is safe"

"Don't worry dear, I trust my girl, am sure she would have an explanation for this "

Not quite long Briana enters the ward and biting her parents were staring at her non-stop. She finally spoke up.

"I would explain to you too, I know you have a lot of questions to ask, " Briana said

"No, before I follow them to that operation room, you must tell me where you got the money from" Her mum replied

"Yes, tell us now " Her dad added and they both remain silent for her to talk

"Okay Mum, Dad, my boss gave me the money"

"Your boss!! Both her parents exclaim at the same time

"And why is that," her dad asks immediately

"He borrowed me the money and starting from the net week, he would be collecting 70% of my salary, and am going to use 2 years to pay up the money"

As soon as she finishes her statement, tears started rolling down her mum's cheek and her dad too cannot control his emotions again and they both started crying Briana also join them and they all hug

"Excuse me " a voice $comes from behind and two nurses enter the room with a gatch bed

They dissociate from the family hug and raise their head

"Sorry to bother you, We are here to take madam to the theater room," A nurse standing behind at the door said

"O come on" it's okay we have been expecting you" Briana replied the nurses

Both Briana and her dad step back and the two nurses move closer to her mum and help her to stand up from her bed to the gatch bed,

The nurses push the bed outside and they follow

With tears in her eyes, Briana quickly hold her mom's hand as the nurses push the bed towards the theater room and her dad also follows them

"Mum please don't leave us," Briana said holding her mum's hand

And her dad touch he from behind

They reach the theater door, and Briana and her mum have not left each other's hand

"Excuse me, madam, you can't follow her, " a nurse said trying to separate their hand from each other

"Let me follow my mum" she cried

"Everything would be fine," her dad said and hug her tight

They push Mrs Merra into the theater room and closed the door,

"Let seat over there, " her dad said and they both take a seat not too far from the theater room

"Are you not feeling hungry"

"No dad am okay for now "

Okay let me take a glass of water over there, pointing at the water dispenser around the corner

Alright Dad don't stay long

Briana was left alone while her dad went to drink water

She was lost in thought, and a voice came from nowhere

"She would be fine "

She lifted her head and saw Jack in her front, she wanted to utter a word but Jack interrupt her

"Just thought of checking up on you before heading home, how is she now "

"They enter the theater room not quite long sir"

"Alright don't think too much about it, and if you need anything don't hesitate to call me, I would be on my way now"

"Taka care"

Jack turned his back and was about to leave

" sir "

Then Jack turns to face her, can I hug you, sir

Jack was quiet for about a second, doesn't know what to say but at that time he remembers that she is going through a lot and hugging her won't do anything for both of them

"Yes of course " Jack answers and Briana immediately move closer to him and hug him tight, they remain there for some seconds and Jack does not want to break the hug

Jack raised his head up, and place his hand at her back, he saw Mr. Merra approaching them.

Tbc