Contracted To My Billionaire Ex's Brother

Chapter 3

GABRIELLA

"We found a tumor in Rosetta's brain, Gabriella. And we have to act fast so it won't spread." Were the words that the doctor had said to me.

And those words had kept echoing in my head for the past two hours as I paced outside of the door to my grandmother's room, my phone pressed tightly to my ear.

I had no problem with acting fast, but then again, I had absolutely no idea on where to get the money needed for her operation.

The doctor had adviced not to move her to another hospital as this was a matter of emergency and I had exactly six hours to provide the money.

"I'm sorry, Miss Stevenson, I shouldn't even be talking to you like this since it's against company policy, but I just want to save you the stress. Your grandmother does not have any insurance money, with us."

My heart almost stopped.

"What do you mean? She has been paying g her insurance fot as long as I can remember!" No, this wasn't happening.

The man on the other end, cleared his throat. "Miss, the only money your grandmother has here, has been cashed out ten years ago. Since then, nothing."

That shut me up then.

Ten years ago, my grandfather died.

The line went dead, and I was forced to swallow back my whimper as I fought not to cry.

What was I going to do now?

The money in both out bank accounts wasn't even going to pay three percent of the bill, talkless of the remaining ninety seven!

My hands shocked as I dialed my mother's number. Again.

All calls to both my parents had continued to go to voicemail. And I was already losing hope.

"Fuck..." I whispered, as the line once again, went to voicemail.

"Tell me why I have been waiting for you in my office for the past two hours, and yet to see or hear from you, Gabriella Stevenson."

That voice.

It shook me to my very bones, sending goosebumps all over my skin, and caused a ripple of shivers down my back.

I stood up from my crouched position, which I hadn't realized that I had been in, and looked up at the direction the voice had come from.

Ryker Williams.

I mean, I had seen pictures of him in passing, and always wondered at how much Alexander looked like him.

But seeing him in person, was something else.

The two were similar, but still managed to be totally different from each other.

If that made sense.

The man standing in front of me could sell out the cover of any magazine in the world.

Dark hair, full lips, chiseled jawline, stormy grey eyes.

Ryker was definitely above 6'2 and had the body that matched his height perfectly. The suit he was wearing, did nothing to his the lean muscles beneath them.

Fuck..

I swallowed, then blinked hard so I could focus.

Get a grip, Gabriella, your grandmother is being admitted!

The voice in my head was like the bucket of ice cold water I needed.

"I'm sorry. I was making a few calls." I told him, looking away from him and bringing my eyes to my phone instead.

Ryker made a sound, then cleared his throat. "And may I know what kind of calls?" He asked. Once again, his voice caused a warm ripple in my belly.

And it didn't help that he was standing so close to me.

I cleared my throat, finding it clogged and dry as hell. "Listen," I began, allowing my shoulders to drop in defeat. "I know you brought my grandmother here to the hospital and all, and I am sincerely grateful. I just ..." God, this was hard to say.. "I can't...we can't...afford to pay the bill for what they say is wrong with her." I sobbed, and for the first time since I woke up that morning, it wasn't just the burning sensation I felt behind my eyes.

I did in fact, feel a tear drop and roll down my cheek.

"Oh, that will be arranged, sweet thing." Ryker said, making me whip my head back up so fast to look at him, that I almost broke my neck. "But I have an offer for you." The smirk that follower after those words, sent something hot powering through my chest, down to my stomach, and down to a place that has no business being hot in a situation like the one I was currently in.

RYKER

Looking at Gabriella Stevenson, I couldn't help but smile inside of me at the perfect and innocent picture she portrayed.

Just what I wanted.

Needed even. If I was thinking about the way my body reacted to the sight of her, finally standing next to me, and not with that i***t of a brother that I had.

It pained me that he had gotten to her first, but that was a story for another day. For now, I needed to use the situation to my advantage.

There were many things I needed from Gabriella Stevenson, but I knew I had all the time to take them all, one by one. And damn if I couldn't already feel the anticipation inside of me.

When Rosetta had called me, and then I had had to rush to the hospital, I knew that this was the only chance I was going to get.

"What do you mean by that? What arrangement? And what offer? I don't understand?" She was talking so fast, with her eyes so wide, that if not for the situation on ground, I would have found it funny.

What I was about to do would certainly be the most cruel thing to do, but Ryker Williams had never known anything short of cruelty in his whole life.

In fact, I live for it.

"Maybe we should have this discussion in my office." I offered, looking around and praying she didn't say yes as I still needed to execute my plan.

Gabriella looked more afraid as her gaze flickered between me and the door of Rosetta's room.

"Whatever you want to say, please say it here. I don't want to be far away from her." She murmured, tightening her hold on her phone.

I smirked then.

Perfect.

"The cost of your grandmother's medical bill will run into millions, which I know you do not have, sweet thing. But, let's just say, I am willing to pay for all of that, for you and Rosetta." I said proudly, pausing long enough for her to digest that information. "Yes, Gabriella. I would pay for all of that, just like I did for your tuition through highschool and college."

If eyes could grow as large as tennis balls, I was sure Gabriella's eyes would have done just that from how wide she opened them. "Excuse me?" I could see the calculation in her widened eyes.

I knew she was no fool as to try to question me on whether what I said was true or not.

I wasn't surprised when she let out a fake laugh. "Now I get it..."

I cockee my head to the side. "I will pay for your grandmother's medical bills, if you get married to me, Gabriella Stevenson." I said without further Ado and watched as five different expressions crossed her beautiful face.

~

Of all the reactions I would have expected from Gabriella, the last thing I had expected her to do, was run away and go missing for the past two and half hours, after my offer.

But need I say more, the clock was ticking.

I watched the sleeping form of Rosetta and shook my head.

"Your granddaughter had better be wise here, Rosetta. We all know what is at stake." I smirked, zeroing in on the woman's face which showed no emotion.

Just when I turned to leave, the door finally opened and a tired looking Gabriella walked in.

At first, she was shocked to see me, but quickly changed her expression as she walked in, without shutting the door. I wanted to tell her to do so, but decided to keep mute instead.

"Why?" Was the question that left her beautiful lips.

I shrugged. "Let's just say I have my reasons, Gabriella." I said, smiling g inside of me.

I had won.

I knew it.

Her eyes bore into mine. "What intentions?"

I raised a brow. "I don't think it's in your place to ask me that question, sweet thing." I said, advancing towards her.

Damn.. she was so petite I could literally just wrap my arms around her, and she would get lost in my body mass.

The images I had flashing through my head were so hot, but I shut them off.

There would be time for all of that later.

"But..." She trailed off as I came to a stop just a few inches away from her.

Surprisingly, she did not back away.

And damn if my betraying eyes weren't pinned on her lips.

"But nothing, Gabriella." I said softly, taking in the full rounded bottom of her lips and almost kissing her then and there. "In the past few hours, you and I both know that you have a whole lot of reasons to take my offer, sweet thing. Considering you can also use this as a form of revenge on a certain someone who threw away such a good opportunity with a woman like you. And then the fact that you can save you grandmother's life in..." I looked at my wrist watch. "Less than two hours."

"How did you know about that?" No beating around the bush.

I loved that.

"He's my brother. I have my ways." I said simply, reaching for her perfectly rounded face. "Say yes, Gabby."

"You are cruel." She murmured. "And I don't even know you!"

I smirked. "I am." I agreed. "And we would have a whole lot of time to get to know each other, Stevenson." I told her, smiling when I heard the faint sounds of footsteps coming towards the room.

"I will marry you." Gabriella finally answered, reaching for my hand which held softly to her face.

The excitement that surged through me almost shook me to my knees.

"Then we will deal our agreement with a kiss." I murmured and didn't give her a chance to digest what I said, before crashing my lips to hers, just as a familiar figure reached the door way.

Perfect timing.

Just like I planned.

What I didn't prepare for, was the softness and sweetness that met my lips.