Chapter Three- ~"Striking a deal"
1031 Words
As the sun’s first rays crept into the room, where Ariana lay, she fixed her eyes on the window. Outside, the birds chirped and she could hear the bliss of nature in a way that it seemed to mock her own turmoil.
In this moment, her mind circled back to the child she had lost, reminding her of the fragile hope that had begun to take root in her, to finally experience a pure love with her child.
Despite all this, today, she felt better than yesterday and to her surprise, she was no longer bound to the cold metal table.
‘’Why are they still keeping me hostage?’’ Ariana wondered. She scanned the sterile space, searching for her belongings, her phone, or anything familiar- But they were gone, leaving her disoriented and vulnerable.
Just as her frustration peaked, the door swung open. The doctor stood there, this time he was unmasked. His face held no warmth, only duty. “You’re awake,” he said, his voice clinical as usual. And at that, she recognized his voice from last night.
Ariana’s heart raced. “Where are my things?” she asked, desperation creeping in.
The doctor hesitated. “Your phone and personal belongings will be delivered,” he replied, reluctantly.
“So,” the Doctor began, turning away from the window, “you and your ex—bad breakup, huh?” His voice held a hint of curiosity, as though he was trying to put together a puzzle.
Ariana shifted, her eyes avoiding his. “Yeah,” she whispered, her voice a bit more fragile. “Things didn’t go as planned.”
The doctor leaned against the cold metal railing of the bed. “We were relentless,” he continued, “he kept us on our toes until we put an end to it.”
‘’Would you mind telling me about it?’’ the Doctor asked inquisitively
‘’What does it matter, it’s done with’’, Ariana responded harshly and ‘’you played a role, against my will’’.
“Mr. Griffin,” the doctor began, his voice really low and measured, “is a formidable man. He’s accustomed to getting what he wants, precisely when he wants it.” His eyes revealed a hint of respect mixed with caution.
“But,” he continued, leaning closer, “luckily for you, I’ve learned my way around such individuals.” His focus shifted to Ariana, who sat on the edge of the hospital bed, her vulnerability was quite palpable.
“What do you mean, Doc?” Ariana asked, her curiosity piqued. She wondered what secrets this man held, what strategies he’d developed to navigate the treacherous waters of powerful personalities like Henry.
The doctor smiled, revealing a trace of weariness. “Please call me Jason,” he said, extending a hand. “My name is Dr. Jason Harrison.” His handshake was firm, as if sealing an unspoken pact between him and Ariana.
Ariana was more interested to hear of what Jason was about to say but what he said next was what shocked and surprised her.
“What if I told you that I didn’t really get rid of the baby?” Jason asked, his voice steady.
A rush of emotions flooded Ariana there was happiness, disbelief, and a hint of suspicion. Why would this stranger intervene? Why hadn’t her ex insisted on proof of termination?
“Wait,” she said, her mind racing. “Why did you do this? What’s your angle?”
Wait, but why did you do this? Didn’t he ask for the proof of termination, she wondered, what his catch was? She continued to inquire
“Relax, before you get too excited, Here’s the deal,” Jason said, leaning in. “Henry will undoubtedly want proof that you’re no longer pregnant. I can handle that part. But in return, I’ll need something from you.”
Ariana’s eyes widened, her mind racing even more. What could he possibly want? Her expression betrayed her curiosity, even though she refrained from asking aloud.
Jason’s smile softened the lines of his face, revealing a gentleness Ariana hadn’t expected. There was more to this stranger than met the eye, but she couldn’t wrap her fingers around it.
You see Ariana, our situations intersect in a peculiar way. My family’s business has been declining since my father’s passing. His will stipulates that I must marry to become the company’s CEO, yet finding a wife has proven to be quite elusive.
“My family’s legacy—the Harrison corporation—is hanging on a thread. Ever since my father’s death, it’s been a downward spiral.”
Ariana’s mind opened. She had glimpsed the headlines of the once-mighty estate of the Harrisons crumbling, stock prices plummeting and she didn’t realize it was this particular family he was connected to, till now.
Ariana spoke while trying to catch her breath, “And me?” she whispered. “Why involve me?”
‘’Here’s my proposal, I would like for you to marry me temporarily, it will just be for appearances. Till I get to unlock my father’s assets and you’ll retain your independence, pursue your own interests, and we’ll only play the couple role at family gatherings, business functions, and social events. There will be nothing more to it, just strictly a business agreement’’ Jason remarked
“In return, I’ll ensure your baby’s safety.” He added
For Ariana, this felt like a cross road of her destiny, she understood fully how Jason owed her no loyalty and that if for any reason she decided not to take up his offer, she knew he would proceed with terminating her baby- she had no reason yet to believe otherwise and from what it seemed he was only after his best interest and the best she could do is play along. She was already vulnerable enough at this point.
‘’I… I will marry you, as long as you promise to keep my baby safe, I am willing to do that’’ Ariana said, despite not being sure of what she had just agreed to.
What if he was worse than Henry, what did she just get herself into? She thought
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