3 | the deal with the devil
Panic flooded through my veins as I walked back and forth in the hospital restlessly. Tremulous breaths came out of me as I waited for the doctors to step out of the room and tell me what happened. My father was seated on the metal chairs behind me. He was as worried as I was, maybe more. The clock stuck on the white walls continued to tick and echo in the busy hospital.
The door to my mother’s ward swung open, and Dr. Steven walked out with a couple of nurses. I quickly ran to his side and asked, “What happened? What’s wrong?”
“Your mother had a stroke,” the doctor replied.
“And? How is she now? Can I go inside?”
“Ms. Charlotte, your mother, is paralyzed, and there is no sign of improvement. We will have to move her into a life-supporting machine quickly,”
I gasped as he explained. I placed my hand against my chest. My body felt numb with the information I had received. Before I could collapse on the floor, my father came to my side and held me.
“What do we have to do?” he asked the doctor.
“We will be moving her to the life-supporting machine and running some tests. There is a possibility that she might never wake up,” he replied.
My heart cried out with pain. An ache spread across my entire body as I sat down on the chair. I couldn’t lose my mother. Not at this point. She made a recovery, and now she was worse than before. This couldn’t happen to her. Tears spiraled down my cheeks as the doctor walked away.
The nurse approached my father and asked him to sign the papers so they could take action; however, they weren’t aware that my father was no longer connected with my mother.
“I will sign them,” I said while fixing my posture and wiping away my tears.
“We will move Ms. Samantha to the life-support machine, but there is a pending p*****t that needs to be completed immediately,” the nurse said as she took me to the receptionist.
“Do I have to make it now?” I asked.
“Yes, we need to put her under supervision immediately.” The nurse said.
While filling the forms, I glanced at the amount that needed to be paid. I didn’t have that kind of money, and I had no idea where I could get that much at this time. A thought ran across my head, but I brushed it off.
“Could I make the p*****t tomorrow morning as it’s late now?” I asked the receptionist.
“Of course,” she took the papers back from me and nodded her head.
A sigh of relief slipped my lips, and I returned to my father.
“Is the paperwork done?” he asked as he got up.
“Yes,”
“What about the p*****t? Do you need money?”
“Yes,” I rocked back and forth while numerous ideas went through my head. Mr. Jordan could help me with a small amount. It could cover the costs for the time being.
I got up from the seat and began collecting my things. I glanced at my father, who was worried and terrified of what would happen.
“I am going to go to my office. I will be back in a while. If there is any emergency, please call me.” I said to him.
“Where are you going?”
“To arrange money,”
I exited from the hospital then. My father promised to take care of my mother while I was gone. He was the only family I had left besides my mother, who was now in a coma. After turning the engine on, I drove away from the hospital and to Le Doux Corps. It wasn’t too late to see Mr. Jordan. He usually worked till eight, and it wasn’t even seven yet. I had a tiny chance to get a personal loan from him, only if he was willing too.
The dark streets passed by me as I pulled over the tall glass building settled in the center of the town. Most of the lights were switched off, and it seemed deadly quiet from the inside. I walked past the receptionist and went inside the elevator, silently hoping that Mr. Jordan would be around. I tried to contact him through his number, but he didn’t pick up.
9th floor.
The voice in the elevator said as it came to an abrupt stop. The glass elevator slid open, and I walked out into the growing darkness. A shudder seized me as I cautiously walked towards Mr. Jordan’s office. The tables were empty, the computers were switched off, and there was no one in the ninth floor, not even a single soul.
Frightened, I jumped out of surprise as the cackling of boots echoed on the empty floor.
“What are you doing here?” A gasp escaped my lips as I turned around to find the source of the voice. Biting back my scream, I calmed down when I found out who the person was.
Marcus Le Doux
“Umm…I was looking for Mr. Jordan. I thought he doesn’t leave until eight or something.” I said, sounding frightened.
The intimidating aura of the man weakened me. His tall frame hovered over my fragile body. Marcus Le Doux was a young man, his age wasn’t ever mentioned, but he was handsome without a doubt. His features were sharp and precise. His skin was as pale as the treacherous mountains in winter. Dread washed over me as I looked into his honey-colored eyes that screamed terror. No wonder no one wanted to look directly into his soul.
“He went early today. Why? Do you want something?” His thick raven brows raised as he spoke with curiosity.
“Yes, I needed to speak to him. He wasn’t picking up my call. I needed some help,” I stuttered while curling my fingers against each other. I felt my throat tighten, and my heart thunder with fear.
As he stepped closer, I swallowed the lump in my throat and stepped back. “Is there something I can help you with?” His British accent echoed in the empty room. Not only his presence made me weak, but his voice as well.
I fought with my inner self as to whether I wanted to ask Marcus Le Doux for money or not.
“Yes,” I blurted out finally. “I need some money,”
“And why is that?”
“I just do…” I trailed off, not wanting to spill the entire truth. I didn’t want anyone to know that my mother was suffering from cancer once again. It wasn’t the time yet.
After a moment of brittle silence, Marcus asked, “How much do you want?”
Wait. Really?
“Around ten grand. I promise I will return it as soon as things get better,” I replied.
The British man placed down the glass of wine he was holding. It seemed like red wine, but I doubted it was something else since it smelled different.
“How about we settle in different terms?” he asked.
“As in?”
“Spend a night with me, and I will grant you whatever amount you require,”