My 3 Contract Lovers

[14]

[Bianca]

“This kitchen is…”

“Impressive?” I suggested as I climbed up onto the barstool and watched my aunt try and figure out how the fancy coffee machine worked.

“Or something,” she muttered before she turned back to the instruction manual. “At this rate, it may be better to simply go out and get coffee,”

“I guess…” I looked down at the new phone Dante had gotten me. It had been hidden underneath the dress and I wasn’t sure how I felt about all of this. “I feel…so…”

“Cheap? Used? Like a w***e?”

“Stop talking,” I snapped out in irritation. Vivian smirked as she leaned her elbows on the marbled counter and stared at me. The coffee machine had temporarily been forgotten.

“Look, you signed a contract, ok? You are getting paid to feed this vampire,”

“Exactly, I’m getting paid to feed him. But this…” I gestured around the apartment. “This isn’t temporary, Aunt Viv, this is permanent,” I shoved a set of paperwork toward her and sighed. “That right there is the paperwork for the penthouse. In my name. It’s mine,” she didn’t even look at it as she kept her eyes on me. “And…he wants to take care of mom,”

“Good, April needs help,” she said as she finally stopped studying me and went back to the coffee machine. “One thing you need to remember is that these immortals have been around for a long ass time and that means they have tons of money,”

“So?”

“So? So, the whole reason this organization works so well is that humans need money to survive. The immortals don’t need money. They just need to survive,” I thought about that for a moment, but it still didn’t feel right. I didn’t like it and yet, I needed it. We finally had a home that was ours. No one was going to throw us out. We finally had a fully stocked fridge, freezer, and pantry. We finally had electricity that didn’t shut off at random times and we finally had hot water. On top of all of that, Dante had given me a card. I wasn’t a fool, I knew what that meant and since he said I should basically go nuts, I figured there must be quite a bit of money on that card. A card that I could use for whatever I wanted. What did I want?

“Coffee,” I said aloud.

“Working on it,” came her singsong response. I pulled over the folder I had dug up earlier and thumbed through it. The file was thick and currently held everything there was to know about my mother’s medical history. Every doctor’s visit, every x-ray, every prescription, and every diagnosis. It was everything Dante would need. It was everything the new doctor would need. I just hadn’t told my mother yet. I left my aunt to finish figuring the machine out and headed for my mother’s room. I wasn’t at all surprised to find that she was still sleeping. She slept a lot. More than she should, but I also knew that the depression had taken hold of her, and sleeping was her way of escaping the pain. I crept into the room and sat down beside her.

“Mom?” I reached out and gently shook her awake.

“Hmm?”

“We need to talk,” I said as I watched her struggle to sit up. I helped her as much as I could, and she leaned back against the mountain of pillows behind her. She glanced around the room, a frown etched on her forehead, and I sighed softly.

“I take it your immortal has given us a place to stay?”

“Yup,”

“And that would be?”

“Dante Hudson, vampire blah blah of some clan or something,” I said casually. My mother smiled as she rubbed at her throat. “How are you feeling?”

“A bit hungry,” she admitted, and I grinned sheepishly.

“What do you feel like?” I already knew the answer as I scrolled through the phone.

“Pancakes…bacon…eggs,”

“Ahuh, I’m on it,” I said as I found a place close by that delivered. I put in an order for breakfast and coffee. “So, Dante is going to stop by at some point to discuss your health and I guess…I don’t know…for you to see a doctor,” immediately my mother’s eyes filled with hope, but I didn’t miss the despair either. She didn’t want to have to go through it all again and I understood that. The only difference is that this time we would be able to finish the treatments.

“Oh,” she said, and I could already see the wheels in her head turning. She wanted to get up and be present.

“After breakfast, I’ll help you, ok,” I hurriedly said. “For now, just relax,” my mother nodded as she leaned back and closed her eyes. I left her to rest while I went to the bathroom in my room. I took a long hot shower and yes, I overindulged in the large shower that could probably fit five people. I enjoyed the creaminess of the shampoo and conditioner, and I scrubbed my body with the exfoliator and shower gel. I may also have squealed a little bit as I wrapped myself in a big white fluffy towel. However, I still had the same clothes and I frowned. Maybe I should do some shopping. After all, I did need an outfit for the BBQ at Tyson’s estate. I didn’t like the idea of spending Dante’s money for an event that didn’t involve him, but what else was I supposed to do? I wondered if I had time to order something online, but then I considered looking through my aunt’s dresses. I already knew she wouldn’t have anything suitable, so I put on my old, worn-out jeans and a plain black top. I brushed my damp hair and tied it up in a messy bun. Dante was going to have to get used to seeing me this way until I had time to buy something more decent.

“Bianca!” I heard my aunt yell and as soon as I opened the door, I could smell the food. I hurried down the short passage to see my aunt standing by the door with the delivery guy on the other side.

“Oh!” I went back to the room to collect the card and after making the electronic p*****t – including a tip – I set the bags of food down on the counter.

“Thank f**k you ordered coffee,” Vivian remarked as she grabbed one of the holders. She breathed in the delicious smell before taking a tiny sip. I unpacked the bags, and the smell of food made my stomach rumble. Of course, I could have made all of this myself – if I knew how, and I didn’t.

“I’ll see if I can get mom up,” I said before I left the kitchen, only to see that my mother had managed to get herself out of bed and was leaning against the doorframe. “Why didn’t you say anything?” I demanded as I offered her my arm.

“I can walk, Bianca,” she scolded, but I simply rolled my eyes. “Besides, the smell of that food gave me the energy,” I laughed at that as we slowly made our way to the kitchen. Vivian had spread everything out on the counter and after helping my mother onto the stool, I stood close by in case she fell off. We picked at just about everything and even though my mother didn’t eat a lot, it was nice to see her enjoy eating something. She struggled so much, and I knew she was tempted to eat more. However, the fear of getting sick stopped her.

“I’ll go run a bath so long,” I said as I leaned in and kissed her cheek. My mother simply gave me a tired smile before she sipped at her coffee. Once the bath was ready, my aunt took over and helped my mother while I cleaned up the kitchen. When the loud buzzer sounded, I was immediately nervous. Dante had ditched me yesterday and even though I understood why he did, I still wasn’t happy with him. I pulled open the door and just the sight of him made me melt. He wore a pair of dark blue jeans and a white shirt. The sleeves were rolled up and the top two buttons were undone.

“Good morning, Bianca,” he greeted, and I could tell that he was unsure.

“Hmm,” I hummed out instead of actually greeting him. I knew it was rude, but it was my only way of showing him that I was still angry. I left the door open and headed back to the kitchen. I went about filling the dishwasher and packing things away while Dante ventured into the apartment.

“Have you settled in?” he asked casually, and I shot him a look and I was surprised to see him look away as if he was embarrassed or something.

“Sure, I used that card you gave me for breakfast and coffee…speaking of…do you know how this thing works?” I asked as I pointed to the coffee machine.

“Unfortunately, not,” he said and I rolled my eyes.

“Of course,” I muttered.

“Frederick knows though. I am sure that he would be happy to help you,”

“Ok…so that folder over there contains all of my mother’s medical stuff,” I said as I shut the dishwasher and turned it on.

“Very well,” he said as he came closer and picked up the folder. “This will be very helpful to the doctor,”

“Hello,” Dante and I both turned toward my mother, who was being led by my aunt.

“Dante, this is my mother, April…mom, this is Lord Hudson,”

“Please, call me Dante,” he said as he stepped forward and took my mother’s hand in his. “It is a pleasure to meet you,”

“Likewise,” my mother said. Between my aunt and I, we got my mother settled on the couch, each of us sitting on either side of her while Dante sat down on the armchair. “So…Bianca told me that I am to see a doctor?”

“Yes, Doctor Valent specializes in cancer patients, and he will appreciate the amount of information you have in that folder,” my mother blushed at his words and a weird part of me didn’t like that. He was mine after all. “Bianca and I will see him in a bit…and then I’m taking her shopping,” his eyes locked on mine, and I held my breath. It was almost as if he could sense my jealousy and even though it was misplaced, he still took the time to make sure everyone knew why he was here. He was here for me.

“Of course, and…when will I get to see him?” my mother asked, and Dante smiled even though he didn’t take his eyes off me.

“As soon as he can fit you into his schedule,” he finally broke eye contact to glance at my mother. “Which I am sure will be soon,”

“Ok,” my mother then yawned and quickly apologized. However, this was the first time in a long time that she had been up and about for so long. Of course, she would be tired. My aunt and I carefully helped her back to the bedroom. “He seems…nice,” Vivian scoffed at that, and I threw her a look.

“He is nice,” I argued.

“Yeah, right. Define your version of nice,” Vivian remarked as she rolled her eyes and tucked in my mother.

“Shut up,” I spat out. “Besides, he may not be nice…or whatever, but him giving us a home, food, and medical care is nice, so,” I stuck my tongue out at her rather childishly before I went back to the living area to see Dante hovering by the door. It would seem he was eager to leave and suddenly so was I.