Everything for family

7 Everything for family

By the time Zara got home, she was drained and stuffy. She didn’t even have the strength to exhale.

The lights were on and Daisi had her head buried in a tome-like textbook. The girl was overly interested in science than she could ever wish to be. When she glanced at her, Zara gave a weak smile.

“You’re back late,” Daisi said, standing. She limped up to her and gave her a hug. “I was worried about you. Did you have luck today?”

Zara smiled at her. “Yes, I did,” she said. “I will start work in two days—hopefully. When I do, I’ll make sure you have the best out of life. I’ll protect you, Daisi.”

She nodded. “You’ve always protected me, Zara. You could’ve left me back at Charlescare because I was a burden. But, you carried me all night when we fled. You sheltered me, hugging me close. I’ll never forget that.”

Zara sniffled, finding it hard to hold her tears. She rubbed her cheek fondly, feeling a stab of pain for every moment they had been mistreated at Charlescare. “I do it for my family. For you guys.”

Daisi smiled, then thumbed over her shoulder. “I should definitely finish off that work I have going on. I can’t believe I’ve had a breakthrough in optics!”

Zara nodded. “Go get them!”

Daisi limped back to her chair. Zara noted the way she grimaced with every limp. She was getting worse and she had to get money to get her drugs and therapy to prevent total decay of muscles and nerves. The doctors said it was going to get worse if left unattended.

She turned and almost yelped when she saw someone behind her. Dominic gave her a raised eyebrow. He had a glass of water in one hand and a pen in the other. “Are you alright?”

“Yes,” Zara said, nodding. “I’m just a little bit confused and emotional.”

“Then you aren’t alright,” he said, worried. “What’s the problem?”

Zara sighed. “I want you guys to trust me, okay? Never, ever see me as a monster or a bad sister no matter what I do. Everything I do is for you guys.”

“Yeah?”

“And,” she said. “I don’t know if it counts, but I found this guy who was willing to give me a really good job. That job would require me to be away most of the times.”

Dominic nodded, smiling. “I get why you’re sad. But, you don’t need to have such fears. We trust and will always trust you.”

Zara smiled and hugged him, careful not to spill his water. She was afraid they’d judge her when they found out that she was going to get pregnant for money. She feared they’d be ashamed of her, disgusted. If they ever saw her in such a manner, she wasn’t sure she could take it.

“I’ll be in my room,” she said, patting him on the shoulder. Dominic gave him one last look then walked over to Daisi, who took the glass of water and drank it with slow sips. Zara smiled. Dominic was really helping Daisi. He had a huge heart.

She turned and went to the little box-like room she had taken for herself. She flipped the light switch and looked around the room. Her things were tucked to one side of the room and her bed—small and worn—was pushed against the wall.

She wiped her tears and fell on the bed, exhaling.

Meeting Ethan in that fashion earlier had shaken her to the marrow and she still trembled when she recalled the threat he dished out. If it turned out that she wasn’t fit for the job Aaron was offering, she’d have to suffer through Ethan dragging Daisi away.

Only God knew what that maniac would turn her sister into. Trafficking was the least of her worries—she’d done it before at Charlescare and even though Daisi didn’t have experience, that one time had hardened Zara.

She couldn’t have her sister in that man’s hand. She couldn’t let him use her in the most inconceivable of ways.

That night, lying on her bed with the lights on, Zara wept her heart out, crying to God for something—an intervention maybe.

….

Two days later, Zara left the house with a rumbling stomach. She didn’t have it in her to eat that morning, so she gave her food to Dominic. The boy was worried but still ate anyway. She noticed that he was getting thinner and scrawny due to the severe food rationing they did.

She couldn’t stand to see him like that and she hoped the day would bring good news. By now, Zara’s reservation about the job of seduction had died, floating away with the breeze of the day. She had to do it to get out of trouble.

Thankfully, the landlord hadn’t come back with more threats and Ethan hadn’t sent his men to deal with her. But, she was sure they were lurking around in the dark, watching her every move. Well, she wasn’t bothered with that as long as they didn’t hurt her or her siblings. She understood what it meant to owe.

She flagged down a taxi once she was at the main road and headed to Elephant Gardens.

The ride was smooth and a few minutes later, she alighted and stood before the gate. The security threw her a nod, obviously finding her a familiar face now. She took a deep breath and put her hand o the scanner. The light flashed green and the gate slid open.

She walked through and glanced over—once again—to the elephant tower to the northern wing. That was where Andrew lived and she was stoked to think that she’d soon enter such a magnificent building.

She turned, not needing the aid of the servants today and walked to the eastern wing. She entered the living room she was now accustomed to since the first day she’d stepped foot in the estate-mansion.

“Ah,” Aaron said, standing. He walked to her and hugged her fondly. The scent of his cologne was blinding and his breath carried the stench of coffee. This guy had to be an addict, she thought. “Miss Peacegiver,” he said, pulling away. “Please, make yourself comfortable.”

Zara sat on the couch, now realising that two other people were in the room. One was Gracie and the other was a young, stylish woman she didn’t know.

“Well,” Gracie said, “you passed all medical tests with flying colours and I’m happy about that. Are you ready to sign the contract?”

“Absolutely,” she said, nodding.

“Good,” Gracie said. “This is our lawyer and she has the contract. Feel free to point out anything that you feel isn’t right.”

The lady smiled at Zara, giving her a nod of encouragement. “I’m pleased to meet you, Zara. The contract is for a maximum of two years.”

“The contract?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Aaron chuckled. “Don’t misunderstand. You’ll give us that baby we want. But, we want to make sure that you do it under the first one and half years.”

“That soon?” she said, frowning. How sure were they that she could seduce Andrew within six months and get pregnant?

“That’s why we added the plus six months clause,” Gracie said. “It means you’ll do your utmost best to get him to sleep with you. By any means necessary.”

Zara raised a finger and the lawyer nodded for her to proceed. “Can I drug him and get it done and over with?”

They fell silent and shared glances. “Not likely,” Aaron said. “Andrew…like I said, is really unpredictable. We need him to have that child while he’s in his right mind—at least most of it. It’s really easy for him to deny responsibility for the child.”

“I understand,” Zara said. That, unfortunately, made her job harder. She got the document and read through the terms and conditions and breach and, finding nothing too complicated, she signed it.

Aaron stood, smiling. “Let’s get you fitted, shall we?”

Zara’s face morphed to a frown. What did he mean by that?