Chapter one: the deal

Casey and Hannah were busy shopping in a mall. The two friends were getting ready for their final college year. The time of their final college semester was fast approaching.

In the mall they tried out alot of dresses and had fun while picking their clothes.

When they were done, they headed to the counter to pay for all they had purchased. They were about to leave when some masked men ran into the mall with guns. They fired bullets in the air, making everyone present to run helterskelter.

While some of the men had their guns pointed at the people in the shop, some were at the counter, collecting money.

Well Casey being the girl she was couldn't sit by and do nothing, so she did what she thought she could at the moment.

When she whispered to Hannah telling her not to worry, her friend immediately knew that she was up to something.

She looked around and she knew she wouldn't be able to fight them all without getting hurt or causing harm to the people there as most of the men had guns.

She tapped Hannah softly on her back and whispered, "everything will be fine." Saying this she dashed towards the door and ran out. It was around 7p.m so the place was a bit dark. Not many people were on the road as it was raining cats and dogs.

Meanwhile seeing that one of the hostages had escaped, some of the men ran after her.

Casey ran as far as her legs could carry her, while running, she called the police and told them what had happened, after being assured that help was on the way, she finally heaved a sigh of relief but she couldn't stop now as she was sure they'd not spare her after this stunt she's pulled.

Frustrated from running under the heavy rain, the man aimed the gun and shot her. While running she felt something hit her with force, the shock was replaced with a striking pain in her abdomen. She didn't need anyone to tell her that she's been shot.

Her speed reduced as the pain increased.

Clenching her abdomen tightly, as she struggled to go further. When she saw a car park by the roadside, her already pale face brightened up a little. Mustering some strength, she ran to the car and held onto the arm of the man that had just come out.

"Help me, please." She said with an almost inaudible tone and a pleading gaze.

The man stared at her coldly, there was no sign of care or concern in his eyes. The look in his eyes was cold which made her worry if she was actually right by asking him for help.

He stared at his arm where she grasped tightly, a dim light flickered in his eyes. He looked at her," why should I help you?" He asked with a very cold tone that sent a chill down her spine.

If she was alright, she would have talked sense to this guy standing in front of her, but she couldn't do anything now, she was starting to feel dizzy and she knew that the men would catch up with her very soon so she had to convince this stranger to help her.

"Please, help me." She repeated. She held tightly onto his hand as she was starting to feel weaker.

"Would you do what I want you to do if I help you?" he asked after a while with an evil smile.

Casey couldn't be bothered with his expresssions right now, so without thinking, she squeezed out a few words, but these were the words he wanted to hear."Anything you want." She whispered and finally passed out.

He looked at Mick, his secretary who had been holding an umbrella over his head, while watching the drama unfold before him.

Jerry also watched from inside the car, sometimes he felt the urge to smack his dear friend, he couldn't believe he was actually taking advantage of a weak girl's situation for his benefits.

He stared at her Black hair that was completely soaked. "Don't regret later." he spoke beneath his breath then carried her into the car.

" Clean up the trash and join me at the hospital." He said to Mick from the window.

"Yes sir." Mick nodded.

"Let's go." Like that, the car sped off.

In the car, Jerry kept glancing at him.

"If you're going to say something say it and stop looking at me." once again his cold voice rang out.

Jerry cleared his throat, turned to glance at his friend once again before he asked "Are you really going to help her?"

With an indifferent tone, he replied, "She's here, is she not?"

With a surprised look, "Don't tell me you're going to pick her as the one?"

"Time would tell." He exhaled and looked away, showing lack of intrest for any further discussion.

No one saw the look in his eyes when he looked out. He finally got her. He thought to himself with a wicked smile.

Immediately the car stopped before the hospital entrance, a stretcher was brought out and she was carried in.

An emergency operation was done after which she was transferred to a VIP ward.

He sat in the ward room with Jerry and his heelers stood guard at the door.

After few hours, Mick came in and handed a paper to him.

" I've taken care of everything. And these are the information you asked me to find out." He said, handing the papers to him.

As he flipped the pages of the file, Mick spoke, "it happened that she had gone to a mall and got trapped by some robber, she managed to escape but was shot in the process. She was smart enough to notify the police after leaving the place....."

"Smart? Or was it guilt." he mocked.

"Uhm...i can't tell. Her name is Casey. She lives with her family some blocks away from the mall where the incident took place. She attends college with the help of her scholarship. She works at a restaurant.

Her father isn't so healthy right now and her mom seem to be the only one who's supporting the family. She has a younger sister aiming for same college."

He closed the file, "Casey." he muttered.

He handed the file back to Mick then told him to call the doctor.

Casey opened her eyes slowly, she looked around for a few seconds. Though she saw things in a blurry vision, she could still make out the fact that she was in a hospital because of the strong smell of disinfectant lingering in the air.

She couldn't sit up as the pain in her abdomen was killing her.

She looked at the two strange yet familiar faces. She recalled that one of the two men in front of her was the one who rescued her and also the same that was being so annoying and cold.

He walked closer and stood by her bedside. With a flat tone, he asked, "are you alright?"

His companion walked over and stood beside him, "can't believe you're asking her that, she was shot after all." Jerry said with a teasing smile.

She tried to sit up but her trial was futile as the pain in her stomach won't let her.

Jerry held her hand, "you're still weak. You shouldn't try sitting up for now." He spoke with a little concern.

He glared at Jerry making him flinch a little before drawing back.

Seeing that she wasn't yielding, he said, "keep trying then your lesion is going to rupture, and trust me you don't want to know how that feels."

The manner in which he said those words were somewhat threatening.

She stared at him with a frown, "unlike your friend over here, you're very cold and annoying. You don't even know how to talk. What? Rupture? You don't scare me okay? You ruined my mood. Seeing you when I wake up is just spoiling my day." She was breathing heavily, glaring at him.

Jerry was smiling so hard while his dear friend was staring at this fearless girl before him.

He was about to speak when Mick walked in with the doctor. Mick stood behind him, whispering that he had informed her friend about her whereabouts.

The doctor walked over to her, asked her some questions, and after carefully examining, he assured that she would be fine and there was no need to worry. She could be discharged in a week and would only need to come to the hospital at certain days interval for check-up and to change her bandage.

After handing over the prescription for her drugs to Mick, the doctor left.

Mick followed suit to get the medicines.

Casey stared at the duo before her for a while, "thanks for saving my life." She said reluctantly.

He knew that she didn't want to say it, "so that's how you show your appreciation? Well I think it's rather rude don't you think?"

She pressed a button, moving the bed up a bit.

"Hey what's your deal any way? It's not my fault, if you hadn't been so mean to me then I wouldn't speak to you the way I just did."

"Stop giving excuses, just admit it, you're a rude ungrateful person."

"Rude? Ungrateful? How dare you call me names? Then how about you? If I'm rude and ungrateful, then you're a cold, heartless person. No, you shouldn't even be referred to as a person, you don't deserve such honour. You're not worthy at all."

"Seems to me you lack manners. You're certainly a disappointment and a burden to your family." He blurted out in a fit of rage.

She didn't refute, this time she was quite.

" I was right." He said with a smug smile.

Although her family treated her well, she had always felt deep down that she was a burden on them. So his words shut her up, he hit her where it hurts.

Mick stepped in the room and placed the medicine bag on the drawer by her bed.

"Hand the papers to her." He said again in a cold tone.

"You should sign those papers." He said again after she had taken the papers from Mick.

She glared at him before opening the file. Her eyes widened in shock as she read the contents on the file. It was a... A marriage certificate.

She turned sharply, glaring at him, "what's the meaning of this?"

He sat on the couch, "am sure you aren't blind to see it's a marriage certificate."

"What makes you think I'll sign this and get married to a person I don't know?"

"Hmm... Well you can't say a person you don't know, since it's me you'll be getting married to."

"Wow it's you, I'm very relieved now;" she gave a sarcastic remark.

"Don't think you can make me do anything you want just because you helped me. Stop dreaming."

"Well you see Casey I'm in no hurry, you can take your time. I don't mind but I really can't tell how much longer your father would last. He's probably breathing his last breaths by now. So everything depends on you now."

"What do you mean by that? Where's my dad? What did you do to him?" She asked in a frantic voice.

"You should know that it's wrong to accuse people wrongly. It pure coincidence and nothing else. Don't blame me."

After he stopped talking, she got a call from her sister. She picked the call immediately not wasting even a second, " hello, is everything alright?" She asked praying for a positive response.

Her sister on the other end was crying as she replied sorrowfully, " dad's condition suddenly worsened yesterday. It's all your fault, we've been looking for you for the past two days now but we couldn't find you. When dad heard from Hannah that you were chased by some robbers some days back he had a stroke and was rushed to the hospital. Where have you been? Why didn't you call any one? You only made us worry and now dad is the way he is now. I don't know what to do, we're at our wits end. If dad isn't operated on soon, I'm afraid....."

The phone fell from her hands, tears trickling down her face. "Dad, dad, dad" she muttered.

He stood up and walked to her, "just sign the document and then your father would be safe. Or are you going to let him die just to prove yourself. That's disappointing."

She looked at him with tears in her eyes, "why are you doing this to me? We've never met, why are you punishing me this way?"

"You can't blame me. I didn't do a thing. None of this is my fault. Why should I help you when we have no relation what so ever. Sign the papers and then your father would be saved."

She stared at the file blankly.

He shook his head, "your family were right to be disappointed."

He stood up, "let's go. She'd rather let her father die than admit defeat."

"You're really leaving like this?" Jerry asked a bit puzzled.

Casey clenched her blanket tightly, she couldn't let her dad die because of her, she would never forgive herself if that happened. She didn't even know how long he would last, she had to make sure her father was safe. Since her sister called, it must be because they couldn't find a way to arrange for the money.

"Wait, I'll sign it." She said in a subdued tone.

He turned around, "that's more like it."

Mick handed her the pen. She signed the certificate papers with misty eyes. Then Mick handed her another paper, she read it silently, the file stated that as his wife, her parents would have access to a new house and a better environment. They'd also be given 5 million dollars every month for their expenses. She'd have to live at his house too. She looked at him, asking for an explanation.

He rolled his eyes, "you can read the contents yourself and I know you understand each and every word written there. Yes, you don't have to sign it, I mean you can always ask me for help in the future too. I don't mind." He said with a wicked smile that made her shudder.

She signed the contract, she already had to give up her freedom for him to help her family. She couldn't risk making the same mistake again. She was sure she wouldn't be able to afford it.

Still she felt reluctant as she didn't understand why he would want to waste 5 million dollars on her family. Even if he was very rich, why spend so much. She didn't know if she was overthinking or if her doubts were indeed called for.

Mick took the papers after she was done and gave her a business card.

"Call me when you're ready. Don't make me wait too long." He said and finally left.

...

Female lead thought for the chapter:

Even though the future is unknown, I don't mind, if it's saving dad's life, then I'm more than willing.