Chapter 4 Answer Me

• Hailey's POV
• I reached my house. Mom was not there. Yes, I thought for a second that maybe he was lying. But he wasn't. I called her.
• Switched off!!
• I started thinking about it. What should I do?
• I can't say yes! How can I!?! Marry him without anything? Yes, I had a crush on him, but not love! I think it was just attraction, by the way, I'm hating him right now. I... I just can't marry him like that! Dad would be so disappointed in me.
• I stood up to do my daily routine and after two hours, I decided to visit several hospitals to find my mom.
• It's been three long hours, more than twenty hospitals, no trace of her. I can't lose her... No!! She's the only person I have!!
• I decided to talk with
• him... ugh he's my boss!
• I will meet him and end this…Tomorrow.
• After mentally fighting with myself about asking him about her, I decided to go inside his office, at 12, with his coffee, black WITHOUT sugar like his bitter life.
• I kept the coffee and he stopped me.
• "Ms. Hailey
• ," he said. I looked at him and he had a questioning glance.
• "S-sir, please let me meet my mom
• ," I said.
• "Let me think
• ," he said and kept quiet for a second. "No," he said.
• "P-please sir"
• "That isn't the answer I'm wondering. What about the contract?" he asked with a stern
• tone.
• "S-sir,
• that..."
• "No stuttering! You stutter so much!
• It is damn irritating!"
• I nodded my head because I know if I speak, I'll only stutter.
• "Words?" he said.
• Oh god, is he stupid? If I speak then no stuttering, and now he is asking me to speak words!
• "Please let me meet her, s-sir" I tried my best but stuttered at the end.
• "Last chance, answer me. Yes or No?!"
• "Sir..."
• "Let me make a phone call
• ," he said and took out his phone. He dialed a number and kept it on speaker.
• "Yes,
• boss" a man spoke on the call.
• "Have you paid for Hailey's mother for today?"
• "Not yet, sir,
• no. But I'm just going..."
• "Actually, you don't have to
• ," he said and looked at me.
• Oh god.
• THIS. IS. CLEAR. BLACKMAILING.
• "N-no sir, please!!"
• I yelled.
• "Wait a sec,
• Max," he said to the man. And looked at me.
• "Having second thoughts?" he
• questioned, raising an eyebrow.
• "S-sir, for how long will this last?"
• "Will what last, dear?"
• he smirked and kept his phone on the table, looking at me completely.
• "
• This... m-marriage"
• "Isn't i
• t written? Lifetime?"
• "S-sir but"
• "You wanna negotiate, right?"
• "Y-yes sir"
• "Then 2 years, how's that?"
• "S-sir, 2 y-years!?"
• "What's with you and stuttering!?" he yelled.
• "Sorry
• , sir!" I lowered my gaze as tears threatened to come out.
• How am I gonna marry someone who can’t even bear a single thing about me?
• "Yes, two years, end of the conversation and this man here who's talking to me isn't that idle so speak up your answer fast!" he yelled.
• "Oh-ok,
• sir... I agree" And I knew that this life was over for me.
• He smirked and cut the call, without speaking another word, I think the man whose name I suppose is
• Max, might have heard it, but the thing is not that.
• Whatever it is, we should cherish what we have, right? I don't think he is so bad. I will just have to show we are a couple to the world, and my mom's treatment will also go on. What else do I want? My mom should be fine. That's all I need. And I don't think he will hurt me or something. Moreover, he doesn't look interested in me. So, I need not be afraid.
• I was convincing myself, for I didn't know him well, and my mom said to embrace anything we have with a smile and positivity.
• He's not some killer, I guess, I shouldn't be afraid. But I don't know why but I don't feel good about all this.
• "S-sir, this will all be for
• the public, right?" I asked and he nodded.
• "And sir, I will stay at my house, right?" I asked and he narrowed his eyes. His eyes were full of rage
• at that second. But he burst out laughing.
• "Should I call you stupid or dumb? Damn,
• of course, you'll stay with me!" he said laughing, but I didn't have a good vibe about it.
• Hell, we aren't really couples!!
• "B-but"
• "And, listen, the marriage is one week later, come with me to meet my parents today!" he said. I was startled and the most afraid
• at the thought of meeting his parents.
• I... I can't!! I'm so clumsy, what if I make a mistake??
• "No mistakes, Hailey
• ," he said.
• Am I too easy to read or is he too smart?
• "I'm too smart
• ," he said again, and I was afraid.
• Is he a psychic or what!?
• "No, I'm not
• ," he said again and this time I stood up abruptly.
• "Don't be afraid, Hailey, there's a lot to come now" he said with a
• n evil smirk.
• OH. MY. GOD.