Chapter 8 Shall We Get Married? It's A Deal!

• "Very well, Alma. The bill for your mother's surgery has already been paid and your performance has gone better than I expected, you have fulfilled your end of the bargain. Edan said, frowning.
• "But there is still a lack of false marriage, why haven't we done it?" Alma answered, confused. He clenched his jaw.
• "There's been a change of plans..." Edan glanced sideways at Diego, who was present. That's why I introduced you to my lawyer, we need to make some changes to the terms we had negotiated.
• “What do you mean? Edan swallowed at Alma's question.
• "The false notary, he never came..." And my mother has come up with the idea of having a friend of hers marry us, who is here..." Alma raised an eyebrow, fitting the pieces together. "He's a royal notary.
• “What?! No! Are you talking about us really getting married? She shouted, making Edan straighten up tensely.
• "Before you say anything else!" Diego interjected. "Let me explain, Alma. The terms will be the same, there will be no more contact than is necessary and as long as Mr. O'Connor is alive, Edan will bring you sporadically for visits, if any extraordinary occasion presents itself, you will accompany him... Just that and it will be for a short time, at most, a few days, for what. Diego swallowed thickly, looking at Edan. "Mr. O'Connor is not given much time to live.
• "But it's just that..."
• "We'll get married, I'll make a contract for a maximum of one month, just to be optimistic with Edan's father, once Mr. O'Connor dies, an annulment will be effected immediately, or failing that, a divorce. Diego added.
• "A divorce?!" Haven't I fallen in love and I'd be divorced by now? Alma opened her eyes wide.
• "Well, that's enough! Edan slammed his desk, startling Alma. Diego was silent because he already knew how Edan got when he was angry. "You don't miss out on anything good, believe me! That love thing is overrated. He said in a beaten tone.
• They were in an office that Diego borrowed, it was a pretty remote space, so they didn't have to worry about what they said.
• Edan was upset and tensed, it was supposed to be, it would be a silly performance to please his father's last wish, however, things were getting out of control and he didn't like that at all.
• "That's the way it is. Edan went on, authoritatively. "The whole plan remains the same, the only difference is that the paper we will sign is real. I know that for you, maybe, that changes everything, but for me, it doesn't change anything. Not with my father convalescing, waiting for my marriage and with my whole family present. He said frowning. "I've already canceled your mother's surgery as we had arranged, because you've held up your end of the bargain and it's not your fault that we're going through. So, I offer you something else... I will pay for everything your mother needs after her surgery, I know that the post-operative treatment can be quite expensive, in addition to the therapies and surely your mother will need the assistance of professionals throughout that process, so I will include a nurse or if you prefer, I can send her to a good clinic, where they take good care of her.
• “What? There was a minute's silence as Alma glanced through the crowd, reviewing the situation.
• “Let's go! Let's stop wasting time and sign up for good. Edan declared. Alma looked at the paper Diego was holding out on the desk and turned with a serious look at Edan. "Everyone, in this life, has a price. He added, looking at her, when she had the pen ready to sign.
• The offer was very tempting, no, better than that, it was all Alma needed, however, the way Edan asked for it, did not give him a good feeling.
• Where was the kind man who had asked him for a simple favor in the cafeteria in exchange for his help? Now he saw an arrogant, arrogant, cold man demanding his will in exchange for payment.
• Although Alma's pride was not to refuse the offer, Edan's last sentence had provoked a reaction in her: That everyone had a price? Well... She doesn't.
• Did he think he could buy it?
• What did his mother need from all that he offered? Yes, it was true, but that didn't mean she had to accept.
• If necessary, Alma could drop out of college and work three jobs so that her family wouldn't lack the necessities, but so, as he said, she couldn't accept it.
• Alma threw the pen she had in her hand and without saying anything, she turned around, to leave, slamming the door and leaving Edan next to Diego, with his mouth open.
• “Edan. Diego exhaled.
• Edan sat down at the desk, frustrated, ruffling his hair. He wasn't a man who ran after a woman, the only one who had done it was for Vivian and he only did that because she knew how to please him as he liked.
• "Now what do we do?" Diego added, stunned by Alma's sudden departure.
• How could this young woman just get away with all that Edan had to offer? Who would do such a thing?
• Edan spent some time in silence, pondering the situation.
• "What am I going to do?" To say that my girlfriend stood me up, what else can I do? Edan growled, trembling with rage.
• "And your father?" How do you think that will affect him? Edan flinched at Diego's question.
• It was true, Erick could be seriously affected by that news, to the point where... Edan imagined it, and he jumped up from his chair, ready to go for Alma.
• *
• Alma hadn't taken a few steps out of the office from her awkward chat with Edan and his lawyer when her cell phone rang.
• It was a call from home, she had talked to her sister the night before and found it odd that she was calling her.
• “Yes? Naomi? Is something wrong?
• “Soul... Dad left. Alma's young sister, barely sixteen years old, murmured in a broken voice.
• “Normal, he only went out earlier than usual, every day he goes out to drink, what's the problem? Alma asked, surprised.
• "No, Alma, you don't understand..." He picked up a suitcase with his things and left. A sob was heard.
• Alma felt her heart stop, of course, her father was not the same responsible, loving and kind man he used to be, but she still loved him and hoped that, at some point, he would return to what he used to be.
• "Did he say anything?" Alma asked, feeling disoriented, leaning against a wall.
• "He said he wouldn't stay to take care of a sick woman, that he had enough of the brats, and that he wouldn't be responsible for Mom's expenses.
• "But I told you I'd gotten a waiver of the surgery!"
• "He said that was a lie, that they would charge us something and he wouldn't go to jail for not paying. Naomi muttered, through tears.
• “Coward. Alma murmured, feeling her heart fill with rage.
• Alma asked Naomi to be aware, as always, of her little brothers and sisters and after hanging up, she sighed in frustration. Although her father was of little use, at least he acted as an adult supervisor when Alma and her mother had to go out to work.
• Now, would his siblings be alone all day and night? Or how could Alma leave them to care for her sick mother while she went out to work?
• She needed help and she knew where to get it: Edan.
• She was not interested in the money and the bills that would be paid, because she was sure that, with her own effort, she could pay them.
• But now, she was in a moment of real need.
• Alma turned back to the door that she had just slammed shut a moment ago, just as the door opened and Edan was leaving.
• The two of them found themselves, face to face, holding each other's gaze, serious.
• “And then? Shall we get married? Edan asked when he saw the young woman return.
• "It's a deal!" She reached out, and the deal was sealed with a clench of her fists.