Billionaire Daredevil In Love

NADINE.

I woke up the next morning with a blinding headache. I had slept on the floor, and my body ached all over. I found it hard to get up, but when I did, my body screamed in protest. I brushed my teeth, and just sat on the bed, thinking. I hoped that Clayton would stop stalling and help me with the money. I was so desperate, I would do anything, even sleep with him, but it did not look like he wanted my body; he just wanted to punish me.

The butler came in later with my breakfast. I was filled with gratitude when I saw him; I knew he was the one that spoke to Clayton for me.

“Thank you, for yesternight,” I said to him after we said good morning to each other.

“Ohh, Mr. Clayton was here?” He asked, a bit surprised.

“Yeah,” I said, surprised, too. “You didn’t know that?”

“Well, he spoke as if he did not want to come,” he said.

Clayton, the bastard. He was playing a game of nonchalance, but I knew it better than he did. I really did not care what kind of tricks he wanted to play, or what sick games he wanted to engage in. I just needed him to help me with the money; I would play whatever game he wanted, regardless of how twisted they were. Anything for Anna.

While I ate my breakfast, the butler handed me the phone.

“I know you need it,” he said.

“Ohh, yes, I do,” I said, taking it gratefully from him. “Thank you very much.”

He nodded as I accepted the phone from his hand.

I immediately placed a call across to Anna. Hopefully she will answer this time. And to my joy, after ringing a few times, she picked up.

“Oh, my God, Anna,” I said, squealing with happiness. “How are you?”

“Fine, I guess,” she said. “I’m doing great, actually.”

I could tell from the way she sounded that that was simply an act, that she was trying to be strong so as not to bother me. It made my heart melt, and tears snaked down my eyes.

“So how are you doing generally?” I asked. “Taking your drugs?”

“Yeah, I do,” she said. “Actually, there aren’t many drugs to take, considering the fact that we haven’t gotten all of the ones the hospital prescribed. But Naomi said she’s working on it, and said they are really expensive, that’s why.”

“Mmm, I know,” I said. “And where is Naomi?”

“Ohh, she’s in the kitchen, fixing up something for our breakfast,” she said.

“Well, isn’t that nice?” I said. “I’d like to speak to her, if she-”

“Ohh, here she is,” Anna said, and she handed Naomi the phone.

“Hi, Nadine,” Naomi said.

“Naomi, what’s up?” I said. “How’s it going over there?”

“Well, we’re scraping by,” she said. “How are you holding up?”

“So so,” I said. “Were you able to get Anna some of the medications she needs?”

“Well, barely,” she said soberly. “Nadine, these pills are so fucking expensive it makes you wonder if the people that produce and market them are really concerned with saving any fucking lives, you know?”

“Shit,” I said, smacking my palm against my forehead.

“I’m sorry, Nadine,” she said, “what I was able to get was very little. The hospital says we’re wasting precious time.”

“Shit,” I said again.

“What are we going to do, Nadine?” She said, I could hear the fear in her voice. She was just as invested in Anna’s case as I was, and maybe being with Anna made things even more difficult for her, because, then, she got firsthand experience of what was going on.

“But she’s okay now, eh?” I asked, looking for anything, any sign of hope.

“Well, yeah, Nadine,” she answered. “But for how long?” She only has so much time.”

I felt my head throb, and I held my temple.

“Look, Naomi, I’m going to do whatever to make sure nothing happens to her,” I said. “I’ll try and raise the money, as fast as I can. You do what you can, too.”

“You’re going to try and raise the money? From there?” She asked skeptically.

“Yup. Don’t worry, Naomi,” I said. “I’ll try what I can.”

“Ohh, okay,” she said, but I could still hear the disbelief in her voice.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

When we hung up, I collapsed on the bed in sheer exhaustion. The butler left me alone, and the food remained untouched.

Clayton:

While I was at work, I devised a plan, an ingenious plan, to hold on to Nadine. I would give her the money, sure, it was nothing, but she would pay for it. After the hassles of the morning and all the meetings I had to sit through, I spoke to my lawyer. He was a stern-looking man who had seen me through the most tumultuous legal battles. He was extremely good at what he did. Ernest was his name.

“So, Ernest,” I said, “could you explain to me the process of getting married contractually?”

“It’s real simple, Mr. Clayton,” he said in his deep voice. “All I have to do is draw out the conditions, condense into a document and have the parties involved sign. And that’s it.”

I thought about it for a moment. What a beautiful plan I had unfolding before me.

“Well, Ernest, you’re going to do that for me soon, okay?” I told him.

“No problem, sir,” he said. “Looking to get hitched?”

“Something like that, Ernest,” I said, speeding my face in a mischievous smile.

I got through the rest of the day swimmingly, and when it was time to go, I hurried up to the driver. When I got home, I had a quick meal, had a bath, and freshened up. Then I went to where Nadine was.

She was surprised I came back to see her, and I saw something like hope flicker on her face as I stepped inside. I knew she had made a decision to accept whatever terms I brought forward. All I had to do was say what I wanted