CHAPTER FOUR

"Beautiful nonsense," Ashely said aloud when she saw who alighted from the car.

Alan rubbed his hand on his forehead looking pissed with what she called him.

"Are you stalking me?" She asked, squinting her eyes at him.

"Am a very busy man to be stalking you" he replied in a serene voice.

"Look, my driver didn't mean to splash water on you, I apologize on his behalf and I can pay for the damages if you don't have an issue with it," Alan said to her in a neutral tone.

"You rich people think you can pay the poor people off and yes, I have an issue with it" She glared at him attempting to walk away.

"I can drop you off as compensation for ruining your outfit" He persuaded.

"I don't"…. "Please" He continued while opening the door of his black SUV interrupting her.

Ashely stared at him before entering the car, she sat in a conserved manner trying not to stain the ambiance of the car with her presence because everything was screaming luxury.

"What is this man?" She thought.

"You can sit comfortably, I don't bite" His deep voice brought her back to earth.

She adjusted a bit, still conscious of where she was.

The aura emitting from him and the calm ambiance were making her hands sweat despite the air conditioning. She closed her eyes hoping the driver could reach her destination quickly.

"Miss, where should I drop you off?" The driver probed.

"19th Manhattan Street" she replied as the car returned to its original silence.

"Ashely Greenwood, I can help you that's if you want," Alan said while staring out of the window.

Ashely bulged her eyes at him in shock.

"How do you know my name? and what do you mean by "you can help me?" She queried.

"I know your Mom is sick and you need money for her treatment, I can offer you assistance if you want, I mean you don't have much time" He probed further ignoring her attempt to know how he knew about her.

"You can't possibly help me just like that, what do you stand to gain?" She asked, scanning him.

"You are not only beautiful but you are wise" Alan complimented her.

"Marry me," Alan said, scrutinizing her.

"What!!" Ashely flared choking on her saliva.

"Not like a real marriage, It will just be on paper. A two-year marriage and that will be all, your mom gets treated and I get what I want, we go our separate ways" He explained.

"More like a contract marriage?" Ashely asked.

"Exactly a contract marriage" Alan replied.

Ashely chuckled,tears streaming down her face at the thought of being married to a total stranger in other to save her mother's life.

"What makes you think I would say yes to your proposal and don't you think it is illegal to find out about someone's life without their permission?" Ashely asked while wiping the tears off her face.

"I know you love your mom so much and you wouldn't watch her die when you have the option to save her and yes, it might be illegal to find out about someone without their permission but you caught my interest Ash " He replied in a serene voice. 

"You are not allowed to call me that name" Ashley replied flaring up.

He chuckled, raising his hands in surrender.

The sound of his chuckles was like pleasant music to her ears as she struggled to focus her attention on the matter on the ground.

"You can think about this proposal and get back to me soon," Alan said while passing his complimentary card to her.

"Miss we are here," The driver said while pulling off at the driveway close to her mother's place. 

"Thank you for dropping me home," Ashely said to Alan in a tiny tone while turning fully to him as the driver alighted to help her with the door.

After she got down,he wind down the windows of his car while she turned in his direction hoping he would say something.

I don't like being delayed, the clock is ticking Ash" He said with a cheeky grin as the car drove off.

"This guy knows how to piss me off and also give me a tingling sensation at the same time" Ashely thought, shaking her head as she headed to the house.

Ashely walked through the driveway and pressed on the doorbell but no one answered. She clicked on the door knob and the door opened.

"Mom and her habit of leaving the door open" She frowned, shaking her head.

"Where could she be, Mom, Mom?" She called out, scanning through the empty living room.

"Mom, Mom" she called out again heading upstairs to her room.

"Mom!!!" She screamed as her bag dropped from her hands.

Ashely ran to her mom who was lying lifeless on the floor, tears shimmering in her eyes. She shook her mom but she got no response.

She sobbed scanning through her bag for her phone.

"Hello 911, there's an emergency here I need an ambulance at 19th Manhattan street, please be fast" She wailed as she tried to compose herself.

She called Andrea immediately she got off the phone with 911

"Andrea, I need your help. I don't know what's wrong with my mom , I need to get her to the hospital. I have called the ambulance. I don't know when they will get here, please I need you to drive down to her place quickly" Ashely said hurriedly.

"I am coming, please calm down," Drea said, picking up her car keys and hurrying out of the house.

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At the hospital 

Ashely sat on the chair outside the theater room as she sobbed helplessly at the thought of losing her mom while Drea sat close to her consoling her and telling her that all would be fine.

The theater door pushed open as Dr.Ray stepped out with three nurses. Ashely stood up rushing to him while Drea followed.

"How is she?" She enquired.

The doctor bowed his head while thinking of what to say.

"Say something, anything" Ashely yelled, her eyes flooded with tears.

"We need to begin her treatment immediately, your Mom is in a very critical condition, I am afraid she won't make it if we waste any more time," Dr.Ray explained, wiping sweat off his face.

Ashely staggered backwards falling to the ground at the words of the doctor. Drea bent to her level trying to calm her down.

"I need to make a call, I will be back" She sniffled, wiping her tears while standing up.

She went to her bag, brought out the complimentary card and walked to the corridor area.

She dialed the number as she waited patiently for him to pick up.

"Hello," A rough voice spoke over the phone.

"I am ready to be your contracted wife," She said in a tiny voice while clutching the phone tightly.