BETROTHED TO THE BILLIONAIRE

Ryan’s POV

I was slightly frightened when she spoke up. I never thought I would meet her up here in my room. It was the least I expected.

My banging headache, my sorrow and the bad effect the rain has on me today aren’t helping matters.

I came into the room with my eyes close. I just wanted everything to go back to normal; the way it used to be when I had no problem in the world and even if I do, I always go home to talk to mom about it and it will be resolved. Most of the problems I always had always had to do with my company. Mother is always ready to help.

Sometimes, when I need Dad’s help, I indirectly sort out his help by going to my mom. She is my backbone. She gives me a shoulder to lean on. She is my mentor.

She is a good woman with a heart of gold.

Why is Valerie in my room? I ask inwardly when she waves a hand at me to jerk me out of my reverie.

The headache I am feeling is a result of the accumulated stress and also the thinking I have been doing all morning. I am supposed to go on a vacation with Valerie as a getaway from work because of how hard I have been working but finding myself stuck with a woman as crazy as she is does not make the thought of a break exciting.

“Hey, Ryan. What is wrong with you?” She shouts, her eyes bulging out and her skin pale white.

As calm as I can, I ask. “What are you doing here?”

She shrugs and slumps back on the bed. “I was scared of the sound of the thunder so I asked the guards to bring my things here so I can…”

“We are not to share a room”, I remind her. It will be stated in the contract.

“We are not to share a bed, not a room. That is why I brought my bed along.”

I can’t share a room with her. Not even in this situation. Not when I have a lot of things going on and I have to find a solution to the problem at hand.

I really do not have the time and strength for Valerie’s troubles now till the problem is sorted out.

Anita still doesn’t want to believe that there might be a solution somewhere. I told her to believe that mother can survive it but she won’t believe me. She won’t even allow me to talk to mom and I don’t know what to tell mother when next we meet.

I haven’t spoken to my doctor yet and I guess it is because of the fear of what I would hear from him. I don’t want him to tell me the same thing Anita is telling me.

She is a medical student and she knows what she is saying but I don’t want to believe that. Maybe she isn’t experienced enough to know that there will be a way out.

“It seems you have a lot on your mind. Let me leave you…”, Valerie lays back on the bed, dragging the comforter to her chin.

“The rain has stopped so you can go to your room now”, I say to her and grab my briefcase so I can change into something light.

I don’t feel like taking a shower, probably because of the cold or my confused thoughts.

“What?! I can’t go back now. The maids have retired for the night…”

“I don’t care.”

“What? You don’t care?” She snaps at me from behind. I don’t answer her as I take off my suit and drop the briefcase quietly beside my bed.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with sharing a room with her. It is expected of married couples but Valerie is not someone I want to have in my space.

Suddenly I remember what Anita told me about Valerie meeting up with my mother. Why didn’t she tell me?

When I veer around with one hand on my waist thinking, she is watching me with wide eyes, probably expecting me to retract my order for her to leave my room.

“Why did you meet up with my mother without telling me?” I question immediately.

She looks confused for a while. “Your mother, when?”

“When did you meet with her?”

Realization dawns on her and she shrugs.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” My voice is raised now.

So they met. And she never said a word to me about it.

“Why should I tell you? She wanted us to talk and not you, so what are you saying?”

“Why didn’t you tell me she was dying?” I growl out in pain, my headache increasing as I stroll to meet her.

Her jaws dropped signifying that she has no idea about what I am talking about.

“Dying?” She demands with a horrified expression on her face.

I wonder what they talked about if it isn’t about her ill health and her desire for me to have children and a happy family.

“Yes. Blood cancer.” I answer calmly, stopping in front of her bed. “She has blood cancer.”

“What?!”

“You didn’t know?” I ask, watching her intensely to know if she is pretending or not.

“Of course not. How did you know? When did this happen? Where is she now?” She scrambles out of bed and stands in front of me.

I stand still, watching.

“Ryan”, she shakes my hand to pull me out of my reverie. “Where is she? Is she home? Or at the hospital?”

“Home.”

“How did you know?”

“Anita told me.”

“How long has this been going on?” She asks again, helping me to a seat.

I shrug in ignorance. “No idea. I just got to know tonight.”

Silence ensues. She looks lost in thoughts and the desire to know what they talked about increases.

“What did you two talk about?” My question makes her jerk her head up.

“She was only persuading me to go along with the plans of the marriage…”

“Was it after we met at the restaurant or after?” I interrupt her quickly, facing her squarely as we stand in front of each other.

“After.” She replies without thinking about it.

If they met after us, doesn’t that say something? Valerie and I already agreed to go along with the plans, why will mother meet with her to convince her once again? Was it just to make her believe that it is the best or was Valerie having doubts after we already met and suggested a contract?

“Why?”

“Uhm?” Confusion skates her expression.

“Why did you two meet?”

“I already told you.”

Shit! I curse inwardly and hang my head between my two hands.

“What is the way out? Is it curable?”

“She wants me to have children. She pleaded with you to marry me because of her health. She wants me to have kids before she dies.”

A low gasp escapes her mouth.

“Wow!”

Silence creeps in again. Apart from the fact that I am embarrassed to be saying this to Valerie after what happened between us last night and this morning, I am suddenly speechless. But I wonder what she is thinking.

“Is that why you were acting like a kid who had been deprived of his candy?” I hear her say and that makes me raise my head. “No, you are behaving like a kid who has been given a tasteless candy.”

“You are the tasteless candy, then.” I retort and stand up.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Always making a joke out of everything. Is she ever serious?

“What?!” She snorts and snickers in laughter. “I am full of taste and…”

“Shut up!” I growl and turn back on my heels back to her. “I need a solution. What do we do?”

“We?” She acts surprised at the word.

“Yes. We. We are in this together, aren’t we? You don’t expect me to tell you all of that and also allow you to sleep here for free. Find me a solution, then you can start here till the rain for the year is gone.”

“Are you striking a deal with me?” She smirks mischievously.

“No.”

I turn back to take off my clothes and go to sleep.

Talking to her is no good. I will give the doctor a call first thing in the morning and whatever he says will determine my next line of action.

The reason why I am demanding a solution from her is because this is about us. This is what mothers want. I don’t plan to have sex with Valerie just because my mother wants us to have children, I just want to know what she thinks of the whole thing.

That shouldn’t be my major focus. Her treatment should be the first and the second priority is to make her believe that Valerie and I are good with each other.

Others can follow.

“Let’s fake it”, she voices out from across the room.

With a puzzled look on my face, I turn back from the closet, speechless to see her standing by the door with a serious look on her face.

I want to ask what she means by that but I can’t form a word out of my mouth.

“Let’s grant her wish.”

“What?!” I exclaim loudly, letting the towel in my hand drop off to the ground as my mouth drops open in shock.