Contracted to a crippled Billionaire

Elizabeth

Today, which was supposed to be the happiest of my life, turned out to be the most embarrassing day. When I reached my wedding venue, thinking the guest would be on the seat, ready to watch me walk down the aisle, their eyes glinting with admiration. But, when I arrived, Chaos greeted me. The event coordinator notified me no one booked the venue in my name for today.

Panic gripping every cell of my body, I tried calling Michael, my fiancé of four years, but his phone was off. I tried reaching Lilian, my best friend and wedding planner, hoping for an explanation, but her phone was off too.

I checked the hotel he had booked—he wasn’t there. And it didn’t take long for me to know that Michael and Lilian had duped me and run with my money.

My grip on the glass cup tightened as every memory I had tried to drown in alcohol filled my mind. Gulping down the last drops of the alcohol, I lurched to my feet. My thoughts began to blur, and everything seemed to float as the alcohol breathed its life into my veins.

“I need a refill,” I said to the bartender as I pulled up the burst of my wedding dress. The gurgling sound of the alcohol filling the glass cup melded with the soft murmurs of the customers.

I slugged towards the exit door, and with an unsteady push, the door swooshed open.

The sun’s warmth scorched me, and the loud noise of the bustling city gnawed at my ears as I came out of the alleyway and into the busy streets.

I was about to cross to the other side of the road when a tire screeched as the car came to a halt—a few inches away from me.

“Are you alright?” The man stepped out of the car and approached me. “Are you okay?”

My unsteady gaze fell on the man. He had a height that mocked me, brown hair, and brown eyes—just like Michael. He wore a well-tailored black suit—what Michael would have been wearing for the wedding.

The sight was appalling as it reminded me of what I had lost. A metallic taste burnt on my tongue. “Are you blind?” I questioned with a clipped tone. “You could have killed me!” I staggered back, stepping on my long white ball gown.

The man furrowed his brows. “You need to be more careful when crossing the road.” He crinkled his nose.

With partially closed eyelids, I shook my head. “Are you blaming me for this?” I snorted, struggling to stand still.

Almost instantly, as though my thoughts had connived against me, I remembered how the close guests blamed me for trusting Michael and Lilian.

And now this stranger was blaming me for him almost hitting me like it was all my fault. Michael and Lilian weren’t here to receive my wrath, but this man definitely was.

Pulling my gown off the ground, I stomped towards the car. With a strong swing, the sharp edge of my heels crashed down onto the headlights before moving to the next.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” The man yelled, his voice melding with the sharp crunch of the glass.

Not pausing, I raised my shoulders and slammed my weight onto the side mirror until it dangled.

A wide smile fleshed out on my lips. “Now you can blame me for this.” With an unsteady gait, I strutted out and hailed a taxi home, leaving the man and his broken car—just like me—in the city too happy for my liking.

****

A week slipped by, and I still hadn’t gotten a hold of Michael or Lilian. The rhythmic tap of my fingers on my lap mingled with the tick of the analogue clock that hung on the light blue walls of my friend's apartment.

Tessy dropped the tray of juice on the small burly wood at the centre of her small living room.

“Were you able to find any work for me?” I reached out for the glass of juice. It’s coldness crept into my fingertips.

After the constant harassment of the loan sharks at my place of work, my boss finally fired me two days ago. I also had to move to spend some days with Tessey.

“The only job available is being a maid.” She sank into the white sofa across from me.

I grunted. “There’s no way that would pay my debt.” I smacked my forehead.

A sharp knock on the door punched the atmosphere, and we whipped her head towards the door.

Tessy sprang to her feet. “I’ll be back,” she said, heading towards the door.

Her yell snatched my attention. I dropped the juice and scurried towards her.

My stomach twisted as my eyes landed on two familiar burly men—the loan shark.

One of them drew closer. “So this is where you’ve been hiding?” His stare was as sinister as the tattoo engraved on his neck.

“I…I…wasn’t…” I stuttered as the words refused to leave my constricted throat.

The man closed the space between. The acrid smell of cheap cigarettes crawled into my nose. Gripping me by my hair, he hurled me to the floor, and my body thudded as I fell. A wince escaped me as pain journeyed through my body.

The man lowered to the floor next to me, and I recoiled.

“Where’s my money?” he questioned with a hoarse voice.

Silence traced the air as we both stared at each other. I didn’t have the money. But was I bold enough to say that—not at all?

“You don’t have the cash?” His eyes dipped to a rare moment of sympathy.

My body eased up as I nodded.

A vile smile curled his lips upward, and his eyes darkened. “You can always sell your organs to pay up.” He ran his filthy fingers down my face.

A stinging chill crippled my nerves, and my breath stilled.

The man rose to his feet. “You have a week from now to pay up, or else you might end up walking around with one kidney.” With those final words, he and his partner left.

Tessy rushed towards me and pulled me into a hug. Painful tears stung my face as it trickled down. What on earth did I do to deserve such terrible luck? Michael and Lilian were probably leaving the best life, while I was here about to lose an organ.

**

8 pm on the same unfortunate day. I climbed up the stairs of the block of flats until I reached my block.

Darkness and cool air sprinkled in through the small, scrawny window at the end of the hallway. Dashing out of my house four days ago, I had neglected the light bulb outside my door.

My gaze fell on the paper stamped on my door. I ran my eye across it; it was an eviction notice.

A frustrated hiss escaped me as I pulled down the paper and crumpled it between my palms. Tossing to the floor, my eyes fell on a brown envelope lying peacefully.

I cocked my head as I observed it. I wasn’t expecting any package. Aside from Lilian and Tessy, I didn’t have anyone who would send me a package.

After picking up the envelope, I tore it open and pulled out the white paper in it. My jaws sagged as I read the content; I was sued for $500,000 for damages.

Memories of that day slipped into my mind and itched my brain. “Gosh. How could I have been so stupid?” I muttered. I hadn’t even paid the loan sharks, and now another debt had embraced me. Life seemed like it had a “buy one, get one free” deal on disasters.

My eyes fell on the plaintiff’s name, Mr. Zain Adiaga.

Inside the envelope, I noticed a contact card and reached out for my phone and dialled the number.

The dial filled my ears, followed by a deep velvety voice. “This must be Elizabeth.”

My chest tightened. How did I know who I was? “Yes.”

Before I could proceed further, he continued. “You’ve received the petition, I assume. I did a background search—it seems you don’t have the means to pay.”

“So why serve me, knowing that?” My voice tightened.

A chuckle came from the other end of the call. “I don’t want your money.” His voice dropped, a dark undertone creeping in. “I want something else.”

A question gnawed at my mind. What does this man want from me now?”