Twisted Fate

Next morning, Ella was awakened by a gentle tap. She felt her body pained her as she wearily sat up right, yawning and stretching her arms.

That was when she remembered that she was at the cathedral the previous night and slept off on a pew.

She sat up and looked at the person who tapped her. She smiled when she saw him.

Father kaitano.

Ella sat up and said hello to father Kaitano.

“Ella, my child. Why are you here so early?” Father Kaitano asked, sitting next to Ella in his cashok.

“I slept here, father. I couldn’t go home because my mom is dying. I came to pray” Ella answered.

“Holy Virgin! ” Father Kaitano exclaimed.

Since Sarah Smith couldn’t Walk, she is no longer able to come for Mass. He didn’t know she wasn’t feeling too well.

Ella stood up. It’s morning, she must get going. She needs to check on her mother. She would think of another option if there is any.

“I will be on my way Father” Ella declared, clasping her hands together. She bowed slightly and turned to Leave.

“My regards to Sarah. I will come around to check on her later in the day” Father Kaitano said.

“Alright. Thank you father”Ella appreciated.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“May the Lord be with you my child”

“And also with you father” Ella responded, hugged father Kaitano and left.

Ella cannot explain but she felt light. It seems her burdens never existed. It seemed as if she was the one aggravating the whole thing, it wasn’t a big deal after all.

She got a cab and quickly went home for a quick bath. She called Rosa saying that she would be late. Her mother was not feeling well.

Rosa said okay. She would pass the message across to Mr Foster. She should take care.

She dressed up and took another cap, and rushed back to the hospital. Her mother was still in the same condition she left her the previous day.

Miss Kampala wasn’t there. It was only her mother in her ward. She took a seat and sat next to her.

“Good morning mother” Ella said, looking at the pale weak woman before her. This woman was the once healthy vibrant Sarah Smith, her mother.

She sighed and continued “you will be fine mother. I am working on getting a loan for your surgery. I will definitely get a loan.

I won’t let anything happen to you Mom, I promise. You know I love you very much mom. Don’t worry, everything is going to be fine…” Ella was talking to her mother when her phone rang.

She checked through and saw that it’s Mark, Alex Foster’s chauffeur.

Is everything alright, why was he calling her? Did Alex ask him to call her?

She answered the phone.

Thirty seconds later, Ella had hurried her steps outside the hospital building and just as Mark had said, the white Lexus was waiting at the parking lot.

Her heart seemed to beat fast. She doesn’t know what awaits her. Mr Foster wants to see her and he comes to find her in the hospital?

She had told Rosa already that she would be late. It’s not quite long since she arrived at the hospital and she intends to leave soon.

When she arrived at the parking lot, Mark stepped out and held the door for her to get in.

Ella froze.

She is not interested in going into the car. She is satisfied, standing outside the car while he lowered his glass and talked to her.

After the door being held for some seconds, without Ella stepping in Alex beckoned to her to come in.

Ella did and the door was shut. As she sat down, she didn’t look at her side where Alex was seated.

The car was chilly. Ella shivered. She felt as if she was going to freeze. How was this man able to stay calm in that car and he’s even comfortable in it?

Anyways, he is always in a suit. Why won’t he be comfortable in it? She shivered and a goose bump appeared already on her arms.

Alex saw her hugging herself and he didn’t care. When he’s done talking, she can get out. He can’t reduce the cooling effect in the car because of her.

“I know your mother is critically ill and needs a kidney transplant. I also know she has some underlying illness you have been managing.

I will help you get experts that will attend to your mother. I will take care of her bills and see her back to a complete state of well-being…”Alex offered.

Ella was shocked. She gently turned and glanced at Alex from her split vision. What did he just say?

He knew about her mother’s present condition? And he’s willing to help her? What exactly did he want to get from her by doing so much favour for her?

She was yet to recover from what he just said when he added “I will also get a therapist to look after her when she’s recovered”

Ella was filled with happiness if what Alex said was real, if he was really going to go ahead with what he just said.

But why was he doing that? What did he want her to do?

“Why did you choose to help me? What do you want in exchange?” Ella asked.

After her meeting with Bill the previous day, she has come to realise that some people practised the slogan nothing goes for nothing. There’s nothing like a free lunch.

“Marriage!” Alex answered simply.

Ella was taken aback. What did he just say?

“Marry me on a contract basis for just a year. Once the one year is over we divorced and we go our separate ways” Alex briefed her.

Ella became hostile in her looks. He wants to marry her in exchange for helping her mother.

Can’t he do it for her while he deduct it from her salary until the payment is completed?

Anyways, his own option was far better than Bill’s. He at least talked about marriage.

But it’s unfortunate that she is not interested in being married to a womaniser like Alex. He has no regard for women and she doesn’t want to spend another one year of her life in misery.

“What do you say?” Alex asked.

Will she say yes now or she needs time to digest it all. Whatever decision she’s to make, it has to be that day till nightfall.

The next day, he is expected to be married.

“I cannot marry you” Ella blurted.

Alex was shocked.

He turned and glanced at her for a few seconds. She said she cannot marry him?

Many women are bowing at his feet to be close to him. Some just desire a one night stand with him and others are content just having a snapshot with him.

She is different, she’s really different from other women.

No woman can resist his advances. He is rich, handsome, charming and a billionaire. He has all every woman will desire in a man.

That’s one of the reasons for his promiscuous lifestyle. Yet, Ella surprised him once again.

First she slapped him when he disrespected her. He knew he crossed his limits when he flirted with her. But he had refused to admit it to her or anyone else except to himself.

And now, after offering her so many benefits. All he needed from her was just a one year contract Marriage and yet she turned him down.

For the first time in his life, he regarded her highly more than any of the women he had any relationship with.

“Why?” Alex asked.

“I don’t like you,” Ella blurted.

“I don’t like you either. All I want is for you to be my wife only in name. I don’t need you in my bed or for anything..” Alex retorted.

But in his heart, he wants her to agree to marry him. He doesn’t like her just as she doesn’t like him as well.

Ella became shy. When he said he doesn’t want her in his bed or for anything, it implies he was not interested in having their contract marriage consummated.

“What’s your final answer? Alex asked. p