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Pressure

RAYMOND

It was horrible, frightening, and terrifying to stand in front of a confused woman who appeared homeless.

What exactly was I doing here in the first place? I asked myself this question repeatedly, eventually coming up with an answer.

Grandfather was doing it again.

"Get yourself a wife, Raymond!”

“Raymond, you should get a wife.”

"Your brother is not good enough to keep these things for himself."

Now I was ready to marry.

Because I could not produce a woman I loved, I had to go the other way.

"Young lady, did you hear what I said?" I moped at the small woman while wondering what she was going to say next.

The young nurse who was called to a corner for questioning had announced her need for money to administer the newborn vaccine, and it appeared that only I could save the day.

But why the hell was she wasting my time?!

She stammered, "I—"

"Yes, I am going to be your wife."

"However, I demand that my child be treated first, as this is why I am taking on this position. I am not trusting you for any reason. Not you, or any other human with a third leg!"

“Okay. Please hold on—" I burst out laughing.

"This is not a role you would take on for a single day, Mrs. Hoover. I believe the nurse briefed you on how things would go. You are supposed to be my wife for two years before terminating the contract.

"What—what do you mean?"

"Everything I said." I responded.

"I need a wife to claim my father's properties as CEO of several companies and heir to these assets and I can not do it without a wife, so I would like you to take on that role if you can, which I believe you can do. Both you and I are in need."

"I just came out of a marriage!" She exclaimed loudly.

"Why not check this out, Mr. Jefferson?!" She shouted again, walking to the bedside and returning to the spot with a piece of paper.

“Look! Can you see that?”

“This is what your fellow man has done to me, and you expect me to enter another marriage with someone I do not care about. What are you doing, Mr. Jefferson? You wealthy people can be extremely manipulative!"

“I am not your husband, okay!”

Why was she shouting?

“Can you calm down and listen to me, young lady?” I said and walked closer to her.

“This letter or whatever this piece of paper is, should be the least of my business. I am here to make an offer and it is either you take or leave it. If it's not good with you, speak and I'll move to the next patient.”

“I just want the vaccine.” She cried.

“I just want my baby alive. She could be dead before this time tomorrow, Mr. Jefferson.”

“You know what? It's either you wife me or not, Mrs. Hoover—” I said and walked to the door.

“You know the nurse. Reach out to her if you change your mind before the next hour. I need to speak to the management on getting me another wife if—”

“—I will be your wife.”

Did she say that—?

My back still turned against her, and I held the smile on my countenance for moments.

"Did I understand correctly?" I inquired, turning around and no longer smiling.

“Yes—”

The vaccine was quickly administered to the newborn, who slept peacefully on the cot.

All of a sudden, the woman had a peaceful expression on her face, and I was glad I could do something to help, even if it was tit for tat and I was not to blame.

There are investments at stake.

Rhett, my brother, would do anything to have them, even though he does not deserve them.

Not a single bit.

According to the history of my life and that of my small but large family, he was the black sheep of the family.

If the investment were granted a licence, it would be sold all in one day. The family name would be etched into the mud, and that would be the end of it.

"Are you prepared?"

"Look. She is sleeping," the serene woman said, smiling. "Thank you for coming to my aid, at least," she said with a smile that would not go away.

"When exactly is the wedding? I am ready to be your wife and save you the trouble, but I have a request before the wedding."

"I have nothing to give you, young lady," I sighed, patting the back of the child shifting in her cot.

"I administered the vaccine to your child, and your hospital bills have also been resolved. I believe it is best if you accompany me home to see my grandfather at this time."

"I want my revenge."

"What revenge?"

"On the man who did this to me," she muttered. "A man who abandoned me on a bed with a child he should have loved and cherished deserves to die." She finished and stood up.

Her legs led her to the end of the room, and when she faced me, I saw her entire face for the first time since I arrived at the ward.

Five feet tall.

Her brown eyes, despite her attractive curves and hot body, complemented her blonde hair. The kind that a man would die for.

No.

Not just yet. I was not losing my mind yet.

A man who did something like this did not deserve to live. For all I knew, he should pass away and be buried without a coffin.

"I will grant you that," I said abruptly, despite my wishes. "After you leave the hospital, my man will bring you to my home."

"Thank you," she repeated, taking the child into her lap. "I am looking forward to signing the contract with you." She added, and I walked out of the ward, heading to my car after tipping the nurse who had done a good job.

"Thank you for helping," I said, greeting her. "Please keep this with you in the meantime. I have other responsibilities." I dashed to the door of the car that had brought me and asked the driver to start the engine.

My phone started beeping.

“Dad?”

“What do you want from me again?” I asked and heard a chuckle from the other end of the call.

“Without waiting anymore for him to speak, I ended the call. What was there to say? He wants me to wife a woman and that is just what I was about to do, after all.

The driver eventually caught up with the gate, and I hopped out with a grimace and a smile on my face.

"What has happened since our last conversation?" Grandfather inquired as he exited his room.

"I have been waiting far too long, and your time will come soon. Raymond, it has already been two weeks. In case you didn't notice, it will be two weeks in a few days."

"I am working on it, Dad," I said with a sigh. "Two weeks is insufficient to get a woman, let alone marry her. In case you didn't know, I require plenty of time to resolve these issues."

"You were told about this from the start," Dad grunted. "What exactly are you saying?" We can not stop Rhett from securing these properties if he comes with a wife right now! After all, he is your elder brother and should be the rightful owner of these possessions.

"Okay, relax," I said, chuckling and settling into the chair. "I have met a woman. And I really adore her, Dad. It was supposed to be a secret, but I can not keep it to myself any longer.

"Quit playing with me already, Raymond."

"Get ready for my wedding," I said, getting to my feet. "We spoke with each other and made wedding plans. She will see you soon, possibly as early as next week."

"This is really good!"

"Exactly what you wanted, after all."

Without saying anything else, I walked out of the living room and got back into the car.

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