Billionaire's wife by Ashleh Queen (best ereader for epub TXT) 📕

“Why?” I knew my voice came out very weak.

“In your proposal, you said you will pay the loan in the next two years. But what if I am not around until then?” His words made my eyes widened. I wonder who would care about the loan he has given after his death.

“…I know what you are thinking?...” He added slowly when I didn’t reply. I couldn’t have it in me to look at him. I was beyond embarrassed.

“…but there is a difference between the loan and donations…what do you want Ms. Cole?”

“I…I want the loan, sir. And, I am sure you will live a long perfect life…Why…why are you even thinking about dying?” I mean this person had everything. I wonder if he was depressed. Why he would wish death?

“For the loan, I would like you to mention a plan to give it back.” He said making me stun. I bit my inner cheek harder before nodding my head.

“I would like a coffee,” He said and I smiled before following, “Of course,”

I was getting out of his room thinking about how Sarah wanted a new pair of shoes or Anne wanted a decent dress to get to her friend’s birthday party when I heard Mr. Lucca say,

“Tell me how twenty thousand are going to help?” He said making me turn.

I was still gathering my thoughts to manage a proper reply when he said, “…she wants a bypass surgery and it is expensive…then why you didn’t ask for more.” He asked and I got my hands cold.

“Because I was only able to return twenty thousand in the next two years…plus…I need to change my apartment on an emergency basis.”

“So, you believe I won’t get past more than two years…” He cut me off and I tried to clear.

“No…no….you…”

“Do you know why you only have one leave in a month?” He asked making me press my mouth before I replied,

“Because you are paying me a lot?” My voice was more like a question than a reply.

“Yes, that too…but I like you,” He said making my eyes narrow.

“I am looking for a woman who is filled with empathy, tolerance, and patience…and I know you can be perfect for any job.” I nodded my head clueless about what he was talking to me. But if this job was guaranteeing me twenty thousand dollars I was going to take on any job.

“…Ms. Cole, I do have a job where you can have enough time to repay whatever loan you want right now.” He offered to make me blink twice before I asked, “What is it?” I asked only to welcome a question from his side too.

“How much you want?...and, don’t think about repaying. You can take all the time…give me any figure,” He sounded like a perfect negotiator but I looked in his eyes to find the once in a lifetime opportunity.

Of course, I knew how much I wanted to get everything on track in my life. “It will be three hundred thousand…but believe me…right now twenty thousand are more than enough too…”

“What about one million dollars?” He said making my feet freeze to my place. I felt like a stone.

“What I have to do?” Of course, it was only now my sense kicked in.

He took a long breath before taking his wheelchair to the bookshelf. Only if he knew how much I wanted to know what it will be.

No matter how much I think I knew this person…right now my mind was going insane. One million dollars? The task was bound to be shady.

I let my breath out when he gestured me to take a file he was passing me. I don’t know why my legs felt so weak walking to him.

“You have to marry my son. I am not a fan of splitting a family. Once you are Mrs. Lucca you will be the family...forever.” The file I barely had my hands on slipped from my fingers.

Of course, I heard what I heard and was quick to reply.

“No…I think…I think…I am quitting the job,” I didn’t wait for his response and walked out of the place. My calculated mind was telling me how important this job was for me. But who does he think he is? Was he checking my patience by making me do thousands of tasks? Why he didn’t think for a single second that I was not enduring all of this because I am tolerant. It was because I wanted this job so badly. Maybe my step will show him I have limits to my tolerance too.

Soon, I was out of the place and walked back to my home to get my mind off of things. I heard Rachael calling me but I ignored her. I got to my room to lock myself and fell on my bed.

I recalled my last employer asking me to sleep with him for the raise. The incident changed everything and I quit three days after. Of course, Mr. Lucca was not proposing the same thing but what makes him think he could buy my consent, dreams…in fact, my whole life. Was my life this cheap in front of every person who had money? Something was burning my guts while I wished for my sisters to never live such a day. But somewhere in my consciousness, I wonder what his son lacked that made him look wife for him? I fisted the sheets recalling how much I wanted this job. I could see my friends laughing at me thinking how much of a failure I was. The realization that I won’t be able to provide better for my family, for now...or months to come was burning my insides.

“Julie…Julie?” I heard Sarah and her voice had panicked. I don’t know if I was sleeping or not but the desperation in the bang told me the matter was urgent.

I got to the door rubbing my face and swing open to saw Sarah hiccupping. “Mom is not moving…” I almost fell jumping over the stairs to notice an ambulance already pulling in front of our place. It seems Anna already had called for an ambulance.

I didn’t have anyone to leave the girls on their own and took them along with me. It was almost midnight and the girls leaning their heads to my shoulders were making me aware of my responsibilities even more. Keeping a family was indeed very hard. I tried to get them to eat something but couldn’t.

“What if something happened to her?” Sarah asked and didn’t look like a ten-year-old. Anna who was thirteen years old had her hands cold.