Chapter 2 - Her Solution
While sobbing in the fire stairwell, she heard the door in the upper level open and heard a man talking on his phone in an angry voice.
"This is insane, his qualifications are simply impossible period. They can't satisfy him. Every woman that I send to him is never good enough, I know that he pays them a lot and pampers them as if he likes them like a true girlfriend, but they all run after me to get back to him after he's done with them.
Even if they signed a 6-month contract to be his, those stupid women still fell in love with him even if they knew that after 6 months they would be evicted from his life. I'm gonna die due to stress at this rate."
Then the man stopped talking and seemed like he was listening to the other end.
She stopped sobbing and even if it was shameless of her, she couldn't help but eavesdrop and peek since the words coming from that voice were definitely intriguing.
However, the only thing that stuck to her mind was the words "pays them a lot" and "a 6-month contract". It made her remember her insolvent situation.
It made her think that it was not only her who needed money. Other women even enter into such kinds of contracts to earn money too.
And then it struck her… The answer to her question… Where will she get money for Jayson's operation…
Right… She hasn't done everything so far, she hasn't tried selling herself yet.
It was a desperate move but she had no other solutions left.
This is the only way her nephew can walk again... A chance for a normal life even though he will grow up without his parents, at least she can give him a future with a normal body just like other normal kids.
She suddenly got very curious about what kind of contract and how much that person paid his contracted girlfriends.
'Why does he need a contracted girlfriend? Is he ugly or perhaps old? But the man said those women fell in love with him,' Amy thought inwardly. 'It doesn't matter, I will swallow my pride and be audacious enough, this is not for me, this is for Jayson.'
Even though she is convincing herself that it is not for her, deep inside she knows she's lying to herself.
Part of her wanted this for her book. She can finally experience firsthand what it feels like to be in a relationship even if it's just a short time.
This way she will not be able to hurt someone else's feelings. Her vow to stay single forever will not be broken. She was ecstatically happy for killing two birds with one stone.
It is the perfect solution to her problem. But first, she has to secure the deal. Just thinking about it makes her extremely nervous. She hasn't done something like this before. What if she gets rejected and fails? So many possible scenarios are running through her head.
She was immediately pulled back from her thoughts when the man shouted.
"Damn it! Now he asks me to find him a pure and innocent one this time, and what the hell does that even mean?
Is he planning to get a Guinness record? Coz at this rate he should, that would make my life easier when he becomes famous, women will flock to his doorstep rather than me dealing with this every 6 months, I am tired of this.
I should just resign, I will never be able to find that pure and innocent woman that he is looking for even if I offer them 5 million upfront."
Then the man entered back to the door leading to the hospital.
Amy was already thinking and fighting with herself, a part of her wanted to offer herself to grab this opportunity to earn more but she didn't want to exchange her body like a whore just for money.
But the voice of the doctor rang in her ear, remembering how badly Jayson needed the surgery.
Without hesitation Amy ran after the man, climbing up the stairs as fast as she could.
"Excuse me, mister."
Panting, Amy tried to catch her breath while trying to formulate what she's gonna say.
"What do you need, miss? I'm in a hurry."
Amy composed herself and tried to look presentable and determined about what she was going to do.
"I want the job."
The man frowned and just looked at her in silence.
"The 6-month contract, I can do it."
Amy said quickly after seeing the confusion on the man's face. Surprised by her words, he asked her.
"How did you know about that?"
Amy held her hands together and started fidgeting due to nervousness.
"I'm sorry I was in the stairwell and overheard everything you said when you were in there."
He was amused by the courage of this woman so he gave her a half smile.
"So I guess you also heard that I need a pure and innocent woman, even I don't know what it means."
He then chuckled while shaking his head, he couldn't believe that he just said that to a stranger.
"Will a virgin count? I-I'm a virgin, perhaps t-that's what your boss wants, right?" Amy boldly stated.
The man could not believe this woman, is she that desperate for money to offer herself without knowing anything about it first?
Or does she already know who he is working for, he thought.
"You're interesting. How about this? I will contact you after I talk to my boss. How about that?"
Amy nodded and the man handed over his phone to get her number.
She then types her phone number and taps the call icon to make sure she'll also get the man's number.
He saw what Amy did and he thought mentally, 'Hmm she's smart, I wonder what else she's got.'
As Amy handed his phone back she did not waste time getting more information from him.
"Just one question, how much does your boss pay?"
He furrowed his brows upon hearing her question. This woman could be a gold-digger whom he must be wary of.
"Pretty good amount I must say, but he might change it if he likes. It might become higher or lower. However, for reference, the last contract lasted for 6 months and it was for 3 million."
Amy gave him a blank face and that left him wondering what her real purpose was.
Amy then nodded "Alright mister, I'll wait for your call then."
He smirked at her and offered his hand for a handshake, "Call me Rei, and you are?"
She took his hand and gave him a genuine smile.
"Amelia Bell, but you can call me Amy." They then separated ways.
Amy was in deep thought while standing still where Rei left her. She was so overwhelmed that she was not able to ask more questions. She didn't even get the name of his boss or other details that matter.
Upon remembering this, she shifted promptly to ask more questions, but Rei was not there anymore.
Amy frantically looked for Rei but to no avail. 'I lost him, I haven't even asked anything about his boss. What if he's a bad person or he's a–'
Her train of thought was cut off by an arm that swiftly hooked on her shoulder.
"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be with Jayson?"
Amy stared at Ash blankly; she didn't know if she would be happy or annoyed that he did not heed her request to leave her alone tonight when she thought she got the message across.
But she knows her best friend is worried about her after she frantically rushed to the hospital earlier.
Ash cannot read her mind so he brings up the paper bag in front of Amy's face to distract her while his arm is still hooked up to Amy's shoulder.
"I called up Mary and she said you hadn't eaten dinner yet when you left Bellory Cafe so I bought some of your favorites and Jayson's."
Amy and Ash then went to Jayson's room to find him already sleeping. She then informs his nephew's grandpa, Uncle Robert, that she'll take her turn tonight.
Ash didn't want to wake up the boy so he bid his farewell to Amy. He knows that Amy wanted to be alone with Jayson tonight but he can't help but get worried.
He thought that she would be sulking after receiving the bad news from the doctor. To his surprise, she seems to be coping well.
He also offered Uncle Robert a ride home and told the old man he would wait in the car after he noticed that Uncle Robert wanted to talk to Amy alone.
Uncle Robert noticed how puffy and swollen Amy's eyes were. He knows that she cried again since the doctor already talked to him earlier.
"Amy, dear, if we can't make those surgeries happen, it's not your fault, you already did everything that you could. Jayson will understand, he is a smart boy and he sees how hard you are trying."
Amy smiled at him with hope in her eyes.
"Not yet everything uncle, not everything."
Her smile faded as she looked at her sleeping nephew, he looked so peaceful as if he was in no pain.
Robert could only shake his head as he patted Amy's shoulder and then went his way.
She then gently pulled out the boxes of food that Ash brought, trying to move as quietly as possible to avoid waking up Jayson.
'If only my heart would beat for you Ash, you wouldn't have to be hurt this way,' she sighed as she looked at the dishes he bought for her and Jayson.
He truly knows her and even tries to get to know her family. It's true when he said that he bought their favorite dishes.
'Is he trying to make me fat now?' She beams warmly.
'I wish that you find your true happiness someday Ash.' If only she could teach her heart then she would. She wanted to return Ash's love for her but she couldn't no matter how hard she tried.
Love is not something she can force herself onto even if she knows that Ash will never hurt her ever.