Returning to her table, Pheobe felt more confident than before. She looked at the man before her. With a stern face, she asked
"What do you want from me?"
"No need to bite tiger" he replied smirking.
"I've been observing you these past few days. Your commitment and calmness mesmerises me. I know this may come out as a surprise to you but I'd like to marry you" he said looking deeply into her eyes.
Hitting her strongly, Pheobe looked at the man. She can't just marry a man she had only seen and met once or twice. She doesn't even know what he does for a living.
"And why would I do that?" She asked
Exhaling deeply, he rested more comfortably on his chair. Sipping his glass of wine, he answered.
"Because you have no choice Pheobe."
Who does he think he is coming into someone's life and imposing bonds on them, Pheobe thought. Welling up with disgust and anger, she glared at the man before her who seemed more relaxed in the situation.
"I'm sorry Mister whatever your name is. If you called me here to play mind games with me, then I'm quite sorry to announce to you that I don't have time to do this."
Picking up the bag to leave, Akim stretched forth his hand bearing a card
"When you change your mind, call me through this line"
Blazing all over, Pheobe stormed out of the restaurant, refusing the card. She had had enough shenanigans for a night.
The next morning, Pheobe woke up to the ringtone of her phone. Feeling sleepy, she picked up the call.
"Yes this is Pheobe Mensah. How may I help you?... Yes, I do know him...Wait, what? Which hospital?"
Forgetting to take a bath and even brush her teeth, she prepared herself and left for the hospital. Her mother had been knocked down by a car while crossing the Zebra- crossing.
At the hospital stood her junior brother, uncontrollably weeping and regretting. This struck a cord in her spine. Was it that bad? She walked towards the nurse on duty and gave her mom's name. She was directed to a tiny room where a pale-looking at a woman was lying. Fatigue was evident in her eyes and a bandage on her forehead.
A doctor soon came in.
"Doctor, is my mother alright?" She asked him.
"She hit her head hard but she is stable. She has fallen into a coma. I can't assure you if she would be alright in a matter of months or years. She's lucky to have been operated and taken care of early. She would have had serious brain damage."He said feeling satisfied.
He checked on the drip and temperature of the woman before excusing himself.
Pheobe sank into the armchair close by. They barely could keep up with rent and utility bills, and now there are hospital bills to think about. How on earth was she going to pull this off?
She went to the front desk and asked for the fee for the operation. What she heard shocked her. The bill had already been paid by a gentleman. He had left his card just in case he was asked for. Pheobe couldn't believe her ears, Akim footed the bill? Wasn't he going too far? Pheobe thanked the front desk nurse and took the card.
She went over to spend some time with her brother before leaving the hospital to their apartment. She took her phone and called the number.
"What is it that you want Akim?" She asked furiously
"I've already told you ma'am," he said calmly.
"Who in her right sense would marry a man she hardly knew" she asked
"Then why don't you accept my offer? We could begin as friends and..." Pheobe cut him short
"Why would I accept offers from a man who is close to being mad? Why exactly do you want me to marry you?"
" I need a wife and you need financial assistance. It is a win-and-win deal. You marry me and I take away all those issues." He answered
Pheobe was massaging her temples. This man has a point. She has never been too desperate about money but she needs his help with the hospital bills now that her mother is in a coma. She exhaled deeply.
"Where do we begin?"