At 8:55a.m, the following morning, Danielle stood in front of the glass doors at The Langford Group’s headquarters. Her palms were sweaty from anxiety and she was wondering what exactly she was going to do there. Was she really going to beg a stranger for money? Well, time would tell. She comforted herself, smoothed her hair, opened the door and went inside.

The lobby made of shiny marble floors was bright , cold and filled with leather chairs. A receptionist upon sighting her immediately said “Are you Ms. Harper?” and upon Danielle nodding affirmatively , she continued “Take the elevator this way till you arrive the twentieth floor.”

Danielle’s heart Raced as the doors closed around her. On the twentieth floor , she walked down briefly before she saw Reed Langford who was standing with his arms folded, looking out and admiring the beauty of the city.

Upon noticing Danielle’s presence, He turned his face towards her direction and said “Ms. Harper ,Thanks so much for coming.”

She nodded nonchalantly and said “You asked to see me, Mr. Langford?”

He pointed towards a leather sofa and Danielle sat facing him in an opposite direction. He dropped a thick folder on the glass table, then while pulling a pen from his desk drawer with one hand and simultaneously tapping the folder with the other hand , he said : “This is a contract for Two years of marriage. I will pay you Two million dollars up front, and full payment for your sister’s surgery if you agree.”

Danielle could not believe her ears as she managed to whisper “ Do You mean Marriage for two years?”

“Yes, I mean what I am saying”. He added “My grandmother is in dire need of an heir. I do not want love but I only need a child. I know that you need money. So, it is very simple. You give me what I want, and I will give you what you want”

She stared at the pages of the contract but her eyes were momentarily blurred. For a second, She imagined Mia’s brave smile if the bills were timeously sorted. She also remembered the warning by the Doctor that delay could be dangerous.

“I really need to read through this,” she managed to say with a trembling voice.

“Take all the time that you want, but I am expecting a feedback from you latest by tomorrow morning.”

He handed her the contract and a pen. Danielle closed her eyes for a second or perhaps, two seconds and took a deep breath. Several thoughts of “WHAT IF’S” were raging ferociously within her. Well, the choice was between the devil and the sea. So, she was determined to go to any length to save her sister’s life. After glancing through the document for a few minutes, she signed and gave one copy to Mr. Langford while she retained a copy.

As Danielle walked out of the building, she was still battling with thoughts of what could go wrong. She was so lost in thought that she barely heard the buzz of the receptionist behind her. As she exited the building, she quickly boarded a yellow cab home as she clung the folder to her chest.

The driver in the cab noticed her downcast countenance and he sought to know what was wrong “Are you having a bad morning?” He asked.

She managed to feign a smile as she replied “You could say that again.”

Then She took out her phone dialed her sister’s number . After narrating her encounter earlier in the morning ,she ended the conversation with some good news “Mia, I am going to get it. Two million and the cost of your surgery is covered.”

“Dani, You mean you goanna do this for me?” Mia’s voice cracked in awe, “You really mean that you will go to such extent for me?”

“Yes Mia, I will do anything to ensure that you are fine again. I have signed the papers.”

“Thank you so much sis. I really love you” Mia said in an emotionally laden tone.

“I love you too my dear” Danielle said and quickly hung up the call.

That night, Danielle returned back to her tiny apartment where she packed her small suitcase. She also folded one black dress, a pair of shoes, and kept her copy of the contract’s folder between her clothes. Jasper, her cat, jumped on to the bed and she caressed his fur, panting and saying; “I am so sorry, buddy”.

Early the next morning, an exotic black car pulled up outside Danielle’s house. It was driven by Thomas Reed and Danielle was taken straight to Mr. Langford’s family house. Upon arrival at the residence, Thomas reed read out the rules thus “Ms. Harper, you are welcome, before you go in, there are a few rules that you are expected to adhere to strictly.” He paused to read them thus “Receiving of visitors are prohibited after nine pm. Do not ask any questions about Mr. Langford’s family. Again, Meals are prepared by the domestic staff. You may only walk through the east wing. Finally, if you wish to make phone calls or send emails, you must go through me.”

Danielle muttered “The rules are perfectly understood by me.”

Thomas handed her a keycard made of silver as he said “Here is your access card. You will stay in Apartment 10B. Please, do enjoy your new home.” She gave a shy nod and stepped inside the edifice.

Immediately the door was clicked shut, Danielle found herself in a huge marble lobby. She quickly ran her hand over the wall and she was wondering whether she had clicked the wrong button. She saw doors with brass numbers encrusted at the top. She carefully put her access card into the slot for apartment 10B and immediately, the door swung open and she entered into a massive living room.

She sets her suitcase and the contract folder on the couch,. She peeped Outside through the window and she saw varieties of cars and different people going through the daily hustles and bubble of life. It then dawned at her that her life had just changed.

Her phone buzzes for a few seconds and Mia’s message pops up on the screen thus "I want to thank you so much for the great sacrifice that you have made for me. I am so proud of you, Dani. I love you so much and I promise to always make you proud”

Danielle stares at the ceiling for a few seconds and her heart is a rainbow of emotions; joy and sadness. Reality dawns on her that on the morrow, she would wake up as Reed Langford’s contract wife.