Undefiled Queen

Merlyn’s pov

Well that had shocked me; I thought with a laugh. I had thought all along that Mr. Bernard must be a father or maybe grandfather. But when I studied his handwriting closely, the strokes and their turns, I found out he is only a few more years older to me.

I took graphology as a subject in my school because of my interest to know the other person’s personality. Bernard had always intrigued me since our first communication and I was curious to know more about him. He is interesting but complicated if not understood properly and extremely possessive about the people he loves. I guess he is married and wondered about his wife.

For the first time, I replied to him.

Thank you so much for the gorgeous flowers, water lilies are my favorite! How did you know? I’m looking forward to starting our new life together.

Thank you for choosing me in spite of my age being on the wrong side of twenties.

Merlyn

*****

My phone had pinged back with an immediate response.

You are more than welcome! Don’t let your family worry about you. You are in safe hands. Speak soon.

Yours Bernard

Speak? The very sound of the word brought sweet titillation in me. Would I get to hear his voice soon?

No doubt I would soon hear his voice because it is not only the voice but I need to be ready to share with him many more intimate things. Just the thought invoked a tug in my heart. Will I be able to share my everything with this guy? Stephen was the only man in my life. Will this guy be able to replace Stephen in these few years? How about surrogacy? My stupid mind is going circles not able to know correctly about this mysterious guy.

I really needed to get a grip and remind myself just exactly what I was here for. No one in their right mind would want to exchange places with me. I take the money, finish my deal with this billionaire and get back to my previous life.

So far so good. If he accepts my daughter wholeheartedly with me, then nothing like it. Abby will be lucky to be able to cherish a father’s relationship too in her life along with the mother and I would be the happiest woman in the world.

It was finally Monday. I was waiting to see Mr Mysterious who was very courteous and polite in all his letters yet seemed a puzzle to me in every word he wrote.

The door was opened by a maid and stunningly the inside was not another bedroom but a huge workplace which had so many books and files neatly arranged in glass cabinets.

On the other side were indoor plants like croutons and bamboo arranged under a sun shade. The maid asked me to take a seat and from inside walked an aged man in a black coat probably an attorney.

And yes, I was right he was indeed a lawyer. “Good morning ma’am” he greeted me warmly and placed a file in front of me. He took a pen from his shirt pocket and placed it on the folder. “Madam, you can read the contract and sign it. But before doing anything my sir would want to know the reason behind your choosing of this contract.”

I stared at him, not understanding what he was asking. It is obvious not everyone’s pockets are filled with money and for the sake of gaining more income some people like me are forced to take black collar jobs too.All content © N/.ôvel/Dr/ama.Org.

The attorney cleared his throat. “What we mean here is, there should be some strong reason, where you decide to marry an unknown and a handicapped person and also beget a child with him?”

I, in my usual habit, started playing with my fingers. I did not want to share my private details with this black coat guy. I did not have a good impression with lawyers from the beginning. They can twist the truth to any extent to win the case and they do not have any ethics, at least this is my impression regarding the few that I met in the past regarding my parents’ accident. But I guess this gray beard was as stubborn as a log to extract answers from me.

He patiently waited for me to confess things though he was running short of time. “My uncle is sick. He is suffering from cancer and needs a lung transplant immediately. I do not have the money even to pay his medical bills, lung transplant is a big issue and so here I am, marry a billionaire and grant my womb to bear his child. In return I want ten millions in cash.”

The man nodded and told me they would pay the money in installments. He started giving me details on how and when they would be paying me when somebody called him on his phone. “Yes sir…yes sir.” The man nodded. “I am on my way.”

He quickly got up from his seat and walked inside. So the call was from within this mansion. Was it from the billionaire himself? Minutes later he came back wiping the sweat on his face though the air conditioning was good. “Madam we will pay you all the money now but you would sign this contract to stay with sir forever.” He placed the document before me a little skeptically.

I narrowed my eyes at him, unable to understand what he was telling me. Did Bernard want a tie up with me till his hair turned gray? I feel the man is weird. He did not see me and did not talk a single word with me till the moment. Though I’m sure he would have got a background check done upon me long ago.

Unlike my previous contract signatures, this time I read everything and in detail, twice so that I do not miss out on anything and be cheated. To my surprise the word ‘wedding’ was not mentioned anywhere in the contract. I read and re-read only to find I will stay with this billionaire for the rest of my life.

“I thought this contract would be only for a couple of years until I gave him an heir but here he wants me locked with him forever and with no marriage. I’m no way going to be his courtesan. I want to be his legally wedded wife. I come from a respectful family and everyone who needs money does not have to stoop low and be a sex worker.” I snarled at the lawyer with rage.

“You will be his wife, you will know everything about him once you sign the contract.” He pleaded with me to agree to him.

I thought the billionaire was polite and courteous but this seemed more like a trap to me. Why doesn’t the billionaire have a face to face talk with me? He sent me his representative and stated his terms. Is he the person going to marry me or is the marriage also with this attorney instead of him? I thought with deride. I thanked the lawyer and said I was no longer interested in the offer.

Without saying a word, the attorney put one million on the table in front of me. “This is extra to the ten millions you demanded. It is not only surgery. You will have a lot of medical expenses before and after the surgery and this amount will take care of that.”

“I cannot sign on anything about which I am kept in the dark. I need to meet your boss before I sign the contract. I stated my terms cut and dry.” Another million went on the table. Does this man talk only with money? Or is it the billionaire who is making him talk this way?

“You cannot buy me with money. I slapped my palm on the table looking fierce into the old man’s eyes and rose up from the chair to reach the door.”

He looked behind me and the door closed. “What the hell…” This time I started panicking.

What happened to all the courteousness of these people? Is Bernard available here or this lawyer, who is his minion, is acting on his own accord?

I was angry, agitated and felt helpless at the same time. I should have listened to my aunt and not come to this new place. Now I’m completely under these people’s mercy.

My tears came out free flowing from my eyes. “Please allow me to leave. I have a daughter to look after at home. She doesn’t have a father. I am the only parent left for her. I urge you. Please allow me to go.”

The phone in my hands started beeping. It was my aunt. I lifted the call in anxiety. What more troubles does God want to add in my life?

Much against my fear, my aunt’s cheerful tone was heard in the line. “Dear Merlyn, I and your uncle will always be grateful to you for everything you did to us. The billionaire with whom you’re going to have a contract had not only transferred the money for the operation and medication but spoken to the doctor too. He seems to be a very influential man. The tables turned as fast within a heartbeat. Your uncle’s name had gone to the top priority in the patient’s surgery list. He will be operated on early tomorrow morning. I would just say, the man had done a lot to us. Just keep him happy after marriage.”

She took a long breath. “Merlyn, I have no words to express this happiness. You entered our family just because of the favorable turn of our stars.”

I did not know what to say or add. My mind stopped functioning. I wiped my tears and signed blankly wherever my signatures were needed.

Stephen’s POV

I was listening to everything from behind the curtain. I cannot reveal myself to her before she signs the contract. So I was waiting for the opportunity with eager eyes.

Since the time she stepped into the soil of New York, I was not able to control myself. I love her and want to have her by any means.

Luckily money is not an issue on any day for me. I can topple the world with a flick of my fingers. I had already informed my men and within ten minutes I got details of the hospital, her uncle was admitted.

I immediately talked to the doctor and wired the money necessary. The old man doesn’t seem to stop giving troubles to my wife but he is my best pawn, always works favorably for me. It is because of him, we keep uniting.

But those last words of hers put me on an alarm. My mind went blank. A daughter? She is married and having a child too. Our marriage contract lasted till last month. How could she disregard the contract, marry and also have a daughter?

The nerve of her to defy me. My hands automatically turned to fists in an irresistible rage. I immediately summoned my men to find out who is the man in her life and if he exists as her husband why did she come to me? Did she think she could play with me, marry me while she is already having a husband? How dare she think of blinding my eyes? Merlyn is the only person in this world to whom I gave the leverage to stay free with me.

I do not discharge mercy to any person. I am a beast who has no kindness and emotions and can even kill people without having an iota of humanity. But for her I am as soft as a marshmallow and set her free when she wanted to move away from me. However she taught me a good lesson of not being merciful to anyone including her.

And now she is going to see the side of me which nobody dares, which is going to be a pain more than suffering hell.