Love For Sale: A Contract Marriage

The hospital's exit door swung open as a lady, dressed in a red-coloured gown, walked out through it. She believed to be walking, but instead, she was merely drifting. To the onlookers, she was just an image of perfection, beauty and fairness.

But just as it was said; "Behind every glittering surface, there's a turbulent sea."

So it was to the lady and even far worse. She was just a soul weighed down by an unfathomable burden.

A soul tired of living now.

A soul who wished never to see the next light of the day. She just wished the ground could just obey her mind's thoughts...to open up and swallow her whole.

And who's this lady?

Who's this beauty with an unfathomable burden?

Who's this gorgeous lady that couldn't shield the dark and tormenting emotions lying beneath her?

She's Diana Jones.

No one but her, the CEO of the Babel group of companies. A billionairess but filled with dark emotions she would never reveal to anyone... not even to the womb she came from.

Diana was stepping down the staircase, barely holding onto her own burden. Though she was walking, the actual truth remains that she wasn't even present at all. Her body was just obeying the principle of motion by moving forward, but her real self was trapped in the doctor's office she had just left.

She had barely noticed the presence of her car parked ahead when she suddenly halted. According to her law of emotion, the next cause was the car door being swung open, but that never happened.

Her driver, a tall man dressed in a black suit to his own taste of fashion. He stood beside the vehicle, his hand resting on the door handle as if he was about to open the door. But he didn't open it. His eyes were fixed intently on his boss's, his brows aligned together, and his facial appearance was filled with concern.

That was when Diana realized it. That she wasn't actually walking, but instead she was only drifting away.

For a moment, she stood silent, trying to gather herself. Then, she smiled gently and slowly lifted her gaze to meet his. But Diana only noticed something was off about Tony, his driver this time. Normally, she would force a smile...a usual routine expression meant to reassure him, but this time it only made his facial frown even deeper.

Diana stared at him for some moments and spoke out.

"Um, okay. What's it again this time, Tony?"

"Ma'am, I should be asking you that. Are you okay? Is everything alright?"

His voice was filled with worry and concern for his boss.

Meanwhile, Diana's smile remained, but deep inside her, she felt the pain emanating from that exact question.

How many times has she heard that question lately? And how many times had she brushed it off with her fake expression and the same empty response?

Obviously, this has become her everyday life routine and experience. But deep down, it only gives her more reason to leave this world earlier on the date already given to her.

"Oh, that again. I'm completely fine, Tony," she replied, her voice was light but her words dismissive.

"Or don't you want me to be fine, Tony?"

But Tony was not convinced, at least for now. His hand still resting on the door handle, refusing to back down.

"Madam, you know exactly what I'm talking about," he replied, giving her a worried facial expression.

"There's nothing you're telling me today to believe. Madam, you're not completely fine. I have been your driver for not less than three years now, and the kindhearted woman I serve isn't the one standing before me."

Diana sighed slowly, tilting her head slightly. She was obviously looking for her next word. Tony's reluctance to believe her lies today is actually telling seriously on her. Countless times before now, she could only insist she was fine and that's the end of discussion. But, that's exactly what she had already done just now, but nothing had changed. But in truth, she knew Tony to be only persistent by kind, loyal, and above all, he cared. She knew Tony was harboring a feeling towards her, but she knew not to give him a glimpse of hope.

"You're overthinking things again," Diana replied softly.

"I just had a long day, Tony, and that's all. You shouldn't be overthinking things the way you do, not just for me, but for your own sake too."

Tony exhaled calmly.

"A long day?"

"At the hospital, ma'am?"

"Madam, you are different from the one I brought here for a medical checkup. When I watched you walk out of that hospital like a ghost walker... Like your mind was far from here, perhaps very miles away. Come on ma'am, I've seen you tired before, but this... this is quite different from mere exhaustion."

Diana hesitated for a moment and laughed. She halted and could only stare at Tony, yet still smiling. Then, she looked away, and her fingers tightened on the strap of her bag. She knew Tony wasn't wrong, that she had been lost in thought, the burden in her heart threatening to consume her whole.

"Um, I see. Tony, just let it go," she said gently, her tone devised to deceive Tony.

"It's nothing serious, actually."

But Tony shook his head, stepping a little bit closer to Diana.

"No disrespect, madam, but I can't just let it go. You always pretend you're fine, but I see it. Every day, I see it. And today, it's even worse than that of previous days and ma'am, it's killing me emotionally."

Diana took a deep breath and let out a relieved sigh. Just as she was preparing to insist once more that she was completely fine and sound. Tony couldn't wait for her to come up with another excuse and he spoke out.

"I know you don't like talking about your problems to people, unless it's Mirabelle, your friend. That, of course, I respect wholeheartedly. But if you keep carrying this weight alone, it might end up crushing you, swallowing you up from inside. And when that happens, how do you think I will forgive myself?"

Though Tony's words struck something meaningful inside Diana's, she knew quickly to cover up so as not to be given up by her emotions.

"You're sweet, Tony."

She said, her voice genuinely warm with appreciation.

"Really, you're sweet. Your girlfriend is highly favored. But don't worry about me, I promise you, I can handle myself."

Tony held her gaze for some moments longer before he finally exhaled, admitting defeat.

"Fine, ma'am," he muttered.

"I won't push you further anymore. But that doesn't mean I believe what you said, ma'am. I just hope that one day... just one day in the future, you'll trust me enough to tell me the truth."

Diana smiled, a soft chuckle escaping from her colored lips.

"Gosh! You're sounding so dramatic now."

Tony gave her a knowing look. "Isn't that because it is?"

She sighed and smiled out big before she finally took a step toward the car. Seeing this, Tony opened the door for her.

But Diana halted, her gaze shifting back to Tony's.

"But wait, Tony. Aren't you buying me some drinks today?"

Tony smiled and feigned deafness to what she said.

"Madam, what did you say?"

Diana signaled him with her gaze towards the bar on the other side of the road.

"Don't tell me that you are not getting me any drink this evening. At least for keeping me standing for nothing less than twenty minutes."

Tony blinked, his hand scratching his hair in confusion.

"I don't have enough money to afford your taste, ma'am."

"And what's my taste?"

She teased him, trying to know his next defensive word.

"Um, you don't drink cheap wines like us. And, besides, my money is finished," Tony replied, looking away out of shame.

Diana laughed out loud.

"Don't tell me you're already ashamed," she spoke out. "Don't worry, I will pay you guys earlier this month. And after that, prepare to take me out."

Tony returned his gaze to her and replied, "That's okay with me. Then, I can afford your taste, madam."

"Tony?"

She called, her voice quieter now.

"Thank you."

Tony blinked his eyes, surprised by the sudden change in Diana's tone.

"For what exactly? Is it about the drink?"

"For caring," her voice was quick and sincere.

Tony straightened himself slightly, nodding his head once.

"Always, madam."

Diana nodded and got into the car. Though her mind was still clouded, her heart is a little lighter now.

Meanwhile, Tony closed the door and walked around to the driver's seat. Diana leaned her back against the seat and exhaled deeply.

Maybe, just maybe, she wasn't as alone as she thought.