A Deal With The Billionaire

EPISODE THIRTY TWO

THEME: A shopping spree

CONNECTICUT, UNITED STATE OF AMERICA

HARTFORD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

Raven’s heart limbed for joy when her son regained consciousness. Words couldn’t express how happy she felt when Rowan was asked his name and then to identify his mother and his grandmother and he did perfectly. He had called out their names and it made Raven’s heart soared in happiness. She had hugged him tightly and sobbed out loud for her son’s recovery.

Raven was thankful that she was able to save her son’s life. She didn’t know what would have become of her if she wasn’t able to get the surgical bills sorted and had to lose her son.

In a way, Raven was extremely thankful for the presence of Benjamin and his friend walking into her life when she needed them the most.

“Mom, I am so thirsty.” Rowan said, his voice was still not clear enough.

Eva grabbed a bottle of water and placed it in his mouth so he could drink up.

“Is that enough?” Raven asked when he stopped drinking from the bottle.

He nodded his head. “Mom, what happened to me?” He asked.

Raven turned his head slightly so he could look into her eyes. “You passed out while playing on the field and then an opponent’s kick at the ball had made a hit at your head. It wasn’t intentional though. You were unconscious for a few days but the doctor had to revive you through surgery. And he noted how much of a fighter you are and you my boy are very strong. You came back for the sake of your grandma and I.” She sniffed as a single tear trailed down her cheeks.

“Are you crying mom?” He reached out to touch her face that was bleary.

“No, I am not sad. Rowan, I am happy to see that you are alive.” Raven flashed him a small smile.

“You and grandma must have been worried about me. I didn’t mean to hurt you… so please don’t cry.”

Rowan had always been sensitive about other people’s feelings especially that of his mother. He knew how hard she was trying to make ends meet and put food on the table. Seeing her worn out face, Rowan knew his health status must have taken a huge toll on her.

Eva and Raven played with the little boy for a while to catch up with the days he had missed out with them until he needed to sleep yet again.

After pulling the bed covers over his body, Raven’s phone beeped and a message popped up on the screen. It was a message from Christopher asking if she was ready to go for shopping with him.

Raven had almost forgotten all about it. The moment her baby boy had opened his eyes nothing else mattered to her. But she knew she had to keep up with her part of the deal and her face morphed into a deep frown.

“Is everything okay?” Eva questioned with a concerned look on her face while arranging stuffs into the carrier bag.

“It is nothing mom.” She stopped frowning so her mother won’t suspect that she was furious that her fake husband was calling her out when she needed to be close to her son.

“Christopher is asking me to go out with him today. The plan is to have dinner with his family on Sunday. I have really tried to explain to him that I have something to wear but he is insisting that I go shopping with him.” She managed to sound agitated.

Eva chuckled. “Oh! Does it surprise you? Come on, Raven, he is only trying to make his woman very much presentable to his family. So don’t make it seem like he is doing too much or not being considerate.”

“Mom, but Rowan-”

“No more buts Raven. You need to live your life too. You need to live freely and stop living your whole life completely around Rowan’s needs. I know you care so much about your son but don’t hesitate to show Christopher more of you. And you knew better before accepting his proposal.”

Raven couldn’t say anything even as her eyes watched her mother. “To be honest, I like the man and don’t forget he paid for Rowan’s medical bills. So spending a little time with him shouldn’t hurt plus it is a good idea to go shopping with him.” She added.

Raven felt guilty at how invested her mother was in her fake relationship with Christopher Crawford, she had it all wrong. However, it wasn’t in her place to tell her mother that she wasn’t right in her decision this time around.

Her phone beeped again, another message notifying her of Christopher’s arrival at the hospital.

“He is here. So I will go ahead now.” Raven said as she grabbed her mini bag.

“He already told me about the shopping plan and that he would check on Rowan later.” Eva said with a bright smile grazing her expression.

Raven stopped on track almost at the door and she turned to look at her mother. Shock was written all over Raven’s face.

“Since when did you become text buddies? When did you both exchange numbers?”Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

“I gave him my number yesterday. I thought you noticed since your eyes were watching us like I was going to tell him off. The fact that he cares so much about Rowan and has been constantly asking about his welfare made me like him.” Eva walked up to her daughter and shooed her away towards the door. “Now you see why I like him. He loves you and Rowan so much. So go and meet your man. Bye.” She waved after pushing her out of the ward gently.

Raven was in extreme awe till she got out of the hospital. She couldn’t find Christopher nearby. So she had to call him to ask where he was when he told her to locate a blue Lamborghini SUV in the car park. And it didn’t take long for her to see the car because it stood out and it was probably the most expensive car parked in the hospital.

“Show off.” Raven huffed as she walked to the car.

She knocked on the window for him to open the door. He didn’t even bother to step out of the car to open the door for her.

“Hmm. So much of a caring man.” Raven snorted at her mother’s good words about him.

“Hey there my love.” Christopher said as he stared at her with an unreadable expression on his face.

Raven was taken aback by his words. She blinked twice and unsure if she was in the right car.

“Hello, are you Christopher Crawford?” She asked to be sure.

Christopher shook his head as if he pitied her. “Is this how surprised you would be in the presence of my family members too if I acted this way?”

“Oh.” Raven finally reckoned to what he was trying to do. “Sorry I was caught off guard. I don’t expect that you would greet me in such manner.” It was all an act so he probably deserves an award as the best actor of the season.

“Excuse me, Miss McKenna, you can’t be miles away whenever you are with my family. Please they are very sensitive and attentive people. I don’t want them to feel that I made the wrong choice again. So don’t make me regret hiring you.”

“Could say the same for you too. May I also know why you are trying to woo my mother?” She fumed.

Christopher chuckled. “Woo your mother? I didn’t even need to try so hard with her. Naturally, I am a charmer and women always swoon over me. So your mother isn’t an exception.” He replied.

“Hold it right there. Please put some respect whenever you are talking about my mother. And you don’t even interest her one bit.”

“I am willing to argue that with you. Your mother seems to like me a whole lot. And I feel you are jealous because I am more vested in getting to know your mother than I am trying with you.”

Raven scoffed with her nose flaring in annoyance. “First, you cooked up a lie telling her stuffs without informing me about it. Then you exchanged numbers and even talk behind my back! Who the hell does that?!”

“I do. Christopher Crawford does that if you must know.” He gloated.

Their gaze met for some seconds but Raven was the first to break the eye contact. It felt like she was about to drown in it.

“If I can easily convince your mother without being questioned or suspected then I am hoping that you can do the same with my family too. Don’t get distracted. I am paying you a huge sum of money so make it worth it.” He said in a stern tone.

Raven only acknowledged his words with a deep sigh. And without saying another word, Christopher drove out of the hospital premises a bit pissed that she didn’t even try to assure him that she would do better.

Raven knew it was better not to say anything because it seemed like it was his habit to not hear people’s opinion and shun them off. He must be used to giving the orders and having people do his will always as the director of a multimillion dollar company.

It made her more angry at such authoritative attitude and insolence. Raven wanted to scream at him so loud and take out all the anger she felt inside at him.

But Raven knew better. He had kept his own side of the bargain so it was her turn to play nice. And with that, she took out her phone from the bag. She swiped up on the screen and searched for dinner dress ideas on Pinterest just in case the man taking her was just as poor in terms of women fashion sense as herself.

*************************************

LAVISH GALORE BOUTIQUE

Christopher led Raven into the clothing store but he kept his distance. He explained to the ladies working at the clothing session the occasion and they took Raven away with a promise to select the best dresses for her while he sat down patiently on the couch.

It took about two hours to finally settle over the choice of clothes. Christopher wanted dresses that were colorful, glittery and exposed the way Jessica wears them but it didn’t sit well with Raven even though she had no idea of the reason for his choice of clothing. She just wanted something simple and less revealing.

For everything she picked the price tag made her gasp out and Christopher made her even select different dresses with matching heels and some clutch purses and bags. He placed a black card on the counter and paid with no frown or inconvenience in his demeanor.

Cool, calm and coordinated was how he was through out the shopping spree. Raven was already feeling guilty carrying the expensive dresses in her hand. She wondered how much the guilt would weigh on her when she eventually wore it.

Tiana had been right when she said her wardrobe would become so expensive. And Raven could feel the other cheap clothes in her wardrobe holding a mean look at the new and expensive looking dresses and wishing they would all rip into shreds.

*****************************

SPARKLING PLACE

Her imagination made her giggle to herself as she checked through the menu in front of her. After they left the store, Christopher had insisted that they have lunch together and get talking.

“What’s funny?” He asked, wondering what she found amusing in the menu with a grin on her face.

Raven called herself to order as she cleared her throat. “Nothing.” She dropped the menu.

“Are you ready to make an order now?”

Raven shook her head. “Yes.” But all the food on the menu cost almost the whole of her utility bill for a month. Despite the rumbling in her tummy, Raven didn’t want to appear greedy. So she ordered for a hot dog with some sauce.

Christopher resisted the urge to ask her if it was okay since he had heard her belly rumble in the car and had insisted on them eating out together. However, he didn’t want to bother himself about her. He was simply avoiding whatever would make him too friendly with her. So he made his order of steak and they both settled down to eat.

“So tell me, is there something else I need to know about you that I don’t already know?” Christopher questioned amidst bites of his meal.

Raven looked up from her plate. “I have told you all there is to know. So you really do not have to worry about me messing up the whole plans.” She answered.

“I told my family we met at the restaurant where you work as a chef.” He recounted the things he had told his family concerning their love story.

“That shouldn’t be hard to comprehend right?”

Raven nodded her head in understanding. She paid more attention on chewing on her meal and even had a sauce stain at the corner of her mouth but he ignored it and didn’t tell her.

Circling his plate with the cutlery, Christopher looked straight into her eyes. “You do know that there would be a bit of public display affection between us right? I mean… just the way I kissed you at the hospital the other day.”

Raven’s face flushed at the memory that she has been trying so hard to forget. She didn’t want to dwell on it.

“Do we really have to do the display of affection publicly?”

“Don’t get it twisted. I don’t want to do it with you either. However, there is a need for us to appear in love and can’t get enough of each other to our families. You can do that much can’t you?”

Taking a deep breathe. “I will try.” She muttered.

“I don’t just want you to try but do better. Please give in your best because I can’t afford to lose my multimillion dollar possession.” Christopher pointed out before getting back at his food.

“Also if you must respond to their questions don’t say too much or else you might go overboard. All you have to do is say a few words with a smile and move on.” He noted.

Raven expected him to ask her more questions or make an attempt to have a proper conversation outside the contract but Christopher kept mute and focused on his food and phone.

And with a silent nod, Raven envisioned the coming six months to be colder than she could imagine.

“So much for getting to know each other.” Raven muttered to herself as she picked up the serviettes to wipe the corners of her mouth.