A Deal With The Billionaire

EPISODE FORTY FIVE

THEME: Thinking ahead

A WEEK LATERMaterial © of NôvelDrama.Org.

HARTFORD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

“I am so glad you are finally out of this place, Rowan.” Tiana pulled at his cheek lightly even as she smiled at him.

“Have we gotten all of his stuff?” Raven asked checking the bedside.

Eva and Tiana stared at each other and rolled their eyes while Rowan giggled. “Yes mom. We have everything packed in the bags already.” Rowan answered.

Raven sighed. “Good. I don’t just want you forgetting anything behind.”

Why she was anxious? Raven had no idea. It has been two weeks since Rowan got admitted in the hospital, two weeks since she met the Crawfords and a few days to her supposed wedding. Everything has really put her on an edge that she couldn’t explain it. The doctor had said Rowan could be discharged from the hospital today and being on Sunday it made it easier for her since she wasn’t going to be at work.

They even had to wait till afternoon before clearing and signing all needed papers. The doctor also warned that all of Rowan’s medicines be taken and his slated date for check ups was put in his hospital history and must be followed closely.

Raven had gotten an email stating his check up schedules which she must not miss. He could start going to school but shouldn’t be allowed to do any extra curricular activities.

Moreover, she hadn’t received any call from Christopher since the last time she had called him on Monday. It made her really unstable that she didn’t hear a thing from her soon to be husband. But she was in touch with Hope and Ava through several calls and text messages concerning the updates on their trip and work. And it got Raven thinking that Christopher must really be irritated by her that much if he wouldn’t talk to her when their false wedding was coming up in only few days time.

Her anxiousness had been noted by her mother and this had prompted Eva to put a call through to Tiana to come help her friend. Tiana had arrived in a heartbeat and seeing her made Raven a bit relaxed.

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RAVEN MCKENNA’S HOME

They all drove home in silence except Rowan who seemed excited about seeing outside the hospital walls after so many days.

“Is it the wedding jitters?” Eva asked Raven as they all sat at the kitchen island having ice tea. They had just finished arranging Rowan’s room and putting him to sleep.

The question made Raven chuckle nervously and she shifted in her seat. “What wedding jitters? Why would you say so mom?”

“The only time I have seen you this unstable before was when your culinary school result was about to be announced.” Eva noted.

“You look like a zombie and a total mess, Raven! Come on, what’s eating you up?” Tiana added.

“I am fine guys. Well… let’s just say… I am a bit stressed.” She eventually replied.

Eva exchanged glances with Tiana. “Alright, if you say so. You should get some rest. I would like to go and take a nap too.” Eva said after she took the last sip from her cup. “I miss my bed so much!” She stood up.

Raven rounded the island and embraced her mother tightly. “Thank you so much mom. Honestly, I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

Eva patted her daughter’s back gently. “This is why I am your mother and I will always be here for you.” She withdrew from the hug. “So please can I go sleep now?” She yawned in emphasis.

Raven laughed knowing what her mother was playing at. Eva wasn’t the physical contact kind of person and she didn’t fancy it so much. She was always so rigid and it amused Raven whenever she saw how touchy she was with Rowan. Raven concluded that so it is true grandchildren do change a person.

“Fine! Bye! You can go to your room now.” Raven giggled.

Not waiting for her to say any other thing, Eva pecked Tiana and headed over to her room. However, she still popped her head into Rowan’s room.

“Mom…”

“What? I am just trying to see if he is breathing fine!” Eva defended when she noticed Raven and Tiana staring at her with hooded eyes.

Slapping her hands on the surface of the kitchen island, Tiana glared at Raven. “I am getting tired of doing this but out with it already. Spill it girl!” She said when Eva was totally out of sight and earshot.

Raven sighed as she sat still on the high stool. “He hasn’t called for six days. Are you sure everything is fine?”

Tiana raised her eyebrows. “Why should he call you if you both have nothing to discuss? And if you want to speak to him so bad, why didn’t you put a call through to him?”

“You make it sound like both of us are lovers.” Raven replied.

“Aren’t you close to being lovers?” Tiana asked.

“Goodness Tiana! Just stop with the rhetorical questions already!” Raven heaved a sigh of frustration.

“Raven, I don’t get why you are bothered about him not calling you.”

“I really hope he hasn’t cancelled the contract. There is nowhere I can get the fifty thousand dollars upfront he paid to me.”

“Why are you so shallow minded?” Tiana demanded as she scrunched up her face.

“Is it my fault that I think ahead?”

Tiana shook her head in pity. “That’s a bad thing, hun?” She spat with her words laced with sarcasm.

Raven couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped her throat. “Quit playing, Tiana, I….” Her words hanged in the air as her phone rang. She held the screen in front on Tiana to show her who the caller was. “Speak of the devil.” She whispered before picking up the call.

“Wow! Let us hear what he has to say.” Tiana mouthed.

‘Hello.’

‘Hi, how is Rowan? I heard he got discharged today.’ That was the first thing Christopher said.

Raven bite hard on her lips. ‘He is fine, thank you.’

There was a slight pause and some bit of movement. ‘I just want to inform you that the wedding will be holding on Thursday, with a small reception back at my parents house and with just my family and yours.’

‘Wait… do you mean just both families?’

‘Yes. Is there anyone else?’ Christopher sounded pissed over the phone as if he had been forced to call her.

“Yes! I want my friend there!” She snapped back at him.

‘That wasn’t in the contract. In case you have forgotten we only agreed on having both our families at the wedding.’ He reminded her and his words were like ice.

Raven relaxed a bit. ‘I know… and I am sorry. She is a very good friend of mine and can be trusted.’ She mumbled.

Christopher sighed. ‘Fine. Since my friend Benjamin would also be around then we can do with a plus one.’

‘Thank you.’ She replied.

Raven heard Christopher grunt over the phone before he hang up the call.

“If he is always this rude, I really don’t want to meet him.” Tiana scoffed.

“You are only staying because of me, Tiana. I need you by my side. You really can ignore him can’t you?” Raven said with her pleading eyes. She needed someone else aside her mother at the registry.

“Sure baby. I will definitely do anything for you.” Tiana smiled.

“Thank you so much, Tiana!.”

Just then her phone message notification came on and when she checked the message it was from Ava.

‘We are going for our dress fittings tomorrow afternoon. You should be there too. It would be really fun! We would pick you up by noon. Bye!’

The message ended with a blushing and dancing emojis. Raven read it out loud to her friend.

She held her head in both of her palms. “My life is so fucking hard. I need some breathing space at least!” She gritted.

Sipping on her drink, Tiana grinned. “Please tell me all about it!”

“Shut the hell up, Tiana!” Raven chuckled.

Tiana jumped off the stage. “I would get going now, Raven. I have got a date night!” She winked.

“Oh, oh, someone is sneaking around now?” She teased.

“I would pretend to not hear you, but would ensure to tell you all about it tomorrow.” Giving her a quick kiss, she took her bag and headed out of the house.

Raven sighed feeling all alone again. She cleaned up the cups and placed them in their rack. She went into her son’s bedroom. His room looked more stuffy because he had insisted that the toys gotten for him by Hope and Ava should be placed in his room. They had obliged his request.

Raven sat next to him on the bed, stroking his hair as she awed over his peaceful face. He stirred all of a sudden and opened his eyes.