11 ELIJAH

Alicia entered the room where her father lay asleep, and she simply stood there, looking out the window, giving him his space. It was evident that she cared deeply for her father; she gazed at him with tenderness and affection, a way I would never see my own father, considering all he had done in the past and what he was doing now with my life.

However, there was nothing more to be done with Edward Morgan and his miserable life; it's the least he deserves for causing my mother's death and the wide rift between Michele and me. He always made us compete as if we were in a minimalism competition, but it's simply because he wants to inherit the entire Morgan Mafia empire.

I push aside all those thoughts of my disastrous family as I see Alicia and the doctor exiting the room. My girl's face was swollen from crying, and her nose was red from sniffing.

"What's the prognosis?" Alicia asks, still looking at her father through the windowpane.

"Mr. Chuck's condition is quite delicate," affirms the doctor. "Alicia, we need to start the treatment before it's too late."

"But... I can barely afford the first treatment, and this second one is much more expensive."

"I'm sorry, Alicia. We could administer more morphine to keep him pain-free, but that would mean dying in agony."

"Please don't talk about death," Alicia's voice breaks, and my anger grows thanks to the doctor's lack of tact.

"Doctor, may I speak with Alicia for a moment?"

"Sure, you know where my office is."

The doctor steps away, leaving me alone with Alicia.

"What happened to your father?" I ask her with a cold tone to provide comfort.

"It seems they'll have to use a stronger treatment for his illness," she responds, sitting down on one of the benches in the hallway of the waiting room. "And the treatment is even more costly."

"Alicia, if it's about money, I..."

"No," she interrupts. "I'm not going to borrow money."

"Alicia, you work for me. I can deduct it from your pay, and it's done."

Actually, I wasn't going to deduct anything; she and Mike had won the bet, and I already owed her $200,000.

"If you do that, I'll be working for you for 20 years just to pay for my father's treatment."

"I also have another kind of proposal."

"What proposal?"

"My family is very influential in the media world..."

"What does that have to do with me?"

"Don't interrupt me," I speak sternly, and she nods her head. "As I was saying, my family is very important, and we have many members, including grandparents, uncles, and cousins. And that's just in Italy; on this side of the world, there's my father, my brother, and me." I take a deep breath. "It's up to me to take on the role as the new head of the family, and the only way to do that is by getting married and having children."

Alicia's eyes widen with surprise, and she quickly starts shaking her head and waving her arms.

"Is that why you asked me to marry you a few weeks ago?"

I scratch my already nervous neck.

"Yes, and my proposal is this: If you agree to be my wife and the mother of my future child, you won't have to worry about your father's health, and you can also pursue that specialization in medicine you've been wanting for work."

"Are you crazy?" Alicia stands up abruptly. "Elijah, that's like prostitution!"

"No, it's not, because it would be a mutual agreement."

"Mutual agreement," she scoffs. "I'd rather you lend me the money, and I'll spend the rest of my life working for you."

"Why are you so stubborn?" I click my tongue and look away. "I'm not a bad catch; I'm handsome, tall, wealthy, and philanthropic."

"I'm not interested in all those qualities you attribute to yourself. Getting married has never been in my life plan, let alone having children."

"Think of it as a mutual benefit. You give me what I need, and I'll give you everything you want."

"You make it sound so easy." Alicia mocks. "I don't know what crazy idea you and your family have, but I'm not playing that game. Also, why is your family famous?"

"You'll only know that if you marry me."

"Well, I'll die wondering." She shrugs. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to take care of my father, and maybe I'll accept that loan of yours."

"Think it over carefully, Alicia, because as a debt collector, I'm ruthless."

"You can deduct it from my salary anyway; you're my boss, after all." Alicia opens the door to her father's room but stops in her tracks and turns back towards me. "Can you give me Mike's number?"

"No," I reply firmly.

"Then I'll go back to the club with you. I need to talk to him."

"You're not going to talk to him," I intervene in her path.

"You're such a nuisance, Elijah Morgan!" She rolls her eyes.

"And why do you need to talk to him when I can give it to you?"

"That's between Mike and me."

"Alicia, don't make me carry you over my shoulder and take you to a room to make you mine once and for all."

"Do you really think everything can be solved with sex?"

"Do you want to find out?" I smile.

"No, thanks." She waves her hand. "Now move your ass out of my way."

"No." I cross my arms. "You're not going to see that idiot, because I'm here for you."

"You're impossible.

Alicia turns around, giving me a good view of her perfect body and round, perfect ass. I've dreamt so much about tasting that ass that every time I see it, I start drooling like a Saint Bernard dog.

And in these kinds of situations, I wonder, doesn't she see me drooling over her?

I shake my head and head down to the floor where the oncologist's office is located. I knock on the door a couple of times and hear a "Come in." I enter and see the doctor typing something on his computer.

"Good day," I speak up, getting his attention.

"Hello, sir."

"I'll make this quick, okay?" I sit in front of him. "I'm going to pay for Mr. Star's treatment, and Alicia can't know about this."

"May I know what your relationship is with her?"

"I'm her fiancé," I lie. "She's a stubborn woman who thinks she can handle two jobs and doesn't want me to help. So please, don't tell her anything about this."

"That's impossible. Chemotherapy session payments are made directly to the hospital, and she's very punctual with her payments."

"Then tell her that they'll continue with the same treatment plan, but actually apply the other treatment, and I'll take care of the payments she'll make to the hospital."

"Well, in that case, I'll give the order so that you can pay and provide the necessary care for Mr. Star."

"Thank you, doctor. I hope you can keep this confidential."

"Don't worry about that, sir…" the doctor waits for me to give my name.

"Morgan, Elijah Morgan." I was about to leave the office, but I turn back to the doctor. "And please, transfer Mr. Star to the best area of the hospital for his comfort." The doctor nods his head.

I leave the office and return upstairs with Alicia, who hasn't taken her eyes off her father. Slowly, I open the door to the room, catching her attention.

"What do you think you're doing here?" Alicia whispers.

"I told you I'm not leaving until everything's fine." I sit on the sofa in the room and take out my phone to send a message to Mike.

*"Don't think you've escaped death. You know perfectly well that I know where you live." I thought he would take his time responding, but I received his reply quickly.*

*"I did everything you asked."

*"But not that you'd kiss her."*

"Man, it was tough to convince her to accept the deal. By the way, where are you two?"

"At the hospital."

"What happened?"

"It's her father. He has cancer, and he had a relapse."

"Darn it, tell her that all my energy is with her."

"She doesn't need anything from you. She already has me for all that. And by the way, I'll give Alicia the $200,000."

"Why?"

"Because she needs them, idiot."

"Okay, okay, I don't really need them either."

"I need one last favor."

"What is it?"

"She'll want to talk to you about the bet, remember?"

"Crystal clear."

"Tomorrow, you'll go to the club again. You'll ask for her account number and transfer her the money, easy as that."

"Why don't you do it, Romeo?"

"Because she won't accept it from me."

"That pussy's got you whipped, HAHAH."

"Don't talk about her pussy, and besides, I haven't even seen it yet."

"Is that why you satisfied yourself with the brunette?"

"Yeah, but as soon as I saw Alicia walk into the office, my cock died like an old man's."

"HAHAHAHHA, you're in deep trouble, my friend."*