12. Drakar

Flipping through the folder densely scripted pages, I skim the fine print and nod in satisfaction.

“Everything appears to be in order,” I say with a sigh of relief.

The contract has been manufactured to fit the unique needs of my and Sally’s arrangement to a tee. All that’s left is to sign.

Taking my pen out of its holder, I scribble my practiced signature on the dotted line.

A few gentle knocks on the door tell me all I need to know–Sally has arrived. I get up and let her in, composing a friendly smile on my face.

“Right on time,” I tell her.

“Good morning,” she greets.

My gaze drops to her hand where she still wears my ring. I know that it’s all part of maintaining our image, but the sight of it resting around her delicate ring finger does something strange to my chest.

“Good morning.”

She seems apprehensive as she steps inside, glancing around the space with curious but shy eyes. Her gaze eventually lands on the still-open contract as it lays out on my desk awaiting her stamp of approval.

“Feel free to read through it,” I insist, walking around to the other side of the desk.

She shakes her head. “No, that’s okay. Do I sign here?”

Plucking my pen out of its holder, she daintily scribbles her full name parallel to mine.

As Sally hands back the pen, our fingers brush momentarily, and I can”t help but feel a spark of electricity pass between us. I quickly shake off the feeling, reminding myself that this is all just part of the arrangement.

We take a moment to review the contract once more, ensuring everything is in order before sealing it away in a folder. With the formalities out of the way, we turn our attention to the task at hand. Rehearsing our love story.

Sally takes a seat on the couch, and I join her, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on my shoulders. I clear my throat and begin to speak.

”So, we met at work, right?” I say, trying to sound as casual as possible.

Sally nods, her eyes focused on her hands as they fidget in her lap. ”Yes, we were introduced by Rebecca. We hit it off right away and spent the whole day talking.”

”And what did we talk about?” I ask, trying to recall the details we had discussed earlier.

”We talked about our shared love of travel, our favorite books, and our goals for the future,” Sally replies, her voice growing more confident as she speaks. “Then you were persistent with your courtship and I couldn’t resist.”

We continue to run through the story, practicing our lines and trying to make it sound as natural as possible. It”s strange, trying to construct a history together that never really happened. But as we go on, I start to feel a strange sense of connection to Sally, as if we really have known each other for longer than just a few weeks.

Eventually, we feel ready to hit the road and make our way to the hospital. As we drive, I can sense the tension building between us, nerves maybe, at the ploy we’re about to pull.

As soon as we arrive at the hospital, I can tell that Sally is on edge. Her father”s condition is serious, and she”s worried about the quality of care he”ll receive. I take her hand and give it a reassuring squeeze, trying to convey my support without saying a word.

We make our way to the reception desk, where I pull out my phone and make a quick call. Within minutes, a hospital administrator approaches us, looking flustered and apologetic.

”Mr. Tvojan, I”m so sorry to keep you waiting. We”ve arranged for your father-in-law to receive VIP treatment in our private wing. A nurse will escort you to his room right away.”

Sally looks at me in surprise. ”How did you do that?” she asks.

”I”ve made some generous donations to this hospital in the past,” I explain. ”They”re always happy to accommodate my requests.”

The nurse leads us down the hallway to Sally”s father”s room. The private wing is immaculate, with plush carpeting and state-of-the-art medical equipment.

”This is amazing,” Sally says, looking around in awe. ”I can”t believe they have all of this just for my dad.”

”We”re leaving nothing to chance,” I reply, giving her a reassuring smile.

As we follow the nurse down the hallway, she begins to explain all of the benefits that Sally”s father will now receive as a VIP patient.

”Your father will have his own private room, complete with a comfortable bed and a recliner for visitors,” the nurse explains. ”He”ll also have access to our state-of-the-art medical equipment, including the latest diagnostic tools and treatment options.”

Sally looks at me in amazement. ”This is incredible,” she says. ”I can”t believe you were able to arrange all of this so quickly.”

I shrug modestly. ”It”s just a matter of knowing the right people,” I reply. ”I”m glad I could help.”

“Still, thank you,” she says quietly. There’s a heaviness to her voice that I can tell means she’s trying not to cry. “This means so much to me.”

A small smile spreads across my face. “You’re welcome,” I say. Hoping it conveys just how much I mean it. It’s the least I can do for what she’s doing for me. That and seeing that smile on her face is worth it in itself.

The nurse continues her explanation as we walk. ”Your father will also have a dedicated team of nurses and doctors who will be available to him around the clock,” she says. ”They”ll be able to provide him with the highest level of care and attention.”

When we enter the room, Sally”s father, unconscious, is hooked up to a variety of machines, but he looks more comfortable than I expected. Sally rushes to his side, taking his hand and leaning in to whisper something in his ear.

Behind me, I hear footsteps and when I turn, I see an older woman with Sally’s brown eyes and upturned mouth.

The doctor looks over at the new arrival and smiles. ”Mrs. Harte, I”m glad you”re here. I was just about to explain your husband”s condition to your daughter and Mr. Tvojan.”

Sally”s mother looks at him with a mixture of fear and hope. ”Is he going to be okay?”

The doctor takes a deep breath and begins to explain. ”We need to get the new liver in before we can fully assess how much damage has been done during the time he went without a fully functioning liver. There may be other issues we need to address depending on the severity, but the first step is to reduce the damage by getting the liver back up to par.”

Sally”s mother gasps, her hand flying to her mouth. ”Oh, God. So surgery might not be enough?”

The doctor”s voice is steady and confident as he explains the situation. ”It’s an excellent start, though. Your husband”s surgery is a common procedure these days, and our team of surgeons has performed it many times with excellent results. We have the latest technology and equipment to ensure the best possible outcome.”

I can see the relief wash over Sally”s face as she listens to the doctor”s words. But I”m not content to simply rely on statistics and reassurances. I want to make sure that everything possible is being done to ensure a successful surgery.

”Doctor, I understand that the surgery is routine,” I say, my voice firm. ”But I want to make sure that your team is doing everything possible to minimize the risks.”

The doctor nods, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. ”I appreciate your concern, Mr. Tvojan. We”ll be taking every precaution possible. Our team will be running a series of tests and evaluations to make sure that Mr. Harte is in optimal condition for surgery. And we”ll be using the latest techniques and equipment to ensure a successful outcome.”

I nod, satisfied. ”And I want the best surgeon available to perform the operation. I don”t care about seniority or tenure. I just want the person who is most qualified and experienced.”

The doctor”s expression becomes more serious. ”I understand your concerns, Mr. Tvojan. And I can assure you that our team of surgeons is highly skilled and experienced. But if you have a preference, I can certainly make arrangements to have one of our top surgeons operate.”

I nod, feeling a sense of satisfaction. ”Thank you, Doctor.”

Sally”s mother looks from her daughter to me, her eyes narrowing slightly. I can tell that she”s trying to piece together who I am and why I”m here.

“Of course, Mr. Tvojan,” Dr. Patel says with a nod. “Please, make yourselves comfortable. You’ll be informed of any updates or changes.”

The doctor strides out of the room, and the nurse quickly follows. Sally and I are left with her parents.

I step forward, extending my hand. ”Mrs. Harte, it”s a pleasure to meet you. I”m Drakar Tvojan. I hope you don”t mind me taking the liberty of arranging for your husband”s care.”

Sally”s mother hesitates for a moment before taking my hand. ”It”s nice to meet you, Mr. Tvojan. I”m just... surprised. I didn”t know Sally had a friend who was... so well-connected.”

I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of what I”m about to say. ”Mrs. Harte, I know this is a difficult time for you and your family, and I don”t want to add any unnecessary stress. But I feel like it”s important for me to tell you something.”

Sally”s mother looks at me with confusion, and I can see Sally looking at me out of the corner of my eye.

”Sally and I have been in a relationship for some time now,” I continue, choosing my words carefully. ”And while our arrangement may not be traditional, I have come to care for her deeply. That”s why I would like to extend my request for your blessing to marry her.”

Sally”s mother looks shocked, and a mix of confusion and surprise sweeps across her face. She looks at Sally, who is staring at me with a stunned expression.

”Sally, is this true?” she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.

Sally nods slowly, looking at me. ”Yes.” She holds her hand out to her mother and confesses. “He proposed.”