Chapter 8 Perseus' Decision

• Ruyman.
• I still didn't understand why I was waiting in that room, waiting for them to hand over the slave goddess to me, but that idiot Rayco wouldn't leave me alone. If I didn't take her, he was capable of going and demanding her for himself.
• I didn't want to analyze why, but I didn't want him or anyone else to have her. And with the conditions of Andrómeda's auction, her period was eight years. It seemed like the seller didn't want to sell her, as if he wanted to keep her for himself.
• While I waited in the delivery room, this last idea came to me. What was so special about Andrómeda, the slave goddess? She was a virgin, well that could drive men crazy, especially with that sinful body. But why were there so many demands in her purchase? Demands that, once signed, you were obligated to fulfill within the trial period they imposed.
• First, it was eight years instead of the six months that the rest of the women had. With this, the only thing you achieved was that many insecure buyers backed out and didn't bid on her. But if you were determined to have her, they demanded that you make her yours almost immediately. And that was something that, judging by the look and expression I recognized in the beautiful Andrómeda, wasn't going to be as wonderful as it was painted in the auction. I had suspicions that the tough goddess wasn't going to make it easy for you.
• I didn't want to be there, I didn't want to be bought, and I would bet my life that there was something more illegal in her sale than what we believed. There were also other conditions that I wasn't willing to fulfill, such as the fact that the return was canceled if I married her, or so I thought at first. The most important condition was that I was obligated to provide her with accommodation, maintenance, which could range from comfortable living, clothing, money for expenses. That wasn't complicated for me, I had already done it with my lovers. What I didn't like was that she had to always live with me. I had to provide monthly evidence that we were living together for eight years. It was truly madness.
• Although I didn't know how they could verify that. The evidence could be fabricated, and if I released the goddess after only having her for one night, how would they discover it? I was a very busy man and traveled a lot, even to Europe and Asia. How could they make sure I was taking her with me? I had the feeling that there was something they hadn't told me.
• To make matters worse, when I finally managed to retrieve my phone, I had twenty missed calls from a certain twin who shared my blood. I sent him a message telling him to calm down, that I was busy and would call him later. I didn't plan on speaking with the paranoid Benearo in front of Marchetti's men. I had the feeling that providing any kind of information to that pseudo businessman with shady enterprises was very dangerous.
• When I got out of there, I would instruct my security chief to conduct a complete and detailed report on the life and works of the damn Humberto Marchetti.
• When the pseudo businessman arrived, along with his men, he came to deliver the goddess to me personally, which surprised me, since Mark had told me that wouldn't happen. This revealed many things to me, and some of them certainly worried me, while others made it clear that the clashes with this damn Italian were going to last.
• First, I looked at Marchetti, wishing for a second confrontation with the Italian. The first one had left a bad taste in my mouth, but this time the tension reflected on his face didn't show the same confidence and tranquility that I observed when I first met him. That confirmed to me that he didn't like the fact that I had obtained the goddess.
• I wanted to smile, so I looked at the slave goddess to avoid laughing, but a strong impact in my brain, after receiving her gaze when she lifted her head, and an almost uncontrollable desire to attract her and declare her as mine, overwhelmed me, surprising and frightening me. I had to use my great self"control to not let it show."
• That gaze that remained fixed on me was a danger to the mental peace of any man. It was like wells of clarity. The goddess had a small problem: everything she felt and thought was reflected in her eyes. And now, there were two things that could be observed among all the emotions that crossed her at this moment: incomprehension, fear, and something that I couldn't identify, but that made my body react with a desire to claim her. I didn't like anything that I felt. And to control myself, I stopped looking at the disturbing Andromeda. I needed all my concentration to face the dangerous Italian who was speaking now.
• "Mr. Bencomo, this is, as you already know, Emilia Monti, also known as Andromeda. From today on, she is supposed to be yours, although I don't know if you will be willing to fulfill each of the specifications that Miss Monti brings. It is understandable that after knowing them, you may not want to fulfill them. That's why I propose a deal here and now. I offer you twelve million for her, and I exempt you completely from any condition or proposal that you would sign upon winning the bet," I looked at the not"so"intelligent Marchetti, and with this, he only revealed his eagerness to keep the goddess.
• I smiled inwardly. Finally, my pride would be restored. I diverted my gaze from him to the goddess, and I saw reflected in those golden eyes the terror and insecurity of what was going to happen to her, while they anxiously looked at the Italian. With this, it became clear to me what he truly had and wanted to do.
• Furthermore, I didn't do it exactly for her, but to put Marchetti in his place. If you challenge me, you have to be willing to continue the game until the end. When you reveal your cards so soon, all you achieve is that I know your weakness and take advantage of it.
• "Rules of business, Mr. Humberto Marchetti: the one who shows his cards first loses," I thought to myself, while a dangerous and challenging smile, similar to the one the Italian directed at me in the box, appeared on my face.
• "Thank you for your offer, Mr. Marchetti, but I trust my instincts a lot, and having my slave goddess is what I desire the most now. So, although the money is good, I already have plenty. I prefer to keep her. It's something different, more entertaining, and besides, now she is mine," my words provoked two reactions in two people from the group in front of me, which didn't go unnoticed by me.
• " "Damn the habit of analyzing the people around me, stupid Zipi, my damn psychopathic habit." " I thought.
• The first was Humberto Marchetti, who made it clear with his expression and the tightening of his jaw, while trying to remain serious, cold, and unaffected by not getting his way, which he didn't like.
• The second reaction I observed and made me smile, fixing my eyes on her, was from the goddess slave, Miss Emilia Monti, who let a sensation of relief and happiness flood her eyes for a few seconds, almost smiling, until she saw that I was staring at her intensely. At that moment, Andromeda remained paralyzed for a few seconds and I saw how her eyes looked at my lips, which showed an open smile. Finally, she shook her head, where soft curls gracefully danced, making me imagine for a split second grabbing those curls between my hands to feel their softness, and finally bringing them close to my face, so I could perceive the scent they emitted. That sensation lasted only a short while, as the attitude of the goddess slave changed, and a challenging look settled in her eyes, a look that any man would see as a challenge, and I am no exception. That little, dark"haired woman with golden eyes would make it difficult, my heart, and my predator instinct felt happy, and I knew that I would enjoy this challenge described by the goddess in her gaze."
• I widened my smile while looking at her, and she returned my arrogant gesture by sticking out her tongue. I couldn't help but let out a laugh, I was going to have a lot of fun playing with my new toy.
• We were so focused on each other that I didn't notice Marchetti's gaze darkening, but Rayco, just as psychopathic as me, did notice. So, approaching me, he whispered.
• " "Stop or we'll get killed right here, the Italian doesn't like you playing in front of him with your woman." " It was this last sentence that woke me up, for two reasons. First, my wife's words shocked me, and second, the pleasant sensation that invaded me when I heard him say it.
• I looked at the Italian, and a wave of hatred, dissatisfaction, and wounded male pride shone in his eyes. The Italian had a hard time swallowing his defeat.
• " "Well, I respect your decision and accept it, but remember that my offer will remain open if you get tired of her." " said the Italian, making it clear how much he desired to possess the golden"eyed goddess."
• " "You see, I am a person who fulfills all their deals. If I sign something, I stick to it until death, and who knows, maybe I'll keep her forever..." " for the first time, the goddess said something.
• " "Non mangiare troppo, stupido, o potresti soffocare." " she said in Italian, thinking that I wouldn't understand her. So, when a laugh came out of my lips, it made everyone around me look at me strangely because of my reaction.
• " "Don't worry, Andromeda, your Perseus never eats something he can't swallow, and he never enters a fight if he doesn't know he'll win, and he always wins." " I said the latter while looking into Huberto Marchetti's eyes, and I knew that he already knew what I was referring to, he had lost against me.
• The Italian changed his expression, took a deep breath, smiled, and left.
• "I'm glad you're happy with your purchase, I'll leave now, Alfred will explain the final condition that serves to verify if you comply with what was signed, I hope you can fulfill them, if not, we will meet again, Mr. Bencomo," she said before leaving, I didn't miss the warning. I was about to reply when I saw Alfred, her assistant, standing in front of me and taking out two gold bracelets from a case, one for a man and one for a woman, he said:
• "Extend your hands," he spoke to both the goddess and me. We did as instructed and both of us were given a bracelet. "You cannot remove the bracelets until the trial period ends and it is verified whether you want to keep them or return them. Opening the bracelets is considered a breach, and you know the consequences. This is to determine if you live together. You can go to work and be apart, but every night both bracelets must be in the same room and spend at least eight hours together, otherwise it will be considered a breach. If you travel, I advise you to take it with you. The bracelet's reception is satellite"based and has coverage worldwide. If you decide to marry Miss Monti, you must present the marriage certificate and remain together for at least two years before the bracelets can be removed. Oh, the bracelets are already functioning, just so you know, for tonight.""
• I felt deceived and trapped, but I knew it was my fault for letting myself be manipulated by the Italian and not reading the terms before signing. I decided that, for now, I had no choice but to comply with this garbage deal.
• "Is everything done?" I asked, tired of this whole situation.
• "Yes, Mr. Bencomo, from today Emilia Monti belongs to you," he said.
• "Good, then I'm leaving," I approached the brunette without hesitation. She looked at me seriously, with a challenge in her eyes, as if expecting me to do something. I noticed her assuming a Win Chun stance, so I smiled. I had practiced various martial arts and boxing thanks to the defeat I suffered at the hands of my brother"in"law, so it wasn't difficult for me to recognize the stance.
• This Andrómeda was full of surprises. When I got closer, I saw how she maneuvered into a Win Chun expulsion lock. I quickly dodged it and, after avoiding the blow, I grabbed her off balance. I carried her over my shoulder like a sack and left the room, while the wild goddess shouted a thousand obscenities in Italian, none of which were fitting for a lady.
• Meanwhile, as the goddess screamed, Rayco followed me, laughing to death. Just then, my phone rang, and I knew who it was without even looking at the number.
• "What do you want, Zape? Pest," I said, while a furious Italian"American shouted angrily behind me."
• "What's going on? Who's insulting mom and telling you to go to hell?" I interrupted him.
• " "She's your future sister"in"law, who is enchanted, because we are getting married," I said in Spanish so that the goddess wouldn't understand me, but apparently I wasn't so lucky, as it seemed that the goddess also knew Spanish. After hearing what I said, the goddess stood still as if paralyzed. I took advantage of that silence to be able to talk quietly with the idiotic Benearo. "Ah! Tell dad and everyone that you went too far trying to get me married, because if my suspicions are correct, this was a human trafficking operation, and that, brother, is illegal, you idiot. I'm still going to find out, but when I talk to my future wife, I'll let you know. And by the way, you'll all pay for this," I said, hanging up."
• " "Who says I'm going to marry you, stupid?" the person I was carrying on my shoulder said in Spanish with a deep Italian accent."
• "If you want to be free, you will," I said in Italian, leaving her speechless.
• And so, Emilia Monti, future Mrs. Bencomo, Rayco, and I got into my car where Barney, my driver, took us to our new life, which I thought I could escape from. How naive I am sometimes, with the family I have, that's impossible.