Chapter 10 The Proposal (Part 2)

• I woke up because of the noise of different voices around me. I furrowed my brow in confusion.
• “What did you do?” I heard a familiar voice ask.
• “I explained everything to him, but he won’t listen. He almost barged in! Thank God, we managed to stop him!” another familiar voice replied.
• “You can’t blame him, though. You made a move without them knowing first,” a female voice interjected.
• Wait, where am I? Who are these people talking to, and what are they discussing?
• I slowly opened my eyes and fully awakened when I saw Stephen sitting on a chair beside the bed, holding a gun.
• That made me get up and remember everything that happened. I then realized that Ace and Shantel must be the ones with the familiar voices I heard earlier.
• “We’ll just go outside,” Ace said. Shantel followed him, looking grumpy.
• As they finally left and closed the door, my attention turned back to Stephen when I heard the click of the gun.
• He stood up and slowly approached me. I began to back away until I leaned against the headboard of the bed. My sleepiness was replaced by fear.
• “Don’t come near me,” I stuttered.
• He gave me a cold look. “You don’t have the right to tell me what to do, especially not when you’re in my territory.”
• Tears fell again. Damn! I hate myself for being weak now!
• “Please! I’m begging you! The evidence I have has been destroyed, and I promise to remain silent. Just please, let me live,” I pleaded with him.
• He raised an eyebrow and looked at me in disbelief. “Just because the evidence has been destroyed, you think you can get away with it just like that? Well, sorry to disappoint you, but you thought wrong.”
• “What do you want me to do, then?” I asked, hoping he might give me a chance to live. I was ready to do anything just to have another opportunity to survive.
• I haven’t even executed the plans I had in mind.
• He sat on the edge of the bed and leaned close to me.
• “Actually, I have a deal with you, Nathalia. It’s up to you whether you accept it or not. After all, you have two choices.”
• Somehow, I felt both relieved and bothered at the same time. “What is it?”
• I was taken aback by a realization. “You know me?” I asked in surprise.
• He nodded. “Of course. Who else will not recognize the only daughter of Edwin Sarmiento, one of my biggest competitors in the business world?”
• I swallowed hard. He has a point. “What is your deal, then?”
• “Marry me,” he answered straightforwardly, looking deep into my eyes.
• In an instant, my fear and worries vanished, replaced by shock and confusion.
• Did I hear it correctly? Or was there something wrong with my ears? He must be kidding me!
• “W-What?”
• “Marry me,” he said firmly.
• I raised an eyebrow. “What will you gain if you marry me?”
• I don’t get it. His offer is so damn confusing!
• Besides, I’ve already been forced to marry the wrong person once. I have no intention of repeating that mistake and going through it again!
• He shrugged. “I need a wife that I can introduce to everyone as soon as possible. That’s the deal I had with my father before he fully entrusted me with the management of his company.” He paused for a moment. “It’s also to expand my influence because your family is powerful as well.” He leaned closer to me. “But you’ll gain more if you agree.”
• I looked at him skeptically. “What do you mean?” I still wasn’t convinced by the deal he was offering.
• Is he playing games with me? Because I’m not playing along!
• “Marry me, then you and your loved ones will live, but if you don’t...” He aimed the gun at my forehead. “Then you and them will die.”
• I suddenly felt cold, and sweat formed on my forehead due to the intensity of his voice and the gun pointed at me. My lips trembled, and my hands shook. Fear and dread engulfed me once again.
• Summoning my courage, I gathered the strength to ask the question that had been haunting my mind for a long time.
• “Who are you, really? A drug lord? A syndicate? A killer? A—”
• “I’m a mafia boss.” He interrupted whatever I was about to say.
• I was taken aback. “A what?”
• “Mafia boss,” he repeated calmly. “Now that you have discovered something about me again, my secret should remain safe. Unfortunately, the only way for it to happen is to either kill you and bury my secret with you or to keep you so that I can make sure that you will not speak up.”
• What the hell? He’s a mafia boss? It never even crossed my mind!
• Oh, hell! There is no chance that I will marry this man in front of me!
• “Is there any other way? I mean, maybe we can—”
• “You only have two options,” he replied coldly, his face obscured by darkness. “Don’t worry. I’ll give you time to decide and talk to you again tomorrow. Just make sure to choose wisely.”
• He stood up and holstered the gun at his waist. He turned his back and started walking away. But before he could fully open the door, he glanced back at me, and his eyes met mine without any emotion.
• “Remember that whatever happens to your family and friends will be based on your decision. Just so you know, I won’t hesitate to get rid of another competitor and reduce the number of my people.” Then he left.
• I was left bewildered and in disbelief. I pressed my hand against my forehead as he walked away.
• Oh, good God! I can’t die just yet. But I don’t want to marry him either!
• He gave me two choices. But in the end, it seems that I don’t have any other choice at all.