Diablo's desire

Chapter two

Diablo

"You?" She exclaimed, her eyes wide open. I didn't miss the shock, the surprise or maybe a touch of both. It had to be both. She hadn't seen me in a long time, yet my presence still had the right effect on her. I could see the glaring resentment. It was warming.

"I didn't know you drink Anjy."

She swallowed, dropping her hands numbly and shoving them into her jean pocket. I read her composure. She was anxious and definitely awkward having this conversation with me. It kind of gave me the pleasure to continue.

"You could have worn a gown. It would really bring out your eyes."

She clenched her first before spewing her venom,

"I wouldn't want it to go down like prom."

I nodded, vividly remembering what prom was like for her. It went down with me accidentally ripping her gown in half and her telling the whole world she hated me and wished I was dead. It wasn't my fault I was drunk neither was it my fault the dress was cheap but ever since then, Anjy had despised even the sight of my shadow, but today, fate was definitely by my side and she barely knew what lay in store for her.

"Well, I ruined your prom and you ruined my homecoming. I'd say we're even."

"Well instead of eye-f*****g me and giving me lectures on what to wear, Why don't you actually host this party?" She said, addressing me with a scathing gaze.

Yeah, She never let go of hate and I wasn't going to be ridiculed by her tonight so I replied with something was that sure to f**k her up.

"Well before you continue to spew your vendetta of hate, Just know I was actually looking for your father." I paused, taking in the pleasure of the marrow-deep fear my words ingrained in her.

"So where is he?"

"He... We..."

I Ignored her stuttering already guessing what the snake she had for a father had done. If his plan was to soften me using his daughter as bait to avoid the repercussions of being unable to pay my money, He was very wrong. I scanned the room before finding him using a woman as a human shield. His eyes widened when they met mine and He crept out of his hiding place knowing there was nowhere to hide.

Sly son of a b***h!

"Don't worry. Found him."

***

Anjola

The air knocked out of me returned when he walked past me. I took a moment to get the shambles of my ego back together. I blamed my dad for this. I turned back to see how this meeting was going to go down. Badly obviously, but one could dream.

Immediately they began exchanging greetings, I forced myself forward.

"So are we having it here or would you prefer somewhere private?" Diablo asked, glancing in my direction for a second and not stopping till our eyes crossed paths.

Each time he did that, I felt like I had sinned. I watched my father fumble for the right words to say before it occurred to me that I had to put on my good girl pants as always.

"In private please."

"Wow!", He exclaimed but I sensed the mockery in his tone, " The high and mighty Anjola can beg. I smell a rat."

He was into something and maybe I should have kept my damn mouth shut at that moment but I just couldn't.

"Could you be serious for once?"

I could tell I had made a grave mistake saying those words. My father's "behave Anjy" look was a giveaway but really I knew it the moment the smile on his face disappeared and his eyes turned steel.

"Ok Anjy. I'll be professional." He retorted, "Follow me."

He led us down a hall where I came across a smaller living room compared to the one the party was being held in. It had two black couches facing each other with a fireplace and a small table to the side. I even got the opportunity to take a peek at the kitchen that made me want to cry because it rivaled our house in size and... with its seemingly endless butcher block countertops, eight burner stove, two sets of double ovens, and a sub-zero glass-front refrigerator. That was not to mention the gorgeous black and white-colored backsplash. For a moment, I envied what he had. He did have good taste, I just didn't know his obsession with black.

  We stopped by the final door down the hall near two French doors that led out onto a sprawling back deck that looked over the grounds which boasted a giant in-ground pool, a jacuzzi, a tennis court, a hot tub, and what seemed like a rose garden, Pity they weren't black.

The huge doors opened and we walked in. I noticed the hesitation in my Dad's expression. Diablo took his seat in front of his desk while I pondered on why he had a business room in his house.

"Please sit." He commanded.

Sadly, I obeyed. He was still no smiling and knowing fully well we were at his mercy, I had to play the nice kitty. Father and I took our seat on the two chairs in front of his.

"So Mr. Julius, Where is my money?"

I felt my father's eyes on my profile, knowing what look he was giving me. He wanted me to use some kind of wild card on Diablo but I was having none of it. I was going to speak the truth to the very end.

"We don't have it. But..."

"Isn't it ironic, Mr. Julius..." He cut me short much to my distaste, "You named your daughter after something you lack. How pitiful!

Which was worse? He knowing Yoruba or using my name to insult our financial state. The good kitty facade was so gone.

I banged the table, " At least I'm not named the literal devil!"

In place of my wrathful disposition, He remained calm.

"At least, I live up to my name." He started, keeping his cool and enjoying my torment.

"Ok! If we are done hauling insults like five-year-olds, Can we get back to business?" Dad interjected being an adult for the first time since I had known him. It would have been an impressive feat if he actually had something to bring to the table.

"Thanks, Mr. Julius but I'm afraid there's not much to discuss on that front."

This was why he stopped smiling. I was the one who told him to professional and now he was using it against me. What an asshole! Still, I had to try to get us out of this tangled mess.

"I'm sure we can work out some kind of payment option for..."

"From where I stand, Mr. Julius," he said, totally ignoring me though I had been the one speaking. The asshole!" there are two options."

"Two options?" I butted in again stubbornly.

One definitely had to do with our house. That was the only thing we had in our name. It was the only thing my father couldn't gamble away and now it was on the line.

His eyes stayed on my father. "There is only one thing I want from you."

"And that is?"

My anxiety got worse just seeing him smile. What twisted ideas had popped into his head?

"Your house of course."

My entire world came crumbling down. No! Not that.

"Diablo, Please, Just give us time." I pleaded.

My dad on the other hand burst unto tears probably blaming himself for everything. It was too late for the though. I hoped a part of Diablo was human enough to care. No one could be that monstrous, Not even the devil. He had to have a heart, right?

"What did you say? Give you time? You should know by now Angy, I am not a patient man."

I hated it when he called me that. It was difficult trying to be unaffected by his words. My eyes clouded knowing there was nothing I could do. The devil had won. He had no heart.

"Diablo, I know we don't see eye to eye but we'll have no place to go if you take the house. We could sort a kind of payment plan..." I continued pleading, This time in tears.

"You're right. There is one."

I saw the smirk on his face when he noticed how desperate I was getting and he willing to make a compromise... I could see the missing pieces starting me right in the eye then it occurred to me it was never about the money or the professionalism poppycock. It was about me. I could see the desire in his eyes and it made me afraid.  I trembled when he got up, approached me and put his head over my shoulder,  leaned towards my ear and in a whisper told me what he wanted. The words I dreaded since the beginning.

"Marry me Anjola."