A Deal With De Niro

Chapter 4

Shannon kicked off her heels as soon as she walked into her apartment, sighing in relief as her feet hit the cool marble floor. It was a small place – at least compared to her family’s mansion – but it was hers. She’d bought it with her own money five years ago, when she became COO, and it was the only place where she felt truly free.

She poured herself a glass of red wine and walked out onto the balcony, looking out over the Makati skyline. The city was lit up like a sea of stars, cars moving along the streets like tiny ants, people going about their lives without a care in the world. She wished she could be one of them – free to love who she wanted, to make her own choices, to live her own life.

“Knock knock.”

Shannon turned to see Marcus standing in the doorway to the balcony, holding a bouquet of white roses – her favorite. She felt her heart break a little at the sight of him. He was tall and handsome, with warm brown eyes and a smile that used to make her knees weak. They’d been together for three years, had talked about getting married, having kids. Then her father had told her about the arranged marriage, and she’d had to end it all in one painful conversation.

“Marcus,” she said quietly, setting her wine glass down. “What are you doing here? I told you we can’t see each other anymore.”

“I know,” he said, walking over and handing her the roses. “But I couldn’t stay away. I heard about the wedding – everyone’s talking about it. Shannon, why? Why would you marry someone you don’t even know? Someone with a reputation like his?”

She took the roses, holding them tightly in her hands. The petals were soft against her skin, but they felt like they were burning her.

“You don’t understand,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Our company was going under, Marcus. We were millions of pesos in debt, about to lose everything my father and my lola worked for. Blaine’s company was the only way to save it – this marriage was the price I had to pay.”

Marcus reached out and touched her face, his fingers gentle against her cheek. “You should have told me. We could have figured something out together – I could have helped.”

“No, you couldn’t have.” She pulled away from his touch, looking out at the skyline again. “This is bigger than us, Marcus. It’s about my family, my employees, everyone who depends on López Consolidated to make a living. I couldn’t let them all down just because I wanted to be happy.”

He was quiet for a long moment, then sighed heavily. “I love you, Shannon. I always have. Even if you’re marrying someone else, I’ll wait for you. Five years, ten years – however long it takes. I’ll be here.”

Tears finally spilled over her cheeks, hot and heavy. She’d been holding them back all day, putting on a brave face for Blaine, for her father, for her employees. But with Marcus, she didn’t have to be strong anymore.

“Don’t wait for me,” she said, turning to look at him with tears streaming down her face. “I don’t deserve you. You should find someone who can give you everything you want – a real marriage, real love, a family. I can’t give you any of that now.”

“But I don’t want anyone else –”

“Please, Marcus.” Her voice cracked, and she wrapped her arms around herself like she was cold. “Just… let me go. Let us both go. It’s better this way.”

He looked at her for a long time, his eyes full of pain and love and sadness. Then he nodded slowly, leaning down to kiss her forehead gently.

“Okay,” he said quietly. “But if you ever need anything – anything at all – you know where to find me.”

He turned and walked away, leaving her alone on the balcony with the white roses in her hands and the sound of her own sobs echoing in the quiet apartment. She stood there for a long time, watching the city lights blink on and off, letting herself feel everything she’d been holding back all day.

She was getting married to a man she barely knew. She’d lost the love of her life. She was about to give up her freedom for the sake of a company that might not even be hers in five years. And yet…

She thought about Blaine, the way he’d listened to her conditions, the way he’d laughed at her comment about the wedding dress, the way he’d looked at her when he said “welcome to the family.” He was cold, yes, and calculating, and he had a reputation for being a heartbreaker. But he was also smart, and fair, and he’d kept every promise he’d made so far.

Maybe, just maybe, this wouldn’t be as bad as she thought.

Or maybe she was just fooling herself.