Claimed by Magnus Romano

Chapter 6 : The ultimatum

Magnus's pov

Questions ran circles in my mind. The possibility of the child being mine. A reason to live other than my sister and I.

But what if it wasn't mine?

But what if it was all a front…

“For goodness’ sake, Magnus Romano, what is it?” I heard Leo's distant voice bring me from my thoughts.

Our gaze met, and he raised a brow with concern written all over his features.

“It's the woman,” I said, leaning forward. “The woman I slept with.”

“What happened to her? Did you deal with her?” he asked.

I sighed, “Yes and no,” I paused. “She's the same woman sitting right outside this section.”

“You mean you let her in here?” he asked in disbelief.

“It's not that simple.”

“How isn't it simple? Are you crazy?”

“She's pregnant,” I declared. “And I think the baby is mine.”

He looked at me with eyes wide.

“s**t” he cursed.

I breathed in not knowing what to do.

Leo held my shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

“But if she were pregnant with your baby would you want her to keep the baby?”

Without thinking, I answered, “Yes.”

For so long it had only been my sister and I after my parents passed away. Life had gotten stale with the multiple distractions I had created to fill out the void of loneliness.

I couldn't bother my sister with my emotions, so I turned to staying busy or surrounding myself with beautiful women.

In a way, it was good because I had been focused enough on leading my father's business and creating multiple businesses of my own, but something in me wanted more.

And somehow this would be the greatest surprise of my life, and I was going to protect the child with everything I got.

Even if it meant that the baby would come from the woman I hated the most in the world.

With that, I took a deep breath and went to the other side of the jet to where she was seated and sat in front of her.

I calmed myself, careful of the words I was going to say. I had to be calculated at all times.

“Who are you and what do you want with me?” She asked, looking me in the eye.

“My name is Magnus Romano, CEO and head of Emerald Co, amongst other businesses. Your life was in danger and I saved you.”

“I don't understand”

I scoffed.

“Don't pretend like you weren't planning on escaping with the jewels.”

She turned away from me and took interest in the window suddenly.

“What you did was very stupid.”

“I did it to survive”

“And where did that take you?”

She remained silent and refused to speak to me.

I sighed from irritation.

“What is your name?”

“Aliyah”

“Aliyah,” I responded, allowing the name to roll off the tip of my tongue.

I hated how much I liked her name, how easy it was to pronounce. I wanted to say it over and over again, but I resisted the urge to do so out of self-respect.

“Aliyah, I want to ask you something and I need you to be very honest with me,” I spoke.

“Are you pregnant?”

She snapped her head forward almost instantly.

“How do you?...”

“Just answer”

She turned her face away but nodded. My heart did a backflip but I stayed composed.

“Is it mine?”

She paused, and a tear rolled down her cheek but I stayed unmoved. I already knew her tricks. She wouldn't deceive me twice.

She nodded.

“I'm pregnant,” she said, and gave a quick pause, “and it's yours.”

So it was true. I was going to be a father.

I got up and went to the other side of the jet where Leo waited with anticipation.

“Well?” He asked.

“She's pregnant, and the baby is mine.”

“Woah, I don't know whether to say congratulations or not,” he teased.

“I'll have to protect her and the baby.”

“How do you intend to do that?”

“Let's find out,” I said, putting a call through to my lawyer.

The call was a brief one and by the time I was done it was clear what I had to do. I needed her by my side 24/7 to provide her maximum protection.

“So what's the plan?”

“I'm going to need a contract and an offer she can't refuse.”

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“She has my baby and in exchange for her corporation I offer her protection and wealth as compensation for the baby.”

“Oh, like a business transaction.”

“Exactly my friend, I'll print them out now.”

It didn't take long before my lawyer sent me the contract in a file on my device. All I had to do was print it out and drop it at Aliyah's feet.

I printed it and went over to Aliyah, handing over the files.

“What's this?” She asked with her doe eyes looking up at me.

“Something I know you can't resist,” I said as she gently took the papers from me.

I watched as her eyes skimmed through the writing and then her expression changed.

“Marry you?!” She yelled, suddenly getting up.

“Only for a year”

“And why would I do that? I don't belong to you.”

“You're carrying my child Aliyah.”

“And so what?! I'm pregnant, not a prisoner. I have a life!”

“A life that could be taken from you the moment you set foot on land without my protection.”

“You don't own me!” she yelled, looking straight into my eyes.

Her response took me by surprise. I was sure that she would jump at my offer. I was offering her two million dollars in compensation along with a year of maximum protection and a share in my company. What more could she possibly want?

“There are people who would jump at this offer, and you dare to reject it?”

“Those people can go to hell and so can you.”

“I'm trying to change your life, and you're acting like a brat.”

“I didn't ask to be here, you kidnapped me!”

“And I didn't ask you to be a petty thief and steal from me!”

I felt the sting on my face as my head turned from the impact of a sudden slap.

“You have no right to judge me when you've not lived a day in my life.”

I turned still in shock at her insolence and found tears rushing down her cheeks.

Annoyance brewed in me.

How dare she play the victim after all she had done?

She was about to throw another blow when I caught her wrist and pinned her to the chair.

Our bodies were so close I could feel her heat.

Her eyes were red now and filled with hate as she struggled under my grip with her weak strength.

Her attempts only amused me with each passing second.

She knew it was futile but fought me off anyway.

“Don't tempt me, Mio Fiore,” I whispered in her ear. “I'm not used to disobedience.”

I let go of her small wrists and stood up.

“You have 24 hours to decide, either you agree to the contract and have my protection or let Zane have his way with you.”

I walked off and let her sit with the ultimatum.

“I hate you”

I scoffed.

“Not as much as I hate you”

The jet landed at the airport, and we were greeted by the driver. We got off the plane and I bid Leo goodbye as we entered the car.

The Cabin once belonged to my family. It was the safest place I knew. It was on the other side of Greece on an island my father bought when I was still a child. But to get there we needed to cross the ocean to get to the Island.

Aliyah had refused to say a word since we landed here. Nor did she even look at me.

I took off my shirt, ignoring Aliyah's lingering presence as I began to conduct first aid on myself. I had gotten scratches from the fall.

I could hear Aliyah sucking in air from the sight of me.

I was used to it. I had built this body since I was in my adolescent years. A smirk lingered on my lips at the thought of her finding me irresistible.

After I was done, I put on a new shirt but left it unbuttoned for air.

I retrieved my phone from my other pocket and saw calls and messages from an unknown number.

From the first text I knew exactly who had been sending these texts.

Respond to my calls

How dare you refuse to pick my call, Magnus!

Fifty-three texts and 40 calls all in one day.

I sighed heavily and tucked the phone away,

Not ready for this.

I'd deal with this later. Now wasn't the time.

A call suddenly came in, and I looked at the screen, the same unknown number.

Then a text appeared.

You can't run from me forever, Magnus

Stop ignoring me!