Bargain.
1373 Words
“Excuse me??” I arched a brow.
He didn't reply immediately, just adjusted his tie and took a seat next to me.
"Alejandro Vega. I’ve been waiting for someone to destroy him. Didn’t expect it to be his bride.”
My spine went stiff. “Who are you?”
His lips curved. Not a full smile. “Dante Valerio”
My gaze moved from his eyes to my trembling fingers.
I had heard of him, right? The highest business tycoon in the city whose empire owned studios, banks, and secrets.
"I don't want your pity," I muttered, tired and frustrated.
"Good," he said. “Because I don’t offer that. I offer contracts.”
I eyed him. From his perfectly cut brunette hair that looked like it had been molded on his head to his designer shoes.
"What can I do for you?" I eyed the burly men some few feet away from us. “I have nothing to offer."
"Well, you have known Vega for a really long time from the information I gathered. You have been in his house, his room…” he paused, “his bed. You have secrets I need. Things that can bring him down and…”
He slid an envelope towards me. “We have something in common."
I arched a brow. “Which is?”
"Vengeance"
I eyeballed the envelope, but I didn't touch it. It smelled like smoke and perfume.
"What is this?” I asked, pointing to the envelope.
"It's a contract, a marriage of convenience for a year." He glanced at his watch. He was growing impatient.
My mouth flew open. "Marriage? You don't even know me.”
He laughed. A deep mocking laugh, and what did playing it safe get you? The man you trusted ruined you anyway.”
His words jabbed at my chest. I frowned.
"Vega is a dangerous man, more dangerous than you think. He has contacts everywhere. He can make you disappear." He snapped his finger, “and no one would ask questions. No one would dare harm the wife of a profound billionaire like myself."
My chest tightened, and I swallowed again. “Why would you help me?”
He reached for my glass and took a sip, gazing at me over the rim. “Let’s just say Alejandro owes me more than money.”
I let his gaze. “What happens if I say yes?”
His tone was firm. “Then you’ll belong to me.”
This was stupid. One minute I walked out of my wedding, and the next I was being offered a contract by a billionaire. Could my day get any more interesting?
"Actually, I…”
"Time is of the essence…” he said, adjusting his cuffs like he had just finished a meeting and motioning for the guy closest to us.
He walked to the table and dropped a bundle of money.
My eyes enlarged.
Dante was already walking out by the time I raised my head. Without turning back, he said.
"When you are ready, you know where to find me." My hands trembled. I watched the men open the doors for him as he stepped out, and they all tripped out in a line. Stoic expression on their faces.
I sat there, staring at the empty door long after they were gone.
I glanced at the envelope. Then at the bundle. The bartender was back in. "You know that man?”
I glare at him. "No."
He nodded once; his eyes moved to the door, then back to me.
"Good," he murmured, setting the glass down. “People who know him don’t usually end up fine.”
Just then my phone dings.
A message from Dad.
"Elena, come home. They are taking everything. They are taking the house."
****
Immediately I alighted from the limousine. I thanked the driver and ordered him home. He had done enough; Ajehandro would not be happy. The first thing I noticed when I reached the front gate was the for sale sign on the outside.
I packed up my dress and ran towards the house. I dashed in. Father paced in the living room.
Arranging documents, paperwork was scattered all over the place.
"Dad"
He didn't stop.
"Dad!"
He froze, bowing his head over the table. Worry lines filled his forehead. He cupped his face in his hands, nodding.
"They're taking everything,” he said, voice breaking.
“Elena, go apologize to Alejandro. Please, just fix it.”
Anger surged through me. "Why would you say a thing like that, Father?! I am never going to apologize to that man. After all this”
"Oh no no no." He shook his head. "You don't understand, Elena. I raised you better than this." He sank into the cushion. The foam dipped under his weight.
He ran a hand through his hair. “Your mother is in the hospital. Your sister is gone. She doesn't care about this family. She only cares about herself. You are the only one that can save us."
I sensed the fear in his voice. His hands trembled. "Why do you keep doing this type of thing? Do you want to send your mother to her early grave?”
I paused. "What do you mean? I am the only one that can save us. What's happening to the house?”
He looked at me for what felt like two minutes. Inhaled and said.
"Elena, this is Alejandro's house, and he has put it up for sale."
I gasped, "No."
Only then did I notice the suitcase half-packed by the door.
"Why didn't you tell me?”
"What sort of question is this, Elena? We thought everything would go well. You’ve ruined it,” he said, tears welling. “God help me, you’ve ruined us all. ”.
I collapsed to the floor. Tears are trailing down my face. A sickening realization hit me.
Ajehandro had been sponsoring my family all this while. That's why my parents were so eager for us to get married.
"What…what am I going to do, Father?"
"I don't know, Elena, but you have to fix this." He stood up and left. Leaving me to my misery.
Tomorrow.
Tomorrow I will pay them a visit.
***
I couldn't sleep through the night. Once a flicker of daylight seeped into my room. I showered and got dressed.
I wasn't going to watch my family suffer this way because of me.
I ordered a cap, and when he dropped me at Ajebandro’s gate, a house that he and I had both shared. I was stopped by security.
"I am sorry, ma'am. We have strict orders not to let you in."
"I understand, just let Alejandro know I am outside waiting."
"We can't do that, ma'am," he said. "He has ordered your things be thrown out."
How dare he!
"I am not leaving till I see Alejandro," I yelled. "What's the noise about?”
That voice.
Isadora, Alejandro's mother, stood on the opposite side of the gate.
"Oh, it's you," she muttered. “What more do you want, you gold-digging, ungrateful daughter of a pauper? "You want to run my son dry?” She crossed her arms over her chest. A look of disgust on her face.
My mouth hung agape.
"You have always been a leech, a pest; I have never liked you ever. Your sister is wiser and smarter than you are”
"Isadora!" my voice shook. My body quivered.
"Don't call me that!” she snapped. "I never want to see you around here. Don’t let her in and don't tell Ajehandro she came by," she said to security.
"Yes, ma'am," they replied in unison. With that, she turned and walked back into the house.
I leaned against the gate. Humiliation is burning all over me.
I reached into my bag with trembling hands. The envelope was still in it. I tore it open and unfolded the piece of paper in it.
The heading wrote:
A marriage of convenience between Dante Valerio and Elena Alvarez. I looked to the bottom left of the paper.
An address was on it.
I hailed a cab.
"Take me to this address," I said, handing the paper to the driver.
- Writer
