Melody Of Love

I Need To See Your Face

Rose’s POV

“I give you this ring as a symbol of our love, and know that my love is present, even when I’m not.” He then slipped a beautiful solitaire diamond ring onto my finger. The ring was big, and felt heavy on my hand, just like this marriage, which is becoming a burden on my heart.

Taking the ring Diana held out for me, I looked at Michael. “I give you this ring as a symbol of my faith, and loyalty to you.” I didn’t say love because I don’t want to promise something which I can’t give. I quickly slipped the ring on Michael’s finger.

I don’t know if what I’m doing now is the right thing to do or not. But this is the last chance I have to save Kate. I don’t know what I’m going to say to Kate about my marriage once she wakes up, I don’t know how I’m going to answer the questions of mom and dad. I don’t know how Michael and I are going to convince his fans and his family about our marriage. Hell, I don’t know how I’m going to live together with a man I barely know.

“Do you Mr. Michael Osburne, take  Miss Rose Kapoor, to be your lawful wedded wife? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and be faithful to her through sickness and adversity, as well as health and prosperity, forsaking all others, so long as you both shall live?”

“I do.” He answered with so much sincerity in his voice that for a minute, I believed he meant those words.

“Do you Miss Rose Kapoor, take  Mr.Michael Oberoi, to be your lawful wedded husband? Do you promise to love, honor, cherish and be faithful to her through sickness and adversity, as well as health and prosperity, forsaking all others, so long as you both shall live?”

Hell no! I wanted to turn around and run away and not look back at him. But I have no other choice. I have to do this. “I do.”

“I now pronounce you as husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

I turned towards him, and slowly looked into his eyes, those black eyes did it for me. They somehow took away some of the tension I was feeling right now. He took my hand in his and moved closer to me.

My heart skipped a beat as his other hand came up to cup my face. Glancing one last time into his eyes, I closed mine at the sudden jolts of electricity overflowing in my veins, the moment his lips touched mine. I felt weak in my knees, and I had to hold onto his arms to keep myself from falling. It wasn’t a full-on kiss like they show in the movies, it’s just a simple kiss on my lips yet made me a nervous mess. He slowly moved away, his thumb running on my bottom lip. I opened my eyes to look at him and the look he had on his face said that he felt something, if not the same as I felt about the kiss.

Mr. Lio came up and congratulated Michael while Diana pulled me into a hug. It was only four of us in a hotel room along with a minister and a photographer. Yeah, I know! So much for the wedding of a world-famous celebrity.

Today morning, when I was in the hospital, looking after Kate, Mr. Lio came up to me, and I recognized him immediately.

“You are the one who visited the orphanage with a man two days ago, aren’t you?” I asked him, remembering that he visited our orphanage with Mr. Black-eyes. But why is he here?

“Yes, mam and you're Miss. Rose Kapoor right?”

“Yes, I’m Rose. What do you need me for?”

“My boss wants to meet you and he’s waiting for you in the cafe in front of the hospital. He knew about the accident of your friend and wants to talk to you about it. He can’t come out in the public hence he requested you to come to meet him.”

His boss? Is he talking about Mr. Black-eyes? But why does he want to talk with me? How did he know about Kate’s accident? Okay, looks like I need to meet him to get answers to all my questions. I asked the nurse to take care of Kate and followed Mr.Lio outside the hospital. Suddenly, I started to feel nervous about meeting Mr. Black-eyes.

Mr. Lio followed me to the entrance of the café and said that his boss was waiting inside. I slowly entered inside and found the café empty, except for the table at the rightmost corner, which was facing away from the glass windows. I think this man has some serious I-can’t-show-my-face-out-in-public problem.

I approached the table, but he was busy looking at his mobile and didn't notice my presence. I cleared my throat to get his attention and he looked up from his mobile and the moment his eyes met mine, bam! I seriously think there is something wrong with me or with his eyes, every time I look at them, I find myself mesmerized by their beauty.

“Hello, Rose.” He said offering his hand, I quickly composed my self and took his hand.

“Hello.” He gestured for me to take a seat, I sat down and took my time to look at him. He was wearing a mask again, and I couldn’t see his face. He was pretty much looking the same, he did two days before, his hair, the mask, a suit. He was looking like a king or something. If only I could look at his face.

“Would you like to have something?”

“No, thanks. But I’d like to know your name.” It’s pretty awkward for me right now, sitting in front of a stranger, and talking to him in a café. He could be mafia or a d**g-dealer for all that I know. He chuckled at my response.

“I’d love to tell you my name, but before that, I’d like to talk to you about something. If you're okay with my proposal, then I’d tell you my name and identity.”

“Proposal?” I didn’t understand a word he was saying. What can I do for someone rich as f**k, who goes around donating thousands of dollars in the name of charity?

“I have a deal for you. Your friend met with an accident and needs an operation to be performed as soon as possible. The operation along with other medical bills will cost around $50,000. I’ll take care of your friend's medical bills and pay you with an extra $1,000,000 but in return, I need you to do me a favor.”

Who is he? How does he know about Kate’s accident? And why is he interested in paying Kate’s medical bills? And $1M? Is he kidding me?

“I need you to marry me.”

“What?” I shouted, standing up to leave. What the hell? Who the f**k is he and what does he mean by ‘marry me’?

“Wait, just let me complete okay? It’s a contract marriage, and after a year, we’ll get divorced and go our separate ways, and I’ll pay you the promised amount.”

“Am I looking like a w***e to you? Or do you think I’m some money-hungry b***h who goes around marrying people for money? I know Kate needs an operation, and I don’t have the money, but that doesn’t mean that I’ll marry anyone just for money. That’s ridiculous.”

What the hell is wrong with this man, I don’t even know his name for God’s sake, and I didn’t even see his face for once. How is he expecting me to trust a stranger with my life, and marry him?

“I didn’t mean to hurt you in any way. I know you enough to say that you're no money-hungry thing you said, but I just want you to know that your friend needs an operation to be done by tomorrow, and you don’t have the money. I’ll give you the money you need to save your friend's life, and you just have to agree to be my lawfully wedded wife for a year. After that, we will go our separate ways, and think carefully, it’s a win-win case. You'll be able to save your friend's life, and at the same time, you'll be earning $1M by the end of a year. Think of it as a job. I don’t need you to answer me right now, take your time, and let me know your decision.”

“One one more thing.” He continued, “If you agree to this contract, let me inform you that you cannot break it before one year. Only I have the right to terminate the contract before the time period of a year. If not, the contract will automatically come to an end after one year. And you cannot, under any circumstances, tell any person or party about this contract. If you do, I have the right to take legal actions against you and also you’ll have to pay me $1M instead.”

I felt that this man is taking advantage of my money problems, but then looking at the fact that I’m neither rich like him nor beautiful, what does he get by forcing me to marry him? Nothing. And looking at this as a job-offer is… I don’t know, not as ugly as the proposal sounded before?

And god, Kate’s life. I need to save her at any cost, no matter what. I promised myself that I’ll do everything in my power to save her, and this is the only way I can save her life. I’ll fulfill my promise even if I have to marry someone to save her. She’s my sister, and I’ll go to any lengths to save her life.

“Okay, I’ll marry you. But I have some conditions.” His eyes widened, probably not expecting me to agree with this so easily, but then I need to save Kate. He didn’t say anything, and I took that as a cue to continue.

“We will get married today, and Kate’s operation should be performed tomorrow.”

“I’m completely fine with that.”

“You said to think of this as a job, and I’d like to expect a professional relationship between us. You're not going to force me to have s*x with you.”

“Professional relationship it is. I’d never force you to have s*x with me. Anything else?” And I could see the sincerity in his eyes, and I trusted him.

“No. But I need to see your face, right now.”

He didn’t say anything for a minute and I thought he wouldn’t show me his face, but then he slowly removed the mask, and to say that I was shocked would’ve been the understatement of the century. Now I understand the reason for a mask and the security guards.

This is Micahel Freaking Osburne. And did I just agree to marry Michael Osburne? Oh heavens, have mercy on my soul.