The Good Villain

Chapter 2 A Proposal

After the night of saving Alex, Kelly starts to look for a job. Still, her best friend Alice persuaded her to apply to her company as a financial analyst temporarily, to have the experience to apply in the biggest companies. Alice Benson, Kelly's boss and best friend.

They had been a family friend for a decade. Though Alice's family was in London and did not see each other for 10 years, their friendship returned when they met again. Alice's family was in London, but when his father dies, they move back to Michigan.

"You should go home, Kelly. It's almost five." "You need to rest. You have been home late for the last two days." "You need a break sometimes, besides tomorrow was Saturday. " I am hosting a dinner party tomorrow, and you are coming to my house," Alice says.

"It has been a year, but you still not meet my brother." " He was always busy, and I am planning a dinner at my house to get you both to meet each other; you were friends with him when we were children back then," Alice said.

 "Alice, he must be busy. I...Kelly was interrupted.

 "No excuses, Kelly, you are coming, and he isn't busy," Alice says. Saturday came. Kelly checks her looks once in the mirror before leaving the house. Kelly chooses a blue dress and a fabric used was enhance her curves, and she would catch people looking at her. She checks her watch, and it was time to go.

 As Kelly arrives at Alice's house, "Kelly, you made it! Alice hugs Kelly. "Come on." Alice pulled Kelly inside the house into the living room.

"Good evening," Kelly greets the mother and son sitting in front of her.

"You? Kelly says.

"You? "Wait, you are Alice's best friend? Steven asks.

"Yeah, Mr. Steven, nice to meet you again." Kelly extended her hand for a handshake.

"Wait, you two meet each other already? When? Why haven't I known about this? Alice asks.

"I didn't know who he was as a guardian who comes to the hospital," Kelly answered.

"What had happened? Alice asks curiously.

"It's this way. His friend Alex was robbed and shot near my house, and I was happened to pass by. I helped him to call the ambulance and bring him to the hospital, and it happens that the person that Alex told to call was named Steven, his best friend as a guardian," Kelly narrated the story.

"It has been 5 days, right? "How is Alex? "Is he alright now? Kelly asks.

"Yes, actually, he was looking for you to express his gratitude for saving his life." "Is it okay with you if I give him your contact number? Steven said.

"It's okay, it's not a big deal, and he was also your friend, " Kelly says.

Steven and Kelly chatted. Kelly never like parties and was a little introverted, and she prefers to stay at home and read books and bake as her hobby; she hardly went into any gathering. Steven and Kelly continue to talk; Kelly senses the knowledge he had gained very far from what she had remembered about him. Steven gave Kelly a tour of their house, where their childhood was spent.

"It was exactly the way I remembered, the trees we used to climb, to hide," Kelly says.

They continue to roam around, and Steven manages to find an old photo album filled with pictures of their childhood together.

"Kelly took a shot of pictures into her phone and said I want to restore these pictures to my computer as memories of my childhood.” Kelly's tears fell from her eyes. “I only manage to collect a few of our family photos as my uncle kicks us out of the house. I want to fight him for the custody of my ancestral house, but I don't know how to, and I had no money to pay for a lawyer." Kelly says.

"Why what happened to your dad and mom? Steven asks.

“They died 3 months ago in a car accident, but I had a hunch that it was not an accident they were murdered. I heard one of the police said the car's breaks had been tempered and cut, that's why...”

Kelly did not continue to speak as her throat was tight and dry, as her tears continued flooding down her cheeks.

 "If you don't mind, I am a lawyer now, and I can help you for old time sake," Steven says.

 "But, I don't have money to compensate you," Kelly answered, wiping her tears off of her face.

 "I know a person who can help you fight the custody of your ancestral house," Steven says.

 "Who? Kelly asks.

 "Alex, my best friend, Alexander Rocca," Steven says.

 Alexander Rocca! Kelly gasped and covered her mouth. “You mean to say, the CEO of Rocca group? Kelly asks. 

"Yes, the one and only." 'One word from him, the house will be yours; that was how powerful he is. If you want to meet him tell me I will accompany you to him anytime. Steven asks.

"But, there's no free offer? "What was in return for his offer? Kelly asks.

"A proposal she wants you to accept, that's all I know," Steven says.

"I see. I will think about it." Kelly says.

Kelly flipped the pages of the pictures and said, "The kid in these pictures was now a lawyer and a businessman; he wasn't the naughty kid that I remembered he has now charisma and intelligence." Kelly says.

"I don't think so," Steven answered.

Then Alice called them for dinner, and they took their seats.

"You both sat just like that when you were young back then, the same spot." Mrs. Ross says happily. "I'm sorry for your loss, dear," "How's your brother? Is he okay? Mrs. Ross asks.

"That... my brother was being discharged on the following day," " He would like to recuperate at home; he says he was bored and tired of eating hospital foods," Kelly answered.

"Dear, if you have time, you can visit us anytime; you are like a daughter to me." Mrs. Ross says.

"Let's start our dinner first, and we will talk later," Alice says.

After their dinner, Kelly told Mrs. Ross about the tragedy and what happened to their company. Steven recorded what Kelly says on his phone. 

After dinner, Kelly decided to go home. Steven drops off Kelly at her house, and he went directly to the hospital.

"Alex will be delighted if I told him that Kelly was my childhood friend decades ago."

Steven arrived at the entrance of the hospital and went straight to Alex's ward.

"Bro, I have a piece of good news for you," Steven says.

"Hmm, not interested. Alex says.

"Are you sure? "Take a look at this," Steven says.

Steven passed his phone to Alex and showed him the pictures of his childhood.

"Oh, it's you and your sister, but who's the other one? She looks familiar with her face, and... you mean it's Kelly? Alex asks.

"Yes, Steven answered.

"How come? Alex asks.

"Well, Kelly's family and my family were friends decades ago before my family goes to London." "Kelly and my sister Alice were best friends, and Kelly was in our house moments ago," "And I drop a bomb to her, and the rest is for you to tell her the truth or offer her a year or depends on what she wants, "Steven says.

"What do you mean? What bomb? Alex asks.

"I told Kelly that you want to help her acquire their ancestral house but in one condition, and that is I told her that you two could talk personally, to offer her a marriage." "What do you think of my idea? Steven asks.

"Not bad, but what if she refuses my deal," Alex says.

"She won't, and I'm sure of it," Steven answered.

Steven opens his phone recordings and passes his phone to Alex and a headset.

"Listen to this. I recorded it earlier when Kelly says this," Steven says.

"Can you bring Kelly here tomorrow? "I want to ask her personally about the proposal." "Can you mind asking, what room his brother was in this hospital? Alex asks.

"Okay, rest now, leave it all to me; I will text you the room of her brother later."

"Good night, I will take my leave. Steven says.

 "Thanks, bro, and good night." 

The next day, early in the morning. Alex went to Matthew's room and visited him. Alex knocks at the door, and Matt answered.

"Come in! "What can I do for you, sir? Do I know you? Matt asks.

"No, we don't know each other. This was our first time meeting each other," Alex says.

"I was here to say thank you to your sister Kelly, and she saves me last week on the streets," Alex explains.

"My sister save you? How? Matt asks.

"It's like this... I was robbed and shot in the alley. Luckily your sister passes by, and she heard me asking for help. She called an ambulance and brought me here to the hospital. I was in a coma for three days, and when I woke up, I ask my doctor who sent me here, and the doctor says your sister's name." That's what happened; in short, I owe her my life." Alex says.

"Okay, that's all I wanted to say, and thanks for your time; you may take a rest," Alex says.

At 10 in the morning, Steven and Kelly arrive in Alex's ward. Alex was in the VVIP section, and his ward was like a room in the home with complete amenities. Kelly was in awe when she entered the room. This was her first time entering into this kind of ward in the hospital.

"Ahem! Bro, I will leave Kelly for a while... I will process your discharge procedures," Steven says. 

"Kelly, I will leave you for a while; I'll be back, wait for me here; I will send you back to the company later," Steven says.

"Okay, take your time," Kelly answered.

As Steven went out of the room, Alex went to Kelly and sat down opposite her.

How are you? Is it still hurt? Kelly asked.

"I am fine; thank you for helping me," Alex says. "Actually, I may sound rude. But I do need your help?  Will you help me out? Alex asks.

"I can see what I can do. What is it that you need my help for? Kelly asks. "A marriage proposal," Alex said.