Billionaire's Stolen Glance

Chapter 3: Proposition

Unable to concentrate, Antonio decided to call his friend Samuel, hoping for some distraction and support. Samuel was always good at lifting his spirits and providing a much-needed perspective on things.

"Hey, Samuel," he said, his voice tense with emotion.

"Hey, man, what's up?" Samuel replied, concern evident in his tone.

Antonio took a deep breath, trying to collect his thoughts. "I just had a rough conversation with my dad," he admitted. "He dropped a bombshell on me, man. I don't know what to do."

Samuel listened quietly as Antonio recounted the details of his conversation with his father.

"Wow, that's heavy, bro," Samuel said sympathetically. "I'm sorry you're going through this. But hey, why don't we meet up for lunch? You could use a break, and I know this great restaurant that serves amazing food. It might help take your mind off things, at least for a little while. Plus, I would invite Sylvester too”.

Antonio hesitated for a moment, but the thought of getting out of the office and spending time with his friends sounded nice. "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea," he finally agreed. "I could definitely use a distraction right now."

"Great, I'll meet you there in about half an hour," Samuel said, his voice brightening. "Hang in there, buddy. We'll get through this together."

“On getting to the restaurant with Samuel and Sylvester, they secured their seats. However, it took a while before a waitress approached their table. Antonio was visibly preoccupied, engrossed in responding to a series of urgent emails on his phone. Sensing his distraction, Sylvester gently nudged him, reminding him to place his order.

"Uh, yeah, I'll just have steak," Antonio muttered, barely lifting his eyes from his phone screen. The waitress, Andrea, jotted down his order, offering a polite nod before stepping away. Observing Antonio's unusual behavior, Sylvester exchanged a concerned glance with Samuel.

"Hey, man, is everything alright?" Sylvester asked, leaning in slightly.

Antonio looked up, forcing a smile. "Yeah, just dealing with some work stuff and issues with Dad."

"Dad again?" Sylvester said.

"Yeah, he wants me to get married in a week."

"What? You're in trouble, man. I wouldn't want to be you," Sylvester said, laughing as Samuel joined in.

"So, what do we do?" Sylvester and Samuel asked simultaneously.

"Nothing I can't handle, just need to find someone who can meet his expectations," Antonio finished, trying to sound nonchalant.

Sylvester raised an eyebrow. "Meet his expectations? You make it sound like a job interview."

Antonio shrugged. "In a way, it is. Dad has this whole image in his mind of the 'perfect' wife for me. Someone who can help with the family business, maintain the social image, all that jazz."

Samuel leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "So, what are you going to do? You can't just pull a perfect wife out of thin air."

Antonio sighed, rubbing his temples. "I know. I have no ideas yet, but I'll figure something out. I have to."

Sylvester chuckled. "Good luck with that. Sounds like you'll need it."

Antonio smiled wryly. "Yeah, thanks. I'll take all the luck I can get."

After having their meals, they each left tips for Andrea.

Andrea’s POV

Andrea's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Antonio Romano?” Remembering him from the restaurant. “What does he want?"

"I'm not sure, but he insisted on seeing you," Felicia replied.

"Alright, I'm on my way," Andrea said, ending the call.

As she hung up, Andrea couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. "Why would he want to see me?" she wondered aloud. "Was the service not good enough at the restaurant? And how did he even know her father’s company."

As Andrea entered the taxi, her mind raced with questions. Why would Antonio Romano, the wealthy businessman she had encountered at the restaurant, want to see her? What could he possibly have to discuss with her, especially now, given their current situation?

Approaching her father's office, Andrea spotted a figure standing outside the door. It was Antonio Romano, his presence both intimidating and captivating. Her heart skipped a beat as she realized she would soon come face-to-face with him. Drawing closer, Andrea couldn't help but notice how effortlessly handsome Antonio looked in his tailored suit. His chiseled features and piercing dark blue eyes left her momentarily distracted and lost in it.

"Was he always this handsome?" she wondered, chiding herself for such thoughts at a time like this.

"Mr Romano," she greeted him politely, attempting to steady her voice despite the nervous flutter in her stomach.

Antonio turned to face her, his expression unreadable. "Miss Andrea," he acknowledged with a nod. "Thank you for coming."

Andrea's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Of course, but may I ask why you wanted to see me?"

Antonio hesitated before replying, his tone guarded. "I have a proposition for you, Miss Andrea. One that I believe could benefit both of us."

Andrea's curiosity grew. "A proposition? What kind of proposition?"

Antonio glanced around before leaning in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I think we can help each other out of our respective predicaments. But we need to discuss this in private. Can we speak somewhere more discreet?" His eyes scanned their surroundings before locking onto hers, awaiting her response.

Andrea's mind raced with questions, but she couldn't deny her interest in Antonio's offer. "Alright," she agreed reluctantly. "Let's talk."

With that, Andrea motioned for Antonio to follow her, leading him into her father’s office.

“Please, have a seat," she said, gesturing to the chair opposite her father's desk.

Antonio took a seat, his gaze steady as he studied Andrea. "I've heard about the challenges your father's company is facing," he began, his tone measured. "And I believe I may have a solution."

Andrea's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "A solution? What do you mean? And how do you even know about the company?"

Antonio leaned forward; his expression serious. "How about a contract marriage between us," he stated plainly.

“How did you know?” she insisted.

"I have my ways," he replied mysteriously. "But it's not hard to piece things together when you have a little bit of information," he continued. "Like the fact that he has a daughter," he added, raising an eyebrow. "Who just happens to work as a waitress at a restaurant. Care to explain?" he asked, his tone curious yet probing.

“It’s complicated,” she tried waving it off, and he looked at her suspiciously.

"But a contract marriage? What do you mean?" she asked, hoping it was not what she was thinking.

Antonio regarded her with a steady gaze. "Your father's company is facing financial difficulties, and my situation requires... a certain arrangement," he explained. "I believe a contract marriage between us could mutually benefit both parties."

"How... how would that benefit me?" Andrea asked, trying to wrap her head around the proposal.

Antonio leaned back in his chair, folding his hands in front of him. "I can provide financial stability for your father's company and anything else you need. In return, you would... fulfill certain obligations," he replied, his tone measured.

“And what obligations would those be?" Andrea inquired cautiously, feeling a knot form in her stomach.

Antonio's gaze softened slightly. "Primarily, it would involve maintaining appearances and accompanying me to social events. Nothing more," he assured her, though his words held a weight she couldn't ignore.

"I... I need some time to think about this," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Antonio nodded understandingly. "Of course. Take all the time you need. But time is not on our side, here is my number. Call me when you have decided,” he reminded her.

With that, Andrea watched as Antonio rose from his seat and made his way to the door.

Just then, Felicia walked in and asked to know what transpired, which she explained to her. And Felicia told her that it was a bad option. And that if her father were to hear, he wouldn’t be happy.

Andrea just sighed in frustration.

Antonio POV

The sound of his phone ringing woke Antonio up once again.

“Hello,” he answered, his voice husky from sleep.

“Umm...hi, it’s Andrea,” the person on the other line responded.

“Andrea, why are you calling so early?” Antonio inquired, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

“I have thought about what we discussed, and it is fine by me. Let’s do it,” she replied, her voice sounding determined yet uncertain.

“Oh,” Antonio responded, feeling a bit more awake now. Why does everyone choose to relay their message so early? He thought to himself. “Okay, umm...can we meet up today to finalize it?”

"Sure. I'm free today anyway. Can you share the address?” she said, her tone holding a hint of eagerness.

“Don’t worry, I will send my chauffeur in 2 hours,” Antonio assured her.

“Oh, okay thanks but don’t you need my address?” she asked curiously, her confusion evident.

He just cut the line without waiting for her address, not wanting to prolong the conversation.

Antonio informed his driver to go pick her up.

As Andrea walked into the room, Antonio couldn't help but notice the way she carried herself, her every movement seeming to give away quiet confidence. Her hair held loosely in a bun, strands of it framing her face delicately.

But it was her eyes that truly captivated him. They were hazel, showing a lot of emotions as they scanned the room, revealing glimpses of her inner thoughts. They held a warmth and sincerity that drew him in, making it difficult to look away.

As she drew closer, Antonio couldn't help but admire the subtle curves of her body. She possessed a natural beauty that seemed effortless, yet undeniably captivating.

"Hi, Antonio," she greeted him, her hazel eyes meeting his with a mixture of curiosity and determination. "Your place is beautiful."

Antonio found himself momentarily lost in her gaze, his thoughts drifting away before he regained his composure.

"Thank you," he replied, offering her a warm smile. "Please, have a seat."

“But how did you know my address?” Andrea questioned, genuinely curious.

“Are you really asking that now?” he responded, a hint of amusement in his voice.

“Never mind,” Andrea said, dismissing the question.

“Now let’s get to business, here is the contract, kindly read through it,” Antonio instructed, passing her the document.

She looked at him suspiciously and began to read through the document. Antonio watched her carefully, noting the flicker of emotions that crossed her face as she scanned the pages. He couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for involving her in his complicated life.

“The wedding is in two days?” Andrea exclaimed, clearly taken aback.