Fate
1454 Words
LUCAS
“Don, what are you going to do about the lady you told me is in your house?” Conti said immediately he climbed into the vehicle.
I laughed as I started the vehicle. “I have a plan now, Conti, and her name is Noria.” I have found Noria almost freezing to death on my way to the house by midnight. I had taken her in, and Conti had taken an interest in asking me what I planned to do with her all the time.
“Plan?” sighed Conti. “I hope it does not involve the group, and why must I know her name?”
“Nah, far from it. She is too fragile for this kind of life. I will use her to settle my mom.”
“By settling your mom, you mean?”
“Marrying her.” I blurted out laughing. “You do not want to know how much that woman has been pestering my life to get a wife recently, and that’s why you need to know her name.”
“I thought she was satisfied with your decision not to get married?”
“She was. I do not know what happened. That is the only thing I have been hearing from her since I lost my brother.” I finished quietly. I was not very close to my brother, but he was still my blood; he has always been the soft and fragile one while I was the tough one. It was evident in the way each of us took different parts; while he started helping out in the family business, I started running the underground world.
“Well, why don’t you just marry Liana? She has…*
“Liana!” I chuckled out. “Liana just wants to be with me because she wants to become a comare and have a say in what happens around me.”
“Well, it’s not like you care so much about feelings.” Conti cynically replied.
“I don’t, but I also understand what ambition can do. Liana is not to be underestimated.”
“So, what’s your plan?”
“I already told you, marry the lady I found so my mom can let me be.”
“Has she agreed to this?”
“I have not told her yet.”
“Based on the story you gave me, don’t you think she is too fragile for this, and it is still early considering the fact that she told you she was running away from something and even her recent experience of being robbed?”
“Fragile, yes. Early? You do not understand how much my mom has made my life a living hell because of this marriage talk. I need to have peace. The only issue I have is getting her to agree; once she does, I will get my mom to meet her and heave a sigh of relief.”
“I wish you well even though I’m skeptical about this because of Liana.” Conti finished pessimistically.
“Liana will be fine. We will talk later.” I finished as Conti got out of the car.
Conti lived close to my house, and as my orang kanan, he is almost always with me. He has been with me since the day I took over the mafia group and had fought other notorious gangs with me.
I drove the car into my compound, killed the engine, and stepped into the house.
As usual, there was food on the table.
“I need to discuss this with her tomorrow.” I thought as I sat down to devour the food.
The sun on my face woke me up.
I took my bath, dressed up, and lingered in my room so I could speak with her as she came down at noon.
I eventually went down by noon and met her knitting.
“I did not know you could knit,” I said, jarring her. “I am sorry; I did not mean to scare you.”
“It’s okay; I didn’t know you were still around.” She replied squirming.
“Calm down, Noria; I just want to discuss a business proposal with you. Nothing else, I said to pacify her.
“I am fine,” Noria replied, obviously relieved.
“Can I sit?” I asked in a bid to get her to relax more.
“Of course, it’s your house after all.”
“So, Noria.” I started, “I have this issue I need your help with.”
“Me? What can I possibly do to help you? She paused and then continued, “I will gladly help if I can.”
“Thank you, so this is the proposal. My mom has been pestering me to get married, and I want to get her off my back.”
“Okay, where do I come in?” Noria asked, chuckling. “Do you want to marry me. She chuckled more and then stopped when she noticed I wasn’t smiling.
“Wait, is that what you wanted to tell me?” She asked, the smile fading off.
“I would like us to get married.”
“What? I don’t understand.”
“Calm down, please; it’s only on paper and for a short while, just to get my mom off my back. Please, you can stay safe from whatever it is you are running away from while I get some peace from my mom.” I finished, taking a deep breath.
“I don’t understand; you mean you want me to marry just to get your mom off your back? That’s preposterous.” Noria said, amazed.
“I know, but that’s the only thing I can think of. Please, it will only be on paper; nothing will go on, I promise.”
“Give me some moments,” Noria replied, standing up.
I watched her walk to the balcony; she paced from one end to the other. Then walked back inside.
“We will have to have this on paper.”
“Paper?” I asked, confused.
“The you not touching me aspect and all this marriage on paper thing.”
“That’s okay.” I whispered overwhelmed, I am finally going to get Mom off me. I continued, “Thank you so much, Noria. I will fix everything on paper so we sign it.” I finished. My phone started ringing immediately as I stood up.
“I will see you later in the day.” I said, taking the call, which I could see was from Mom.
“Hello, Mom.”
“Hello Lucas, I am in your city.”
“What? Mom!”
“Yes! Can’t I come to this city because of you again?”
“You can, but you should have informed me.”
“Don’t worry, I am not staying with you; I have already lodged into a hotel, but I want us to meet so we can have this discussion face to face.”
I sighed. “I knew it would come to that. Anyways, I have found a lady that I want to marry.”
“You can’t do that. I already told you I have someone for you, and when did you start this relationship?”
“Mom, it’s my decision, and she is the one I want. I will be bringing her over to see you now.”
“That is better; I would really like to meet this woman.”
“Don’t be a troublemaker, Mom; I will see you soon.” I finished, cutting off the scolding from her end.
“Hey Noria, my mom is in town; can we go meet her, please? So I can start having my freedom now?”
“I…” Noria stuttered, “Isn’t it too early?”
“Please, I promise, it’s just so she meets you.”
“Fine, let’s go.” Noria agreed, giving in.
I drove to the hotel that my mom told me she was in, and we sat down waiting in the hotel restaurant.
I sat facing Noria, who was backing the stairs, and my mom waltzed down in her usual way.
“Hello, Mom,” I greeted, standing up to usher her to her seat.
At the same time, Noria stood up and faced my mom, and then she froze.
After a heartbeat, she took off while Mom, obviously surprised, called her “Nur.”
“Is that the lady you told me about?” she asked immediately.
“Yes, Ma, let me go find out what is wron
g.
As I tried to chase after her, my mom burst out laughing.
- Writer
