Proposal
823 Words
What stopped her was the tall figure leaning against the wall.
It was him... the silver-haired man with those impossible golden eyes. His attention wasn't on her at first. He stared up at the clouded sky, jaw tense, arms folded across his chest so that his biceps strained against the fabric of his black suit.
As if sensing her presence, he turned his head. His gaze locked onto her completely.
Carmilla felt exposed. Awkward. The sudden urge to flee surged through her. Then she remembered, he had likely witnessed the humiliating scene Layla caused in the café. Fresh embarrassment burned through her.
For some reason, she hated that he had seen her like that.
Her eyes stung. One traitorous tear slipped down her cheek despite her efforts to hold it back. She quickly looked away and walked faster, wiping her face with the back of her hand.
He pushed off the wall and stepped directly into her path.
Carmilla refused to look up at him. She wished the ground would open up and swallow her whole.
Why today? Why now? Who the hell does he think he is?
"You're in my way," she muttered, trying... and failing... to keep her voice steady.
He said nothing. Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a crisp black handkerchief, offering it to her.
She didn't take it.
Undeterred, he gently dabbed at the tear on her cheek. She froze. After a moment, she stepped back and finally looked up.
A mistake.
His golden eyes held her captive. His expression was unreadable.. no pity, no judgment. For the first time in hours, she felt a sliver of calm.
"Let me help you, Carmilla."
She stepped back abruptly, feeling her legs weaken beneath her. For a split second, his hand twitched as if to reach for hers, but he caught himself and let it fall back to his side.
"Who do you think you are?" she snapped, equal parts confused and exasperated. "You don't know me. You don't know where I come from or what kind of situation I'm in. What gives you the right to say something like that.. like you can actually fix anything? I'm not interested in whatever this is."
She waved him off and kept walking. "f**k off."
Her legs carried her forward even though exhaustion weighed heavily on her body. He didn't try to stop her. Strangely, a part of her wished he had. The small spark of hope he had ignited in her chest now burned painfully.
He was a stranger. He had nothing to do with her mess. And yet…
She closed her eyes as more tears slipped free.
"I will take care of the Gates family," his deep voice called after her, calm and steady. "If you want them destroyed, it will be done. If you need money for your father's treatment, it will be provided. If you want your mother saved, I will handle that too. Whatever your family needs... I will grant your wishes, Carmilla."
She froze mid-step.
This stranger… who was he?
Her eyes widened in shock. How could he possibly know so much? No one outside the Jackson, Gates, and Featherington families knew the full extent of their situation.
"You also want to leave this town. I can make that happen too. You want a job? I'll give you one with pay that will cover everything you want and need."
Carmilla's mind spun. Who was this man? How could he promise such things so casually?
She turned around. He was still watching her from a distance, calm and unwavering.
"Do you even understand what you're promising?" Her eyes narrowed. "No ordinary man could do all of that. So tell me.. what do you want in return for these favors?"
He smiled. It was brilliant, almost blinding, with dimples that softened his sharp features.
"Yes. They're actually quite easy problems to solve."
He walked toward her with calm, confident strides. Only then did she fully register how tall he was... and how powerfully built, lean muscle evident beneath his suit.
She swallowed as he stopped directly in front of her, deliberately invading her personal space. The audacity was written all over his easy smile. Heat rushed through her body, followed quickly by the urge to slap him.
"And yes," he continued, "you're right. I do want something in return."
Carmilla refused to step back. She knew an intimidation tactic when she saw one. She wouldn't let him see her weak. Tilting her head, she met his gaze defiantly, her hand hovering near the knife hidden in her purse... the same one she had used on Bob.
He noticed the movement. He didn't seem bothered.
"I want you to be my wife for one year."
Of all the things he could have said, this was the last she expected. She staggered backward.
"W… What?"
He held her gaze, golden eyes intense.
"Carmilla… will you marry me?"
- Writer
