Marry me and watch me burn

Chapter two-My harsh reality

“How many times do I have to repeat this story to you?” I muttered, trying to hide the fact that the story from twelve years ago still made me tear up, I was twenty three years old now but everytime I remembered my mom, I felt like the helpless child I was back then. Well I’m still helpless, not just all that helpless.

Monica rolled her eyes, rolling a silk scarf between her fingers. “Honestly, Layla, I don’t mind. You tell it like it’s a blockbuster every time. You should make a living off of this tragedy of yours.” Monica has been my best friend for longer than I remember. She was my only friend.

I snorted. “Blockbuster? More like a horror movie no one asked for.”

“You’re exaggerating,” Monica teased. “You survived worse than a collapsed company, bills piling up, and your father working himself to the bone. You’ve come out alive. That’s a story worth telling.”

I shook my head. “Survived? Barely. And I don’t plan to romanticize it. Some stories, especially mine, don’t need glitter.”

Monica laughed. “Whatever helps you sleep at night, storyteller.”

I was barely looking at her, focusing on a handbag placed perfectly on the top shelf. I stood on my toes, my fingertips brushing the leather, when someone bumped into me from the side.

“Hey!” I said, stepping back, trying to regain my balance.

The man I collided with didn’t flinch. He was Tall and broad-shouldered. I couldn’t help but notice his smooth textured black hair and his jawline that stood out. He had a massive bodyguard standing behind him.

“Careful,” he said, with an irritating audacity. “You almost ruined my evening.”

I blinked. “Excuse me? Ruined your evening? You’re the one standing there like you own the place.”

He raised a brow, trying to catch a better look of my face. “I don’t apologize for accidents. You should watch your own steps.”

I laughed. “Accidents? Is that what you call walking around like a Cross Empire prince, untouchable and arrogant? Maybe some of us aren’t used to being treated like we don’t matter.”

He tilted his head, smirking. “You’re feisty. I like that.”

“Like that?” I snapped. “Like a woman should stay quiet while a man who’s probably never experienced failure lectures her about manners? You must be proud of yourself. Cross Empire’s golden boy, untouchable, perfect. Maybe you should try humility sometime, have you ever heard of it?”

The bodyguard stepped forward to intervene in the situation. At this point, my heart was pounding so fast already, but I had to stay calm. I wasn’t going to let this rich brat win.

“I don’t apologize for minor collisions,” he said, in a very condescending manner. “And I certainly don’t tolerate audacity.”

“Oh, I see,” I protested, crossing my arms. “Arrogance is your tolerance? That explains a lot. It must be exhausting, living in a bubble where everyone bows down before your empire and your name alone.”

He laughed, his deep voice resonating throughout the mall. “Careful, little lady. Words are cheap. Cross Empire is not.”

I leaned closer, refusing to back down. “Words are cheap? Maybe. But you should try using some. Say them out loud. I’m demanding an apology.”

He froze for a second, he actually looked both surprised and intrigued, I couldn’t tell. Then he straightened his back, adjusting the rest of his body. “I don’t apologize. Not to strangers. Not to anyone.”

I stepped closer, ignoring the bodyguard’s subtle movements. “Oh, but I’m not a stranger. And I demand it, Mr. Cross. For once in your life, admit you’re wrong. You bumped me. You owe me that much.”

I wanted to slap the smirk off his lips as he talked. “I don’t owe anyone. Least of all someone who thinks they can lecture me in the middle of a store.”

I gritted my teeth. “Do you know what it’s like to work yourself to exhaustion, take care of someone else’s mess, pay debts that aren’t even yours, and survive while everyone around you pretends life is perfect? No? Didn’t think so. So yes, you do owe me. Say it.”

“Layla… maybe… maybe......” Monica interrupted.

“I will not,” I said, trying as much as possible to keep my voice firm, stepping even closer, looking directly into his eyes.

“Say it. Apologize, Mr. Cross. Or keep standing there and feel the full force of me calling you out. You think everyone fears you? You’re wrong.”

The smirk remained, he looked like he was enjoying this encounter a little bit too much. “Impressive. You really don’t care, do you?”

“Do I look like I care?” I snapped at him. “I’ve survived bigger men than you, bigger names than Cross Empire. Don’t think your suit and title intimidates me.”

A small crowd had started to form, they were obviously drawn by the tension. Monica grabbed my arm, whispering urgently: “Layla! Stop! Don’t you see who he is? Let’s go!”

I forced my arm free, glaring at her. “And let me guess, you’re scared? Nervous? Flustered?”

Her cheeks turned red, she was blushing. “I… I just.....he’s…”

“Sexy? Dangerous? The kind you’d sell your soul for.” I interrupted teasing her. Monica has always been the kind to be obsessed with every guy she sees.

She swatted my arm, but the blush didn’t fade. “Shut up!”

I laughed, taking a step back, letting her pull me toward the exit. “Don’t worry, Monica. I don’t care who he is. Titles, money, Cross Empire… none of it matters to me.”

“If only you knew…” She said biting the edge of her lower lips.

I smirked, leaning down to whisper: “Careful, girl. Naughty thoughts showing.”

She shoved me lightly, but I ignored it, heading out of the store. I could feel Landon’s eyes following me for a brief moment before returning to his shopping. The bodyguard’s stance remained perfect, guarding him like a statue.

Outside, I covered my forehead with my palm, the was shining directly on my face. I could feel a strange mixture of adrenaline and irritation. Landon Cross had made an impression, unwanted, unwelcome, but undeniable.

I shook my head. “Focus, Layla. Job, bills, Mia, life. Don’t get distracted by billionaires in suits.” I wasn’t Monica, I couldn’t afford the luxury of chasing men clearly above my class, especially not the arrogant ones.

Monica pranced beside me, whispering conspiratorially, “You know… he looked at you.” I saw him look at me, but I didn’t think too much of it. We probably won’t be seeing each other ever again. Monica was the reason I came to this supermarket in the first place, her parents were wealthy so she could afford to shop at big stores all she wants.

“Well that’s good for him.” I said trying to change the topic.

“You don’t care?” she asked, her eyes was widened with shock.

“I care about surviving, Monica. And I’ve got bigger fish to fry than some arrogant but charming chairman brushing past me.”

Her eyes glowed with mischief, and I rolled mine, pulling her toward the street.

Back at our apartment, I could smell the sweet scent of dinner. Mia sat cross-legged on the floor, scribbling in her notebook.

“Layla,” she said, standing up to hug me, She was wearing my crochet top and a blue jean trousers.

“Hi Mia.” I responded stretching out my hands to receive her. She brought out some money from her pocket and handed them over to me.

“I took a part-time job to pay you back the money you paid for my college fee the last time.” She said handing the notes to me. Mia was always very thoughtful, but I always told her to let me take care of things like this, all she had to do was focus on college and that’s all.

I hugged her again, brushing her hair to the back. “You don’t need to, Mia, I’ve got it covered, focus on studying for now and use that money to get yourself a nice dress.”

“But........” She tried to protest.

“No buts,” I said firmly, handing her an envelope with tuition money for the new semester. “Don’t worry about a thing. Just promise me you’ll actually attend every lecture.” I had been saving the money for months and finally it was complete, all I wanted in life was to see my dad and sister happy, they were all I had in the world.

Mia laughed. “Yes, big sister, I promise.”

Our father came out from the kitchen soon after, his hair was wet, his sleeves were rolled up and his tie was loose. “Dinner’s ready,” he said.

I looked at him, noting the faint lines under his eyes. Cross Empire had taken a lot from him, but he worked tirelessly to pay off old debts, to make sure we could survive. Somehow, he never let it crush him completely. I knew dad was tired but he tried his possible best to conceal it.

We sat together, quiet mostly, but it was comfortable. Laughter bubbled up from Mia over a small joke I made, and for a moment, everything felt… okay. Fragile, but okay.

After cleaning up, I checked my watch. It was time to head to my part-time job.

I pushed the door open, ready to clock in for another exhausting evening shift, my mind wandered to dad for a moment, he also went to work, I was going to tell him to stop working during dinner today but it was too late so I made up my mind to tell him when I got back home. When I entered, I couldn’t believe what I saw or who I saw. It was the cross empire arrogant Prince, Landon. Was this a coincidence, or was he here because of me.

He was leaning casually against the counter in his black suit, like he’d stepped out of a magazine cover and into my nightmare. The bodyguard was standing behind him like he had a wedge in his pants.

He stared directly into my eyes . His lips curved into that same smug smirk I’d seen at the store, only this time, it was sharper… deliberate. I wanted to slap the smug look off his face.

He straightened slowly, taking a step toward me. “Looks like I just bought your world,” he said, as if trying to get back at me for the incident at the department store. Or maybe this was actually his way of getting back at me.

I could feel my heart beat louder, but I didn’t move. I refused to give him that satisfaction.

He came closer now, close enough that I could feel the weight of his presence press against my skin.

He tilted his head slightly, his voice was lower this time, almost like a whisper meant for only me.

“Still not intimidated?”

The television came on, as if trying to save me from Landon, if only I knew it wasn’t salvation. It was a news channel. The headline read “Man dies due to negligence of cross construction company senior staffs.”

“Looks like you have matters to attend to.” I said, relieved that he was finally going to get off my back. I knew I wasn’t supposed to be relieved, someone just died. As if the gods were trying to punish me for my behaviour, the headline read further:

“Here is the picture of the man that died.”

I dropped to my knees immediately, I couldn’t believe the face that was staring back at me. How could this be?