5. Proposal

KAYLA’S POV:

The afternoon air was beyond scorching. I pulled my shades up before running into the hospital building in order to avoid getting sunburned.

I hadn’t bothered greeting anyone and went straight for the elevators, up to my father’s floor.

I’d gotten news that he’d woken and rushed to the hospital before he became too weak to keep his eyes open. The moment I reached his room, I turned the knob without hesitation.

And there he lay.

My father’s chest rose and fell slowly, his arms and body thin and frail. A shadow of his former bulky build.

“Kayla?” He called out, his voice barely over a whisper. My chest tightened as I looked at my dying father.

“I’m here,” I rushed to him, grabbing his hands and tears threatened to fall out again.

I’d told myself I wouldn’t cry anymore. I had to be strong for him.

“Oh my baby. Have you been eating well?” He asked, barely able to turn his head to look at me.

“Yes dad, yes I have. Don’t worry, you’ll get better soon,” I replied, not even believing what I had said.

My dad let out a breathy chuckle, “I wish I’d done better for you, Kayla. Your old man might not have enough time to see ‘soon’.” He said, before looking away.

My heart shattered into pieces. I just stared at him, not saying another word and simply basking in his company. The smell of antiseptic clouded my nose with the only sound in the room being the rhythmic beeping of machines.

A few minutes went past with me sitting there and looking at my dad who was already long asleep. I watched the nurses reconnect a few more tubes.

I’d been so hopeful a few days ago, so sure I would figure out something eventually. But now, with less than three hundred dollars and a breaking heart, I couldn’t achieve anything.

I stood up and kissed his cheek before wiping my tears, finally walking out of his room and into the hallway.

I froze in place.

My heart beat quickened again and I stared at the man in front of me –it was the same stranger from last time– and he stared back at me, the same dangerous smirk on his lips.

“I thought you’d take forever in there. Do you have any idea how long I’ve been waiting?” He asked, standing upright.

He wore another dark suit, his hair ruffled in the right places. His face glowed from the sunset light that reflected through the windows.

I felt myself get weak in the knees at the sight of him, I had no idea why. Probably had to do with his accent, face or the dangerous aura that pulled me.

“You’ve been stalking me?” I finally asked, snapping back to my senses.

I watched his eyes trace every inch of my body and at that moment, I wanted to run and hide. But at the same time, I wanted to come close, to show him more.

My conflicting thoughts were getting the better of me.

“Stalking is a big word. You don’t propose to a man and just disappear, Kayla Levins.”

I gasped.

He knew my name. I’d never given him that the first time we met. My breath turned shaky at the way he pronounced it, the way it rolled off his tongue.

“If I remember correctly, you said no. Plus, I never gave you my name.” He pinned me with a gaze and my stubborn nature didn’t let me back down.

“You visit here so often, even the janitors know your name Kayla. I’m Robert Moore and I’ve come to propose to you,” he said.

I laughed.

At first it started as a breathy chuckle but then turned to full blown laughter. Maybe my situation had turned me mad after all.

“Well, Robert, I don’t see three million,” I said teasingly, playing along with his silly joke.

“I’ll wire transfer to you right now if you’ll marry me,” he replied without any hesitation.

“Why should I take your money? When I said you should marry me, I was being silly and… and stupid. I went home, thought about it and realized it was indeed foolish to propose marriage to a stranger,” I said.

“Your father’s in there. You need my money if you’ve not lost hope in his life and I need a bride in order to get my freedom and protect my family’s wealth.”

“Since you so nicely asked the last time,” Robert continued sarcastically, "Why not take up your offer?”

“What happened to not wanting to break pretty things?” I asked, still finding the whole conversation berry comical and unbelievable.

Robert walked up to me and I refused to show him my fear. He came closer before stopping right in front of me. I could feel his body warmth and watched him bend a little. His face up close was breathtaking.

“I don’t think you’ll be broken easily. It’ll be very fun to find out, don’t you think?” He replied, a smile replacing his lopsided smirk, though his eyes carried none of the amusement his lips suggested.

I swallowed, hard.

He brought his face closer, and I felt his breath on my cheek. Warm and rough, oddly making me aroused. My heart began to beat faster.

“I’m not your toy,” I said.

“Not at all, Kayla. You’ll be my wife, although temporarily and we’ll gain everything we want from each other. Don’t you think so?”

I was so stupid, insane and desperate. I knew all of those things. I’d done way worse to get money for myself and my father and I wasn’t ashamed to say I’d do more.

Robert already sensed my silent compliance and his smile grew dangerously wider.

After a very long, uncomfortable silence with me contemplating, I said softly, “You’re insane.”

“Maybe,” Robert admitted, his eyes locked on mine and his face too close. “But I always get what I want and right now Kayla, what I want… is you.”