Chapter 2

Daniella's Pov

I sat across from him, he had his leg crossed with cigar trapped in his lips and so much smoke seemed to form clouds around him.

"How much money do you need?" He asked, pulling the cigarette away from his lip without sparing a glance at my direction.

"Twenty-five thousand euros." I said, nervously. I think that made him pause and turned his head to my direction.

"Twenty-five thousand…" He responded, as if tasting the words in his mouth. "What do you need twenty-five thousand for?" He asked, furrowing his eyebrows at me.

"To pay a debt my father owes." I said, not wishing to meet his gaze.

"Let me get this straight…you want to borrow to repay the one you borrowed. Let me guess, your father is a worthless drunk who had to borrow money to support his drunken life. I do get it, but why will he borrow such an amount for some useless reasons when he knows he can't pay back?" He said casually as if telling a story.

And he just insulted my father!

"Listen sir, you don't know what happened so don't you dare insult my father!" I retorted in anger before I could even realize I was talking.

He just stared at me wide eye which made me regret my words. I probably shouldn't have said that to someone I want to borrow money from.

Daniella you are so screwed now, you will be thrown out now!

"What do I get in return?" He asked, now putting on the most unfriendly frown I've never seen.

"I don't have anything to exchange for, but you can take my words for it when I say I'll work hard this coming harvest season to pay you back." I said, hoping he'd trust me.

I was confused when he started laughing really hard that I began to wonder if the cigarette had affected his brain.

"You are such a funny young woman. You walked into my house to ask a loan with no collaterals but just your words of trust?" He asked, his jaw tightened as he stopped smiling abruptly.

"I know it's hard and I would've given something in exchange if I had one, but I have nothing to offer sir. Just put your faith in me." I said, trying my hardest to convince him.

He put his hand on his face, frustration evident on his forehead. "If you couldn't pay your previous debt, how will you be able to pay this one?"

"If you would be okay with it I can work in your house till all the debt is paid, I don't mind if it take years. Just help me out sir." I pleaded.

"Fine, I'll give you what you're asking for," he replied, wryly. "In return, I'll be needing something you can definitely give me."

I furrowed my brows in confusion."What could that be sir?"

"Marry me." He said, demandingly, making my eyes go wide.

🔹🔹🔹

"What?!" Helena yelled when I told her everything that happened to the place she directed me to.

"Shocking right? I was ten times shocked as you are. I mean, who ask for marriage in return of a loan?!" I said, pissed.

"Mr. Ruiz, the billionaire asked you to marry him. What did you say to it?!" Helena asked, looking all excited.

I stared at her like she's drunk.

"Are you being serious right now?"

"Of course I am. I can't believe a man of his status could be offering marriage to someone as low as us, so it's a very good thing. So did you accept?"

"Why would I want to accept some stupid offer for a loan? Marriage is a long time commitment and not some joke, I don't even know him."

"It doesn't really matter, the main thing is that you get to pay off your debt and get married to a very rich man. Anyone, literally anyone would kill to become Mrs. Ruiz and he's giving it to you in exchange for a token, you have to accept it."

"Unfortunately I am not everyone, so I do not accept." I stated plainly.

"Come on Dani, use your head for once in your life! This is a ticket to a life of luxury and you want to push it aside because you don't know him. You can get to know him and then fall in love with him with time." Helena said, more like pleading.

I scoffed. Witnessing the kind of man he is, I doubt I'll be capable of falling in love with him or him falling in love with me. He's just a prideful, arrogant man.

"Come on Dani, say yes…it will benefit the both of us a lot. Think of it this way, when you are rich you can link me to very rich and handsome suitor." Helena said with a convincing smile.

"I don't want to." I said, standing up and leaving her mother's shop.

I can't marry a man as arrogant as he is, it would be more like an unhappy life than a happy life.

🔹🔹🔹

It's been six days now since my visit to Mr. Ruiz, I haven't really been able to get the thought of the proposal he gave to me in exchange of paying off my debt. I mean, it will be a relief for my dad and a life of misery to me.

I wake up every morning to see my day lost in thoughts. If accepting Mr. Ruiz's offer will give my father some peace of mind, why am I be hesitant about it?

I sighed.

On reaching the house after a long day at the plantation, I came to a halt when I saw two hefty looking men standing like soldiers in front of my house.

Dad!

I dropped my farming tools and made to run inside, but they wouldn't let me in. I tried pushing through with everything I got, but they only pushed me to the ground. Suddenly, I heard a gunshot which made my eyes go wide.

Father!

I stood up again and was about trying to make my way in when a tall man with tanned skin came out of my house with a gun in his hand, fear swallowed me when his eyes fell on me with a creepy smile.

🔹🔹🔹

I stood up again and was about trying to make my way in when a tall man with tanned skin came out of my house with a gun in his hand, fear gripped me when his eyes fell on me with a creepy smile.

He started making his way towards me, instilling more fear in me, I took some steps backwards till I stumble and fell to the ground. Looking up at him, I found his cruel eyes glaring at me. He came down till his eyes were level with mine.

His creepy smile faded away and was replaced with an unpleasant smile. Before I knew it, he grabbed my chin in a tight grip that hurt.

"Today I barely left him alive because dead men don't pay up. Next time I come here, I'll make sure I have you over his dead body." He said, letting go of my face and getting up to his feet.

I watched as he walked away with his men, when I'm sure they were out of sight I ran into the house. I came to a halt when I saw my father unconscious with blood oozing out of his hand, I felt something break inside of me and my legs getting weak.

"Dad!" I yelled before making my way to him.

I picked his head and rested it on my lap, they shot his hand and he's bleeding a lot. I have to go and get help, I placed his head back to the ground and ran out to get help.

"Please father, stay with me." I prayed in my heart.

🔹🔹🔹

I paced back and forth at the waiting area of the hospital. With the help of a few neighbors I brought dad to the hospital, he has been in the operating room for hours now and it's making me restless on how his condition is. I stopped pacing when I saw Helena walking into the hospital, she must have heard the news.

On seeing me, she ran to me with open arms which I accepted. I really needed that, am so glad she's here.

"What happened? How did he get shot?" She asked, pulling out of the hug.

"It was Carlos." I said, recalling his creepy smile.

"What?! He is really taking things too far." Helena said, looking all worried.

"He is, he also promised do worst when he comes back again and doesn't get his money." I said, recalling those terrifying words he had said to me.

"What are we going about it now? Because if he can do this today, there is definitely no stopping him next time." Helena said, worried.

She's right, if he can do this then he won't hesitate the next minute. There is only one way I can save my father's life, only one way.

🔹🔹🔹

I came down from the truck which came to a halt in front of the 'Ruiz Residence'. I came down and paid the driver who drove off a moment after. It's been two days that I've been preparing myself for this moment, dad's out of danger but still in the hospital for some few days observation which is a relief.

So to avoid something worse from happening again, I have to do what I must as it's the only option left for me. Sighing, I gave a knock on the gate. After a moment the gate opened to reveal the gate-keeper.

"Good morning mister, please I am here to see Mr. Ruiz." I said with a small smile.

"Any appointments?"

"Actually he had told me to come back once I've made a decision, that's why am here." I said.

He gazed at me for a moment before giving way for me to come in. I accepted the offer and immediately start making my way to the building where I sighted that same man in black tuxedo. On seeing me, he opened the door for me to get in and followed right behind me.

We made our way upstairs, making our way to his office. On reaching the office door, the man in tuxedo gave a light knock on the door before opening it like he did the last time. I forced my whole being to make a move and get in and the door shut closed behind me.

Seeing him, he's sitting behind his desk and seems to be going through some files on his desk with all seriousness that I doubt if he's away of my presence.

"Have a seat please, make yourself comfortable." His voice came, startling me again.

He is aware of my presence then.

I made my way to the couch where I sat on the last time, sitting on it I waited for him to join me. After a moment I heard some sheets ruffling and then footsteps till it came to a halt at the couch facing mine, he sat down and crossed his leg on the other.

"Would you like some coffee?" He asked.

"No thank you." I said plainly, not wanting to look up at him.

"Suit yourself. To what do I owe this visit, had a rethink on my offer?" He asked, I could sense the ego in his voice.

"Yes…I accept your offer." I let those words out with my eyes tight shut.

"And what if I tell you the offer is no longer available due to the cause of your delay?" He said, making my eyes go wide as I look up at him.

"You didn't tell me that the offer has a duration?" I blurted out.

He scoffed, not looking at me.

"I am a business man, every business man deals on time." He said, looking at me with no sort of emotions in his eyes.

He is so arrogant!

"Please sir, I was foolish but I really need this money or my father won't live another week." I pleaded, my eyes getting blur with my emotions coming up.

I don't mind begging this egoistic man as long as he clears my debt and my father's life is spared.

"Because I am a very generous person, how about I make you another offer?" He said with a sly smile.

"What other offer?" I asked, curious.

"A night with me." He said with a wry smile.

I stared at him wide eyed. He wants to have me?! Till now I only thought of him as an arrogant man, but now he's not only an arrogant man but a disgusting one at that.