1- Scotland

"You lose," I declared with a triumph smile across my lips while eyeing Mr. Carlson who is sitting in front of me on the other side of the table.

"N-No. No, no, no, no," Mr. Carlson undeniably said, and he climbed to the table to get the money back that he already surrendered.

But before he could make a mess, two bodyguards caught him and pulled him away from the casino. I saw him being thrown away outside so, I decided to approach him and give him another chance.

I stood in front of him at my full height of 6 feet and 6 inches.

"Mr. Carlson," I called his attention, and he immediately stood up and looked at me.

"Mr. Victor, please, I am begging you, I need that money. That's all I got. That's also my daughter's tuition fee," he begged.

But that won't work for me. He had a choice. And he chose to give it all than stand up and give up.

Wait, did he say 'my daughter'?

"And what's the name of your daughter?" I asked out of curiosity.

"Her name? Her name is Katlyn Carlson. She is now a fourth-year College student at Lawson University," he immediately replied to me, and rubbed his hands together since it was freezing here outside.

Katlyn, he said? Oh, what a surprise.

I smiled when an idea came to my mind just thinking of Katlyn who stole my Dad's attention and kept comparing me to her.

"Okay, you want to get back the money you lost?" I seriously questioned, and I have a proposition to make.

"Yes, yes. I will do anything," he pleaded, and stepped closer to me which makes me step backward.

He is too close to my dismay.

"Okay, then. Here's the deal. I will get back everything that you lost tonight but first, I want your daughter," I told with a sly smile.

"My daughter? What do you mean, Mr. Victor?" he asked with confusion on his face.

"What I meant to say is, I want your daughter's hand in exchange for the money. In other words, I want to marry her. Take note, I will give you three days to get her to the altar with me. If she did not make it, I apologize but you will not get your money back and you will be banned from all casinos here in London. Do we have a deal?" I stated, and I laid my right hand in between us as I was waiting for him to seal the deal that I offered to him.

Mr. Carlson looked at my hand for a minute and then, he looked up at me with hesitation in his eyes.

He's a casino addict. He wouldn't like to be banned from all casinos here in London.

Good thing and his daughter is Katlyn, my long lost friend, or he will surely beg for alms on the street.

"Deal," he responded, and he shook my hand as we closed our deal.

"It's settled then. You have three days to persuade your daughter, or you know where will you go," I mentioned, and I walked to my new expensive car.

This is going to be exciting.

The next morning, I am eating breakfast silently and alone when my phone rings, and seeing Mr. Carlson's name flashing through the screen makes me smile all of a sudden.

"He better have good news," I mumbled, and I put my phone on my right ear to hear what he has to say. "Yes, Mr. Carlson?" I spoke huskily.

"Good morning, Mr. Victor, am I interrupting you?" he told in the other line, feeling sorry.

"No, not really. Why you called?" I seriously responded, and I pat my lips as I finished eating my breakfast.

"I-uh-Mr. Victor, my daughter—uh— she...um...how should I say it?" he hesitantly said which irritates me.

"She what, Mr. Carlson? Would you mind saying it clearly so, I could understand what you're saying?" I frankly mentioned because I hate wasting my time on something useless.

"I apologize, Mr. Victor. But, my daughter, Katlyn, she—we couldn't reach her. She also did not go home last night after I told her about our deal," he said worriedly.

"What did you say?" I groaned, and I stood in my chair. "And where did she go? Do you know where she could possibly go?" I asked, and I will pick her up myself if she is playing hard to get like this.

That woman...she will never leave me in peace.

"No, I do not know. Honey, do you know where could our daughter go?" he answered me and then, I heard him talk to his wife.

Oh, my blood is boiling just thinking that she is avoiding me again. And because of that, I remember what happened before.

***

After I pushed her into the mud, the next day, I noticed that whenever we were about to meet she would avoid me and run away which surprised me.

She never dares to cross me again after that day.

Ever since then, I just looked at her from afar until I graduated and after 3 years, she followed.

***

I got no news from her after she graduated and that is because I got busy too that time so, I did not know what happened to her.

I do not know but after my father discovered that she exists, he never stops praising her and comparing her to me, his only son. It irritates me whenever he mentions her name every time we meet. And that's the reason why she keeps running in my head even after we got our separate ways.

Yes, she's beautiful, talented, and smart, but I am not interested in her. But by getting her, by marrying her, I know Dad would be happy for me.

Nevertheless, hearing that she has gone missing makes me angry after I've decided to get married to her.

Oh, I am not going to let her get away from me again.

And because of that, I hung up the call, and directly went to my car when I received a text from Mr. Carlson.

'I guess she is at her grandmother's house in Scotland. Here's the address there. MXXXXXXXXXX.'

Scotland? Damn, that's far.

Oh, well, I need to get her, and I do not want to be wifeless.

I speed off to the airport and ride in my private airplane alone to get to Scotland. He better not lie to me or I will have his head on my bare hands.

Fast forward, I hit the brake when I finally found the address Mr. Carlson gave to me. She better be here.

I knocked on the door thrice when an old lady showed up and smiled at me.

"Yes, young man, can I help you?" she asked with her cheerful aura.

"Is Katlyn there? I am her husband and I am here to pick her up," I directly questioned as I am not here to chitchat, but to find my wife.

"You are her husband? Come in, she's just taking a bath," she responded, and pulled me inside which surprised me.

So, she's here.

"Do you want anything? Water? Cookies?" she thoughtfully offered me, and she entered the kitchen.

"Where is her room?" I asked instead of answering her.

"Upstairs, the one that has her name on the door," she answered without doubting me.

She surely has no idea who I am. Anyways, I went upstairs and entered Katlyn's room where I can honestly hear water splashing inside the bathroom. And because I could no longer wait for her to go out, I let myself inside the bathroom and I saw her taking a shower in a transparent glass. My eyes couldn't help but roam around her body and damn...she's gorgeous.

I, then, cleared my throat to get her attention. "Finally, I found you," I announced loud and clear which makes her turn her head and she screamed at the top of her lungs when she saw me in front of her and watching her.

"W-W-What the hell are you doing here inside the bathroom?! Get out!" she shouted like she is commanding me, but I did not move an inch to my place and just stared at her who is now covering her body with her two hands.

"I've seen it already. Now, come out and we have to talk," I demanded not leaving my eyes on her.

"Are you out of your mind? I'm taking a shower, for Pete's sake! Get out! How do you even get in here?" she protested, and madly shooed me away.

"Your grandmother let me in," I answered bluntly.

She hissed in irritation and because she knew her hand wasn't enough to cover herself up, she got out of the shower area to get the towel outside even though I was in front of her when she suddenly slipped on her feet. I immediately caught her making her body crashes to mine that even so, I am wearing clothes I can feel her delicate breast being pressed on me.

For a moment, our surroundings fell silent and we just gazed into each other's eyes when I heard the door from my back open.

"Oh! I'm so sorry if I interrupted something. Please, continue, my son and daughter," the old lady apologetically said, and she immediately closed the door behind her and left us alone.

Katlyn, then, blinked a lot of times as she regained herself from what happened to us and that's when she pushed my chest, grabbed the towel to cover her body, and stood on her own two feet.

I, anyways, straightened my clothes and composed myself again because I was caught off guard by her fall.

"Seriously, Grey, what the hell are you doing here? How did you find me?" she angrily queried, and she walked outside to get away from me again.

And because I don't want her to leave my sight, I followed her. "Your father gave me your address here. Now, get dress and you are coming back home with me," I demanded.

I halted walking when she suddenly turned and faced me again with her angry look.

Okay, she looks beautiful even when she is mad.

"No, I am not going with you. Never. Now, leave before I call the cops for trespassing," she bravely answered me which makes me smile in amusement. "I don't think I said something funny," she mentioned when she saw my facial expression.

"Baby, you still do not know what I am capable of doing. Don't you know that I am filthy rich?" I arrogantly told, and I smirked again to give her a message that she cannot get away from me that easily whatever she does

"You really are a jackass. And that is the reason why I don't want to marry you. I'd rather die than be with you, you jackass," she said with gritting teeth.

Me, a jackass?

She is the only one who dares to call me that. Now, I remembered what happened before when she first called me that.

Because of what she addressed me, I took one big step to get closer to her and I pulled her right arm towards me making her body crashed into mine, again. Me, a jackass? So be it then.

"Ouch, take your hand off me before I slap you on the face," she threatened me with the one-inch gap between our faces.

Like I am afraid of her. Hell, no. There is no human being yet born that I fear.

"Let me remind you what your father did. He owes me money. Being a good wife is the least you could do to save your family from bankruptcy. Now, choose. Your family or poverty? Answer me now," I declared giving her two options only.

She smirked at me like she did not even get scared. "I'd rather beg for alms than be with you, you arrogant jackass," she straightforwardly answered me, and pushed me with her one free hand.

But I wasn't giving up. I never do. Especially to her.

I caught her free hand and gripped it to pull her closer to me so that the tip of our noses bumped into each other and I stared at her sparkling blue eyes. "Wrong answer," I stated, and I picked her up and put her on my right shoulder even though she is just wearing a white towel.

"Hey! Put me down, you jackass! Hey!" she yelped in shock while throwing punches at my back, but I did not mind it.

To be continued...