CHAPTER 2 : The Proposal

Heather’s POV

The file is in a burgundy cover with, Asset Merger and Mutual Alliance written boldly on the cover.

“Open it”, he says flatly.

I stare angrily at him before looking at the file. I open it, and my eyes quickly scanned through the contents, everything that was written there.

Section 1.0 : A complete merger of the Montain Company Holdings with Valerio Investment Company.

Section 5.0 : A marriage contract between Heather Mountain and Dante Valerio, to hold within the next 12 weeks, which would be made known to the general public.

Section 10.2 : An official hand over of all information gathered about the Valerio dealings in the possession of the Montain group.

“A freaking marriage contract”, I said, my voice going dangerously low.

I looked up at him with contained anger. “Do you think you can buy my family’s credibility?, Do you think you can tie me down? What gives you the damn right to even try that?”

“I don’t think Heather, I know damn well.” Dante replied with a smug look on his face.

He stepped closer and the air around me tighten. “This contract gives you enough money to save the Montain’s business. Your family’s name becomes the face of some of the Valerio Enterprise. Saving us from the FIA interrogation if it ever occurs.” He said.

” I can not and will never sign it.” I said my voice beaming with nothing but pure hatred for him.

”I would rather watch us crumble than be at your mercy.” I say to him. He did not seem surprised at my reaction. He simply looked at his watch and said then tells me that in an hour from now, our businesses would declare bankruptcy and by tomorrow morning, major news outlets would cook up different stories to bury our name. He brought out a ballpoint from his pants and held it out.

“Or, you can just sign this right here and now.”

“You get to save the business, maintain and even upgrade your lifestyle. You also get to have enough time and resources to plan your revenge” he says so mockingly.

I looked at the pen in his hand and back to his eyes. The anger and hatred we both have for each other steaming and filling the atmosphere.

“I need time to think this through.”

“Time is a luxury that is too expensive for you to afford now.”

“Thirty two hours.”

“Thirty two hours is all you have.”

He repeats, before I walk out griping tightly to the document that determined my family’s future.

The walk to my car suddenly became long.

I start to shiver from within.

I can still feel his eyes on me as I approach my car.

Tonight is going to be so long.

“How do l navigate this?”, I ask myself on the drive.

“What are my options?”

Or

“Is this just a bad dream that refuses to end?”

“How did I even get myself into this man’s business?”

I have been very vocal about how much l hate him and every thing he stands for.

“What would the public say when they see that we are married?”

Every thing just keeps lingering in my head.

I can not sleep.

I can not eat.

Heck, I can not even think straight.

Every time I try to catch a break, his voice echoes through my brain like a ticking bomb ready to explode.

I decide to go for a swim, it is one of my favourite things to do to relieve stress.

After my five minute swim session, the shortest I have probably ever done in my life.

The meeting with Dante, really dealt with me.

I decide to finally call my best friend,

Lotus,

She picks on first dial, I can bet she has already been expecting a debrief from my meeting with Dante.

“Tell me, what did that bastardo say to you”, her sweet Italian accent sounded from the phone.

I chuckled, she has always had a way of just making all my worries feel invisible with her presence.

“Are you fine?”

“Should I come over?”

“Have you had something to eat?”

She asks all at once.

“He wants to merge us with Tali”

“He wants the intel we have”

“He wants to use us to run his dealings”

“And”

I pause,

“He wants to marry me.”

There is the sound of shattering glass

“Marry who?”

“Bastardo”

“I swear, I am going to kill him wherever I see him”

“I knew he was up to something weird.”

She continues insulting him.

She pauses as she realises that l am quiet.

“Hey, hey , hey babes.”

“ You are gonna be fine, I promise”

“You need to take a good night rest Tay”

“I do not think you’ve slept properly ever since this entire issue started”

“You don’t have to make a decision right now.”

“I have thirty two hour Lotus”

“Son of a bitch, he gave you a time line?”

“Arggggghh, he needs to be taught a lesson for real.”

“The marriage is just business though”

“What is in it for you?”

“Saving our falling empire, I guess”

Sounding already defeated and accepting my reality.

“Is there no other way to go about it without marrying him?”

“ He also needs to get married.”

“Its kind of a win win”

“But, its just a lot to handle”

“Heather Montain, l know damn well my best friend is not a loser”

“You are one of the strongest woman, I know”

“I do not think you should agree to this without a fight.”

“I don’t have any choice”

“This is my only option.”

“There is not really any thing worth fighting for too.”

“It is the only way to save us all.”

“Heather, I trust you and I trust your sense of judgement.”

“Don’t let that bastard define you, you are stronger than whatever this is.”

“And remember, I’m always here for you if you ever need any thing babes.”

“Thank you so much, I would talk to you later.”

“Take care, babes.”

The line goes off.

I stare blankly at the file.

And suddenly, an idea blows through my brain.

A cunning grin flashes on my face.