Chapter 3

The thought of facing Marcelo filled her with fear. She knew that he was a dangerous man and her father had tried. ‘what would make her approach any different?’ She thought. Georgina didn't know if she had the courage to stand up to him.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. "I have to do this," she thought, her determination growing. "I have to find a way to fix this."

Georgina stood up, her mind made up. She would face Marcelo and try to reason with him As soon as the sun set. It wouldn't be easy, but she knew that she had to try. For her family, for her own sake, and for the sake of her future.

Marcelo's men arrived at Georgina and her Father Francisco's house very early in the morning. They had come to pick up Georgina. They arrived in a black Suv and knocked on the door continuously. 

Francisco sleepily headed towards the door. When Francisco opened the door, he noticed it was Antonio, the same guard that handed him the briefcase of money the day he made the deal with Marcelo.

Francisco recognized him and before he could utter a word, Antonio brushed Francisco aside and asked

 "Where is Georgina?" Francisco was in shock.

Francisco replied "We still have 24 hours left..'' Just as he was about to finish his statement, Antonio and another Marcelo’s men burst into the room Georgina was in.

Georgina on the other hand, had heard the conversations and was prepared as she held a bat and hid behind the door. When the guard bursted in, she hit him with the bat but she couldn’t generate enough force so he stood up quickly and held her hands just as she raised it to hit him again. The guard forcefully picked her up and placed her on his shoulders. 

Francisco rushed to the scene and tried to pull Georgina down from the guard’s shoulder. Antonio gave him a big shove. 

“You are not to be seen anywhere near the boss's mansion and don’t think of involving anyone else or involving the authorities else you and her dies' ' Antonio said while staring straight in the eyes of Francisco. 

Francisco knew for certain that this was no empty threat. At this point, he knew there was absolutely nothing he could do.

Antonio and the guard hurriedly ran out the house with Georgina. Francisco could see as they placed Georgina at the back of the SUV and zoomed off. Francisco was devastated and speechless as there was nothing he could do to save the only thing he cares most about. 

Georgina was pushed into the back of the SUV and the door slammed shut behind her. The interior was dark and smelled of leather, and she could hear the low rumble of the engine as the car pulled away from her home.

She sat there in silence, her heart pounding with fear and anger. She couldn't believe that her father had made a deal with Marcelo without her knowledge, now she is being taken to his mansion against her will.

As the car sped along the winding roads towards Marcelo's estate, Georgina could feel every bump and turn, and she clutched onto the sides of the car to steady herself. She could hear the sound of Marcelo's men talking quietly amongst themselves, but she couldn't make out what they were saying.

Finally, the car came to a stop in front of the large, imposing mansion. The gate slowly opened, and the car drove through, coming to a halt in front of the entrance.

Georgina was roughly pulled out of the car by two of Marcelo's men and pushed towards the entrance. She could see Marcelo waiting for her at the top of the stairs, a sly smile on his face.

"Well, well, well," he said, his voice dripping with amusement. "Look who decided to grace us with her presence."

Georgina gritted her teeth, her fists clenched at her sides. She refused to show any fear in front of Marcelo.

Antonio forced her on a chair

"What do you want?" she asked, her voice steady.

Marcelo and Georgina were sitting in the luxurious living room of Marcelo's mansion, surrounded by expensive artwork and antique furniture. The atmosphere was tense, and Georgina could feel a knot forming in her stomach as Marcelo began to speak.

"I am sure you are aware by now what the side clause was in the agreement between your father Francisco and I," Marcelo said, his voice low and measured. "I am only making sure he keeps his own end of the bargain."

"Is that why you have to force me here?" Georgina asked, her voice started to tremble slightly.

"Repayment was already long overdue, don't you think?" Marcelo replied, his eyes fixed on hers. "Now you do as I say."

Georgina felt a surge of fear go through her spine. She felt like her freedom had been taken away in an instant. Georgina could do nothing but stare at Marcelo blankly in front of her. 

She sat there, lost in thought, feeling trapped and helpless, with no idea of how to get out of this situation. The thought of spending the rest of her life with a man she barely knew, let alone loved, was unbearable.

As the words echoed in Georgina's mind, she knew that this was not going to be a marriage based on love, but rather a transaction in which she was nothing more than an object to be used at Marcelo's will.

Tears pricked at the corners of Georgina's eyes as she realised the true nature of her situation. She knew that she had no choice but to submit to Marcelo's demands, but she also knew that she would never be truly happy in this arrangement.

As Marcelo continued to speak, Georgina's thoughts drifted to the life that she had just left behind. She already missed her father.