A blessing or a curse?

Right there in Mark's room, he sat on a sofa, relaxed and concentrated on his phone as he heard a knock on his door.

“You may come in”

He fixed his gaze back at his device. Tracy walked in looking pale with offence boldly written on her face, not giving attention to the beautiful paintings hung on the walls of the beautiful room.

“Sit right there”

Mark, pointing towards a chair a few, a few steps away from him.

She sat, looking straight into his eyes, still not shifting ground on what's boiling on her inside

‘How can I reward this guy for all the atrocities he has cost me?’

Lost in her thought

‘How about you imagine him trying to make an advance to you, Tracy. What are you gonna do?’

Looking around this time and finally fixing her gaze on the flower vase right in front of her

‘Smashing this on his skull won't be a bad idea though’

She continued as her stare then shifted to his face.

Mark seemed busy on his phone and eventually, after a few seconds, he was done with it as he sat up, dropped his phone and gave her his full attention.

“I know you have many questions to ask, but I promise you, all of them won't matter at the end of this discussion.”

This statement made Tracy’s face look like someone who ate something so unpleasant but is forced not to speak or spit it out. She looks so disgusted as she is keen to listen even more attentively

‘I'm sure this guy doesn't know he's only breathing all because I chose not to let my intrusive thoughts win’

She whispered in her heart.

“ I wanna hear it. Speak”

“ I have an offer for you. A very Providential one, and I would love you to keep it real. You are not forced, nor does your turning it down attract any kind of unbearable repercussions”

Looking at first confused, looking at nothing with her head steeped to the side, pausing for a moment, then jerked back into the conversation, looking interested in it as she sat up

“I'm all ears”

She added.

“ I want you to get married to me”

Her eyebrows rose in surprise as she supported her jaw from falling with her left hand. Trying hard not to let her laughter be noticed but she failed by scoffing while her hand was still in her mouth

‘Never knew Mrs Ava had a crazy clown like this guy at home, masquerading under that bold, solid face. Who the hell does he think he is? He must be under a spell or some possible witchcraft from one of Mrs Ava's worst enemies ’

Her thoughts whispered once again,

as her expression shifted from an innocent scowl to something far more menacing.

“Have you gone nuts? Mark? Do you even know…”

She tried capitalising on that moment to unleash all she had inside but got interrupted by Mark, who showed no sign of remorse, nor was he shaken

“I'm not done speaking yet!”

Said with a calm, deep and loud voice that sends fear down your spine. Giving a deeper stare at Tracy whose jaw was completely unlocked and hanging, trying to figure out what just happened

“I would give you enough time to speak once I've tabled what I have here for you, so calm down and listen carefully”

Tracy was left in awe as words vanished from her lips. Looking at Mark in amazement

‘ What? Won't he let me speak still? I hope I keep my promises to Lady Gene before the end of this discussion ’

She kept brooding in her heart as she nodded her head, disrespectfully , He smirked and continued, unbothered.

“I want you to sign a marriage contract with me. Papers are already arranged. It's right here and you must sign it in two days.”

“This is beyond just marrying me. Best believe you are not gonna remain the same person you used to be.

And once again, you are not forced to. You have your options at your disposal, but you have tonight and the whole of tomorrow to decide”

Tracy's eyes brightened like the sun, tightening her lips in restraint.

‘I should pinch myself to be sure this isn't a dream. Don't even know if I should wish it were. What if it's all a joke, what if it's just to make another jest of me? What am I to say?’

Tension began to rise in the room as all of Tracy's rage and boldness melted like ice on a sunny afternoon.

Silence stole the room's atmosphere for a second until Mark broke it.

“You should try to say something , I have to be somewhere in the next 30 minutes”

Tracy, forcing words out of her mouth

“Are you for real?”

The word, creeping out of her lips, as if she didn't give it permission. As her heart beat began to triple in speed, blinking her eyes multiple times, this time looking nervous and looking down as she held her hands together. She lost all the aura she thought she had

“You seriously think I have enough time to make silly jokes like this one? Here you go”

Shaking his head as he exhales with a smile. As he stood to hand the contract over to Tracy.

“Just like that?”

This time gaining confidence to look up to his face.

“Yeah, Just like that”

Nodding his head as he picks up his cellphone to continue from where he stopped.

“Can I at least have enough time to fully consider this? Because this is a life decision?”

Tracy, this time being diplomatic and apologetic unlike her initial saucy style, looks up to him as he walks back to his seat.

“I wish. But sadly, you don't have much time to think or consider. I might have to try alternatives tomorrow if I can't get any positive response or response at all”

He said, sitting back comfortably on his sofa, lifting his left hand to check the time.

“I'm running late, Think about it today, conclude tomorrow and give me feedback”

Tracy nodded positively as she bit her lips with her eyes wide open, pretending not to notice Mark walking past where she was seated as he headed for the door while she held the contract firmly. He paused at the door and turned back

“Lest I forget, you have some questions for me, don't you? I'm sure you have them ready, and don't forget, I've got less than 15 minutes left on my clock to vanish from this building. So use the time wisely”

In a courageous, calm and cool voice.

Tracy, still staring at the sofa opposite here from whence Mark was seated, refused to turn to him to give her response.

“They apparently don't matter anymore”

He scoffed as he turned back to the door, pausing one more time.

“ I hope you don't turn me down.”

He said as he smirked, opened the door and took his leave. Tracy, staring at nothing as her eyes were filing for a restraining order

‘This might be an answer to your prayers, Tracy?, I hope so. Everything's gonna be fine’

She said to herself, as she picked up her cellphone which Angela's picture popped up as the wallpaper. After staring for a while, she stood to take her leave.