Chapter Three

Chapter three

#Ibwt

She expected to hear a lot of things—how he was in deeper trouble than he imagined, how the house was probably going to be up for auction, how he needed her to tread more carefully instead of making impulsive decisions as going to bargain with a mafia boss—nothing prepared her for the words that spewed out of his mouth,

“You’re getting married.”

Olivia chuckled softly, “Very funny dad.”

Charles frowned and her laughter died instantaneously. The perturbed look on his face showed he wasn’t playing around, “Dad??”

“I told you to stay out of it Olivia.” He raked his hands through his hair with his eyes starting to brim with tears, licking his lips nervously, “I knew he was dangerous and I—

“Dad what are you talking about?!” She cried out, seeing him in such distress tore her heart to pieces.

“He wants you Olivia,” Charles finally said, “I have no other choice.”

She scoffed loudly, “I’m not a piece of metal or some rare jewel buried underground waiting to be bought by some merchant. Nobody can want me! What are you talking about?!!”

“Olivia you’re going to marry Alex Maldov!”

This was a funny prank, a scare tactic so she wouldn’t meddle in his affairs any longer, Olivia thought. Her father was a man who would go through dubious means just to get her out of trouble, this was just another one of it—he was pulling a prank, however cruel, it was still perfect to get her out of trouble.

“Okay dad,” she smiled placing a gentle kiss on his temple and made for the exit just to find two fully suited men by the doorway, she turned around, “Dad what’s going on??”

Charles turned glass-eyed as he shrugged in defeat, “It’s either you or the twenty million Olivia.”

Tears started to form in her eyes, “You’re selling me to the mafia?!”

“No.” Charles, shaking his head vigorously replied, “Putting it that way makes me sound like a monster Ollie.”

“Don’t call me that!!” She slapped his hands as he tried to reach for her, “Only mom is allowed to call me Ollie!”

“Olivia please listen to—

“The answer is no!” She cut him off, brushing away her tears, “I will not marry Alex Maldov. I will find a way to pay back your debt and we can go back to the way things were,” panting heavily as paced back and forth, “We can sell the house. I can release the last of my savings. We can get a loan and…” looking up at him she saw the trickle down his cheek and her false resolve started to break, “You can’t make me marry him dad.”

“I have no other choice”

“He’s the mafia boss!!”

“He’s not as bad as you think Olivia,” Charles said as he brushed away his tears, stepping closer he took her hands in his, “Maldov wants you—not the 20 million or the house, he wants you Olivia.”

She shut her eyes, fervently pushing away the idea of her soon to be reality, wishing it would all go away as this was nothing but a nightmare. A second passed and she opened her eyes….this was real…her father was really selling her to Alex Maldov.

“And if I say no??” She asked, the thought of running away enticed her.

“He’s going to kill me Olivia.”

She remained silent for a moment and let out a deep breath, “We’ll see about that.”

“Olivia….” Charles called out as she walked towards the suited men outside the door.

They were intimidating, struck a nerve of fear in her but she would not fold, tilting her chin up to show a bout of confidence she demanded, “Take me to your boss.”

********

Alex Maldov smiled as Monroe peeled his oranges with his hands trembling and a trickle of blood plastered at the nape of his neck,stealing from his boss was one thing—stealing and lying was another.

“Peel faster.” Alex told him calmly.

He scrambled, trying to peel the tough bark with his fingers which had been pounded by the infamous crowbar on the table, crying like a toddler who just lost a lollipop as his life finally flashed before his eyes, “I’m sorry bo—

“Don’t apologize,” Alex cut him off, “it’ll make torturing a little less boring.”

Monroe cried, wept almost as he kept on peeling with his broken phalanges when the suited men walked into the room. Alex frowned deeply as he glanced towards the door seeing a feminine silhouette right outside it. His frown morphed into a deep scowl, “What is the meaning of this? I told you to watch the woman, not bring her here?!”

“She was hell bent on seeing you sir.”

He sighed deeply, rising to his feet as he grabbed a napkin to clean the blood on his hands. Walking past Monroe’s petrified self, he ruffled his hair in a playful manner, “ I’ll play with you later. Keep peeling those oranges.”

He walked out of the room to find Olivia whose back was against the wall at the hallway, God she was even more beautiful in fainter lighting. Olivia felt her throat dry, she winced just at the sense of his presence and turned around to face him.

Alex Maldov was tall, dangerously tall and even manlier than what she saw at their first meeting—and yet it terrified her deeply. She could only make out the rest of his face under the faint lighting, the golden hue in his eyes didn’t make him look any less intimidating.

“I need to speak to you concerning my fath—

“I guess you’ve heard about the wedding.”

She frowned, “Can we go somewhere more….lit?”

Alex chuckled softly, “What?”, she felt the knots in her stomach tighten, “Are you scared of me Olivia?”

“You’re planning to kill my father.”

“It’s business.”

“Business??” She scoffed loudly, “We’re in your debt Mr Maldov and I get it but please—

“Call me Alex,” He muttered calmly as he moved in closer, the knots tightened even more, “After all you’re soon to be mine.”