2.

OMARIO.

I marched through the wide hallway of the OJK group of companies, which is one of the numerous companies I own scattered in Miami and across the United States. The sleek, modern design of the building showed how much I had an eye for luxury and sophistication. OJK was a sprawling conglomerate, which is a testament to my great business mindset and the understanding of investing wisely.

I’m smart enough to know that being a mafia boss isn’t at all sustainable, and there’s no point having all the money I have without actually investing it in something profitable.

My empire spanned across an array of industries, from real estate to technology and finance. When anyone mentioned some of the big names in the United States, my name came up multiple times. My wealth had accumulated over the years and was staggering, with assets that included landed properties, high-end resorts, cutting-edge technological firms, and so much more.

“Sir, sir,” I heard a voice behind me accompanied by the clicking of heels. It was the unforgettable voice of my assistant, Jessica, carrying a note of urgency that matched her hurried footsteps.

“What is it, Jessica?” I asked.

“You have a brief meeting with Mr. Tamiko before you leave and..."

“Tell him he’ll have to speak with one of my representatives because I’m not in at the moment,” I replied, turning on my heel to walk away.

“But Mr. Omario, he booked this meeting months in advance. I told him you’re barely in the office, but he insisted on waiting,” she rambled on.

I quickly glanced at my wristwatch. “How long would it be?”

“Ten minutes tops, sir. He flew into Miami this morning from Switzerland just for the meeting.”

“Alright then, I believe I can spare ten minutes for a meeting,” I responded, and as I was about to head back to my office with her, my phone rang.

I reached for it; my eyes briefly scanned the caller ID. It was Llanzo, so I stepped away to answer the call.

“It’s today!” Llanzo said sharply from the other end. “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten, Omario.”

“Forgotten what?” I inquired, my voice laced with confusion.

“Karalana? The plan we’ve been working on for five years, Omario,” Llanzo replied with an exasperated tone.

“Damn!” I ran my hand over my face, realization washing over me. I’d mometarily allowed the chaos of the present to overshadow what I had planned today, and the time to visit Kara’s home had finally arrived.

“Jessica,” I said, turning to my assistant, “cancel any other appointments for today. I have an urgent matter to attend to.”

With that, I ended the call with Llanzo, my mind now singularly focused on ensuring that the plan to visit Kara's home proceeded without a hitch.

*

I smiled to myself because the plan was finally in motion, and if all went well, I would have the girl I wanted before the end of the week. It had been five years of patiently waiting, planning, and observing until I could finally get what I wanted. I had watched from the shadows, ensuring that every detail fell into place as seamlessly as possible. It had been an agonizing half-decade of yearning for her, of never being able to see her in person, but my commitment to the cause remained unwavering.

My existence and everything I did was defined by the pursuit of this goal, a goal that was borderline tethering on obsession. Now, I was seated in my car with Llanzo as my men barged into the house to scare them a little bit. It wasn’t the best course of action, but our worlds were too different for our paths to ever cross.

From the observations Llanzo had fed me over the years, Karalana seemed to be a very introverted woman who loved to keep to herself. She preferred the solitude of her own environment rather than the noise and chaos of the outside world. That was one of the first things that drew me to her the first moment I saw her.

My world, on the other hand, was one of calculated social interaction, where charm and charisma were the order of the day. I thrived in the limelight and navigated the intricate web of connections that I needed to build my empire. It was a world of surface-level relationships, where masks were worn and emotions concealed. A world I’d spent years navigating.

Despite the apparent differences between us, I was drawn to her like a moth to a flame. There was an enigmatic allure to her introverted disposition, a mystery that begged to be unraveled. It was a challenge I had accepted willingly, a puzzle I was determined to solve.

I looked up at the small house that belonged to Desmond Nikoli, Kara’s father. She’d grown up in this house with her father and half-sister. It was a modest dwelling, one that had witnessed the ups and downs of their family life. I knew about the intricate parts of her life, like her mother’s death and how she didn’t get along with her half-sister.

I also knew of the huge debt Desmond had with numerous loan sharks in Miami and how he borrowed more money to cover his already existing debt. He’d done that numerous times, that when the opportunity presented itself to me, I took it. He finally made it to my doorstep and borrowed from me, which was what I wanted anyway. Now, he’ll have no choice but to pay back in cash or in kind.

I turned to Llanzo with a scowl. “What if he has the money?”

“He doesn’t. I made sure I did my research before coming here,” Llanzo said. “His financial situation is dire.”

“Good.”

He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “But is this the only way of getting her? Kara, I mean. You’re not exactly lacking in the looks department, Omario; I’m sure there is another way.”

I threw my head back and laughed. “You and I both know I’m far from bad-looking, but this is the only way for now.”

Llanzo laughed. “Yeah, I’m reminded of that every single day.”

I leaned in closer to Llanzo, my eyes narrowing with an intensity that matched the fervor burning within me. “You don't understand, Llanzo,” I said in a low tone. "I want her, and I've waited long enough. I've always gotten what I desired immediately. But Kara... she's different."

There was an evident possessiveness in my voice, one that had been simmering for years. I have been very patient and have waited for this plan to be finalized. I’d watched Desmond like a hawk until he fell for the plans I’d specifically made for him. Kara was the one person who had eluded my grasp, and that made her all the more enticing.

“I would know; I’ve watched you fawn over her for years now,” Llanzo responded.

“I've watched her from afar for too long,” I continued, my voice a steely resolve. “I've studied her every move, her every nuance. I know her better than anyone else, and now, it's time to bring her into my world.”

Llanzo nodded in understanding. “I've seen you with countless women, Omario,” he remarked cautiously. “But this... this is different.”

I straightened my back and sat up. “You’re right; I’ve had them all. Anyone I wanted at my beck and call, but as I said before, Karalana is different. She’s the only woman who has been so hard to be had.”

The confession hung heavily in the air, a rare moment of vulnerability for a man who was accustomed to getting everything he desired. “I've never felt like this for anyone. It's maddening, Llanzo. And until I have her, I don’t think this need will be quelled anytime soon.”

The car fell silent, and Llanzo and I waited for the men to signal that everything had gone according to plan. I could hear the muffled sounds of the men from inside the house, the shuffling of feet, and the hushed voices that resonated through the stillness of the night. It was a properly planned move, one that was meant to achieve a certain outcome.

My decision was to send the men in first so that they could create an atmosphere of intimidation rather than immediate violence. I knew that the elements of surprise and fear were found to be very powerful motivators, pushing the family toward compliance without the need for physical violence. It was a gamble, a risky move that could backfire if not executed flawlessly, but I was willing to take that chance.

In the stillness and calmness of the car, I clenched my fist, my mind racing with the thoughts of what lay ahead. I couldn’t deny the turmoil within me and the moral indecisiveness that gnawed at my conscience. What I was doing was extreme; I knew that, and I understood the consequences of my actions. But the driving force behind it all was my unwavering desire to be with Kara, a woman I’d adored for a too long.

I checked my watch, slowly becoming impatient.

“They better hurry it up in there; I don’t have all day.”

“They should be done anytime now,” Llanzo responded.

I leaned closer to Llanzo, my voice a low, urgent whisper. “Remember, we’re not revealing my identity until Karalana agrees to be my wife. We’ve come this far, and we can’t afford any slip-ups.”

He nodded. “Yeah. We stick to the plan, and the guys know that.”

But just as I was about to relax and wait for the men’s signal on what to do next, I heard a series of blood-curdling screams piercing the night.

The air around me felt charged with a sort of urgency suddenly, and my possessive instincts kicked in. My eyes narrowed and scanned the darkness, my senses on high alert. A surge of concern washed over me, mingled with a possessive determination to ensure Kara's safety.

The screams were a jarring disruption to the meticulously planned operation, and my mind raced with a multitude of possibilities. There was no part of the plan which involved her screaming or having to fear for her life. I wondered if something had gone wrong within Kara’s home and if there was a threat to her well-being.

Without a moment's hesitation, I signaled to Llanzo, my voice commanding and authoritative. "We need to move now," I declared, my actions propelled by the need to ensure Kara's safety above all else.