Chapter Two. The Proposal.

As Elena walked into the coffee shop, the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled her senses. Her best friend and room mate Lucia, who worked part-time there, greeted her with a beaming smile as she approached the counter. "Look who's here," Lucia exclaimed. "I missed you last night." But her cheerful expression quickly turned into suspicion as she asked, "Where did you spend the night?"

Elena winked and replied, "Somewhere." Lucia knew her friend too well; she was aware that Elena had spent the night with a man. Elena's playgirl attitude was something Lucia was used to. She couldn't help but ask, "Who is he this time?" It had become a tradition for Elena to describe every man she had a fling with, and her friend was always eager to hear the juicy details. For Elena, sharing her experiences was like winning a prize.

"Just some random person," Elena replied, knowing that Lucia was trying to dig deeper. Elena wasn't ready to let her best friend into her dark world of revenge against the Romanos. Lucia knew everything about Elena except for her hatred for the Romanos and her evil plots. It was safer that way.

"Oh, I see," Lucia said, understanding that Elena wasn't going to give up any more information. Elena had always been secretive about her schemes against the Romanos, and Lucia had learned to respect her friend's boundaries.

As Elena started to leave the coffee shop, Lucia asked, "Will you be home tonight?" Elena replied, "Sure, I need to finish a painting." Elena had her own studio, and she was an artist at heart.

With that, Elena strolled out of the coffee shop, the sounds of the bustling city filling her ears as she made her way to the bus stop. The day had just begun, and she couldn't wait to start painting.

*

*

It was exactly two days since Elena and Luca’s sex escapade, although the memory were still fresh in her head. Elena was on her way to her studio when she saw him. The man who stood in front of her studio was tall, strikingly handsome, and his eyes and cheekbones betrayed his Italian heritage. It was Luca, the man she had a crazy night of passion with, her ticket to a successful revenge against the Romanos. What was he doing here? She thought apprehensively. Had she been found out? Did her intel give her up?

As she stood and watched him from behind, she thought of the next step - run! Her mind screamed. But it was useless. Even if she ran, Luca Romano would find her. From her research over the years, there was one indisputable fact she found about this man - he doesn't stop until he gets what he wants.

Turning back and going home to think of the next move was the only rational decision now. As Elena made to turn back, his voice stopped her. "Miss Elena?" His deep, madly voice sent a chill down her spine. She closed her eyes for a while. "Fuck!" she muttered and turned slowly.

They were standing face to face now, both looking at each other in silence. "You are…" She feigned a confused look as she broke the silence. Instead of Luca replying, he raised his hand and removed the strand of hair from her face. He stared at her with deep longing. Elena stood there, shocked. She couldn't fathom what this man was doing.

"Ah, Mr…"

"I can touch you," Luca said with strong emotion. His hands moved to her cheek as he caressed it. Elena was getting uncomfortable, but she didn't know how to react.

Luca quickly put down his hand like nothing ever happened, the transition of mood stunned Elena.

"Can I get an explanation from you, Mr…?" Elena said, not knowing where the courage came from.

Luca fixed his gaze on Elena, studying her bewildered expression. Raul had described her as a simple orphan who painted for a living, but there was something about her that Luca couldn't quite put his finger on. Her deep, intense eyes were filled with a mix of emotions, some of which he couldn't decipher. Despite her confusion, Luca found himself drawn to her, his obsession growing stronger by the second.

"Luca," he said finally, breaking the silence. "Luca Romano." Elena's feigned confusion remained.

"What can I do for you, Mr. Luca?" Elena asked, her brow furrowed.

"Can you spare a few minutes to talk with me?" Luca asked, unsure if she would oblige. But he wasn't one to give up easily. He was here now, and he would stop at nothing to make this woman his wife.

"Why?" Elena asked, raising a skeptical brow.

"I have a proposal for you, Miss Elena," Luca replied. Elena searched his face, trying to read his expression. What kind of proposal was he talking about?

"A proposal?" she asked, her voice laced with skepticism.

Luca nodded. "Let's talk about it in a cafe," he said, gesturing towards his car. Elena hesitated for a moment, but eventually got into the car and directed him to the nearest cafe.

Once they arrived, they settled at a table and made their order. The cafe was simple yet classy, and the ambiance was calm and peaceful. It was the perfect place for a business deal.

"So," Elena started. "Mr. Luca, what is your proposal about?"

"You're an impatient one, Miss Elena," Luca chuckled.

"I prefer to use my time wisely," Elena countered.

Luca found her to be interesting and witty. She was going to be a challenge to tame, and he wished Raul had given him this additional information.

"You're insinuating that you're wasting your time with me," Luca said, leaning back in his chair.

"I'm not saying that," Elena replied, her lips curling into a cheeky smile. "But you are a stranger."

"Yet you still indulged me and followed me here," Luca drawled. Was she playing hard to get now?

"I can't help but think that you were expecting me, Miss Elena," Luca continued, studying her reaction.

Elena stared at him, unsure of how to respond. He always seemed to have the right words to counter hers.

"Oh, I suppose you could do this much for a man you spent a crazy night of passion with," Luca said, breaking the silence. Elena felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment and frustration.

"Get on with your proposal, Mr. Luca," Elena said firmly, determined to steer the conversation back on track.

"Be my wife," Luca said, the words echoing in Elena's head. Did she hear him correctly?

"What?" she asked, almost in a mutter.

"For a year, and we're done," Luca clarified, ignoring the shock on Elena's face.