Chapter 2 — The Price of Love: Part I

Pedro Hernandez

Seven Years Ago

Adie and I are at the countryside house outside the city. With the end of classes, we managed to find some time for ourselves. It’s been a hectic few days for her due to a semester full of extracurricular activities from medical school. I thought a romantic weekend would be a good escape from our university obligations. She’s in her third year of med school, while I’m studying business. It’s my second year, and I’m only doing it because of Max. I was still lost when I finished high school—I had no idea what I wanted to major in, but my father always said I should study to take over the company, Max Industries. I find that name a bit presumptuous—who names a company after themselves? Well, my father did. Max Industries doesn’t just operate in the industrial sector; we have a stake in electric car companies, CIO, and casino chains spread across many cities, including Vegas, the city of bets.

My father left on a business trip a few days ago, which gave me a chance to breathe without his pressure weighing on me. I want to spend time alone with Adrielle, even though I see her often.

I prepared grilled salmon fillet for lunch. I also made some vegetables to go with it, which paired well with the red wine I took the liberty of grabbing from the wine cellar downstairs. Max hides those bottles really well. I think he’s possessive, but he won’t mind if one goes missing.

“Your father won’t be happy to find one of his expensive wines gone,” Adrielle says, resting her head on my chest.

We’re lying on the bed, under an exceptionally soft mattress made of linen, cotton, and horsehair. Max would be furious if he knew we were here.

“That doesn’t matter, my love,” I say, turning to face her.

We’re not dressed—just a thin white sheet covers us. We had a great lunch, and what followed was even better. Even with the amount of time we spend together, we still miss each other.

Adrielle gently touches my face over the short beard I keep. I know she doesn’t like it. Her light eyes watch me with clear care and affection. They say there’s a sparkle in your eyes when you fall in love. As a skeptical man, I can say it’s true. It took me a while to believe in that, but when I look at Adrielle, that sparkle shines right at me, reflecting unspoken feelings.

“I like it when you call me that.”

Her voice is soft and whispery, but there’s sincerity in it. I smile, realizing my sweet nicknames always disarm her. Her fingers softly trace my temples.

“I could spend the rest of my life calling you that.”

“Do your plans include spending the rest of our lives together?”

“They include more than that.”

I shift in bed, propping myself on my arms to hover over her body. Our legs are tangled, and her eyes lock onto mine. I can see doubts flickering in her mind, like what I just said didn’t quite make sense.

To someone like Max, it would make no sense for his son, heir to an empire generating millions in gross income, to fall madly in love with a university scholarship student. My old man is an arrogant tycoon. It still amazes me that someone like my mother, so different from him, ended up as his wife.

“What do your plans include? Can you tell me?” Her soft tone asks, like she’s genuinely interested in the conversation—but I can feel her knee brushing against me, suggesting other intentions.

I keep my eyes on hers. Even though her touch is distracting, I’m serious about this. My plans with Adrielle go beyond just being together. I want everything—kids, a stable marriage, a good life.

“My plans with you include a golden ring with our names engraved.” I lean in to kiss the left side of her neck, whispering provocatively. “I want to see you in a white dress so breathtaking it leaves me gasping, like I’m drowning in the ocean. I want children. As many as you want.”

Her fingers weave into my hair, pulling lightly—she seems to like the idea. She doesn’t say anything, just listens in silence. Maybe she has the same plan. We’ve been together for a while now, since we started college. I’ve been thinking that once we graduate, it’ll be time to take this relationship to the next level.

“If you don’t say anything to counter my plans, I’ll assume your goals are the same, my love.”

I lean away slightly, my face grazing hers, so I can look into her eyes. There’s no surprise—just a faint smile at the corner of her lips, as if she’s pleased by what she just heard.

“My plans aren’t any different from yours, Pedro. In fact, I want all that and more.” Soft. Her words are soft and free of conflict. “I think I’d like waking up next to you every morning.”

I smile wide. I can’t hide how happy I am to hear that from her. I could burst like fireworks any second now.

“We’re getting married as soon as we graduate,” I tell her. But I don’t want her to think it’s an obligation, and that there won’t be a proper proposal. “But we’ll do it the right way—with a proposal and an engagement ring.”

Her laughter fills my ears, the same way she fills my heart and mind. Adrielle doesn’t say anything else, just nods before I claim her lips again. Her kiss shouldn’t be as intoxicating as it is—it’s dangerous for any man who touches her! Though I’m the only one who does, and I plan to keep it that way.

Our kiss deepens as her tongue touches mine. Her hands still caress my face, and I take her right hand, intertwining our fingers and pinning it to the mattress. I grip her hand tightly as I fit perfectly between her legs. Her left hand now rests firmly against the bed, giving me full control over her.