Chapter 05

Manuela sighed deeply as the time for her luncheon with Uno arrived. He'd reserved a table at an upscale restaurant, and her anger simmered after learning the truth from Suzie.

FLASHBACK

"I'm so sorry, Manuela, so sorry..." Suzie repeated, her voice trembling. Manuela was completely bewildered by her friend's distress.

"Why are you apologizing? What happened? Tell me. I'm worried," Manuela said, guiding Suzie to the sofa and sitting beside her.

"I-I don't want to lose your trust. I-I only agreed because of Jaja, he needs surgery," Suzie sobbed, and Manuela took her hands.

"Suzie, calm down, you're shaking. Explain. I'm clueless. Why would my trust in you be broken?"

"Mr. Urquio came to my house last night—I don't know how he found me. He revealed he's a mafia boss and told me to convince you to accept his offer quickly. I-I didn't know what to do. I was terrified for Jaja, and he said he'd pay for Jaja's surgery. I'm so sorry, Manuela, I agreed..." Suzie explained, tears streaming down her face. Manuela saw the guilt and fear in her eyes.

"Did Mr. Urquio do anything else to you?" Manuela asked sternly, her anger at Uno's manipulation and threats intensifying.

"N-no, but I was terrified..."

"You stay here; I'll be back after my meeting with Mr. Urquio," Manuela said.

"I'm so sorry, Manuela."

"You don't need to apologize. You did what he told you because he threatened you. I'll handle this, okay?" Suzie nodded, grabbed her bag, and left.

Manuela's anger at Uno's actions raged. She never imagined he'd involve an innocent person in his schemes.

END OF FLASHBACK

Thirty minutes later, she arrived at the restaurant. Spotting Uno in a central table, she felt a surge of fury.

"That jerk," she muttered, approaching him.

Uno was undeniably handsome in his suit, attracting admiring glances from other diners, but Manuela was too angry to notice.

"Mr. Urquio," she called out, reaching the table. Without waiting for a response, she grabbed a glass of water from a nearby table and threw it at him.

Several diners gasped at her action. Uno's expression remained unchanged, a mask of stoic indifference that only fueled her rage.

"That's for threatening my friend," Manuela stated calmly, taking a seat opposite him, forcing a composed expression to mask her underlying fear.

Shit! My anger got the better of me! she thought.

"You wouldn't dare kill me for a little water, would you? You deserved it, by the way," she added, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Uno calmly grabbed a napkin and wiped the water from his face and suit.

"I didn't know you greeted people with such… rudeness, Ms. Ibañez. A brave way to greet someone who could easily end your life," Uno said coldly, continuing to clean himself.

"A rather unorthodox way to greet someone who could easily end your life," he added, finally looking at Manuela, who refused to flinch.

"You won't kill me, Mr. Urquio. I have a debt to pay, don't I?"

A cold smile touched Uno's lips, noticing the slight tremor in her bravado.

"You're right. Killing you before you pay me would be a loss for me, so no, I won't kill you for spilling water on me."

"Before you explain why you set up this luncheon, I have something to clarify, Mr. Urquio. My father's debt is between you and me; don't involve innocent people. You shouldn't use people close to me to make me agree. Even if I don't want to, I have no choice but to accept that. I only wanted a week alone before accepting your 365-day marriage proposal. Becoming someone like your wife is no joke," Manuela stated firmly. Uno lowered the napkin and fixed her with his cold gaze.

"So, your secretary told you about our little chat, yes?"

"She did what you said, but she's my friend, so it's natural she'd tell me. Try to hurt Suzie or anyone in her family, and even if you kill me, I won't agree to your offer. Find another woman for that role," Manuela declared.

"Are you finished?"

"What? After all that, you just ask if I'm finished?" Manuela retorted, meeting his cold stare.

"Why? Do you have something else to say? Because if you do, just say it. And tell me when you're done," Uno said, his impatience growing.

Manuela took a deep breath, controlling her rising anger.

"What do you want to discuss that you didn't mention yesterday? Tell me so I can get back to work. I'm a busy person," she said. Uno produced a folder and placed it before her.

"What's this?"

"See for yourself."

Manuela picked up the folder and opened it, her brow furrowing at the contract inside. She looked back at Uno.

"A contract?"

"As you can see, this is the contract you'll sign as my wife for 365 days. Read it carefully. If you have any objections, tell me now so I can have my lawyer amend it," Uno said plainly.

"You made a contract before I even agreed to your offer?"

"As you said, you have no choice but to agree, so I prepared the contract in advance. Besides, agreeing is your best option," Uno said confidently, further fueling Manuela's irritation.

"Read it."

Manuela read the contract, her brow furrowing at several clauses. She looked up at Uno, who was now smoothing his wet hair.

"My father owed you six million, but in this contract, you're paying me for acting as your wife? Are you serious? I'm going to pretend to be your wife because my father owed you money, and you're going to pay me? Are you insane?" Manuela exclaimed angrily. Uno looked at her.

"Instead of being grateful, you call me insane? Tss! Being the wife of someone like me is no joke. I'm a mafia boss, so there will be times your life is in danger, so that money is my compen—"

"—compensation for what? For my death while acting as your wife?! Do you expect me to get killed by your enemies once they know I'm your wife? You'll pay me once I'm—"

"—compensation for your services, Ms. Ibañez. Don't get ahead of yourself about what might happen. And don't worry, you won't die while you're my wife for 365 days. You're thinking too far ahead, Ms. Ibañez, and stop interrupting me." Uno snapped, making Manuela cross her arms.

"Make sure of that, because I have a brother I don't want to leave alone. Anyway, change this; I won't accept your money. I'll be your wife to settle my father's debt, but I won't accept payment from you," Manuela declared, making Uno frown.

"You're stubborn."

Ignoring him, Manuela continued reading.

"What's this? I have to be sweet and caring towards you in front of your grandfather?"

"You need to do that so my grandfather believes we married for love. I'll act the same, so be good at it because my grandfather is observant."

Manuela couldn't imagine being sweet to Uno, especially since he seemed incapable of such things.

"When you said 'sweet stuff,' that doesn't include kissing, right?" Manuela asked, dreading any physical intimacy with him.

"If that's neces—"

"—I disagree. I'm not kissing you to prove to your grandfather we're in love. No sex either. I'm not giving my body away so easily. Period," Manuela interrupted firmly. Uno simply stared at her.

"Don't get ahead of yourself, Ms. Ibañez. You're a woman, but I assure you, I won't get aroused if it's you. I'm not interested in your body or kissing you. I said 'if necessary,' but I know my grandfather won't ask for silly things like that," Uno said, his words somehow insulting to Manuela.

"Good. At least we agree on that." Manuela continued reading, stopping at another clause.

"Falling in love with you is forbidden? What makes you think I'd fall for you?"

"That's for both of us. While you're acting as my wife for 365 days, don't fall in love with me. I won't fall for you either; a woman like you isn't my type. Now, if you're done reading—"

"—a woman like me? Are you insulting me, Mr. Urquio?!" Manuela interrupted angrily.

"No, I'm stating a fact. Now, sign it if you have no more questions," Uno said flatly.

"I'm still reading—"

"Damn it! Stop reading! Just sign it, and we're done!" Uno snapped, his impatience reaching its limit.

"You're the one making me sign it, and you're the one getting angry! I'm still reading!" Manuela retorted, resuming her reading.

Manuela knew that once she signed, there would be no turning back. She would be Mrs. Urquio for 365 days, bound to a man she despised. The thought of her life being controlled by him, her freedom taken away, filled her with despair.

She took a deep breath, picked up the pen, and signed the contract with her eyes closed.

"See? That was easy. You talk too much," Uno said.

"Make sure, Mr. Urquio, that I don't get hurt in those 365 days. You have a dangerous life, so I shouldn't die while I'm under your power. Also, I can't leave my brother; if we're living together, I'm bringing him," Manuela warned. Uno took the contract, checked her signature, and returned it to the folder.

"I may have a dangerous life, but you're safe with me. And do what you please, just make sure your brother isn't a nuisance," Uno replied calmly, standing up and looking at Manuela.

"Prepare yourself for tomorrow. I'll send someone to get you from your house."

"Marriage? Tomorr—what? We're getting married tomorrow?! Why so fast?!" Manuela exclaimed, finally reacting to his words.

Uno had already left, leaving Manuela speechless and stunned by the sudden turn of events.

"What the? Tomorrow really? He tricked me! I shouldn't have signed! Ugh!" Manuela cried, feeling the pressure and fear mounting as her life was about to change irrevocably.