Lahat ng Kabanata ng My Tenant is a Mafia Prince: Kabanata 61 - Kabanata 70

The bright midday sun glares against my windshield as I cross the wrought iron gate of the Meyers mansion. It’s only been days when I was here last and yet it also feels a lifetime. There’s always a feeling of alienation on a place I’ve known so well in the past. Like leaving your footprints in the garden but wild grass have taken over covering it all up. You know your prints are there but it will take a great effort to clean it up so you just let it be. And now, every time you go to your garden, you feel like it’s not yours anymore.“Colette, thank you for coming so quick,” Jim welcomed as soon as I stepped out of the car. “You made it sound like it’s a matter of life and death. Of course, I had to come,” I responded light-heartedly. It looks like the slimming pills crisis has been resolved since I could see a faint smile in his expression now.Before he could respond, I heard the sound of the wheelchair whirring from a distance. Followed by steady footsteps from his personal nurse.

My initial fright was immediately replaced with admiration as I try to imagine how she sneakily hid while I was moving in the boxes. There’s no way she’s on the couch the whole time without me realizing she was there. I’m not that unaware of my surroundings.“I wanted to help you with the boxes but you were completely oblivious to my presence,” she commented as if reading my mind.“It’s okay, my fiancé will help me with the boxes,” I emphasized. One of the tricks I’ve learned in living alone is to pretend that there’s a man in the house. I hope the same concept will work here. But she just raised an eyebrow clearly displeased with what I’ve said.“He’s way older than you, don’t you think?” she asked. I don’t know if she’s expecting an answer but I still responded.“Yes, a bit. But, I don’t think it’s a big deal.”“Have you told him that you’re the Meyers Pharma heiress? What does your father say about him?”“He knows about my family background. My father objects because he’s poor and

“Will you marry me, Colette?” I asked with my right knee bent.“No”“Okay” is what I should say in case she rejected my proposal to keep my ego intact.I’ve been practicing for days in front of the mirror and sometimes she accepted, most times she rejected my proposal in my simulations. But the more I practice, the more I realized I’m getting nowhere. I’ve tried the lines of the most romantic movies but it doesn’t feel very ‘me’ and ‘us’. Unfortunately, I can’t come up with the right words. All I know is that the longer I hold on to the ring, the more nervous I get around her.I need an expert.“Johnny, I need your help,” and call the expert I did.I’ve been waiting for some time at the restaurant of our meeting place but there’s no Johnny in sight. When he arrived, I noticed how rugged he had become in a few days that he’s suspended. Like he has forgotten how to shave because he doesn’t need to report to the station.“You sounded tired,” I pretended to listen to his heavy breathing.

“You caught me,” I slowly turned around and let out a nervous laugh while covering the box on her nightstand.“I was hoping to surprise you but you finished your bath early,” I said while bringing out the dress that she will use for our dinner.“What is this?” shock was an understatement to describe her reaction and I was quite pleased with that.“To the future Mrs. Miller. I hereby invite you to tomorrow’s dinner at 5,” I said laying down the dress on her bed.“W-wait. How did you – 5pm? Isn’t that too early?” she stuttered finding the words. But if I could freeze one moment of my life, I think this was it. When she run her delicate fingers through the fabric of the equally delicate dress with her eyes full of emotions. She was smiling at first but then tears started streaming down her freshly washed face.“Steffan, is this real? Are you for real? Why are you so good to me?” she asked while sitting on the bed. Okay. I didn’t expect her to be that emotional over a dress. I wonder what

My head hurts.I must have drunk so much last night but honestly, who can blame me? For a long time, I’ve convinced myself that I would most probably grow old and die alone. And I truly believed that. Until a stranger came into my life and made me realize that living with someone who cares for you is not such a bad idea. The same stranger who gave me security and comfort. And last night he invited me to spend the rest of our lives together. He gave me peace. He calmed my worries and stopped my chaotic mind even for just a while. And I have never felt more at home.“Sleep some more,” Steffan stirs in his sleep as he pulls me closer to his naked body.And the scenes of last night comes flashing back and it was the sexiest scene ever.I felt really sleepy while stargazing last night and my vision was in and out. I could hear Steffan whispering sweet nothings and his luscious voice stirred something inside me. With the courage from the wine, I pretended to be asleep and when he was about