The Offer

Chapter 2:

AVA

“I don’t have any money to give you…” I stammered.

I almost slipped when I noticed how they had all cornered me.

“Please, I beg of you, let me go,” I said in a cracked tone. My lungs had become weak all of a sudden, and I wondered in my head if I would be able to scream for help.

Everywhere became void of passersby, and it was as though the whole world was against my safety at that very moment.

Oh, pretty lady, you have a lot to offer us, in case you don’t know,” one of the men said, smacking his lips at me.

I looked around, hoping to find something to protect myself with, but nothing. All I could see were hungry men looking to devour anything that covered my nakedness.

I finally slipped out of trepidation and down to the ground, then one of the men pounced on me…”Bitch, you never had worth before now, so why fret over nothing?” He said, ruggedly unzipping his trousers in front of me.

I shut my eyes, and I heard a shout from nowhere, followed by the revving of an engine…

“Hey, you, get off her!!” Those were the last words I heard before I blacked out.

My eyes darted around the strange room as I lay stiff. ‘Where am I?” I muttered as I tried to make sense of the environment.

But nothing seemed familiar. It was as though I was in a foreign place, but the most comfortable.

The curtains were brightly colored, and luxury filled the air around the spacious room.

This was not home, not Uncle Greg’s, and definitely not somewhere on the streets.

I became confused. “How did I get to this place?”

A strawberry cologne filled the air, and I sniffed it, almost basking in its fragrance with a wide smile on my face.

“Hello, Ava,” a gentle man with a husky voice said.

I stared at him as if I knew him from somewhere. The only thing that kept ringing in my head was…” How did he know my name?”

He wrapped his arms around me and drew me closer. “I’m sorry you got caught up in that situation. I could have imagined the trauma those hoodlums would have caused you…” He spoke in a sweet tone.

Hoodlums? What the heck was he talking about? I could hardly remember a thing, and now all I know is that there is a strange, good-looking man being nice to me.

“Who are you and why are you doing this?”

ALEXANDER

The words of my father echoed in my ears, “Get a wife or nothing of mine would be yours.”

How a man could be plain even in the cold hands of death still creeps me out.

“There is no way all will be willed to me if I don’t get a woman to marry,” I pondered.

“Pfff…I wouldn’t settle for less…Not even my mother’s recommendation. Rachel is certainly not a good choice. She would ruin me even before our marriage…”

“What if I…”

I snapped out of my thoughts and turned to the innocent beauty lying on my bed…

“You were unconscious, so I couldn’t do a proper introduction,” I started ....”…not like I need any before the room recognizes me,” I joked.

“I’m Alexander Russo…” I winked at her, but she looked away.

“What were you doing out there all alone?” I asked like I knew nothing.

I had made a background check on her through Jules, my bodyguard. She was in dire need of help and had practically no one.

So I knew she was at my mercy and hopeless if I let her go. I watched her speak like she didn’t want to know the details…

‘It’s fine, Ava. You don’t have to say too much. I’m just glad you are safe from those dickheads…”

She smiled, at least that was a first.

‘Sir….” Jules interrupted…Someone is here to see you,” he said in a sharp tone.

“What the heck are you doing here, Rachel?” I said in a loud tone.

“Oh, C’mon, Alexander. Stop pretending like you are not happy to see me. You and I both know our families approve of our union already, so why the delay?”

“Unless you don’t want what belongs to……”

“Oh, shut it already…” I interrupted rudely. “I know my mother has been feeding you with lies and hefty promises, but I’m sorry to disappoint…this…I mean, you and I are not happening…” I uttered a hiss.

“And how dare you say that?” My mother suddenly appeared from behind.

“What is wrong with you, son? Are you blind to see the beauty in front of you? Rachel is perfect. What more do you want?”

“Or have you forgotten who she is to you? Your childhood days? What other person would you rather be with than this lovely girl?

Uhn……

“Mother…” I greeted with a bow.

“Get married to her and stop wasting precious time!” She voiced out in a loud tone.

I shook my head…”Excuse me, Mother…I have to be somewhere.” I walked out immediately.

“Is it possible they saw Ava when I brought her in?” I pondered…

Please tell me you have something now.” I turned to Jasper, my bodyguard.

“It is exactly as you suspected, Sir. But this girl has nothing to offer you, Boss…”

“I know…You think I like her or something…Tarrgh, she is so beneath me…I just need a while, and I would dump her poor ass.”

“I just need to get what belongs to me, and I am done…” I repeated.

“So tell me, any relatives of hers we need to be worried about?” I asked, out of curiosity.

“She has this uncle, but he won’t be in trouble. He is a greedy being with eyes on his late brother's little possessions,” Jasper explained.

I knew she had to be in urgent need and won’t be able to say no.

Without hesitation, I walked to the special guest room where I put Ava…I met her sitting up and staring all around like she was in some strange land.

I let out a heavy sigh.

A straight look into her eyes and I coughed to get her attention…”Please, where exactly am I? She said in a low tone.

“I have an offer for you, lady,” I answered, ignoring her questions.

Uhn?

“Let’s get married…” I uttered in a haste.