Chapter Two

My mouth is wide open and so is Cody's. I wonder if this is some kind of prank. I turn to look at him, the question on my tongue. 

"Do you know him?". Cody asks first. 

"That was just what I was about to ask you". I can't even help how accusatory I sound. I don't think this problem is from my side, so it has to be from his. The man walks forward confidently to the front pier where our families are seated. And that's when I see them. Aunty and Uncle. Their faces are as pale as a sheet and they are staring up at the guy as if they just saw a ghost. 

"Ken and Ellie. Nice seeing you two again. And here of all places". He thrusts his hands into his pocket and glances around at the hall. When his eyes land on us, he pauses and even though I can't see his eyes from behind his glasses, I can tell that he's accessing us. He lets out a low whistle. "Nice couple". He says and chuckles quietly to himself as he turns around to face my aunt and uncle. The sarcasm in his voice sends my neck and face heating up. If anything, Cody and I are far from being a nice couple. 

"I'm sorry for interrupting your little ceremony…..". He says loudly to the hall. He sounds anything but sorry. ".....but I was just wondering….". He turns back to my aunt and uncle, his voice suddenly so serious".…where is my money, Ken and Ellie?".

Uncle quickly pushes up to his feet, his ears extraordinarily red as he edges closer to the mystery man, probably in the hopes of getting him to a more private place. But immediately he takes a step, the door bursts open again and two pairs of huge guards dressed in crisp black suits step it. They march to the front pier where the man stands and create a solid formation behind him. Clearly satisfied with the display, the man turns back to Uncle, taking a menacing step closer, his voice dead serious.

"Where is my money, Ken?".

"Ken? Ellie? What's the meaning of this?". My father asks. He's on his feet, his eyebrows furrowed seriously. This is probably the most serious I've seen him since the last time he came to get us from Aunt Ellie's place. We are all curious too. What the hell is happening?

Uncle glances around the hall and barks a short, nervous laugh. "We are sorry for this misunderstanding. We'll just sort this out outside, right Mr. De Luca?".

The man….Mr. De Luca cocks his head. "Will we? I don't mind doing it here though". 

There's a fine sheen of sweat on Uncle's forehead. "Please…. let's just step out for a while eh?".

Mr. De Luca turns around and looks at me and Cody. "Which is your child, Ken?".

Uncle hesitates a little. "The bride is my niece, sir".

He flashes a smile at me. "I'm afraid this wedding won't take place. At least...not before your uncle gives me my money".

Cody's father storms up from his seat. "What's the meaning of this Mr. Lannister?". He's addressing my uncle. 

"Oh I assure you it's nothing si…..". Uncle starts.

"Ken!!!!". Mr. De Luca warns. He looks down at my aunt who's been sitting pale and quiet on her seat. "Why aren't you talking, Ellie? You seemed to know how to use your tongue well when y'all were hounding for the investment three years ago". 

Aunt shakily gets to her feet. "You see, this is really not the place for this, sir. Can we….".

"Do you have my money or not?". The hall is as quiet as a graveyard. My aunt and uncle glance at each other nervously before they finally say;

"We don't".

"A-ha!!!! That was all I wanted to hear". He snaps a finger at his guards. "Take them". 

Majority of the people in the hall push to their feet and begin to shuffle out nervously, refusing to partake or even witness this highly embarrassing scene. My face is hot and my head is spinning with the craziness of this situation. I grab swaths of lace and go down the stairs of the small podium that had been erected for Cody and I. The guards are already trying to apprehend my aunt and uncle and the hall is mostly empty now save for us, Cody and his shock stricken family and a few onlookers. 

"Mr. De Luca". I come to stand beside the man and he looks down at me, an eyebrow raised in mock surprise. He's much taller than I am and stands at probably nothing less than 6'1. My measly 5'4 doesn't even stand a chance. "Please let's not do it this way. This can be sorted out differently please". I hate how weak my voice sounds but that's what it's always like when I'm nervous or scared. 

"Yes!!!!!". My aunt screeches from the confines of the guard's invasive arms. "Yes, let's handle this another way sir. Let's make it up to you. We'll work hard to pay you back, all of us". I glance at her nervously. I don't know what she means by all of us but I hope that doesn't somehow include me. I know literally nothing about this situation and I'm nor interested in getting involved anymore than I can help.

"Oh yeah?". Mr. De Luca says dryly. "And what could you possibly offer me, Ellie?".

"Her!!!!!". My aunt screeches. It takes me a little more than a second to realize it's me she's talking about. Eyes wide and heart in my throat, I turn so fast to face her. "My niece has a business degree sir!!! She'll help you in any way you….".

"Auntie!!!!".

"Ellie!!!!". My father shouts at the same time as me. 

"What what?". My aunt's hair is disheveled and her eyes wide with mad energy. She looks crazy.  She raises an accusatory finger at me and my dad. "You abandoned them, didn't you? I had to care for them. Didn't I raise you for the past 10 years, Vanessa? Everything we do for money we do because we want to take care of you and Camilla better. What's this little favour that you can't do for me now?". 

I hate how she throws this at my face everytime because it really does put me at a loss. Truly she cared for us but not as much as she likes to claim!!! Camilla and I never even got new clothes till our old jeans were well past our ankles. And then she would get us a new pair or two and with each minute, remind us of how "privileged" we are to have her. Usually, we'd spend the next week or more still thanking her for her kindness. I don't even know the amount in question but considering I moved out 5 years ago, I bet my teeth a fraction of that money wasn't ever spent on me. But I still can't bring that up. Because then, she'd throw Camilla at my face. If I didn't spend out of the money, well my younger sister did.

"Auntie, that's not the po…..".

"Mr. De Luca". She's looking at him wide-eyed. "We'll work hard to pay up. My niece will contribute to this cause too. Let her work for you, please".

I glance at the man and I hate to see that he's not talking. Does that mean he's contemplating it. I ask the most important question yet. "How much is the debt?".

They are both quiet for a while. And finally, "Five million dollars". Uncle mumbles. My eyes nearly bulge out of my head.

"Five million dollars!!!!". I screech. "How the hell am I supposed to work for that?".

Mr. De Luca chuckles dryly like I've said something funny and in that moment, I consider the possibility that he just really enjoys watching other people suffer. "This is getting fun. So you'll be working for me…..miss. But how do i know you won't escape?".

I want to tell him that I haven't even agreed to this but my aunt quickly chips in. "Let me handle that, Mr. De Luca. I will……".

"Actually….I have a much better idea". I hate the glee in his voice. I look up just at the same moment that he whips off his glasses, revealing his face. If I wasn't in such a mess right now, I'd have definitely taken a moment's pause to appreciate his looks. His eyes are the most beautiful honey brown shade ever and his nose lies a bit crooked on his face, almost as if it's been broken before. The beard has always been there but I didn't fully appreciate the precise sculpt till he took the glasses off. His hair is thick and black, carefully styled up, his fuzzy undercut a much needed improvisation. This man is drop dead gorgeous. And sadistic, I add quickly in my head. His eyes are still twinkling as he stares down at me, a small smirk on his lips. "There's only one way to make sure you don't run away. Let's get married".