"Sometimes, a deal with the devil is better than no deal at all."
"Hola, Señor Gomez!"
Genevieve called out to her Mama's visitor. Mr. Isaac Gomez was a family friend, she knew him since she was little.
He was like a father figure to her, especially since she didn't have her own dad anymore.
Mr. Gomez was the one who supported her throughout college, paid for her tuition and all. He also provided for her like the good godfather that he is.
He added to the sunshine that was in her world.
"Hello, my Genevieve." he greeted back. "How are you this fine morning?"
"Oh, Mr. Gomez! The chicks just hatched." she replied, a smile prominent on her face.
He saw the enthusiasm in her eyes from far away. When she got close to an arms-length, Isaac reached out and hugged her little body.
Genevieve felt the warmth that surrounded him. She loved hugs, especially warm ones.
"That's great sweetheart, you can show them to me later."
Genevieve grinned and agreed, dragging him inside the house while chatting about her dear animals in the barn.
Isaac couldn't help but laugh with her. She had that effect on people.
Even the toughest and strongest people would go on their knees for sweet Genevieve.
"Now, darling, I need to talk to your Mama about something important." Isaac started "Why don't you go and shower, dear?"
"I will!" she replied, already running towards her room for clothes.
Isaac turned and went inside the warm kitchen, where he saw Emilia seated by the table, thinking deeply.
"Emilia."
The woman turned and Isaac saw the sadness in her eyes, it was like a punch in his guts.
"I'm so sorry."
Those were the words that were needed in order to break the thin wall that was stopping Emilia's tears. She burst out crying, her hands covering her eyes.
"I-I am terribly sorry, Emilia."
"What... what do we do?" she asked "What do I do? My poor baby..."
The man at the other side of the kitchen couldn't say anything. He also didn't know what to do. People knew that Alvaro Dominguez was a heartless man, but he didn't know to what extent.
Until now.
"My poor Genevieve." Emilia cried out.
Isaac Gomez neared the crying woman, rubbing her back, in an attempt to calm her down.
"We..." he started "We can't say no to this man, Emilia. I'm afraid we can’t."
Her sobs only got louder. Her cries filling the small kitchen.
Minutes passed, and Emilia was hiccupping her sorrows away.
"I-I know that she is old enough for marriage." she explained "But not this way. Oh God, no this way."
"I am also against it, Emilia. But I-we, know that we cannot escape his grasps. He already sent out his right-hand man to prepare Genevieve for the..."
He couldn't continue his words; he knew what that single word could do to Emilia.
"But why?!" Emilia stood up, showing her distress "Why does it have to be my Genevieve? Why her?"
"Emilia, calm down! She'll hear you." he shushed her, forcing her to sit back down. He went and grabbed her a drink, offering it to her when he saw how out of breath she was.
"I don't know why it has to be her. Maybe he-he picked out a handful of girls and picked one from them." he said "I really don't know Emilia. I just found out when he called earlier and said he wanted to meet Genevieve for the... wedding."
She sobbed; she already hated the word.
"He's a powerful man, Emilia, we know that. And we can't challenge him on this."
Emilia sniffed and nodded, agreeing.
People in this small town knew who Alvaro Dominguez was, and if he said he wanted Genevieve to be his bride, who were they to say no?
"I just- I don't want her to get hurt."
Isaac was speechless. No words came out of his mouth, no comfort or warmth.
People only saw Alvaro Dominguez when he was working, no one ever saw how he was in his home. Was he kind to his employees? Was he warm? Did he have a heart?
Nobody knew.
Isaac Gomez stayed silent.
The sound of footsteps was heard before Genevieve showed herself in the kitchen, immediately looking over to her Mama who was wiping her cheeks.
"Mama!" she called, frantic to see her mother’s red cheeks and tearful eyes "What happened?"
Genevieve caressed her Mama's cheeks and dried her tears, she hated seeing her Mama cry. She wanted her to be happy, always.
"Never mind me, dear." Emilia smiled, hiding her pain from her daughter "Just dust in the eyes, is all."
Genevieve frowned; you can't cry that hard from dust in the eyes. Why was she lying?
"Why don't you go and show Mr. Gomez the chicks, dear?" Emilia shooed her away "I'll prepare for lunch."
Genevieve was reluctant to leave her Mama upset, she wanted to stay and comfort her mom. So, with one last look, she dragged Mr. Gomez to her coop, excited to show off her new pets.
Once the two disappeared from her sight, Emilia's tears started to run down her cheeks once again.
She wasn't ready to let her daughter go.
Genevieve wasn't ready for marriage.
And they weren't ready to say goodbye.
"Goodbyes are not the end. Do not, even for a second, believe that you will never see me again." After showing him the chicks and having lunch, Genevieve said goodbye to Mr. Gomez. Not before he and her Mama sneaked a quiet conversation by the porch. Genevieve wondered what they could have been talking about, and why they were so quiet about it. They've never done this before. Their conversations were always loud and full of laughs, this one was full of whispers and hushes. Her curiosity got the best of her and couldn't help asking her Mama while doing the dishes.&nb
"You are like a fallen angel I caught in my arms. So beautiful, so innocent and bright.""Esta todo listo?"[Is everything ready?]Alvaro Dominguez asked the man beside him, Marco Roman."Si, señor."[Yes, sir]the man replied, "The bride is on her way, ready for the wedding."Alvaro raised his brows. For him, it was not a wedding. It was simply two people signing papers and accepting rings.He disagreed with his friend, but he dared not say anything.He didn't care what
"His eyes full of mischief. His lips forming a smirk. She was sure. He was the devil himself."Genevieve woke up disoriented and uncomfortable. Why was her bed so hard? It used to be soft and fluffy.She carefully opened her eyes, the lights from the ceiling blinding her for a moment. But those weren't her lights, and ceiling. She had the moon and stars in her own bedroom, lighting up the dark room whenever night came.'Where am I?' she wondered.She was about to call out to her mother before she remembered what happened. What was supposed to happen today.It wa
"She is beauty. She is grace. She is innocence in human flesh."Alvaro wanted to take back all the words he said. The girl in front of him was not a slut at all, nor a bitch.In fact, she was the exact opposite.She was so innocent and so little.Even now, as he slowly stood up, he can see the innocence beaming from her. Her mouth agape, and her eyes wide.She was a cute little darling.And he knew that the other three in the room thought the same. They were all staring at her, eyes amused.She provided innocent entertainment to the people around her.'No doubt' he thought 'she was adored in her little town.'The Mayor, who was beside Genevieve, and the man she thought was Alvaro Dominguez, shifted his eyes to him.The entertainment slowly faded, replaced with fear.He may be the Mayor of a large City, but that didn't mean he had the courage to face Alvaro Dominguez.
"He was her warmth. She was his peace. And they fit each other perfectly."Genevieve didn't think Mr. Alvaro was so bad. In fact, he was an actual gentleman.Ever since they left the Mayor's office, not once did he take his hands off of her. His huge and calloused hands wrapped around her small ones. It would also travel to her small hips to assist her when walking.The height difference between the two of them was apparent. The little wife only came up on Alvaro's chest, and he would stare down at her whenever he had the chance.Now, during lunch, he still couldn't take his eyes off of her.
"When your arms around me felt like home, I knew I had found a treasure."Genevieve woke up early the next day, the sun was only rising on the horizon. Opening her eyes slowly, she yawned and stretched her body. Small mewls left her mouth, and her eyes surveying her surroundings at the same time.The room she was in was ginormous, but plain at the same time.It was her husband’s room. And now, judging by how she woke up here, her room too.'It was so black and white and so black.' she thought, the colors not appeasing her. The room was beautiful of course, but the colors were making it
"Her laugh was love at first sight to the blind man in the dark cave." Alvaro gently set his wife down on one of the chairs on the dining room, appreciating the hearty breakfast that he prepared for her. He told the cook and the maids to take the week off, wanting Genevieve for himself. The food in the table made his stomach grown with hunger. The cook he had prepares plenty for the three meals of the day. But this morning, seeing the simple yet mouthwatering creation of his wife, he had a feeling that the cook would have to find another place to work at. Nobody's eating his dishes anytime soon. Not unless his wife is not around. Genevieve observed Alvaro as he stared at the food, waiting for him to sit down at the other side of the table so they could eat. But to her surprise, he sat down beside her instead. Her head tilted to the side. Her Mama Emilia said that when dining with someone, you si
"The hunger in her eyes woke the beast inside of him. Waiting to be unleashed, waiting to be fed. By her. By all of her."The day passed by quickly. With Genevieve spending time with the dogs, and Alvaro cooped up in his office, they didn't get much time with each other.Which caused Alvaro's patience to wear thin. He was hoping that the morning phone call would be his last for the day, but alas, the business deal just couldn't fucking wait.He wanted to spend the day with his wife, it was their first day as couples after all.Genevieve had lunch with herself, with the dogs by her side. She was really enjoying the