A dangerous proposal

Axel went to his father's house to retrieve some books, timing his visit for when his father would be at a medical check-up. He was about to leave when his father returned.

“Have you found her?” his father asked coldly, stopping him in his tracks.

“Good morning to you too, Dad,” Axel said, trying to change the topic. He sat lazily on the couch.

“Don’t play around with me! Have you found the girl I asked you to find?” the old man fumed.

“She’s too stubborn, Dad. Can I… kidnap her?” Axel stammered.

“You want to apply mafia tactics to marriage too?” the old man chuckled. “Get Lila to marry you in a normal way. Remember the ultimatum, or you know what happens to your assets,” he said dismissively, walking towards the stairs.

“But Dad, why must it be Lila?” Axel asked, frustrated by his father's antics.

“That’s between me and the young woman,” the old man said, ignoring Axel.

“I don’t even know Lila personally. I had to go through her father. I can’t chase someone I know nothing about! Besides, she’s not interested in me…” Axel rattled on.

“Then make her interested,” his dad said without looking down at him.

Axel looked at his father, frustrated. Only this man could keep him on his toes. Axel sat there, deep in thought, when he suddenly had an idea. He picked up his books and car keys and strode out without saying goodbye.

“I love you too, son, and remember I do not want to hear that you threatened her or anything like that,” the old man said, adjusting his reading glasses. He only wanted the best for his son, and that best could only come from Lila.

The old man reminisced about meeting Lila. He had encountered robbers on his way to a party, and Lila helped him into her house, fed him, and gave him money to get back. Lila was an innocent teenager then, with a kind heart like her mother, Elizabeth. John vowed his son Axel would marry someone as perfect as Lila.

*****

Lila was cooped up in her room, brooding on the what ifs and maybes that her mother's death had affected. It hurt even more when losing her mother's bracelet. Suddenly there was a knock at the door and the door opened and in came her father. She slowly adjusted herself on her bed, seeing the plea in his eyes, she wanted to leave but he grabbed her hand.

“Dad, what do you want now?” Lila asked weakly, rubbing her cheeks.

“Lila, you’re my only child. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you or put you in a difficult situation,” Henry said, pushing Lila towards a chair. “I hope you can forgive me for my mistakes.”

“Dad, there’s nothing to be sorry about. You could have managed your depression better. I love you, and I don’t want to lose you,” Lila said, sitting down close to him as she pressed her head on his shoulders. “It’s days like this I miss Mom. She always found a way out of every situation.”

“I miss her too,” Henry said, patting her hair softly.

“Dad, we’ll figure this out. Just give me time to think it over,” Lila said. “Marrying President Roberts means giving up my dreams of owning a restaurant and it's not just that, I'm in love with someone and we're dating.”

“I-I-I understand, my princess. I’ll leave you to think it through,” Henry said, kissing her forehead before leaving.

No sooner had he left that Lila received a notification. Dragging her phone, she saw a message from Danielle.

Danielle: Have you checked your Instagram or Twitter today?

Lila: No, I’ve not been active on social media.

Danielle: You're trending. You’re on the hot searches all over social media.

Lila: Isn’t that normal? I just won a championship.

Danielle: No, it’s about you and your fiancé. PS:Daniel is on his way over and he's very angry.

Lila: Fiancé?? Why is he angry?

Danielle: Check your Instagram. Bet your followers have skyrocketed. Just try to explain things to him, he'll understand.

Lila: Okay.

Lila saw that her followers had jumped from around six hundred thousand to over two million. She found a picture of her and Axel, captioned ‘together forever babe, thanks for accepting to be my spouse.’

Lila felt overwhelmed. She had never taken a picture with Axel. The dress in the photo was from her last birthday. It dawned on her that Axel had manipulated everything!

The phone rang, and Lila saw Axel' name on the screen. Reluctantly, she answered.

"Meet me at the café on 206 Avenue in fifteen minutes," Axel said curtly.

"Are you sick? It's almost 9pm," Lila retorted, anger boiling within her at Axel's guts.

"I have something that's yours, won't you come over and get it," Axel replied coolly before hanging up.

Soon she saw a whatsapp message, it was an image. She downloaded it and saw that it was her mother's bracelet. He tagged it saying, “You have just 15 minutes and you'll never see this again,” Immediately she jumped off the bed with nothing but a casual black dress that only stopped at her inches before her knee.

She met Daniel on her way out who tried to stop her but due to the speed she was running at, she almost pushed him aside, shouting back at him that she would see him later and that she was in a hurry.

She arrived there 19 minutes later to find out that he had left. Cussing and fuming, she called him but all her calls were turned down. Not knowing what to do, she broke down into tears clutching her knees to her body. But after a few minutes, someone came and pulled her up, gathering her in his strong arms as he hid her face from the people who were now taking pictures. She tried to pull away but he had a firm grip on her, “For once don't be stubborn except you want the whole world to see how ugly you look while crying,” Axel whispered in her hair as he shielded her till they got to his car. As soon as they were both in, she pulled away to glare at him but he didn't spare her a glance rather he told Brian to drive.

“Where are you taking me to?” Lila asked after a while as the area seemed even more familiar as they drove.

“Somewhere we can talk privately,” Axel said curtly, slowly stroking his well trimmed beards.

In another few minutes they were both standing on a quiet beach in the dead of the night.

Lila's eyes scanned the desolate beach, the only sound being the waves crashing against the shore and the winds. "Why did you bring me here? I want to go home. I need to go home. Please can you get me outta here," she begged, her voice trembling slightly.

“Oh you no longer want this?” He asked, digging his hands into her pocket as he brought out Lila's mother's bracelet. But it looked different, it had a rich golden brown color and it shone a lot more.

"Return my mother's bracelet and take me back home," she said, stretching her hands to take back the bracelet but Axel only raised it higher as if mocking her height.

“Get your hands down this instance and give me my mother's necklace,” Lila shouted, fuming and furious as she slapped at his chest a few times but he only returned a cheeky grin like he was enjoying what was going on.

“Look around you little miss. There's no one here. Don't you think I can kill you and no one will know about it?” Axel asked, his lips curled up predatorily.

A shiver ran along Lila's back as she took a step away from Axel, her eyes fixed on the bracelet glinting in Axel's hand. "You wouldn't dare harm me," she said, trying to sound brave.

Axel's eyes glinted in the moonlight. "Try me," he whispered, his voice sending more shivers down her spine. "We're alone here, Lila. No one can hear you scream."

Lila's eyes widened in terror and she took another step back, her feet sinking into the sand. "You're a monster," she spat, trying to hide the fear from her voice.

But what she got in return was laughter and it just scared her even more. "I'm just a man who gets what he wants, Lila. And what I want is you."

With a sudden movement, Axel grabbed Lila's wrist, pulling her close. Lila struggled against his grip, but he was too strong. She felt the bracelet being placed around her wrist, the cold metal sending shivers down her spine.

"You owe me, Lila," Axel hissed, his breath hot against her ear. "And you'll have to pay, one way or another."

Lila's eyes blazed with defiance as she trashed against Axel's grip. "I don't owe you anything!" she spat, trying to release herself from his grasp.

Axel's smile grew wider just as his grip became tighter, almost akin to an iron fist. "Oh, but you do, Lila. You see, your father's debt is now yours. And I always collect what's owed to me."

"That's not fair!" Lila protested. "My father's debt has nothing to do with me!"

Axel's eyes glinted with amusement. "You are right, it doesn't but I have one which does. You see this bracelet on your wrist, I spent a lot of money fixing this bracelet after your carelessness made it end up with me. And guess what, I expect to be repaid."

“Won't you ask me how much? I'll tell you anyway,” Axel said, bringing his lips closer to her ears.

Lila's eyes widened as Axel pulled away from her, letting go of her arms, "140 million dollars?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

"Yes, Lila. And I want it all. Now," Axel declared, giving her more space as he took another step back.

“I-I can pay some money right now, the uhm the competition prize money. You can have that and I'll pay you the rest later,” Lila said, her eyes kept twitching, feeling overwhelmed by everything Axel kept throwing at her.

Axel's eyes narrowed, leaning towards her, his face inches from Lila's. "You think your cooking competition winnings can cover a fraction of what you owe me? I don't think so, Lila. I want the full amount now."

And just immediately, her emotions got the better of her and she blew hot. "You're impossible!" she exclaimed, her finger jabbing into Axel's chest. "I have a boyfriend, and I love him. I'll never ever ever marry you!"

Axel's smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Oh, Lila. You're so naive. Love doesn't pay debts, but marriage does. And I'm willing to wipe the slate clean if you agree to be my wife."

Lila's face twisted in disgust. "You're disgusting, Axel. I'll never marry you, no matter what!" she said, making to storm away to the car, Brian who was at the driver seat meet Axel's tired gaze, signaling him to stop her.

Axel let an exhale, reaching out as he held her hand, pulling her back to him but being pulled without any notice, she crashed against his chest, scrunching her nose up in pain.

"Let me go!" she demanded, her voice trembling with rage and inched tears as she used her other hand to pat her nose.

"Not until you agree to marry me, Lila," he whispered, his breath hot against her ear. "I'll add any clause you want, just name it. But you will be my wife."

“I can't ruin my life by marrying you, I can't do that. Please understand and consider someone else,” Lila pleaded, her hands that tried to create some distance between them fell, she was too tired for anything else.

"It has to be you, Lila. I'm not presenting this anymore as something you have to do to repay your debt or your father's. Look the bracelet is on your wrist," Axel whispered, hugging me as his voice dripped with persuasion. "The choice is yours, Lila."

“It's mine?” Lila choked out.