Chapter 5 A marriage proposal

The sunlight flooded Rey's room the next morning, accompanied by the inviting scent of hot coffee. He noticed a steaming cup beside his bed and immediately, he knew Mia was around.

After taking a shower, he went downstairs. He wore a casual blue T-shirt with an inscription, "JUST DO IT!", written boldly in front. His grey joggers were a little lowered on his waist.

A gentle buzz came from the JBL headphones settled on his neck, as he walked downstairs for breakfast, with the coffee cup and saucer with him.

It had been a month since he last saw his parents and as he stared at the pictures in the Elle fashion magazine he had found on the table that morning, the thought of the time left before Mr. Davies's birthday bugged him.

He was so deep In thought that he did not notice when Mia walked in.

"Sir?" She called softly.

"Sir?" Her voice pitched higher, startling Rey who shook up from his thoughts and he glared into her direction.

"Haven't I warned you against calling me Sir?"

"Sorry to disturb... Mr. Reynaldo." She hesitated.

"Much better. What do you have to say?"

"Uh...Your breakfast is ready," she said, glancing at him. "And your mum called the landline."

She moved forward to serve the meal and in the process, their fingers brushed, causing the hot coffee to spill on her palm, which made her flinch as the breakfast tray dropped. The glass crashed against the white marble floor, letting its hot content pour out, but Rey remained indifferent as she apologized,

"I'm sorry." She said immediately.

"What did she say?" Rey asked, ignoring her pain.

"Who?"

"My mum." He clarified.

"She said there would be a meeting at the Davies country house today, so, your Dad won't be home. She also mentioned you should think about what your Dad said, Mr. Reynaldo."

Rey didn't respond afterward. Despite the tingling sensation of the burn, she didn't flinch, but she noticed his lack of empathy which deepened her resentment of him.

In a few minutes, she cleaned up the mess of broken glasses shattered on the marble floor and hurried back to the kitchen, heaving, almost sobbing. It had hurt her somehow, even though she had been used to his nonchalant behavior.

When Reynaldo returned upstairs, he dressed up and left for the Davies mansion.

Back at home, Mia sat near the pool on a call with Beatrice, her cousin.

"I mean, Beatrice, he is so rude!" Mia's voice flared with anger.

"He's one asshole of a billionaire if he could do that," Beatrice replied.

"He did it, sis. I bet he never learned how to say sorry."

"Just let it go, Mia. You cannot expect everyone to be nice." Beatrice said.

"Well... that's true."

"Yeah...it is."

"How is Lucio?"

"He's good, except for the fact that he has been running temperature, momentarily."

"And have you visited the doctor?" Mia became worried.

"The bills are expensive. The pay I get at the end of a month is not sufficient, Mia. Our needs are piling up and I don't want to be a burden to you." Beatrice's voice softened.

"It's alright, B. We'd be fine. I'll try sending some money when I get paid." Mia reassured her.

"Yes, but Lucio's illness isn't getting any better and he's all we have got. I just recently got to know that Aunt had borrowed money from a loan shark. It's almost the same amount of money I'd get if I tried selling the family house,"

"What on earth! Why did she?"

"Her son needs to be operated and she didn't have the money. So she borrowed from these loan shark guys and they are after her life."

"Goodness! I just finished paying off dad's loans which were transferred to me after his death, and now this?" Mia battled the tears welling up her eyes.

She was already struggling to make ends meet, but, here were her problems, piling up. Of course, Family came first, despite the difficulty, she knew she had no choice.

"Lucio, is he going to be okay?"

"I have told you not to worry. It's just a minor running temperature, I hope. He'd be fine in no time."

"Beatrice! Can you get the orders, please?" A Voice is requested in the background from the other end of the phone.

"Okay, sis. I have to go. My boss is calling. Talk to you later."

"Alright, love you!"

"Take care," Mia said before silence echoed away.

Reynaldo arrived at the Davies' Mansion just when the hour struck ten. He was in cargo pants and a yellow T-shirt, different from the one he wore that morning. His black silky hair sleeked back in a wolf cut, dropping a few curls that fell above his brows.

Mr. Davies was away on a business trip, So, Mrs. Davies welcomed him.

"Rey, Darling. How are you?"

"I'm fine, Mum," Rey responded.

"I guess my message got to you." She added.

"Yes. I was told. Mum please, make Dad see reasons why I can't get married right now."

"Look, son. I know one thing is for sure. Your dad wants what's best for you.'

"But Mum this isn't right and you know it."

"Son...let it be." Mrs Davies said.

Mother and son talked at length and it was almost dinner time when Rey got home. Mia was still in the kitchen, waiting to serve him dinner.

"Join me for dinner tonight, Miss. Mia." He said, scanning her face. A look of confusion drove into her expression. He started for the remnants of any form of surprise, but he found none.

"Okay, Sir." She responded, trying to look unfazed.

For the first time, he called her "Miss." For the first time, he hadn't been rude in his appeal. For the first time, she felt something similar genuine excitement. Was he doing this as an apology for earlier? He wasn't so bad after all...

At the dinner table, Mia served Rey's meal and sat at the other end of the table, feeling a little awkward. Silence filled the hallway, down to the table where they sat. Her thoughts were going wild and the silence made it was.

It was so electrifying that she grew self-conscious of each air escaping her lungs. She was certain that if the forks stopped clinking on the ceramic plates, he could hear the sound of her chest, drumming.

The silence rode in till their eyes met, hers, questioning and his, reassuring. They searched her face, pulsing and intense. He spoke at last, his body angled towards her.

"Let's do business," he suggested, his eyes gleaming with a hint of mischief. Her mind raced with questions, her brow furrowing in confusion.

"Business? With whom?" she asked, her tone laced with skepticism.

"A marriage contract," he clarified, his smirk growing wider. "With me," he concluded, his voice low and deliberate, as if savoring the surprise he had just sprung on her.