Chapter 5 A Deal and a Demand

You could slice the tension in that living room with a butter knife. Elena's uncle and aunt looked like they hadn't slept in a week-faces all scrunched up with worry, eyes darting around like they were waiting for the ceiling to fall in. Meanwhile, Elena just sat there, stiff as a board, clutching her hands like maybe that'd keep her from falling apart. Her heart was doing double-time, but she kept it together on the outside. Or tried to.

Nobody said much. The silence was thick, only the clock on the wall dared to make a peep. Tick, tick, tick, like it was taunting them.

"So... how's your dad?" her aunt finally asked, voice all gentle and shaky, like she was expecting the worst and didn't really want the answer.

Elena gave this tiny nod, trying to act chill even though she was basically drowning in anxiety. "Surgery went okay. He's still in ICU, but the doctor thinks he'll pull through."

You could see a bit of relief crack through her aunt and uncle's worry, but honestly, they still looked like they'd been hit by a truck full of bad news. Everybody knew one good update didn't mean the storm was over.

Elena's hands were shaking as she dug around in her bag, pulling out this land certificate. Just touching the paper made her tense up, like it weighed a hundred pounds.

"Uncle, Aunt... I want to sell you the land," she said, voice barely above a whisper but stubborn as hell.

Her uncle and aunt swapped a look-one of those silent conversations that says everything. Regret, stress, you name it.

Her uncle sighed, voice all tired. "That land's huge. It's worth a lot. We just... we can't afford it, Elena."

"Especially since... you know, we're gonna need a truckload of cash for this new business too," her aunt tossed in, eyes glued to the certificate clutched in Elena's hand like it might suddenly sprout legs and run off.

Elena just sighed, deep and heavy, that kind that rattles your whole chest. Honestly, she got it. Her aunt and uncle weren't shutting her out. They just had their own mess to juggle.

"Sorry, kid," her uncle mumbled, voice scratchy, like he'd been chewing gravel.

Elena tried to smile-barely managed it. "It's alright, Uncle. Really. I get it."

She started to stand, but her aunt's hand slipped around her arm, soft but stubborn. "Hey, what if you come with me? I might know someone-maybe they'd buy the land, maybe even front you some cash."

Elena's eyes sparked-just for a second. They couldn't hand her the solution, but at least they weren't leaving her to drown, either.

A bit later, they're pulling up to this house that honestly looked like it belonged on one of those glossy magazine covers. All big angles and massive windows, like the architect was showing off. Elena clocked the design right away.

"Wait-isn't this... one of our client's places?" she whispered, taking in the stone, the wood, those balconies you could throw a party on, and the light spilling out everywhere.

Inside, some servant-way too polite-ushered them through to a living room bigger than Elena's whole apartment.

Not long after, in sweeps this woman. Impeccably dressed, walking like she owned the floor, smile just barely there. Yeah, you could tell she was important before she even said a word.

"Hey, Marissa! What's the occasion?" Narima grinned, leaning in for that cheek-to-cheek kiss people do when they're feeling extra friendly.

Marissa kind of winced, glancing at the clock. "Sorry for barging in at this hour. Anyway-meet my niece. Elena, this is Narima." Elena's smile was polite, maybe a little stiff, and she gave the tiniest nod-like she wasn't sure if she should be here.

Narima squinted at her, then her eyes lit up. "Wait a sec... aren't you that gutsy girl?" She grabbed Elena's hand and tugged her over to the couch like they were old buddies. Narima plopped down beside her, grinning. Elena just blinked, totally confused.

"Um... I'm not sure what you mean, ma'am?"

Narima snapped her fingers. "C'mon, you don't remember? At the beach, couple months back? You stopped that pickpocket from nicking my bag. Seriously, I owe you one."

Marissa butted in, chuckling. "Man, this city's tiny."

Narima flashed Marissa a look, half impressed. "Didn't know your niece was some kind of hero."

Elena's eyes went wide. "Wait-you were in that yellow dress?" Narima nodded, looking totally pleased with herself. "Oh gosh, I didn't recognize you. Sorry, that's embarrassing."

Narima waved it off. "Don't sweat it. We only met the one time, right?" Elena scratched her neck, looking a little sheepish, but managed a smile.

"So... what brings you two to my place tonight anyway?" Narima asked, head cocked, still clearly jazzed about the whole reunion thing.

Elena and Marissa got right to the point when they showed up at Narima's place. Elena slid a photocopy of the land certificate across the table-no theatrics, just business. Narima barely glanced at them before handing the copy off to her assistant, probably someone whose job it was to pretend to understand real estate.

"I'll talk it over with my husband," Narima said, which, honestly, could mean anything from "We're interested" to "I'm going to forget about this for a week." She didn't give much away. "We'll let you know what we decide."

Elena and Marissa got up, thanked her (because manners), and headed out. As soon as the door shut behind them, Narima didn't move. She sat there, just looking at that deed. There was a real smile on her face-one of those quiet, can't-help-it sort of grins that has nothing to do with politeness.

She muttered under her breath, "Smart kid," her thumb brushing along the edge of the paper. "Tough, sensible, knows how to keep her head."

Most people Elena's age would've run straight to a bank, signed away their future for a quick loan, and worried about the fallout later. Not Elena. She waited, weighed her options, and only put her last big asset on the line when she'd run out of choices. That's not just being grown-up. That's, like, Jedi-level wisdom in a crisis.

Narima dropped the paper on the coffee table and leaned back, her brain spinning back to that afternoon on the beach. Elena, staring down some idiot thief without flinching. And here she was again, facing another mess, not backing down.

Narima grabbed her phone. No hesitation.

"Hey, check someone out for me," she said as soon as her assistant picked up. "Name's Elena. I want everything-background, family, school, job, what her neighbors think, whatever you can dig up. Got it?"

The assistant sorta blinked, like-wait, did I hear that right? Narima never got this curious about anything. "Uh, what for, ma'am?" It slipped out before she could reel it back.

Narima just gave this little sly smile, all mysterious, eyes flicking down the hall where Elena had vanished. The woman was a locked box, honestly.

"Just a hunch," she murmured, voice barely above a whisper. "Maybe this girl's what I've been waiting for."

***

Elvano was still fuming after that trainwreck run-in with Elena. Seriously, of all people. Then, of course, his phone started buzzing-Mom again. She'd been on his case for weeks now. Nonstop. Break up with Natasha, break up with Natasha, on and on. At this point, he was ready to throw his phone in a lake.

Dragging himself inside, he felt like he was wearing tiredness as an extra layer. And-yep-there she was. His mother, looking like she was about to conduct a military tribunal. Arms folded, eyes narrowed, lips curled in this annoying half-smirk. Not exactly the warm-and-fuzzy welcome committee.

"Why are you home so late?" Narima's voice-oof, sharp enough to slice bread. Not a question, more like an accusation.

"I had a ton of work, Mom," Elvano grumbled, collapsing onto the couch and yanking at his tie. He was way too wiped out to fight.

"So? Did you finally dump her?" she shot back, cold as ever. "That b***h," she hissed, spitting the word out like it was poison.

That was it. That word just... snapped something in him.

"Mom!" he snapped, practically springing up like the floor was lava. "Don't call Natasha that. Seriously. She's not just some rando-I've been with her since, like, sophomore year!"

His voice was all sharp edges, but if you listened close, you'd hear all that old, bottled-up crap fizzing under the surface. He'd always known his mom wasn't Natasha's biggest fan, but why? And why did it feel extra nasty tonight?

Narima's mouth twisted. "Oh, so now you're shouting at your own mother?" Her eyes didn't get watery-nope, just straight-up laser beams, daring him.

"I-I'm not trying to start a fight, but come on, you're way outta line," Elvano stammered, voice quaking. "You act like I can't think for myself-like I'm just your little marionette or something!"

"I am your mother! I know what's best!" she shot back, marching up like she was about to start round two.

"No!" His voice splintered. "You want what's best for you! I'm just the collateral!"

And just like that, the anger fizzled out, replaced by this heavy, numb ache in his chest.

Nobody said anything for a sec. Then, in true Narima fashion, she clutched her heart like she was starring in a soap opera, face twisted in that classic 'how dare you' pout.

Elvano didn't even twitch. He'd seen this routine a million times. His mom deserved an Oscar for playing the martyr.

Still, guilt crept in, gnawing at him.

He hated admitting it-man, did he hate it-but maybe, just maybe, he'd gone a little too far this time.

"You're picking her? Over your own mother?" she hissed, voice barely a breath but sharp as ice.

All that heat in his face just fizzled out-now he just looked like a kicked dog. "Mom, I-seriously, it's not like-"

"Oh, spare me," she snapped, cutting him off. "You think you know that woman? Please. You're so head-over-heels you can't even see straight."

And just like that, she spun around and marched away, back rigid, not even glancing at him. Elvano scrambled after her, panic bubbling up.

"Come on, Mom, please! Don't do this, not like this! I'll do anything, just...don't make me give her up," he pleaded, voice cracking like an old record as he reached her bedroom door.

She stopped so fast he nearly slammed into her. When she turned, her eyes practically shot sparks.

"You will break up with Natasha," she bit out, "and you'll marry whoever I pick. End of story."

Door in his face-bam. Hard enough to rattle the hinges.

The sound hung in the air, loud and final, like the universe just slammed its fist on the table.

Elvano just stood there, totally wrecked. That word, "marry," kept echoing in his head, like it had its own heartbeat.

He muttered it, almost not believing. "Marry...?"

The floor felt like it was dropping out from under him. Tight chest, shallow breaths, whole world gone sideways.

Was this for real? Seriously?

Stuck between the girl who made his heart race and the mom who made him-the pressure was unreal. He could almost feel the walls squeezing him from both sides.

One wrong step and, poof, his whole life's in ruins.

He slumped against the wall, mind spinning, staring at nothing, just one thought screaming through the static: Who the hell does she want me to marry?

Yeah. This was far from over.

To be Continued ...