Chapter 5 A dangerous Proposal

Chapter Five

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. Just as he was about to leave, his father returned unexpectedly.

"Have you found her?" his father demanded coldly, stopping Axel in his tracks.

"Good morning to you too, Dad," Axel replied, attempting to change the subject. He slouched onto the couch.

"Don't evade the question! Have you found the girl I asked you to find?" the old man pressed, his tone unforgiving.

"She's proving to be quite stubborn, Dad. Can I... take more decisive measures?" Axel hesitated.

"Trying to employ mafia tactics in matters of marriage now?" his father chuckled dryly. "Persuade Lila to marry you the conventional way. Remember the ultimatum, or you know the consequences for your assets," he dismissed, heading towards the stairs.

"But Dad, why Lila?" Axel asked, frustration creeping into his voice at his father's stubbornness.

"That's between me and the young woman," his father replied tersely, ignoring Axel's protests.

"I don't even know Lila personally. I had to go through her father. I can't pursue someone I know nothing about! Besides, she's not interested in me..." Axel argued, feeling increasingly exasperated.

"Then make her interested," his father retorted without turning back.

Axel stared after his father, feeling the weight of his expectations pressing down on him. Only this man could keep him on his toes. Deep in thought, Axel suddenly formulated a plan. Gathering his books and car keys, he left without saying another word.

"I love you too, son. And remember, I don't want to hear that you've resorted to threats or any such nonsense," his father's voice carried down from the top of the stairs, softened by concern for his son's future, a future that could only be secured with Lila.

*****

Lila remained cooped up in her room, thoughts swirling with the uncertainties brought on by her mother's recent passing. The loss felt more poignant without her mother's bracelet, which had mysteriously disappeared. A knock at the door interrupted her reverie, and her father entered quietly. She straightened up in surprise, seeing the plea in his eyes as he approached her.

"Dad, what is it now?" Lila asked softly, rubbing her eyes wearily.

"Lila, you're my only child. I would never want to cause you harm or put you in a difficult position," Henry said gently, guiding Lila to sit with him. "Please forgive me for my mistakes."

"Dad, there's nothing to apologize for. You could have managed your grief better. I love you, and I don't want to lose you," Lila reassured him, leaning into his comforting presence. "It's days like these that I miss Mom the most. She always knew how to navigate through any situation."

"I miss her too," Henry admitted quietly, his hand brushing over her hair tenderly.

"Dad, we'll figure things out. Just give me some time to think," Lila requested, trying to process the weight of the decisions looming over her. "Marrying President Roberts means giving up my dreams of owning a restaurant. And it's not just that; I'm in love with someone. We're dating."

"I-I understand, my princess. I'll give you the time you need," Henry promised, kissing her forehead before quietly leaving her to her thoughts.

Lila's phone buzzed with a notification shortly after her father left. Checking it, she saw a message from Danielle.

Danielle: Have you checked your Instagram or Twitter today?

Lila: No, I haven't been active on social media.

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

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 furious.

Lila: Fiancé?? Why is he angry?

Danielle: Check your Instagram. Your followers have skyrocketed. Try to explain things to him; he might understand.

Lila: Alright.

Lila saw that her followers had jumped from six hundred thousand to over two million. She found a picture of herself and Axel, captioned 'together forever babe, thanks for agreeing to be my wife.'

Overwhelmed, Lila realized 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!

Her phone rang, displaying Axel's name. Reluctantly, she answered.

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

"Are you kidding? It's nearly 9 PM," Lila retorted, her anger rising at Axel's audacity.

"I have something of yours. Won't you come and get it?" Axel replied coolly before hanging up.

She received a WhatsApp message with an attached image. Downloading it, she saw her mother's bracelet. Axel had captioned it, "You have fifteen minutes, or it's gone forever."

Lila jumped off her bed, hastily throwing on a simple black dress that barely reached her knees. As she rushed out, she nearly collided with Daniel, who tried to stop her. Brushing past him, she shouted over her shoulder that she would see him later and continued on her way.

Arriving at the café nineteen minutes later, she found Axel already gone. Frustrated and upset, she called him repeatedly, but all her calls went unanswered. Unsure of what to do next, she collapsed on a nearby bench, tears of frustration and anger welling up.

After a few moments, someone approached and gently pulled her up, shielding her from the prying eyes of onlookers. She tried to pull away, but the person's grip was firm.

"Don't be stubborn this once. You don't want the whole world seeing you cry," Axel whispered as he held her close, guiding her towards his car. Once inside, she pulled away, glaring at him, but he ignored her gaze, instructing Brian to drive.

"Where are you taking me?" Lila demanded after a while, recognizing the surroundings as they drove.

"Somewhere private where we can talk," Axel replied curtly, his fingers tracing his well-groomed beard.

Within minutes, they stood on a deserted beach under the night sky.

Lila surveyed the desolate shoreline, the sound of waves crashing against the sand and the wind the only audible sounds. "Why have you brought me here? I want to go home. Please take me home," she pleaded, her voice trembling slightly.

"Don't you want this anymore?" Axel questioned, digging into his pocket and producing Lila's mother's bracelet. It looked different now, gleaming with a rich golden hue.

"Give me back my mother's bracelet and take me home," Lila demanded, reaching out for it, but Axel held it just out of her reach.

"Lower your tone and give me my mother's necklace," Lila shouted, her frustration and fury evident as she slapped his chest several times, but he only smirked, seeming to enjoy her emotional turmoil.

"Look around, Miss. We're alone here. Do you think I couldn't do you?" Axel threatened, a predatory smile curling his lips.

Fear gripped Lila, and she took a step back, her eyes fixed on the bracelet glinting in Axel's hand. "You wouldn't dare hurt me," she tried to sound brave.

Axel's eyes glittered in the moonlight. "Try me," he whispered, sending shivers down her spine. "We're alone, Lila. No one would 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 her fear.

But Axel only chuckled, the sound sending a chill down her spine. "I'm just a man who knows how to get what he wants, Lila. And what I want is you."

With sudden determination, Axel seized Lila's wrist, pulling her closer. She struggled against his grip, but he was too strong. She felt the bracelet placed around her wrist, its cold metal chilling her.

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

Defiance burned in Lila's eyes as she fought against Axel's hold. "I don't owe you anything!" she spat, attempting to free herself.

Axel's smile widened as his grip tightened like an iron vice. "Oh, but you do, Lila. Your father's debts are now yours. And I always collect my debts."

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

Amusement flickered in Axel's eyes. "You're right, they don't. But I have another debt to settle. You see this bracelet on your wrist? I spent a fortune restoring it after your carelessness resulted in it ending up in my possession. And now, I expect repayment."

"Do you want me to ask how much? I'll tell you anyway," Axel said, leaning in closer.

Lila's eyes widened as Axel pulled back, releasing her arms. "140 million dollars?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

"Yes, Lila. And I want it all. Now," Axel declared, giving her space as he stepped back.

"I... I can pay some of it now, from the competition prize money. You can have that, and I'll pay the rest later," Lila suggested, feeling overwhelmed by Axel's demands.

---Axel's lips curled into a knowing smile. "Indeed I do. And I'm willing to return it to you under one condition."

Lila's brows furrowed in confusion. "Condition?"

Axel nodded, pacing a few steps before turning back to her. "Marry me."

Lila's eyes widened in shock. "What? No! I won't marry you!"

Axel's smile faded, replaced by a steely resolve. "You don't have much of a choice, Lila. Your father's debt to my family is substantial. Without my intervention, you'd be in a far worse situation."

Lila's hands trembled in her lap, her thoughts in turmoil. She couldn't deny the truth in Axel's words. Her father's reckless business decisions had left them on the brink of financial ruin.

"You can't force me into this," Lila protested weakly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Axel's gaze softened, his tone surprisingly gentle. "I'm not forcing you, Lila. I'm offering you a way out. Marry me, and I'll ensure your father's debt is taken care of. You'll have financial security and protection."

Lila felt her resolve crumbling under the weight of Axel's proposition. It was a tempting offer, despite the strings attached. She closed her eyes briefly, trying to steady her breathing.

"Think about it, Lila," Axel continued, his voice a soothing murmur. "This isn't just about you. It's about your father, your future."

Lila opened her eyes, meeting Axel's gaze once more. She saw determination in his eyes, but also something else – a hint of vulnerability.

"Give me time," Lila finally whispered, her voice barely audible.

Axel nodded slowly, accepting her response. "Take all the time you need. But remember, time is a luxury we don't have much of."

With those words hanging in the air, Axel turned away, leaving Lila alone with her thoughts. She watched him retreat to the window, his silhouette outlined against the city lights.

She hailed a hailed and gave the description of her apartment to the driver, As she entered her quiet apartment, the silence enveloped her like a suffocating blanket. Lila paced restlessly, her thoughts consumed by Axel's proposal and her father's mounting debt. The image of her mother's bracelet, held hostage by Axel, haunted her.

With trembling hands, Lila picked up her phone and dialed Axel's number. It rang several times before he finally answered.

"Have you made your decision?" Axel's voice was calm but tinged with anticipation.

Lila closed her eyes, steeling herself for what she was about to say. "Yes, Axel. I... I've agreed to marry you."

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line, followed by Axel's satisfied chuckle. "Good. I expected nothing less."

Lila swallowed hard, her throat dry. "When... when do you want to announce it?"

"We'll discuss the details soon," Axel replied smoothly. "For now, rest assured that your father's debt will be taken care of. You've made the right choice, Lila."

The line went dead, leaving Lila alone with her thoughts once more. She sank onto her couch, feeling a mix of confusion and regrets wash over her

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