Maya's Pov.
My gaze diverted from Eva to them and I retorted firmly.
"Fine! I get it, it's accepted, I don't know how dangerous he is blah blah. Can anyone tell me exactly how he is, because all I hear you people say is "do you know… do you know…" I need someone to tell me the real big deal, that's the same way you hide our family issues"
I paused for a while then continued.
"If you had done that earlier, Damien wouldn't have died," I said as fresh tears started to fall all over again.
"Mom, my decision is final. Do you also have any idea what it is to be controlled by someone? Please I won't take back what I have said. Write a letter to him, I have accepted his offer and you all will have to respect my decision." I said as I took my phone from the sofa.
"Excuse me, I will be in my room. Good night." I said as I was about to leave.
"No! Maya? We are not done with this conversation. Get back here." My mom called angrily.
"No, mom? We are done with this conversation and I still stand by my words. Good night. And please don't forget to send him the reply." I said and walked away.
"Stop." A husky voice commanded,
"Thank you, father-in-law," I said as I walked to my room.
I opened my door and sat on my comfortable bed. I gathered my legs to my chest and hugged them as I placed my head on my knees.
The morning sun filled the room as I lazily opened my eyes. I pulled the duvet to cover myself and turned on my other side.
"Maya? What are you thinking about? I have called you twice." My dad said, sitting beside me in bed.
"Sorry, dad, I couldn't hear you," I replied, sitting on the bed and placing my head on his left broad shoulder.
"Honey, you don't look too good to me, you know it's not that late, you can still change your mind. King is very dangerous." He said while massaging my head softly.
"Dad, what do you know about this man?" I asked innocently
"I don't know anything. He never shows his face nor his identity, I can only tell you he is dangerous from what I've heard." My dad replied honestly.
"Dad, do you want to know something? I am not afraid of him. Trust me, I am not." I said as I raised my head to look at him.
"Okay then, he has sent a reply." He said holding me by both shoulders, then kissed my hair.
"What? Really?" I asked with shock, freeing myself from my father's hold.
"What did he say?" I asked, glancing at my father for an answer.
"He will be coming for you today, at 9:00 pm." My father replied, holding my hands tightly. He sensed I was afraid.
My face fell, blood pressure lowered, face pale. I was technically scared. "I thought I wasn't, why now?" I questioned my thoughts.
"Maya, are you okay?" He asked, staring at my hands instead of my face.
"Yes, daddy, but I will be fine, I'm sure. Will he be coming with them?" I asked.
"It wasn't stated, I don't know. Like I said earlier, he doesn't do things on his own, no one can tell his personality. Who knows if he's as old as time." Dad remarked as I smiled.
"Everyone is waiting for you, let's have breakfast together." He said and kissed my hair.
"I will be there in a moment." I kissed his cheek and he left me alone.
I dashed to the bathroom and took a quick shower. I changed into a black shirt and black pants and joined them at the dinner table.
"Mom, Mother-in-law, father-in-law? How are you all doing today?" I asked, pulling a chair to sit down.
"Can we complain? We are fine." Mother-in-law replied. "Don't be like that," I said, crooking my head.
"Are you fine? You don't seem happy" My mom retorted while serving the plates.
"Happy? Are you? What should I say? I am fine. Now please, let's eat in peace, shall we?" I replied as we kept quiet, waiting to be served.
"Maya, you should stop calling us inlaws, you were not married to our son. I am Lucy and he's Adrian." Mother in law said, breaking the silence.
"Well, okay Lucy and Adrian," I said with fake smile then shoved a mussle of food into my mouth.
*****
King's POV.
"Drake?" I called.
"You called, is there anything I can do for you?" Drake asked, walking up and down my study.
"Have you heard from the Martinez'?" I asked, then opened my drawer to bring out my gun.
"Yes, King, everything is in place. They have agreed. I told them to expect us at 9:00 pm." He answered.
"That's good." I praised as I continued to wipe the gun.
"King? Are you going with us?" Drake asked.
"Not very sure yet, check my schedule," I said.
"You won't be busy tonight," he
answered plainly.
"Okay then," I replied, placing the gun on the table.
"King?" He called with a brassy tone.
"What is it, Drake?" I asked.
"Do you know that girl, I mean Maya?" He asked with his brows shot up while he crooked his head.
"Not very much, all I know is that she is the princess of the family. I hope you are not thinking I like her, are you? I added to clarify myself.
"No! You don't even like women." Drake said, looking at me.
"Good, at least you know that," I remarked.
"So then, why are you bringing her here?"
"You should know!" I replied sharply.
"I don't, King." He retorted, walking towards my desk.
I ran my thumb on my lower lip and smiled. I crossed my legs and leaned in my chair, looking at him with my lowered gaze.
"Why am I bringing her here? Do you want to know? Torment! I will make her life miserable, she's been living a princess life for too long. Someone's got to teach her what life really is. And I'm the only one to do that." I ended with a wicked grin.
"I mean who thinks that? Only you, I'm really sorry for her." Drake said, walking away from the desk.
"Really, Drake? Since when?" I paused like reciting A to D. "Pour me a drink."
He walked to a table situated to my left to pour the drink. He brought it and I waved to a chair for him to sit.
"You know something, King, you scare me when you start acting like that? Something bad is about to happen? What are the next plans?" He asked, changing his expression to a curious one.
Without speaking? I stood up, moved to the drawer, opened and brought out a ring, and handed it to Drake.
"No way! You are not serious, are you? Boss, have you thought about this very well?" He asked with widened eyes.
"You know what? I don't support this. No! No! King, This is not a good idea at all." He said calmly with a concerned expression.
"Pull yourself together, Drake. You are getting overboard. Know your limits, you don't tell me between right and wrong." I replied, sipping my wine.
"No! I am like a brother to you and I am telling you this isn't good for you? She is a woman." He remarked seriously, glimpsing at me.
"Doesn't it sound funny, What do you suppose, I marry a man?" I asked with no funny face.
"No, I don't mean that, I mean women are too finical for these kinds of games.
"And_?" I asked, cutting him off.
"And… adding marriage will damage her. Her would-be husband just died just two weeks ago." Drake said.
"That's what makes the game more interesting," I replied with a loud grin.
"I am certain you are hiding something. You can't hate her for no reason. And I know very well it's not because of Damien. Tell me the truth." He retorted.
"I don't hate her though she disrespected me once. Do you know? That little girl disrespected me.
"Interesting, then you mean you know her," Drake said.
"I do, not very much," I answered, clamping my hands together on the table.
"Tell me everything, King."
"Six years ago," I said.
"Really? Six years_?" Drake remarked, cutting me off.
"Drake? Are you ready to listen or not?"
"I will listen," he replied, paying attention.
"Good, because if I lose my temper? That's all for you." I replied emptying the glass.