The next day Markos was in his cabin when the president called. Just as he planned, Castello came to talk to the CEO of the Moreno corp. Markos had already instructed the CEO to sign the deal with them. However, he sneakily arranged a clause which was in his favour and the Moreno group could back out any time. Markos was already working over to use that clause at the right time.
Ending the call he snickered to himself while throwing his head back on the chair. "Let's see how you will escape from this humiliation. Castello Karman, you shouldn't have dared to marry my woman!" Markos closed his silvery eyes and savoured the moment. His plan was already set in motion and everyone was over his chessboard. The ringtone of his phone brought him back to the present.
It amused him upon seeing Valeria's contact, she hadn't come to the corp that day. Attending the call Markos was surprised to the extent he shot up from the chair. "Are you for real?" Listening to her response, Markos ended the call and headed out. He instructed the CEO to keep Castello busy in his cabin so he could go back home. Markos drove as fast and safely as he could, rashly parking the car in the lot he rushed inside.
Miss Agnes saw him taking bigger steps towards Valeria's room. She stood up from the sofa but before the elderly woman could stop him; Markos headed inside. Valeria was laying in the bed with her legs dangling over the side of the bed. "Markos? What are you doin–" Before she could finish her sentence, he lunged and hugged her tightly. Valeria raised her hands to reciprocate his eagerness and the gesture.
Furrowing, she was pushed gently as Markos made her sit on the bed. "I was so happy to hear that I brought the papers with me." He raised the papers which made Valeria freeze for a moment before she chuckled softly. "I cannot afford to delay. What if you changed your mind before I could come back home?" Markos knelt in front of her and grabbed Valeria's hand. "I just couldn't wait for this moment."
Chuckling at him softly Valeria could feel her tears about to fall. Markos looked around and stood up to grab a fresh hyacinth flower from the vase. "So, Miss Valeria." Kneeling once again, rolling the marriage certificate around the stem. Extending his arm with a beaming smile, Markos officially proposed to her. "Will you marry this oldest and one of a kind admirer?" Valeria smiled while covering her mouth.
The woman nodded and then whispered to him. "Yes–yes." While sitting on the bed with her legs dangling, the sunlight from the parted curtains glowed their lives. Markos chuckled and handed over the flower to her. Pulling out a pen from his coat's pocket, Valeria signed those papers which he already had. Meanwhile, outside the room over some distance Miss Agnes stood with mixed expressions. Fear and confusion.
"Now before you start taunting me for this absurd proposal." Markos grabbed her hands in the lap and maintained eye contact. "I didn't buy the ring intentionally because I want you to select for us." He squeezed her hand making a pout, whereas Valeria looked at him dearly. "Well, I could have had one myself but it was just better to do it together. What do you think?"
Valeria nodded at him when Markos wiped off her tears. "Hey, hey now stop crying. Alright?" Markos rebuked her, taking papers from her hands. He stood up while Valeria followed him, Markos pulled the woman into a hug. Embracing her into the warm feeling, he whispered to her. "I don't like it when you cry, I feel like burning the whole world down." Markos slid his knuckles up and down on her back.
"And how many times will you do it?" She scoffed softly with a chuckle while wiping off her tears. "Nothing would be left at this pace because I cry a lot." Valeria joked about it when Markos held her face and kissed the woman's forehead. She couldn't comprehend what was going on in his mind. But upon searching in his eyes Valeria saw sincerity which scared her. Markos was referring to everyone who had hurt her.
"I don't care anymore. This time the rules are mine." Markos shook his head and caressed her cheek. Tracing his thumb over her chin while settling her hairlock with the other one. "I can burn the whole world down for you and call it fireworks at our wedding." Valeria looked intensely into his silvery eyes and felt her heart skipping a beat. Markos wanted to make her feel special, rightly loved and desired.
"Don't you want to–?" Markos assumed that she didn't want to marry him as Valeria didn't respond to his words. Meanwhile, she was unable to contain so many emotions at once. Valeria lowered her head with a shy expression as she hid her eyes with right hand. "I just signed the papers a few minutes ago, Markos. Hold your horses!" Valeria chuckled as she tried to avoid looking at his smirking face.
Markos leaned in and scooped the woman in his arms as he twirled. "I am just so happy that I forgot how assertive I have been talking." Valeria's arms were around his neck as the woman giggled. Somewhere deep down she was relieved that Markos was finally understanding her. "It is alright, take your time. You must have a lot of things you wanna do this time." Making her sit on the bed, he knelt while resuming.
Valeria's expressions turned sad and then in a soft acceptance. "Don't look so grim, the bride has to stay happy." Caressing her cheek, Markos wanted to give her everything this time. "I want you to fulfil your wishes. Do whatever you like. Go wherever you want. Shop, roam around, eat a lot, make new friends–whatever you couldn't do last time, Val." Smiling at her with a beaming expression, Markos simply won her heart.