Lola stopped walking the moment she heard those words. A statement that felt a whisper the wind carried to her ears. There was no wind in the room, it was only the air conditioner that was running, creating a cool atmosphere. So she slowly turned around to make sure it was the man standing behind her that said those words.
"Excuse me?" She raised her brows questioningly, so he could repeat what he just uttered to her.
"Lola, I know you heard what I said. So don't play games with me. I meant what I said." Max replied, taking slow strides toward her motionless figure.
Lola scoffed. Working as a bartender for two years now, she has experienced a vast amount of advances from men and sometimes ladies. She knew her beautiful face and figure would attract unwanted attention at work, but making money was her priority much more than what her beauty could cause. This proposal, however, surpassed every other one she has received.
This billionaire wasted no time in proposing marriage to her, skipping the traditional courting and dating process entirely. There was no opportunity for feelings to develop or for them to get to know each other. In less than thirty minutes of the meeting, he dropped the bombshell of a proposal on her.
Was he mentally unstable?
"I'm not sure you heard yourself. You're asking me to marry you after less than thirty minutes of meeting, that's insane," she pointed out, making sure he understood the absurdity of his request.
Max moved even closer to her, so close that Lola had to take a step back, her back against the closed door. "Lola, I heard myself loud and clear. I may not be crazy, but I might just be crazy about you," he lied, his tone so sweet and calm that Lola couldn't detect the deception.
"I want you. I am a man that is very certain about his desires. And when I want something, I get it. So Lola," He leaned closer to her ear, "–there's no resisting me." He stated. Leaning back up, his eyes rested on her flushed face.
Her reaction nearly provoked a smile from him. He knew his charms were irresistible.
Lola regained her composure and said, "It seems you have gotten me all wrong." She stated with a sass in her tone. His whispering into her ears was unexpected but she wasn't one to easily succumb to the arrogant words that were spewed from a billionaire's lips.
"Sir, I couldn't care less about your whims. I don't give a damn about your desire and what you aspire to achieve. Your proposal doesn't pique my interest. My interactions with you are limited to only being a service provider. So please, refrain from making any unwarranted advances towards me." Lola concluded her statement and prepared to exit the lounge. But, Max was not willing to accept it.
She had just bruised his pride. And in his world, she was too insignificant to do that to him.
"Do you recognize the man standing before you? Do you have any idea of who I am?" He questioned in a deep, rumbling voice. Without allowing her to respond, he pressed on, "I am Max Donovan, a man of immense wealth, a billionaire. I own a vast empire. And yet, you dare to talk to me in such a manner? You have the nerve to decline my proposal?" He challenged her, their bodies still nearby.
Lola confidently faced the arrogant man before her, matching his energy without hesitation. "Mr. Max Donovan, we are on the same wavelength. Our communication is in sync because we speak the same language. I believe I have expressed myself clearly. Your wealth status is of no concern to me, I simply do not care. So kindly step aside, I have to return to work." She said to him in a fiery tone.
"Your presence here is the same as you working right now. If you were to be mine, you would not be working in this kind of environment. Instead, you can just accept my proposal and the luxurious and grand lifestyle billionaire's wives enjoy as a housewife." Max confidently expressed to Lola. But his words have no effect on her, making her roll her eyes in response.
With a firm stance, Lola declared, "I am not a commodity to be purchased with money. I am not like any of those girls you can lure with your grand lifestyle. So, Mr. Max Donovan, I'm sorry but I decline your proposal." With those words, she pushed Max aside and swiftly opened the door, striding purposefully away to resume her duties at the bar.
Max stood there with the drink still in his hand, astounded by what just transpired between him and his soulmate.
No woman has ever rejected him the way Lola just did. And it oddly made his heart pang. Why would she decline the opportunity to become the wife of Max Donovan, the wealthiest bachelor globally? A tycoon in the business world, with ambitions to claim the title of the world's richest.
He found himself sinking into the nearest plush lounge chair, needing a moment to recover his breath because Lola's rebellious act seemed to have left him breathless. Downing the remaining contents of his glass with a forceful clank on the nearby table, the fiery liquid provided a brief soothing to the ache in his chest. A heavy sigh escaped his lips.
"She is only playing hard to get. She can't resist me for too long." He mumbled to himself.
He decided to leave the lounge and head home. He decided to come back the next morning. Maybe she was just tired from today's work and that's why her mood is sour. It has to be that.
Rising from the chair, a sharp pain shot from his right wrist up to his shoulder, causing him to audibly groan and settle back into the seat. Clutching his wrist, he noticed the mark glowing a fiery red once more.
He tried to stifle his cries, yet the pain was all-consuming. He grimaced and whispered, seeking solace. He couldn't bear the thought of anyone stumbling upon him amid this excruciating pain. Particularly Lola.
So a fervent plea swiftly escaped his lips to any celestial being above. Like a mantra he continuously chanted the words, "Let this pain cease," with resolute grunts accompanying his earnest plea.
Tears welled up in his eyes as the relentless pain persisted, causing him to slump from the chair to the floor, emitting grunts and groans. He dreaded losing consciousness once more. The thought of a scandal surrounding him was unbearable. The world might assume he had fainted while engaging in intimate activities with a woman in a private lounge. His reputation had remained untarnished ever since he rose to fame and prominence. He simply could not allow such a scandal to befall him.
Everyone who had threatened to tarnish his reputation has been silenced with money. The ultimate solution to all life's challenges. This is why Lola's behavior comes as a shock.
"Lola." He vocalized in his state of agonizing discomfort and nearly lost consciousness. He was unaware of the reason he vocalized her name, it simply emerged. And the instant the name departed from his lips, the pain ceased. Suddenly.
His eyes widened and his spirit stirred at the magic that just transpired. What was that? His brain couldn't formulate a reason as to why saying her name made the burning and intense pain stop.
He didn't have a moment to spare to unravel the mystery, so he swiftly departed the lounge and made a beeline for his parked car. Without a glance back for Lola or even a simple farewell, he couldn't risk the pain catching up to him, whether in the lounge or on the road while driving.
Max needed to get home quickly. Otherwise, something unnatural might happen again.