One day earlier, the mafia boss is seated in his office, which doubles as his drug stash house. He is holding a large cigar, the kind often seen in movies with drug dealers. He sniffs it, savoring the aroma, and just before he puts it in his mouth, two bodyguards enter the room.
They are escorting Melisa, her face covered with a black cloth. The bodyguards make her sit down in the seat opposite the mafia boss and then remove the cloth from her face. Melisa blinks, adjusting to the light, her eyes filled with a mix of fear and defiance as she faces the imposing figure before her. The mafia boss takes a slow drag from his cigar, his eyes never leaving hers, the tension in the room thick and palpable.
Breaking the silence, the mafia boss, Elijah, says, "Your parents, may their souls rest in peace," he looks up and makes the sign of the cross, "left a huge debt behind when they died. Now… you must pay it off." He reaches out for a pile of papers in a file from the drawers of his office desk and passes it to Melisa, who is seated on the other side of the table.
Melisa takes the file and hurriedly peruses through the pages. Shocked, she says, "This can't be true… um… my father never owed anyone anything."
Elijah, the mafia boss, replies, "You can deny all you want, but this contract has his signature and holds legal weight." He says this in a serious tone, then leans back in his chair. "Now you have two options. The first is to pay off the debt right now."
Melisa interrupts him, "Oh, no, I don't have any money," she pleads.
The mafia boss continues, "The second…"
Melisa interrupts him again, closing the file and returning it to the table. She says, "I can't even afford to pay for my grandmother's hospital treatment."
Elijah continues, "That brings us to your second option," he says while swinging the robusto (the fat cigar). "Marry my son and give my Torex gang an heir."
Shocked, Melisa says, "An heir… um… why would I agree to this? I don't even know your son."
The mafia boss replies, "Failure to honor this contract could lead to jail time. Also, if you agree to this, you won't have to worry about your grandma's medical bills. I can take care of that." He says this in a convincing tone.
Melisa thinks for a few minutes, then says, "Fine," and signs the contract agreement.
"When is the wedding?" Melisa asks the mafia boss.
"Tomorrow," he replies.
Melisa, shocked, exclaims, "Whaaat!?"