Anna didn't understand what that man was up to. It didn't seem like she was living in reality. Maybe it was just a nightmare.
"What's in it for you?"
"I've surrounded my family's assets with care, and there are two loopholes left. One of them, I hope All doesn't remember it, because I won't be able to intervene, but one of these loopholes is that you become his heir if you marry him. And the only way I've found to stop him doing that is this. You can't officiate two marriages."
"I can marry any man to avoid that, it doesn't have to be you."
"Believe me, I don't want that. But I'm not going to put myself in the position of someone who can be blackmailed... I don't trust anyone and... I can't let my father go without his toy."
"What happens if I don't sign?"
"There's no chance of that."
"You can't make me!"
She saw his gaze flash dangerously.
"Do you want to bet?"
"If you say you're going to kill my father, do it. I'll be sad, but that's all there is to it."
"You must still be feeling Caricature's hand on your face. He has other talents. Perhaps you'd like to spend a few afternoons with him..." He said it so meaningfully that there was no way she wouldn't understand what he was talking about. "But first, I'd make him break one by one the bones in his legs and arms, right in front of me. And what about your father? I wouldn't kill him, I'd throw him to the wolves... You'd see him being torn apart by beasts... Literally."
"You're not dangerous. You're a monster!"
"I'm your nightmare, Anna. And don't kid yourself. I know all about you. You and your father tricked the mafia boss, because he didn't think with his brain, he got carried away with his penis, and now you've forced me to stay in this situation to protect my assets!"
"What are you talking about?"
"Your father sold you and you both pretended you were a woman when you were just a child!"
Anna felt her throat go dry, and the shame burned hotter than the hard slap she had received.
"I wasn't a child, I..."
"Eighteen years old. He thinks you're twenty now."
"I had to accept..."
"Why? Afraid to work?"
"Afraid of what All would do to my father. He seemed willing to kill..."
"It would be the most appropriate thing for a man who lives off the sweat of others!"
"And how would I live, knowing that I could have saved my father's life?"
He shook his head and pointed to the papers.
"Sign it!"
"What's the point? If I sign, I become your heir, right? That way I'll be getting something of your father's..."
He took a deep breath.
"I'm going to give you a million dollars so that you can carry on being my father's bitch and pretending to love him, after the divorce, which will take place after the reading of the will."
Anna controlled herself so as not to become too indignant at the insults, and forced herself to speak.
"You're so sure that he'll die before you... You can die first..."
"Sign it!"
Anna signed without reading and stood up.
"Anything else?"
"Wash your face and then we'll go to the registry office."
Anna went to the door with what little dignity she had left, and turned to him, who was stooped over checking the documents she had just signed.
"Do you want to know what I found most amazing about you?"
"No."
"You're the most cowardly man I've ever met in my life, and since I've only lived with teenagers, apart from our parents until today... I don't think my benchmark for courage is very broad."
"Your opinion is very important for me to get on with my life." He said wryly, still looking at the papers and starting to sign them one by one.
Anna was furious.
"A man would have beaten me himself, not sent someone else to do it!"
"A poor man would do that, Anna. I'm rich, and I don't dirty my hands with filth."
"One day I'll make you swallow your insults!"
He raised his head and his gaze was lethal, but Anna felt so dead, she didn't care.
"If one day you try, on that day I'll get my hands dirty with you. Because it's a fantasy I've had ever since I learned of your existence... To kill you." He said and signed the papers again.
"You already have, boss!" She said debauchedly, biting her lip angrily, and left. Sarah was waiting for her outside.
She followed Anna into the bedroom and watched worriedly as the girl went into the bathroom and lingered there. When she finally came out, she put her hand on her waist.
"Are you all right?"
Anna looked at her and then at the window. Jumping out now seemed like the best option.
"I don't know how you can be in love with someone like him. He sent a man to beat me up!"
"I know. When I saw Caricatura come in, I knew something bad would happen. What did he do?"
"You already knew? And you didn't try to stop it? He hit me in the face!"
"Oh!" The woman looked disappointed. "He usually does much worse. Consider yourself lucky. I love the boss, because I know he would never do anything bad to me. Now let's go. We've taken too long and you're going out with the boss."
Anna followed Sarah and they left the apartment. Only the two of them were in the elevator, which arrived too quickly at its destination. Anna then followed Sarah out of the building and noticed the row of black cars. A tall man with a moustache opened the door of the third car and motioned for Anna to get in. She obeyed and 'he' was inside, staring into the car window, as if the landscape of a building was the most interesting image of the day. The man slammed the car door hard and soon the driver was in motion.
Anna felt like shouting at the justice of the peace that she was being coerced, but then remembered that he was probably on her "husband's" payroll and said yes when asked.
He didn't go back with her to the apartment, which made her a little happier, and when she arrived at the apartment, she immediately noticed more people moving around.
They walked past her and only then did she realize that there was no longer any heavy surveillance on her. She was free. She walked down the corridor and saw people coming and going in a room opposite hers. She approached the door to see what was going on and a smile, with tears of relief, appeared on her face. All was there.