Malia, will you marry me?

Malia’s P.O.V. 

Damn. I wasn’t able to learn how to shoot at all. After he teased me, one thing led to another, and when I came to my senses, it was already night.

“I’ve talked to my men, and they’ve told me that your brother’s now in one of our hospitals.

“Huh, you even own a hospital?

“Yes, it’s in the neighboring city. It's two hours away from here.

I stare at him. Does he really transport my brother that far?

“What kind of hospital is it? Will it be able to tend to my brother’s needs?” I help him put down the plates on the table as we’re going to eat dinner and continue, “I’m not being prejudiced, but my brother’s condition is not to be taken lightly.

“Don’t worry. My hospital is known to have a lot of great specialists all over the world. And I made sure to tell my men to make tending to your brother a priority.” Every muscle on his arms moves while he’s distributing food to our plates.

I can’t help but look at them every time my eyes pass them. He can model for luxurious and seductive items because of how exaggerated he looks every damn second.

“You can visit him anytime, of course, he added.

I raise my brow and say, “You say that, but when I go visit him, your enemies would bombard us.” I’ve learned my lesson. I wouldn’t risk seeing my brother just to end up risking his life too.

“We can go on a private jet, you know.

Wow, he owns a jet too? It must be good to have a lot of money.

“But how about the hospital fees? If it's a high-end hospital, then the fees would be much greater than the one that we had. Maybe you can tell me in advance how much I have to pay for me to have it ready before the due date.

He shook his head and sat on the bar stool across from mine. “That’s on me.

“The hospital bill?” I want to make sure of it. And he nodded his head. Oh well, it looks like I have to work harder from now on.

“But what happens after our deal is done? Would you transfer my brother back to the previous hospital?

“No, and finish your food first, Malia.

I stare at him throughout the time we’re eating. I don’t know why he’s helping me this much, but I’m also thankful to him. You know, even though I was caught up in this situation partially because of him, he can just ignore my brother and me. But he chose not to.

“Come to think of it, are you not going to ask for my parents?” He learned about my brother and knew that I’m the one financing his medical bill, but he never asked me about my parents. Not that I want him to ask me such questions, but isn’t he curious now?

“I know about them.

I was dumbfounded. “You—wait, how?” Does he know?

He shrugged as he said, “Connections.

“Wait, you ran a background check on me?

“You can say that.” He said it like it was a thing that he usually does.

What the... I was about to ask him why, but common sense hit me.

Of course he’d run a background check on someone he just met, and he would be allowed to stay in his place.

So instead of being mad, I decided to ask him, “That’s awesome. So, what did you learn about me?

His eyes are still on his food. I somehow felt bad because I’m just talking nonstop when he’s eating, so I ate the food while waiting for his answer, and I’m not disappointed.

“Hmm. Some things about your family, your childhood, how they treat you—about you, of course.”

I can’t help myself; I giggle at his answer. He glances at me as if he’s asking me what's wrong with me.

“Is that something? You basically know everything about me. That’s impressive.

“Well.” 

I asked him a few more questions about what he learned, but I didn’t get to know more.

“Finish your food first, Malia.” That’s what he said.

After dinner, we decided to go back to the underground so he could teach me to shoot again.

“No funny business this time.” He just laughed at what I said before he handed me the gun that I’ll be using.

“Let’s have you learn how to assemble and disassemble a gun first.

Two HOURS later, and I’ve finally learned how to assemble and disassemble.

“You’re a fast learner.” He handed me a bottle of water and made me sit on the couch.

“Thanks, my teacher is great at explaining.

The corner of his lips raised upon hearing my compliment, but he said nothing.

It was a fun activity, although my hands are sore. A phone call caught our attention. It’s his phone. He picked it up and went out.

“Ha... How can things go this fast? I just wanted to escape the goons that night, but I ended up becoming acquainted with Mr. Marcus, or Callisto, a mafia boss.

Callisto went inside to get his keys with a smug look on his face.

“I’ll be going out for a bit.” Then he went out of the room.

“Okay?”

After a while, I heard his car exit the vicinity. “Is he alright? He looked pissed.” I wonder what the phone call is about that made him look like that.

Hmm... I should clean this place and sleep.

I hope he’ll be back to his usual self when he comes back.

****

FOOTSTEPS woke me up.

“Urgh, I didn’t realize that I fell asleep while reading a novel.” I sat on the sofa to know what was happening. 

As I waited for another minute, I saw Callisto storming into the kitchen.

He’s not walking like earlier; his anger must’ve subsided already.

Since I woke up already, I've decided to go where he is.

It’s already three in the morning; it’s a bit chilly but not to the point where I can’t stand it. I hug myself to warm myself a bit.

After a couple of steps, I am now in the kitchen. I saw him pouring a glass of wine into the glass.

“Callisto.” I don’t know what I've gotten onto me, but I feel like calling him.

He glances at me and gestures at me, asking if I want a drink. I got myself a glass and poured myself a glass of wine.

There’s a deafening silence filling the room. It looks like he was still mad at some point.

“Malia.” 

I turn my gaze toward him as he calls my name.

“What?” 

I didn’t hear anything after, so I looked at his face just to see him staring at me. His eyes aren’t mad or sad. They’re giving me this kind of ‘uncertainty, as if he’s about to ask or tell me something.

“What is it?” I ask again.

He let out a heavy sigh before gulping the wine from his glass.

I am confused; he always does this, never finishing what he’s about to say. Should I just grab his hair and force him to say-

“Will you marry me?