Chapter Three

~Gunther~

"Could you clarify that for me? I don't think I understand, Atty. Schneider."

I was having a light breakfast on the front porch of my villa together with my deceased grandmother's most trusted lawyer, Atty. Spencer Schneider. 

It has been two months since my grandma passed away at the age of eighty one. It was a very grim moment for my family, especially for me. 

It took me weeks to recuperate. Mind, body and soul. The most unbearable time to bounce back to my old self after my cherished Abuela had crossed the Styx. 

Under those circumstances, Atty. Schneider had been patient with me. He had been dying to read me my grandma's last will and testament. 

"You heard me right, Gunther." Atty. Schneider took a sip of his piping hot coffee. 

Panting merely because I just finished working out, I rested my head on the back of my seat. I was sweating hard, in spite of the frosty weather. 

"I can't claim my inheritance if I am not married. Yes, I heard you. Loud and clear, Attorney." 

Sarcasm was dripping from my voice, even if I don't fancy doing that. Hastily, I sat bolt upright and clenched my jaw. 

"Nevertheless, what baffles me is the fact that my Abuela desires me to marry a girl I haven't seen in my entire life. Who is she, anyway? Where did grandma meet this girl?" 

That exact jiffy, Atty. Schneider plonked down a folder of documents on the table.

"That is the girl's file." Atty. Schneider opened the folder in front of me. I immediately noticed a picture. 

"Her name is Agathe Clementine Capucine. Twenty years old. Had lived in Snowflake Village all her life." 

I picked up the file and scrutinized the girl's picture attached to it.

"A redhead." I murmured, slightly fascinated. I must admit, she looked pretty. 

The girl was sporting a cute, pink waitress uniform. In the picture, she was serving food to a group of old women inside a shabby-looking restaurant. 

Smiling widely, despite the evident tiredness reflecting on her face. Yet, what piqued my curiosity was her eyes. 

It looked so dejected. Lifeless. Filled with sorrow. Like mine. "What is so special about her that grandma opted for her to be my wife?" 

Atty. Schneider smiled triumphantly. He detected that I was immediately interested in the girl.

If not, I wouldn't be asking more. Let alone waste my precious energy to even think about her. 

"She's beautiful, boss. Can't you see it?" Out of nowhere, Calixto, my head bodyguard, appeared behind me. A mischievous grin is plastered on his lips.  

"I'm not talking to you, Calixto. Go fuck yourself." 

"Too early for that, Gunther."

I shook my head. He can talk to me like that because we are practically the same age. But, I know he still respects me so much. 

"Miss Capucine had helped your grandmother one time when she was visiting Snowflake Village. Someone stole Mrs. Silvestri's pouch while walking inside the village's public market. Your grandma shouted for help, but no one dared to lend her a hand." 

I massaged my temples. That sounded like a headache. "Why would she go to a place like that in the first place, Attorney? When did that happen? Why am I only knowing about this now?" 

Atty. Schneider didn't answer me. Instead, he resumed his little storytelling.

"Unexpectedly, out of thin air, Miss Capucine fearlessly chased down the robber. Not knowing who the madame was. Five minutes after that, Miss Capucine returned to your grandmother with the pouch on her hand and with a few bruises on her knees and ankles. Afterwards, Miss Capucine left. Without asking for anything in return from Mrs. Silvestri. Not even a penny." 

Grandmother's attorney didn't explain any further. Because now, I understand. Grandma probably chose the girl because she wasn't like the other woman out there solely aiming for our wealth and high status in this city. 

I glanced at my front lawn adorned with bushes of roses, where my silver-gray Siberian husky is playing with Calixto right this instant. I observed them while pondering hard. 

"Even so, what makes you think she will agree to get hitched with me, Attorney?"

I don't think my grandma didn't think this through. 

"Madame made sure that Miss Capucine will be left with no choice but to marry you, Gunther. Your grandmother rejected Miss Capucine's application for your hospital to sponsor her mother's surgery. At the right time, she will come to you." 

I smirked, devilishly. "Grandma and her cunning ways to torture other people." 

I stared down at the girl's photo one more time. "Agathe Clementine Capucine." I murmured her name. To my surprise, it sounded so good on my lips. 

Interesting. 

"Dare I ask? What if I don't agree to tie the knot with her instead? What is going to happen, Atty. Schneider?" 

"Assuredly. Half of your inheritance would be claimed by your parents. The other half would be donated to charitable foundations and endowed institutions under the Madame's name." 

As if that wasn't distressing enough, Atty. Schneider dropped another explosive bomb. 

"You have to marry Miss Capucine under the condition that you are in love with her. And, vice versa. Otherwise, even if you did walk down the aisle with her, it would be considered null and void if you won't fall for her." 

"Good grief." I can't believe that! 

"Remember, Gunther. You only have two to three months left to undertake everything. If you fail, you will be deprived of everything that is rightfully yours."

~~~

[Present Time]

"Approve my mother's application for your hospital's sponsorship program." 

Now, that sounded like a threat. I love her oozing self-assuredness and stick-to-it-iveness. 

I tilted my head to one side, eyeing her from head to toe. Fondling my lips with my thumb. 

"Why would I do that, Miss whoever you are? I don't know you. I don't know your mother either."

I casually muttered, stressing every word. 

She bit her lower lip in utter embarrassment. Goddamn it. My attention was right away shifted to her lips. 

I utterly don't want to keep treading the same rake but like the very first time I set my eyes on her, not a mere picture of her anymore like the files that Atty. Schneider had given me, I was downright mesmerized by her alluring beauty. 

How can someone who is eight years younger than me enthrall me like that?

Her long, bright reddish locks could evoke intense desires I never knew I had. Her eyes resemble the color of the sky when it was the calmest. 

Her petite figure and height make me suddenly want to protect her from something I don't know about. Does that even make sense? 

To my slight bafflement, she trudged towards my table and reached out her hand. "I am Agathe Clementine Capucine from Snowflake Village, Mr. Silvestri."

I know, love. I know.

"I strongly believed we met. From the restaurant, hours ago. So, you've been sponsoring other cancer patients from the other villages. Why can't you do the same to my mother? She needed that fucking surgery tonight."

I was so fascinated by how her expressions can alter from seeking my mercy to utterly loathing me. And, vice versa. 

She was full of indignation. I should probably show her who has the entire upper hand here.

I stood up and stopped in front of her. Towering her. Intimidating her.

I leaned forward and murmured near her ear. 

"Simple. Those were my former employees who retired and now reside in those villages close to your hometown. Their retirement benefits cover that privilege to be in my sponsorship program."

I straightened my back, desiring to watch the remaining hope in her eyes collapse, entirely. 

"Despite that fact, I think I can make an exception. Just for you, Miss Capucine."

I walked past her and stayed behind her back. "If that is, you are willing to do anything for me in return." 

I sniffed her hair and blew hot air near her neck. Goosebumps spread all over her arm and skin. I grinned like the devil himself. 

"What. ." She stuttered. "What do you want me to do?" 

I strutted back to my working table, sat on it, and crossed my arms over my chest. I glanced back at her, smirking.

"Strip naked. And, leave nothing on your body." 

To say she was utterly bewildered was an understatement. She looked rather offended, something I hadn't expected. 

"Well. What are you waiting for, Miss Capucine? Here I thought you'd do anything for your mother?" 

She clenched her jaw. 

"One snap of my finger and your mother will have that surgery. All you have to do is peel off your clothes." 

"Rubbish. You're insane." 

Dumbfounded, I creased my forehead. "What?" 

She took a step towards me and in the blink of an eye, a resounding slap landed on my face.

What the fuck?

She was bawling hard when I was the one who got thwacked in the cheeks. 

"That is for thinking that you can bully me just because you have the money, power and a handsome face!" 

And, as if she wasn't content, she picked up my glass of water on the table and splashed it all over my face. 

Now, I am beyond infuriated. Gritting my teeth in a towering rage. 

How dare she! 

"Chilling, isn't it? Might help to cleanse your trashy personality."

With that, she vanished from my sight. Utterly thinking that she can go away after what she had done. 

I shakingly called up Calixto on my phone. "Get her."