CHAPTER II - My New Daddy

“What do you say, Miss Silvera?” Vincentio’s eyes lit up with a predatory glint.

“Nope,” I said with no hesitation. A sense of pleasure went down my spine as his smugness crumbled in less than a minute.

He seemed very offended by the word as if I just insulted his mother. “Nope?”

“Nope," I repeated, popping the p. 

He shook his head. “I’m sorry but are you comprehending what I just said?”

“Yup.”

“Then-”

“The answer is nope.”

My grin widened as a vein protruded on his temple. 

“Miss Silvera, I need you to take this seriously,” he said through gritted teeth. 

I nodded my head solemnly. Reaching for a clean paper, I started writing then I passed it to his associate who had been watching our exchange with a poker face. He cleared his throat before reading it out loud.

“I, Lucy Silvera, reject Mr. Vincentio Longoria’s st—” the man hesitated, glancing at his boss who gestured impatiently for him to read the rest. He cleared his throat once again before continuing, "—Mr. Vincentio’s stupid offer. Signed, Miss Lucy Silvera. Dated twenty-fourth of November.”

Vincentio simply cocked his head to the side. “That’s not even considered a valid contract, Miss Lucky Morgan Silvera.” 

I felt heat forming on my cheeks hearing my full name came out of his mouth. Not even Andrew knew about it. Even as a child, I hated the name. I felt like it mocked me as only misfortunes have come into my life. Especially at this moment, I was not feeling lucky at all. 

I squinted my eyes at him. “You stalked me? I could sue you.”

“Between your sister’s high school tuition and your parents’ debt, I doubt you could afford a lawyer.” The smug expression returned on his annoyingly handsome face as he looked down at me.

'Debt? What is he on about?'

I was only twenty-five years old but I could already feel the blood rushing to my head in anger. The ego of this guy to come into my shop and intimidate me. If I had a drink in my hand, I would have thrown it already on his designer suit. But I could be more civilized than that.

“Listen here, Mister I-have-all-the-money-in-the-world, not all of us are slaves to your greedy corporate ways. I’d rather die than work my ass off for someone like you. So, take your dirty money and shove it up your a-”

The door opened unceremoniously and the small stature of my sister popped inside.

“Sis, why are there men outs—” she paused, staring at the scene before her: me with closed fists; Vincentio with arms crossed; the stacks of money on the counter; and, Andrew and the man watching our exchange on the side. Viola looked Vincentio up and down.

She blinked up at him. “Are you my new daddy?”

“Excuse me?” His face was a mixture of both horrified and disgusted. I don't know whether to laugh or be concern with my sister's wellbeing.

“Thank you for bothering us and see you never. You can find the door for yourselves before it slams you in the face,” I said sweetly, not looking up from my papers.

There was only silence. It's only been seconds but it felt like ages since someone spoke. I was tempted to lift my head but it will just ruin the cold stance I was going for at the moment. When in reality, I was sweating my ass off.

The whiff of his expensive perfume as he leaned over the counter just got me sweating even more. “This will not be the last time you see me, Miss Lucky. I assure you that,” he said under his breath so only I could hear him.

Now that he turned his back on me, I couldn’t help but make a face at him. 

His associate glanced back and I immediately made my expression blank.

“Thank you for your time, Miss Silvera,” he bowed his head politely and closed the door.

~~~

“Drew, are you still there?” I waved my hand at his stupefied face. He had been that way since Vincentio flashed us his money. When his eyes remained unblinking, I slapped him. He snapped out of it and without missing a beat, he started spewing words.

“I can’t believe I’d be in the same presence of three-hundred thousand dollars in cash. No, wait, in the same room with Vincentio Longoria! That handsome devil is worth billions! We should have stashed him in the cellar while we still had the chance. Then, he’d succumb under my charms, of course, and propose to me, and— “

“Okay, we’re losing you.”

He turned to Viola. “Did you know your sister just rejected three-hundred thousand dollars?”

Vy casually opened a pack of chocolate, poker-faced. “Pocky?” 

He accepted the stick and she sidled up next to him, munching on one already. The two of them watched me like a pair of judgemental chipmunks.

“Do you think she lost her brain somewhere with all that running from your parent’s craziness?”

Vy cocked her head to the side as if considering the possibility. “Hmmm…”

“I don’t get it. I thought the son was more of a puppy compared to that dragon that is his father,” I wondered, biting on my nails.

“He was MIA for two years. Maybe something happened to him,” ‘Drew offered.

“You got rid of him. Why does it matter?” Vy asked, naively. It’s times like these I forgot how young she still was. She’s more mature than most kids her age, considering we have to fend for ourselves due to our parent’s absence but there were still some things she didn't understand. 

A man like Vincentio Longoria wasn't just going to take the loss and call it a day.

“I almost forgot.” She rummaged around in her pockets. “A man handed me this note, said it's for you.”

“A man? Who?”

“He didn’t say.” She shrugged. I shot her a disapproving look.

“What did I tell you about creepy men approa—”

“I know already. I’m not seven. I didn’t have a choice, he just suddenly gave it to me. You can just throw it if you want.” She got up from her seat. “I’m going to do some homework.”

Andrew gave her a small smile. “Study well, dear.” When she disappeared upstairs, he shot to my side, quick as a cat. “What does it say?”

I put a finger at him, shushing him. I dialed the number written anonymously on the paper. The phone rang three times before it got picked up.

“Hello?”

“Lucky Silvera?” A gruff voice asked on the other line. 

“This is she. Who is this?”

“My name doesn’t matter but I work for Iago.”

I immediately froze at the mention of the name. Andrew watched me with worried eyes.

“I’m sure you're familiar with the name by now. I just got the news that your parents are dead. Again,” the man snorted. 

I rolled my eyes. I couldn’t believe they’re still using this routine. My parents were gambling addicts. They’re so consumed by it that they’d offer anything so they could borrow money. When they lose, they change their names,  fake their deaths, and disappear somewhere until I was able to clear their name and they repeat the cycle. Over and over. Viola and I have been passed from relative to relative, building a bad reputation among them. My grandma was the only one who showed us sympathy. 

'How much did they run away from this time?'

“I’m sure you’re also familiar with your parents' pattern. It’s gotten tiresome already and Iago is not a very patient man. Especially concerning half a million dollars. Since we grew tired of tracking rats such as your sorry excuse for a mom and dad, we’re getting the money from you. You have three months or else we’re taking your sister.”

My jaw dropped. “Where in the hell would I get five-hundred thousand dollars in three months?”

“Aren’t you being swarmed with the big fishes right now? Start fishing and maybe you’ll get lucky and reel in a billionnaire.” The man let out a chuckle and I shivered. 

'They had me tailed.'

My hand tightened around the phone.

“Tick tock, lucky girl.”

I hung up.