Chapter 1

Marcelo couldn't take his eyes off her Georgina as she greeted him, ‘Good day sir’ with a polite smile. Marcelo smiled back warmly, gesturing for them to take a seat.

"Marcelo, we wanted to talk to you about something," Francisco began, leaning forward in his chair.

"We've been working on a plan to improve our winery, and we think it could be beneficial to you as well," Georgina added, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

Marcelo's interest was immediately piqued. He had always been fascinated by the world of wine, and he knew that Francisco had a keen business sense when it came to running his winery. He is well known around the city on this.

"Tell me more," he said, leaning forward in his chair.

Francisco and Georgina launched into an animated discussion about their plans for the winery. They talked about everything from new grapes to improving the wine making process, to varietals and improved fermentation techniques, and Marcelo listened intently, nodding along as they spoke. 

“This would cost a lot and we don't currently have that form of financial power” said Francisco with Georgina nodding in agreement.

“So how does this benefit me?” Marcelo bluntly asked.

Francisco was taken aback for a second but quickly replied, “ We are willing to give you 50 percent of revenue for the next 5 years.’’ 

Marcelo interrupted and gave out a subtle smile, “ 60 percent and for the next 7 years” Marcelo replied. 

Francisco turned to look at Georgina. He knew this was the best deal they could get and Marcelo was the only one who could give them the amount they needed. Reluctantly, Francisco replied “Alright”.

Marcelo stood up with a huge smile on his face, “brilliante amico” he replied while giving Francisco a firm handshake who was also standing. 

"Francisco, can we take a walk?" Marcelo asked.

Francisco raised an eyebrow, surprised by the sudden request. "Sure, Marcelo. Is everything alright?" he inquired.

Marcelo nodded reassuringly. "Everything's fine, my friend. I just need to talk to you about something in private," he replied.

Francisco hesitated for a moment, glancing over at his daughter Georgina. She gave him a concerned look.

"Don't worry, dear. I just want your father to explain some things to me," Marcelo said, noticing Georgina's expression. "It won't take long."

Georgina still looked worried, and wondered what it was he couldn’t say with her present but she nodded slightly in agreement. It wasn't like she had much of a choice.

Marcelo gave her a seductive wink before turning and walking away with Francisco. 

As Marcelo and Francisco headed towards what looked like a ranch, Marcelo spoke.

"I wasn't done with my terms," Marcelo said.

Francisco's face contorting into a frown. "What do you mean?" he asked, wondering what Marcelo was about to say.

"What happens if there is a bridge in our agreement?" Marcelo asked.

"No, there wo….," Francisco tried replying.

"What's the collateral?" Marcelo continued.

Marcelo leaned forward, a wicked glint in his eye. 

"Let me tell you what happens," he said. "You will hand over your daughter to me for her hand in marriage."

Francisco's eyes widened in shock and anger. 

‘Who does he think he is?’ My daughter will never be a collateral if things don't go as planned." Francisco thought.

Marcelo could read the expression on Francisco's face and his grin widened. "C'mon, what could go wrong, right?" he said, trying to lighten the mood.

"Nothing really," Francisco thought, but he couldn't shake the unease he felt.

He had a quick glance at his daughter from where he stood, 

"Alright," Francisco said finally. "But I don't have any ideas."

Marcelo gave out a wide grin and raised his hands playfully, surrendering. "Of course not.

Marcelo gave a signal to one of his guards and he soon approached them with a briefcase. 

Antonio approached Francisco and silently handed him the briefcase.

Francisco eagerly opened the briefcase and counted the stacks of cash. He looked up at Marcelo and said, "This is exactly what we agreed upon. Thank you for doing business with me, Mr. Marcelo."

Marcelo nodded his head and gave a small smile. 

They gently walked back to the sitting room and said their goodbyes. Marcelo still couldn’t take his eyes off Georgina even as she bid him goodbye. She noticed, and felt a surge of unease and left a bit hastily with her father.

“What was that all about”?Georgina asked as they walked out of Marcelo's mansion.

“Nothing really”, he just wanted to make more enquiries Francisco replied.

Georgina looked at her father while they walked, she noticed he was a bit lost in thought. She stopped walking and turned to face him.

“You know there's always a chance that something could go wrong. Are you sure about this?" she asked, concern evident in her voice

Francisco paused for a moment, considering his daughter's words.

“We've gone through the numbers and possibilities and we've come too far to back out now. 

Nothing will go wrong, we just have to be careful and make sure we have everything covered." He reaffirmed with a subtle smile.

Georgina nodded, reassured by her father's honesty. "Okay, she said.

Though Francisco reassured Georgina, he still couldn't shake the feeling of dread. He had a feeling he just made a grave mistake.

Marcelo could still sight Francisco and Georgina as they walked out of his mansion from the edge of his balcony sipping a glass of whisky. 

Marcelo then ordered one of his guards to keep an eye out on Georgina. “I must have her,” Marcelo thought, still sipping his bottle of wine.

Georgina raced towards the blazing winery, her heart pounding in her chest. She could hear the flames crackling and the smell of smoke filled her nostrils. 

As she drew closer, she saw her father Francisco, stumbling out of the burning building, his clothes singed and his face covered in soot. She had just been informed of the blast and fire outbreak by Lyra, a worker at the winery. 

“Dad, are you okay?” Georgina said, helping him gently lay on the floor. 

Francisco couldn’t give any response as he was coughing profusely. He only pointed towards the building.

“Has anyone called the Fire service?” Georgina asked. 

“Yes, they are on their way here” replied Lyra, who was a co-worker.

Georgina could feel the panic rising within her as the flames grew higher and hotter by the second. 

She knew that time was of the essence, and that she needed to act fast if they were to have any chance of saving the winery.

Lyra and many of the workers returned with a bucket full of water but the flames were too intense and the only extinguisher they had at the winery was quickly running out of fuel. Georgina knew that they needed more water, and fast.

As they worked tirelessly, the sound of sirens grew louder in the distance, and soon the fire department arrived, their hoses spraying water onto the inferno. After what seemed like hours, the flames were finally under control.

The winery had suffered significant damage. Georgina and Francisco stood in front of the remains of their beloved winery, tears streaming down their faces. The once beautiful building was now reduced to a smouldering heap of ash and rubble.

There was nothing left.

The fire had been too intense, and the flames had consumed everything in their path. The vines that had been carefully tended to for years were now charred and lifeless. 

The barrels of wine that had been ageing in the cellar were now reduced to nothing but molten metal.

Georgina and Francisco were devastated. This winery had been their life's work, and now it was gone. They had poured everything they had into it, and now there was nothing left to show for it.

Georgina sunk to her knees, unable to contain her grief any longer. She wept uncontrollably as Francisco put a comforting hand on her shoulder, feeling just as lost and helpless as she did.

As they sat there in silence, staring at the ruins of their winery, they knew that they had a long road ahead of them. Rebuilding the winery from scratch would be impossible as they don’t have the financial means to do so.

Georgina paced back and forth in the small room she shared with her father. It had been two days since the fire that had destroyed their winery, and she knew that they couldn't keep avoiding the conversation they needed to have.

"How are we going to build the winery from scratch all over again?" she wondered aloud, her voice laced with anxiety. "And what of the debt we owe Marcelo? We can't just ignore it."

The debt they owed Marcelo was a whole other problem. 

They had borrowed money from him eight months ago, and they still hadn't discovered what had caused the blast at the winery.

They had only a few months left to pay off the debt, and Georgina knew that they couldn't keep putting it off.

Finally, she gathered the courage to approach her father about the issue. They sat down at the small table in their living room

"We need to come up with a plan," she said firmly. 

Francisco nodded in agreement. "I know," he said, his voice heavy with worry. "But how? We don't have any money left, and the winery is gone”.

Francisco and Georgina had thought of who might be able to help them with their debt to Marcelo, but so far, nothing had worked out.

Georgina and her father Francisco sat in silence for a while.,

 “What about I offer to work for him"?. Said Francisco.

Georgina wasn’t liking this one bit. “As what” she asked?

“I don’t know, maybe a driver, maid, whatever, just long enough to cover the debt I owe”. Francisco replied 

“That could take forever” Georgina said with tears gathering at the side of her eyes. 

Georgina didn't like the idea of her father working for Marcelo, even if it was just for a short time. She knew that it would be humiliating for him to work as a driver or a maid after being a successful winery owner.

But she also knew that they were running out of options. They needed to come up with a solution, and fast.

Georgina wiped away the tears that had gathered at the corners of her eyes and took a deep breath and walked out of sight.

Francisco paced back and forth in the small apartment, his mind racing with worry and uncertainty. He knew that he had made a mistake by agreeing to the terms of the deal with Marcelo, but it was too late to turn back now. 

The thought of losing his beloved daughter Georgina to Marcelo was unbearable, and he had to find a way to make things right.

As he paced, Francisco thought about the options he had. He could try to run away with Georgina and start a new life somewhere else, but that was risky and would only make

things would be worse if he got caught. 

He could try to negotiate with Marcelo, but he knew that would be futile. He had no leverage and Marcelo held all the cards.

Finally, Francisco realised that he had no other choice but to make the offer of working for him. It was the only reasonable solution he could think of at the moment, and he had to try at least.

Francisco's heart was heavy as he walked towards Marcelo's mansion in a cold and chilly evening, his steps slow and uncertain. 

He knew that he was taking a huge risk by coming here, but he had no other choice. His winery had blown up, leaving him with nothing but debt and despair..

As he approached the imposing gates of the mansion, he could feel his nerves getting the better of him. He had no idea what to expect, but he knew that Marcelo was not an easy man to deal with. 

He took a deep breath and pushed open the gate, steeling himself for whatever lay ahead.

As he walked up the long driveway towards the mansion, he could only think about the outcome of what their conversation might be.

Francisco was directed by a worker to where Marcelo was. He took a deep breath and composed himself before making his way to Marcelo's office.

When he arrived, Marcelo was sitting behind his desk, with a light reddish brown cigar. A look of smug satisfaction on his face like he had been expecting him.

Francisco swallowed hard and cleared his throat before speaking.