Chapter Nine

"Dad, what are we going to do? Damian doesn't want me?" Maria asked her father as they got into his car and headed back to her father's mansion.

"Don't worry. We have until this Saturday to find out if Damian wants you or not. You shouldn't worry about him," Mr. Mark assured his daughter, although he wasn't certain if Damian would change his mind or not.

"Damian isn't in any relationship, Dad. I know him and see him visiting the town's hospital. He is not in any relationship except for the women he hosts at his clubhouse," Maria complained as she frowned, seated in the back seat of the car with her father. She was his only daughter, and her father assured her, "Don't worry. Just be patient and Damian will be yours."

Maria smiled with relief as she wanted Damian. She had rejected several other men in the business world in their developed town for Damian. She wanted Damian and no one else.

Maria smiled as she remembered the first day she saw Damian arrive at the town's teaching hospital to see the sick patients there and to clear their bills. He had been doing so after his grandfather's death five years ago.

She fell in love with him, and she was highly obsessed with him too. However, she noticed that Damian spared no woman a glance at the hospital and always wore black gloves, avoiding touch or direct hand contact with anyone.

He was very strict, and she remembered how he didn't accept her hand for a handshake. But she loved him and believed that with her father's influence, she would become Damian Tucker's bride.

The car continued with the rest of the journey to the Milian's territory.

****

Damian got into his car and ordered Jeff, "Back to my office."

"Okay, boss." Jeff started the car and drove off. The rest of the car ride was silent.

Upon arriving at the magnificent home where Damian's office was on the top floor, he got out of his car and asked Jeff, "Have you delivered food to Mr. Max since he was brought in last night?"

"No, sir."

"Have the men deliver food to him. You should keep him healthy, as I have other plans for him," Damian said, and Jeff replied, "Okay, boss."

Damian moved away and headed to his office on the top floor. He had other offices in his company, but he operated from his home.

As Damian entered his office on the top floor, the wide space featured four white couches, a coffee table, and his office desk with a chair.

Damian's phone rang, and he took it out to see it was one of his men, Jax Cody, calling.

"Hello, Boss. You asked me to keep an eye on Alicia for you," Jax reported as Damian took off his black suit jacket and moved ahead to his office chair to take his seat.

"How about her?" He asked with no hint of interest in his voice.

"Boss, she went to a new location, and I cannot find out what she went there to do. But after my inquiries, I saw that Officer Johnathan is the owner of the new residence, so I assumed she went to meet him there," Jax reported, and the phone call went silent for a while.

"Keep an eye on her and ensure her safety. I will call you later," Damian replied, and the phone call ended.

Damian's brows furrowed as he thought of Jonathan touching Alicia, but he kept his cool as he had other important matters to deal with—most especially with his half-brother, Damon, returning to the city.

Damian and Damon had a strained relationship as brothers, and Damian was well aware of this. He took a deep breath and focused on his office desk. Taking his seat, he switched on his computer and resumed his office work for the day.

*****

Alicia arrived at Jonathan's new house and smiled. It was a beautiful 5-bedroom duplex and had beautiful flowering plants and a swimming pool at the side.

"How do you like my beautiful house?" Jonathan asked, a smile on his face as he gave Alicia a tour of his new home.

"It's beautiful," Alicia replied with a warm smile on her face.

"I am glad that you like it," Jonathan said, and Alicia grinned.

"It's wonderful," she told him, glad that he was doing well as they walked side by side around the house.

"Come, let us go inside and let me show you around to our bedroom and other rooms in the house. The kitchen and also our children's room in the future," Jonathan teased her, and Alicia blushed, using her hands to cover her face. She was shy, so she followed Jonathan as he led her into the beautiful house.

The housekeeper was a middle-aged woman. She bowed and welcomed Alicia, who greeted her, "Good afternoon, Madam."

"Welcome, Ma'am," Lady Helen said, and Jonathan introduced her.

"Alicia, this is my housekeeper. She takes care of the house until we move in and hire other maids to assist her in taking care of the home," Jonathan added, and Alicia smiled.

"It's nice meeting you, Ma'am."

"Me too," Lady Helen replied, before Jonathan took Alicia by her hand and led her further into the living room.

"Come, babe, let me show you to the top floor and to our bedroom," Jonathan's excited voice filled the living room, and Alicia smiled as she followed him to the top floor.

The mansion was painted in white, the living room had beautiful golden furniture, and the dining room had a golden dining table and chairs too.

The walls were covered with full-length golden curtains too. The mansion was beautiful, with bright chandeliers and white lights illuminating the space as Alicia followed Jonathan to the top floor.

He showed her their bedroom, and Alicia marveled at how beautiful the room looked.

"How do you like our new room?" Jonathan asked as he showed Alicia the closet and the bathroom.

Alicia smiled and told him, "It's beautiful."

"Really? I am glad that you like it," Jonathan said as he drew closer to Alicia.

"Alicia, I know that your family is going through tough times now with your father being taken away unlawfully by the T-Group," Jonathan said, and Alicia frowned, moving away from his embrace.

"My colleagues and I already reported the matter to the station, but it would be more important if you or your mother come to file the complaint at the police station. My superiors aren't taking the matter seriously since none of your family members have come to complain," Jonathan said, with a look of disappointment on his face. He wondered what was stopping Alicia from coming to file a case of kidnapping for her father, especially since none of her siblings had taken the bold step, let alone her mother.

Alicia moved away from Jonathan's touch as if it burned.

"My mother doesn't want to involve the police, and she told me to stay away from you at this moment too," Alicia said, tears threatening to fall from the corners of her eyes as she stood in the bedroom with Jonathan.

"Why would your mother say that? Doesn't she know how dangerous the T-Group is and how your father's life is hanging by a thread?" Jonathan asked, but Alicia shook her head and held him by his arms as she looked at his face.

He was taller than her, and she could barely reach his shoulder height. But she was very beautiful, like a Barbie doll, with enchanting blue eyes and long blonde hair that reached her waist.

"John, let's not get the police involved. Damian promised to release my father once we can pay off the loaned amount before the end of this month. We should consider how to raise the money and nothing else," Alicia said, and Jonathan swallowed hard.

"That's fine, babe. I will see what I can do to help you get the money. Okay?" he told her, raising her chin to face him.

"Okay," Alicia replied, while Jonathan drew his face closer to hers and sealed his lips on hers. He kissed her hungrily, but Alicia wasn't in a good mood to kiss him. Maybe because she had seen Damian earlier, and she was still in turmoil, keeping the truth from Jonathan that Damian wanted her. She believed that as long as they could pay Damian off, she wouldn't have to tell Jonathan about the ridiculous marriage contract yet.

Jonathan deepened his kiss and kissed Alicia's pink lips hungrily. His hands encircled her waist as he wanted to make love to her.

"No, John. Let's not do this yet," Alicia replied. She didn't want to have sex until marriage, as she had been keeping her virginity until she got married.

Jonathan respected her choice regarding no sex until marriage. But he was restless, especially after hearing Brown say that Damian might be interested in Alicia. He wanted to claim Alicia, and if possible, get her pregnant so that Damian wouldn't be interested in her during this difficult period while her father had been apprehended.