Chapter 6: His Face

"All settled then, welcome to the family, Sushmita darling." Don Hernan said. 

"Thank you, Mr. Xiu," I said.

"Call me 'papa' from now on," he said.

I just smiled at him as I held Rodney's shoulder. 

"It's gonna be a grand wedding," daddy said to Rodney but he just nodded his head. He's really a silent type. 

"Yes, but I still want the simplicity of it dad, and please, no media. I want a solemn wedding," I pleaded to my father because I don't really like the media taking pictures of me and Rodney. 

"Well, maybe a little bit because the people need to see that," daddy said. 

Do we really need to show off to the press? Maybe dad knows something that I don't and I need to know that. 

"Sir, can I borrow Sushmita for tonight? I will take her back home safely, don't worry," Rodney said as we walked through the lobby with my dad. I don't know what he's up to. 

"Sure, as you wished. Take care darling, I will go home first," dad said as he went to the SUV with our family driver, Miguel. 

"Take care too Dad," I said as he kissed my forehead and went inside the SUV. 

I turned to Rodney and said, "Where are you taking me?" 

"I told you this is gonna be a long night, right? Come on. I'll show you something you're very eager to see," he said.

My heart is beating fast and I can't help but to get nervous again as we walk through the elevator. 

Something I'm very eager to see? Does that mean that he will show me his face tonight? I'm very curious, I wonder how hideous they think he was, but he was kind and gentle. 

As soon as we reached the VIP Suite, I went towards the bed and just hopped there because my feet hurt like hell because of the stilettos. I take off my shoes and Rodney takes off his tuxedo and raises his long sleeve, I wonder what he is going to do.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"My feet hurt because of the stilettos," I said as I was massaging it but he leaned forward and grabbed my right foot on my hand and massaged it gently. I like the way he pressed his fingers on my foot and when he reached the tip of my toes I said, "There, it hurts there," and he pressed it again and said, "Here? Okay," and continued to massage it gently. 

"I'm fine now, thank you," I said because the pain is slowly fading away. He stood up and sat beside me. 

"What are we doing here, Rodney?" I asked him. 

"Well, this is my private room here, you can take a look," he said. 

I can see that his Suite is so big and fancy, there's a private pool on the left and there's a big living room on the right side, and a big flat screen TV where you can watch n*****x and there's this soft and elegant big bed. A perfect place for lovers.

"Why are we here, really?" I asked but he didn't respond. He pulled his necktie instead.

"Do you know what you've just signed?" he asked. 

"Of course I do. It's the agreement that the Xiu Enterprise will invest in our company at all cost," I proudly said.

"No. The other one, there's two papers you've signed right?" he asked.

"Yes, the other one is the agreement of our marriage," I briefly said.

"Such a brave young girl. It seems like you don't know what you've just signed earlier," He said as he looked into my eyes, "What do you know about me?" he asked.

"They say that you are short tempered. Ill mannered, heartless and has a hideous face that's why you always have that mask with you. I came here to find out if they were right but, it turns out that they were somehow wrong," I said.

"Well half of that is true. Aren't you scared?" he asked. 

"I don't know." I said and he slowly raised his hand and placed it on his mask. Finally, he will show me his face. This is the one that I've been very eager to see. 

He slowly took off his mask and I was in shock as I saw the big scar on the half of his face. It's like it burned terribly.  

"Are you afraid now?" he asked for the second time but I couldn't find my thoughts. I don't know what to say or how to answer his question. 

"The proposal means that you will be mine Ms. Garcellano, all of you. You will obey everything that I say and do everything that I want you to do every single fucking day! It feels like selling your soul to a devil. Are you willing to take the risk now?" he asked but I still couldn't find my words and I realized that I was crying in front of him when my tears fell on my hands. I touched my chest, the one where my heart is. Actually, I felt pity for him.

"Alright. That's it. Go home now, don't sell yourself to me! As for the help you need, don't worry. I will make sure that your family will receive it! Leave. Now. While I'm giving you a chance. You can still withdraw the contract," he said hopelessly and stood up.

"Wait Rodney," I said and stood up to face him.  

"What do you want?! Can you eat, sleep, talk, or make love with a face like this?!" he said frustratedly, he was starting to get really mad. 

"I can!" I said without hesitation and then, realized what I just said a bit late.

"You can? Don't make me laugh, Sushmita," He said.

"I'm not joking around, Rodney," I said seriously. 

"How extraordinary, you will accept me despite my unwanted physical features and arrogant attitude," he said while touching my cheeks softly, "And you expect me to believe that? How can I be so sure that these are not honeyed words, I'm hearing?" he added. 

"I'll prove it to you," I said as I bit my lips and touched his left cheek, the one that is flawless because I can't touch the other. I looked into his big brown eyes, it feels like I've seen it before, I don't know why but there's something in him and I leaned forward to kiss him gently.

I closed my eyes but he just stood frozen with eyes open wide. I still can feel it because he wasn't moving his mouth but apparently, gave in and started to kiss me back. 

He was a very good kisser and I'm really enjoying my time, when he suddenly pulled his lips away from me. 

"Alright, I believe you now," he said and immediately turned away and wore his mask again, "I'll take you home now," he added and I just obeyed him.

We left his Suite and went to the parking lot to get his red Ferrari car. 

I never imagined that this would turn out quite well for tonight. 

It was 11 o'clock in the evening when Rodney dropped me in my house. I immediately went upstairs to go to my room because I felt so tired. I took off everything, my evening dress, my jewelry, threw my clutch bag on the floor, my stilettos and just wore a lazy crop top and undies and went straight to bed. I need to sleep this off but my mind doesn't cooperate with my tired body.

I self checked myself. Can I really eat, sleep, talk or make love with that kind of face? Everyday? For the rest of my life? 

I still don't even know the answer but it's settled now and I'm not the one who gives up easily. I will show him how beautiful he is even if he doesn't see it because I believe that there's something inside of him that wants change. A very unique change. A chance to change his life and make it better.