Marry Me Now

Miguel Sebastian stood in the center of the cathedral, like a god of gods.

Everyone waited for him to do something.

Larissa wanted him to take off his hat. She could see his hair peeping around the nape of his neck. It was probably long.

His dressing was neat, a clean shirt and pants, ironed and drowsed with a moderately musk cologne.

Miguel’s strides were as long as his legs and in less than a minute, he was at the front of the church.

The time felt like forever to Larissa. It felt like he was a breath away from her when he was at least four feet away.

He locked his eyes on hers and Larissa curled her toes. She did it to plant herself on the ground.

Looking at him also felt too damn good her insides were curling and shouting with glee.

Something she had not been all day until he came along.

“You are beautiful,” he said, standing with his legs slightly apart.

Larissa blinked. She parted her lips and breathed in first.

“Thank you.”

“How many brothers do you have?” Miguel was only talking to her.

It made her forget about her mum and the rest of the city.

This was where she deserved to be, in the limelight, shining.

“Three,” Larissa answered with confidence. “I’m the last child of my dad’s, Diego Diaz, part of the tri capri here in New Jersey. I am my dad’s princess.”

She noticed his expression shift as though he was impressed.

He smiled and it died a natural death. The smile left as slowly and surely as it came.

“I’ve heard of Diego.” Miguel took out a cigarette.

He placed it between his delicious lips, and then he spoke with it nestled there. “My associates say you have a debt and a need to marry off your daughter.” He shifted his eyes briefly to Larissa’s mum, and then to her brother.

He still had not reached for his lighter.

Larissa was grateful for the window. The light streaming through it kissed Miguel’s eyes. It illuminated the amber in them, making them glow like beautiful electricity, charged entirely by her presence.

“What are you proposing, Mr. Sebastian?” Larissa's mum stepped in. She placed her right hand on her daughter’s shoulder and Larissa squeezed her mother’s hands in return.

“Back at home,” Miguel continued, “I’m the last standing boss, owner of an empire I didn’t ask for. It’s nothing compared to what you have here. I need an heir, hell, I need heirs. I need a woman who can take care of my home, and bear me children, and in turn, she will live under the best conditions. Her needs will be met, and her family will be heavily compensated. Your daughter is pretty, she’s certainly educated, confident, and from a respectable home. She deserves the best, despite her father’s mistakes and I’m a generous man. Do we have a deal, Mrs. Diaz?”

“Asher Diaz.” Larissa’s brother stepped forward. He introduced himself to Miguel and they shared a brief handshake.

Everything Miguel Sebastian did, he took his time with.

He knew the world would wait for him and his ease was one of his hottest traits.

“I’m standing in for my father,” Asher said. “I hope you’re a man of your word.”

“I am. My word is my bond. ” Diego reached for his lighter. He sparked his cigarette and blew out the smoke, looking away so it didn’t blow directly into their faces.

Larissa noted that he was well-mannered.

“Give us a minute,” Mrs. Diego said.

But Larissa had made up her mind already. She knew enough about Miguel already.

This was their marriage, their vows to take and keep.

He had promised to compensate her family, so what was there to talk about?

She couldn’t wait to be done with the ceremony so she could have some alone time with her husband.

Larissa blushed as she imagined what tonight would feel like.

“No. We’re not talking about it because I’ve already made my choice.” Larissa took charge of her life as she made one freaking decision for herself. “I’ll marry you, Miguel Sebastian.”

Miguel smiled his first true and wide smile. He took off his hat and held it to his chest.

He was even more beautiful, with a face carved with the precision of either a god or a great scholar.

He indeed had long hair, a chest nut brown that was braided back, all the way to the nape of his neck.

“Then we should proceed? Right away. I have to leave for New York tonight.”

“Tonight?” Larissa’s mum asked, shaking her head. “Won’t you at least spend the night?”

“Business needs me. But we would visit in a few weeks after we’ve gotten to know ourselves better.”

He held Larissa’s gaze and stepped forward.

“Do I have your permission to do this?” He asked softly, already treating her like a breakable jewel.

She was beautiful and though he was the rich one here, he knew this was a miracle.

She was a miracle and if he could, he would pay the man who left her at the altar.

He had done Miguel a good one.

Miguel was rich like that.

Larissa’s smile was tearing through her cheek.

“To do what?”

Miguel went down on one knee, reducing his entire self so he could ask for her hand in marriage.

Larissa knew for sure that marrying him wasn't going to be a mistake.

A few people gasped, some stretched to see what was happening.

“I can’t believe she gets to marry someone better than Liam,” one person whispered.

“And he’s so handsome!” Another said too.

“Will you marry me, Larissa Diaz?” Miguel asked from the bottom of his heart.

She wasted no time in replying. She still couldn’t believe this was happening!

She was getting her dream life and her dream man handed to her on a platter.

What more could she ask for?

“Yes. Yes!” Larissa chuckled just as he held her hand and slipped on the ring.

It looked expensive, having the brightest diamond Larissa had ever seen.

“I’m sorry to break this up but the time slot the Diaz family paid for has finished. You can’t get married here especially not now.” Father Bernard cleared his throat, spoiling Larissa’s perfect moment.

He never liked their family. He judged them for their sins but he had never dared to get them angry.

He was losing the fear he had for them and Larissa was going to put him in his place.

But her soon-to-be husband was kissing the back of her hands.

She bit down on her bottom lip as he stood up.

With their hands still intertwined, he turned to the priest, bearing the same annoyance Larissa felt towards the man of God.

“How much to get us wedded now?”

“We have other families—“

“I hate to repeat myself, Father. Name your price before I change my mind.”

Father Bernard tucked his sharp tongue away. Miguel Sebastian was more dangerous than the Diaz family. He shifted uneasily.

“Four hundred dollars.”

“I’ll give you triple of that,” Miguel waved it away like it was nothing. “Fifteen hundred dollars. Now wed my beautiful wife and me.”

Larissa was going to melt in his hands.

Her life was truly a movie and it was her best one yet!