Chapter Eight: Marry Me

I'm thirsty. 

That was what I thought when I got up in bed and felt my throat so parched in the middle of my sleep. Going to the kitchen was the primary plan I had as I stood up and left my room to drink water. While yawning and going down the staircase, I noticed how dark the mansion was because the lights were all turned off... except the dining hall. I could see it through the hallway, pertaining that someone was still awake. 

A maid, perhaps? I would not be bothered in either ways since I also interact with them to create a good reputation in this mansion. In that way, they could also respect me as much as they respect Dark.

I did not mind a person being in the kitchen, though. I just walked through the silent and eerie hallway. I will gradually see who is awake since I will have to pass by the dining hall before I can get to the refrigerator.

"S-Sir!" I exclaimed and almost jumped when I saw Dark Vergara sitting on a stool in front of the counter of a small bar. 

He only raised his eyebrows, offended when I jumped. "What are you exclaiming at?" he asked and sipped on the martini glass he was holding. "Your reaction indicates that you thought that I was a ghost. Are you scared of me?"

Even though his tone was serious, his question was funny. A mafia boss like him might be scary and powerful, but he will never intimidate me. I have faced death a lot of times. Hurt physically by the enemies of my father. Dark Vergara is a mere target that I have to be familiar with before the main attack against him. 

"I am so sorry," I abruptly said and chuckled softly. "I just did not expect that you were there."

"Why did you go down from your room?" he asked after hovering his gaze down from my head to foot.

"I need to drink some water," I answered simply.

He nodded and looked at the refrigerator in the kitchen. I avoided his gaze and started making my way to the refrigerator. I could feel him watching me because I have a sensitive sense of nature, but I disregarded it. He was leaning against the counter casually and leisurely with his drink in the middle of a late night. 

When I withdrew the pitcher of water from the refrigerator and got a glass, I faced his way again because our counters were just opposite to each other. His dark, keen eyes were observing me drink the water, and I bravely stared back at him. In a little bit, he then sipped his glass again without taking his eyes off me. 

"Okay, what is it?" I asked and dropped the glass with a loud sound on the counter. "You are watching me like you want to say something."

Dark straightened up and nodded. "Yes," he said. "I just want to apologize for what happened in the police station. The gunshot."

I went silent for a while. "So the gunshot was aimed at you? Why?" I asked like I was curious, when in fact I wanted to know what he did, so I could report it to my daddy. "Do not tell me that you are a drug addict."

"Drug addict? No!" he denied my accusation and firmly shook his head. He played his lower lip for a while before continuing what he was saying, "I am worse than that."

I gasped dramatically and covered my mouth as a good demonstration to be surprised. I acted curious and surprised. 

You are a mafia boss. 

"I am a mafia boss," he synchronized my thoughts and sighed. "I do bad things that have a great cause in this city that we live in. My father, my grandfather, and all of my great-grandfathers have also done worse in their own respective ways. Because I am the eldest son in our family's generation, I had to inherit their job as the heir of their dark organization. In short, I am... a bad person next to their legacies."

It was outside the definition that I was expecting. A mafia boss leads human trafficking, drugs, and corruption in a country. He is just stating otherwise - that he is just a mafia boss because of his family. I do not understand his point. 

"The attacks a while ago, were done by my enemies. They wanted to drag me down and my organization," he explained. 

"You have just said that you are a bad person. Maybe they are taking you down because you are horrible in this city," I replied and tilted my head. "Is not that right?"

"Maybe you are right, but you are also wrong," he denied. "Of course you do not understand." 

"Then make me understand."

"I don't think you will."

"Look, there must be a reason you are telling me that you are a mafia boss. So why are you confusing me and thinking that I am not going to understand?" "I pointed out. "Sir, I do not even know who I am already. It turned out that Hector was not my true husband, and there are no records of my name in this city. And all in all, even though you are claiming as a bad person, for me... you are not."

Woah, those words came out to me naturally. Maybe I could add some words to completely attract his sympathy, right?

"You gave me food, sheltered me in your beautiful mansion, and helped me get out of my abusive husband. Even after knowing all the truth, you still did not kick me out," I said. "It only means that you have a good heart."

Nice line, Caroline!

"That is why, if you want anything that I could help you with, you can always ask me in exchange for you taking care of me," I added.

Dark parted his lips and looked at me intently. After a while, he slowly lifted his glass so that he could take a sip of his martini. His last gulp made a sound before he said his thoughts.

"Marry me, Rose," he said, which almost took my breath away. "That is what I want."

Wait... what?

The small smile on my face started to fade as I was surprised by what he had just said. My face was suddenly disoriented and could not hide my shocked expression. He did not even blink. 

"That is the only way I can distract my enemies, so please, marry me," he repeated.