Chapter 12 - Chapter 12: A Vengeful Proposal

Diana's POV Raphael looked straight into my eyes and repeated the same question that he had asked earlier. "Do you know the best way to get revenge on your ex?" he asked again, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Marry Me and become the heiress of the Lorenzo's dynasty." My eyes opened wide. Is he really proposing to a stranger he just met? Yes, we shared a kiss, but it was a one-time thing, I was drunk; who takes a drunk man or woman seriously? I searched his gaze; his gaze was stern, with no hint of unseriousness. This man was serious about his proposal. I leaned back a little, there wasn't even enough space. He was close to me, too close. "Are you not going to say anything? Or should I lean closer and kiss you first because the more I look at you the harder it is for me to take my eyes off your lips" Kiss me? No, not here. "Don't worry the glass is tinted, so even if I do kiss you, no one would see. We could even make out inside the car" Make out inside a car? Is he insane? The gentleman I had met in the bar wasn't so gentle after all, he was crazy. "Look, I am grateful you stood by me In there, I don't have the right words to use to express my gratitude." "Then let's get married..." "Are you insane?" I blurted out I immediately closed my mouth with my palms realising that I had just raised my voice. He chuckled lightly "Relax, no one would hear you" "Because your car is soundproof?" I scoffed "Something like that," He said smiling "Can you please move away, you are suffocating me" I begged "I won't until you give me your answer." "He must be crazy" I muttered, avoiding his gaze. "Did you say something?" "Oh no, I didn't" I lied "You kissed me at the bar without my permission; now I am going to do the same to you." "No, that wasn't me?" "That wasn't you?" He chuckled "Who was it then? Your doppelganger?" I bit my lips. "I mean, that wasn't me, I was drunk, I wasn't my real self." "Well, we could pretend like I am the one drunk now. After all, I just did what only a drunk person would do: support a stranger instead of his family." My expression became serious. "Are you requesting some kind of payment?" "Hmm? Payment," he repeated, leaning back a little. "I don't consider the kissing payment, but if that's what would make you kiss me, then it's fine by me." "You must be insane." "Yeah, Durr, insanely in love with you." I smirked "love? You must be joking right." "Do I look like I am joking?" he said, leaning closer, his hands resting on my lap. The feel of his hands on my lap was doing something strange to me that I didn't understand, but whatever It was, I wasn't going to pay attention to it. "Look, please, all I want is to go home and rest. I've had a very rough day. Please, I need to clear my head." "I know what you've gone through, it's why I want to get married to you." "I don't want to marry you! I don't want to marry anyone! All men are the same. I'm done!" I yelled, my eyes teary. "He pulled me closer, giving me a very tight hug and patting my head at the same time. "I understand how you feel, trust me, I do" "No, you don't know how I feel", I said, trying to free myself from his embrace, but his arms were too strong; after several attempts, I gave up, allowing myself to feel the warmth of his embrace. Honestly, it was refreshing; he had really strong arms and a very firm chest, my ideal kind of man, but he Was Marcel's brother, and they were both cut from the same cloth. There's no guarantee that Raphael wouldn't do the same, or even worse than Marcel. "I know you are scared, worried that I might treat you the same way if you agree to my proposal, but I assure you I am very different from every member of my family." I wanted to believe him but I couldn't. His offer of getting revenge on Marcel was enticing, but I was scared. "Okay, look, I am sure you know that I am the first son of my father and the first grandson of my grandfather." "How's that supposed to help me?" I asked rudely "Calm down princess... so, my grandfather says the only way he's going to let me have the company even though it's my right, is if I get married... now don't get me wrong, I don't need their money, I have mine but I just did something crazy back there." "How crazy?" "Uhm, I think I just announced my interest in the company back there. Now, Father and Gramps expect me to move on to the next step. But I can't do that unless I'm married or at least engaged." "So what has that got to do with me? Surely you have someone out there, wherever you stayed, that you can marry" I said "Would you listen to me, Diana?" He said, raising his voice a little, his tone laced with frustration. I knew instantly that I was getting him pissed off by my incessant questions and interruption. "Look at it this way, if you agree to become my wife, fiancée... you automatically become my heiress, and as the heiress and the heir, everyone in the Lorenzo dynasty works for you, including your ex." I imagined everything he had said in my head, and it was all making sense, but I was scared; I wasn't sure if I wanted to do this. "Once you become the heiress, you will have the power to confront everyone who humiliated you today, and I will certainly assist you. However, if you refuse to marry me, Marcel will become the heir because he is already engaged to your sister. In that case, you will be the one who loses." Anger bubbled up within me. Would I be able to take revenge on my ex if I became Raphael's wife? Would I be able to leave as a member of the Lorenzo family?