You will be my wife. 

That restaurant, in the center of the city, was reserved only for Alejandro Fendi and his unusual guest. Everything was empty, just for the two of them. The employees of the place attended them as if nothing was out of place, paying no attention to the appearance of Ariel, the young woman who accompanied him.

She, sitting across from him, with her music box between her legs and the backpack close to her legs, watched the place in awe.

"Do you like what you see?"

"Of course I do! I know they cook very delicious here." She leaned forward to tell him that in a low voice, managing to impress Alejandro.

"Have you ever come here?" he asked incredulously. The only thing he could think of was that she had come in to steal or maybe she stopped at the door to ask for food, but with the way she looked it was very likely that she wouldn't be allowed anywhere near the entrance.

That was a very fancy place and they only served by reservation, which was very hard to get unless you were someone well known, like Alejandro Fendi was, for whom they booked the entire restaurant at the last minute.

"Yes, that's how I know the food is good. In the back there is a door, it seems to be only for the cooks, there if you put this little face" Ariel wrinkled his face, with a very sad look, full of fear and pain, like someone who suffers a lot, even Alejandro felt a sudden sorrow when he saw that expression on that dirty face. "There is a kind cook who gives you some food, so I know it is good. He's a kind man, kind of plump and I think he would be the best cook in the whole world, because what he gave me tasted very tasty."

Alejandro never ceased to be surprised.

"Would you remember his face?"

"How could I forget the face of someone who fed me, I would never forget it." She answered, not only did she like the food that man gave her, but his act was what impressed her, in many other places she had been thrown out countless times, but there she was fed.

"And do you remember what you ordered, do you remember what they gave you?"

"No, only that it was something very tasty."

"In that case, I'll order for you and I'll order you something tasty, do you want to go wash your hands while I order?"

"Sure. I'll be right back." A waitress pointed her to the bathroom.

There Ariel rubbed her hands with lots of soap, washed them for several minutes and then saw that even her nails were very clean. Although her heart was afraid, she knew that that important man would not do anything bad to her, however, she was aware that something he wanted from her, but what could it be?

"I hope it's not my music box he wants, because I don't intend to give it to him! It's my treasure."

She looked at her face in the mirror, all her hair was covered. She took several napkins and dampened them, Ariel proceeding to wipe her face.

The napkin was coming undone on her face and the one that was left was turning brown as she wiped the dirt off Ariel's face. She took more and continued her work, until her whole face was full of napkin pieces, but at least it was clean.

He filled his hands with water and began to remove the napkin pieces.

Now Ariel's face was clearly visible.

He smiled to himself as he saw that there was a slight change in her.

She was on her way to the door when she decided to sniff herself. She certainly smelled like garbage, that didn't bother her but she was in a very fancy place and even if she couldn't live up to it, at least she didn't want to exude stink during lunch.

She took liquid soap and began to spread it on her armpits, neck, shoulders and arms to smell better.

"Now I'll be smelly."

She walked out of the bathroom with a smile.

When the waitress saw her, she wasn't able to hide her astonished face and not precisely because Ariel wore a clean face, but because of the white marks that were on her neck and down her arms, being evident that she had left the soap all over her skin.

Arriving at the table and as it had taken so long, Ariel found a huge steaming saucer in front of her chair. She sat down hurriedly and awkwardly knowing that that would be for her.

"Looks yummy!" She said almost watery-mouthed, her stomach growled as she smelled that exquisite aroma. Then Ariel noticed that Alejandro didn't have any food for him. She took the fork that was on his side and offered it to him. "Here. I'll eat with my hand, you can eat from my plate. Is the food here very expensive? Wasn't it enough for you?" Alejandro marveled at her witticisms.

"I'm not hungry, but thank you. It's all for you, eat as you wish, I'll go ask you some questions." Without a second thought, she began to eat, she used the fork because that was very hot. "Are you of age?" Now that he saw her without some dirt on her face, her face looked even younger, although she had a lot of dark circles under her eyes.

"I'm twenty." She replied with a mouthful of food.

It was good to know he was of age.

"What's your full name?"

"Ariel Sanchez."

"Sanchez. That's a pretty common last name. I want to offer you something. But in return you have to give me something."

Ariel stopped eating and looked at his music box on the table, unconsciously Alejandro also looked in that direction. Ariel's hand slowly moved up until she had it in her hand, she hugged it to her chest and then stared at Alejandro Fendi.

"I've never found anything like this before, I can't give you my treasure. Find one for yourself, this is something I can't give you." He said seriously.

Alejandro tried to hold back his laughter, but it was almost impossible for him.

"I don't want your treasure, it's yours, Ariel. You found it. I won't take it from you, it's something else I want. I need you to do me a favor. I have to get married, but I have no one to marry, will you marry me?"

Now it was Ariel who began to laugh out loud at Alejandro's ridiculous words.

Seeing the man's serious expression, she understood that this was not a joke.

She now knew that this was the proposal he told her about and that she could not refuse.

"Why would you do such a thing, don't you see what you have in front of you, why would you have any interest in marrying a stranger?"

"I'll be honest with you, I have no eagerness to lie, if it wasn't you, I could be the waitress or any other woman, but I already chose you. So...more bluntly put, you will marry me, Ariel Sanchez."

"What is that you offer me?"

"A life, a better and more dignified life, a family name and the fortune of being able to walk hand in hand with me. I will give you everything you want. I will be very generous with you, Ariel. You'll just have to be my wife and...there won't be anything you want that you won't get."

Ariel had run out of appetite. It was a lot that Alejandro was offering just for a wife, it would be very stupid not to accept, but...marrying a stranger in exchange for a great life?

"I'm afraid of your proposal, it doesn't seem very sincere to me and it lacks logic."

"I need a wife, what do you need?"

"I don't know, I don't spend my days thinking about what I need, but I think a husband is not it. Pick the waitress, you already said it could be anyone."

"But I also said I chose you! Didn't you hear me!" her voice made Ariel feel afraid. She looked down and regretted contradicting him. "I already explained to you, Ariel. I chose you, you will be my wife, I named many of the benefits you will get from being my wife, what else could you ask for?"

"Do you think...that at some point we will love each other if we get married?" If Ariel thought of marriage, she thought of love, so the idea of being married to him seemed to her that at some point they would have to love each other.

Alejandro watched her, not even having to think about the answer.

His intention was not to love her.

"No, I don't think so." She answered truthfully. "I don't think I will ever love you, but I will give you many things of better importance than love, don't worry. Just marry me. You will be my wife."