7. A proposal

Zara knew well that persuading her parents would be pointless. To her the future looked grim, life took an unpleasant and unexpected turn when everything seemed to have been going, not smoothly but atleast passing.

Zara was supposed to meet John at a jewellery store in order to buy rings. She entered the spacious store, there were jewellery in glass display counters lined all over. Zara saw John near one of the counters and stood beside him. "You came, well choose a ring you like", he said glancing around. "This one", she said detached, quickly selecting a plain silver ring. "Why this-", John was interrupted by a smoky voice, "I think this will look better on you".

A hand holding a beautiful ring shot in her vision. It was a band ring made of diamond and ruby creating an elegant look together. It caught Zara's attention instantly which shifted as soon as she noticed the hand holding the ring because it was worth looking. Long and slender hands as if they were sculpted precisely to be pleasant to your eyes.

She lifted her head, the guy was wearing a black mask with only his dark brown eyes visible that appeared to be brown from the modern style chandelier's golden light. She averted her gaze then looked at the ring.

He wore a dark green embroidered suit unlike the salesmen around who wore black outfit. "Who are you?", John asked. "I own QUBÉ GROUP", the man told him, somehow Zara felt she knew him so she was engrossed in her own thoughts. "I think I've seen him, he looks familiar", she thought.

"I'm a bit sick so I wore this mask but anyways I have to say your sister is pretty", the guy SINCERELY complimented her. "I'm her fiancé", John side eyed him and sighed. Zara frowned and tilted her head a little trying to recall hearing his voice.

"Oh is it? You don't look like a couple", The guy sounded skeptical. "Anyways I'll leave now", he added and went upstairs. Zara noticed the ring was lying near her so she tried it on. "We are not buying this ring", John declared furiously. Zara rolled her eyes.

"It's not for the engagement, I like it so I'm just trying it on", Zara would never like to associate something she likes with the marriage. "Don't buy it", John ordered. "Well I like it so I will with my money", she said unbothered. "You're wasting your father's money", he criticized her. "Jokes on you it isn't", she replied. "Still if I told you not to-", just then his phone started ringing, John found out it was from Ava so he went outside the store to recieve the call.

Zara was inwardly glad the conversation ended because she was well aware of it's never-ending nature. John would argue for hours for things that weren't a big deal at all. She often felt emotionally drained in his company. As if even though she could workout at a gym without feeling tired her mind was exhausted enough to even take a step.

She takes off the ring, gently keeping it back in its place then she looked around the store. Zara didn't realize she was standing near an elevator, it opened and someone grabbed her wrist firmly, pulling her inside the elevator. Before Zara could balance herself the guy wraps his arms around her, holding her tightly to prevent her from falling. She found her head resting on someone's chest, as she looked up she felt a rush of adrenaline, it was the guy from earlier who introduced himself as CEO of QUBÉ.

The guy was flustered, he could feel his heart racing. The elevator closed behind them, and Zara freed herself from his grip. She reached out her hand to press a button to open the elevator but the guy quickly pressed the second floor button before her. "What are you doing?", she asked bewildered. The guy lowered his head a little, took the mask off and looked up running his hand through his hair.

Zara frowned, "Leo? It was you this whole time?", she said raising her tone out of astonishment. "Let's talk for a bit", he suggested, this time handling the situation calmly.

As the elevator opened Zara went outside and he followed. "What is it?", she asked in a neutral tone. "Mr. W's offer is very dangerous", he said in a coaxing voice. "You have no idea how it works", he added.

"Oh! Wait I just forgot about that", she exclaimed. Zara had totally forgotten about the last option she had in her mind. "Thanks for reminding me", she said walking away animatedly.

"If you agreed my brother....dies", Leo blurted out nervously and Zara turned to face him. "I know", she said unbothered and Leo stood silent. "But you do understand that even if I turned down Mr. W's offer he will find someone else", she explained him sincerely.

Flashback

Zara called Mr. W after returning home. On the phonecall she asked him why Leo was threatening Mr. W.

"Ah that? Leo's brother was blinded by power and he has threatened everyone in the palace that he will commit suicide rather than stepping down from the throne. Even saying he will destroy the palace and all. I guess threatening someone to achieve something runs in the family", Mr. W laughed scornfully.

"And if you ask why, he is just addicted to the luxuries and money one earns in this position", he added.

End of flashback

What Zara said did make sense. Leo felt sudden fear and anxiousness crawling up on him as he processed her words. He paused for a few seconds with his unfocused gaze on the ground then inhaled, "You don't want to get married right? Your face gives it away", he was confident. Zara knew anyone could tell she was upset except for her parents.

"Then don't get married", he shrugged his shoulders. "Do you think it's that easy?", she said annoyed, Leo now felt the situation was in his favour.

"Then marry me", he told her calmly, his face expressing the sincerity in his words. Zara stared at him flabbergasted. "Zara!", John shouted standing near the stairs as he heard what Leo had just said.