The Deal

"Then marry me, Tony."

The moment those words came out of her mouth, Marcella found herself getting pulled out of her trance. She hugged her knees as her heart raced as if it would burst out of her chest cavity.

What have I done? I suggested getting married as if I was ordering pizza! Ahhh! My mother would be rolling in her grave! What have I done?

She could see Tony was bewildered. Why wouldn't he? She verbally slapped him in the face! He was someone who considered marriage a Holy Sacrament and she just… Ugh!

He was staring at her without even blinking his eyes. Her hands shook. She didn't have the guts to look at him and averted her eyes. She was ashamed. She so selfishly asked such a huge thing from him. He'd definitely deride her; rightfully so.

"I'm sor~"

Just as her apology was in her mouth, she was interjected by Tony's hoarse voice.

"I will…"

Marcella looked at him. Her hands had gotten cold or… Tony's hands were cold too. He was still holding her hand. Kneeling in front of her, he coughed slightly bowing his head.

When he looked up, she saw a smile on his face.

Her racing heart slowed down seeing the smile. Thankfully, he was not going to deride her. There was no judgment in his eyes. He looked at her like he always did. He probably would give a very diplomatic rejection.

"I will marry you if you promise to kiss me every day," he said.

Wait what? Marry? Did he agree? Promise? I have to make a promise to…

"Kiss?"

Of all the questions she had, only that word came out of her mouth. She bit her lips and he nodded his head.

"Yes, I will marry you, Marcella DeAngelo," he smiled fixing his jacket that was slipping from her shoulders.

His fingers grazed her neck. She started warming up. "I thought…" she wetted her lips.

She thought he didn't want to kiss her. But she didn't want to talk about the past. He said that he was willing to marry her.

She didn't want to question him further.

She was selfish. She was in a bind. She needed a man to marry. Tony is someone she knew all her life. Well, not all, but most of her life. He knows everything about her.

He knows that she is not the perfect woman to be his wife. And yet, he does not mind marrying her.

In the dark corridors just outside the mortuary of that age-old hospital, sitting on the floor, she looked at the man kneeling in front of her.

"Yes," she said.

"Okay then," Tony stood up and gave her his hand.

She held his hand. He helped her up.

"I need to get married today," she said.

"Okay, then. Let's do it," he said.

In the corner of his eyes, she saw a happy glint. He looked pumped. Holding her hand, he walked out of the hospital. He hired a taxi.

Sitting in the taxi, she looked out. She was born and raised in this city. She never remembered moving this fast in a taxi without stopping at any signals. It was miraculous.

She looked at Tony. He was looking straight ahead. Her heart skipped a beat. Feeling her glance, he turned and smiled.

"We need to get the paperwork done. We'll go to my house first. I need to get my original ID," he said.

She nodded.

Straight to the action!

She was not that surprised that Tony didn't ask her much. He asked her what she wanted. She told him and now he was trying to give her what she wanted.

No needless questions asked and no wasting time. That's how he always was.

But she was a little surprised that he could make a decision about his marriage this easily. She wanted to ask him about that.

Her headache got severe. She couldn't even keep her eyes open. She rarely stays awake for an entire night. And she was trying to hold back her tears which only made everything worse.

They got to his apartment building. She was surprised to learn that he didn't live very far away from where she lived. He was only five blocks south of her apartment.

But it looked luxurious and new.

"I didn't know you were living this close to me," she said. "I've been living here for almost a year. It's surprising I never caught you."

Tony paid the taxi driver and closed the door. He opened the door for her and it made her giddy. She didn't know if it was his chivalry or her nausea though. She felt like fainting. But she sucked in a deep breath.

She needs to do this.

"I only moved here a couple of months back," he said.

"Makes sense," she nodded.

He took the stairs, and she followed him. He was living on the second floor. The corridors were luxurious with potted plants and paintings lined up.

It looked more like a five-star hotel than an apartment. She didn't think that he was rich.

He opened the door to his apartment. His apartment was at the far end and was close to the grand window. Maybe it was her own view, but it looked like he had a clear escape path in case someone came for him.

Well, but he was in politics. He cannot be leading a dangerous life.

Who would want to hurt Sweet Baby Tony?