“You will have to marry me and bear me a child.” “What the fuck?!” Logic flew out of the window when Grace heard him say that. “Excuse me, what did you just say?” Maybe, she was the one who had heard him wrong. It could have been anything except marrying him and giving him a child. “You heard me,” Christian tsked, “but I’ll repeat it. Marry me and have my child.” Her mouth opened and gaped at me. In her mind, she was trying to make sense about what was going on. How in the world had it come to be? What in the world could make the situation come to this?! “No?” Grace replied, but then realized that the word was not firm enough. “No.” she said again. Christian frowned, and it seemed so innocent like he had not asked her the most unbelievable thing. “Why not? I thought you wanted to help me. You offered.” “I offered my help, my brain, my support not my,” she hesitated, “stomach!” What was the word for it? “Womb,” he provided. “Yes!” She slapped her hand on the table. “You don’t get my womb!” “I don’t?” He challenged. “No!” “What if helping me out means Lorelai coming out of a coma?” Grace felt her heart drop. “What?” Christian nodded. “What if helping me out, agreeing to what you have to do for me, means bringing your grandmother out of the, that she is in?” ******** Grace was one strong girl and with the people she put her trust in, that was only a small number, she knew she could conquer the world, or at least she thought to herself. When her best friend proposed a deal that could change their lives, she made a decision that was going to be mutually beneficial to both of them. But one renovation led to many and everything has been just a game, a manipulation from him. Everything was full of deceit, lies, planning and plotting against her. Every single thing, right down the fact that only he had been her friend… Everything was a lie and she had been living it, willingly. Tropes; Friends to lovers, office romance, best friends, frenemies, marriage of convenience, possessive villainous and morally gray heroes!
Grace could not decide if she should look over at him. He was right next to her, of course she had to look at him. They could not just sit in awkward silence next to each other. Maybe they could.
But why was she so worried about filling up the silence? If he wanted to, he could.
He was flirting with her. So he had to be the one to talk.
But she was interested in him as well. For her, if she were to be honest with herself, he was someone she should see herself with in the future. Miguel Vega and his brothers had built the business they had inherited from their father and almost almost multiplied it by 5 times toward what it had been when they had inherited it. It meant that he was a responsible, accountable, mature and ambitious human being.
The rest for what came in a relationship, she could figure it out while they would date. If it came to that.
Yes, she could do that.
Yes, she could talk too.
"So," she turned to face him, "the weather out—" the word ended up with an 'oomph' when a giant amount of weight crashed into her, knocking her towards the bar.
"Gracie!" Mia screamed into her ear. "I found you!" She looped her arms around Grace's neck.
"H-Hi," Grace stabilized her and took a moment to sit straight while holding onto Mia who was clearly drunk and unable to stand by herself.
Mia, who was also in the position to only go home and rest, and not continue partying until the early hours of the morning.
She then remembered Miguel who was also sitting next to her, and who must also be witnessing the scene.
"Uh," she attempted to smile, "I came with my friend and I think I should take her home now."
He stood up. "Allow me,"
"Oh, no, she is quite light. I can handle her."
"Allow me to at least work with you at the entrance. I'll have them call a taxi for you."
Yep, exactly what she was looking for in a man. "Mia has a driver. I'm going to call him. Thank you so much for offering. Uh, good night."
Miguel nodded but when she moved to go out of the club, he followed her. Mia was a little bit aware, so it was easy to walk her to the car.
Grace had taken her phone from Mia's purse, and texted her driver to come to the front. As much as she wanted someone to take the burden of her friend's weight, she was not sober at all, so even if Miguel was going to touch with the intention of helping, a sober Mia would not be very pleased with the idea.
She needed new friends because half of the time she was the designated driver because she always kept her alcohol consumption low.
The driver, a man in his 50s helped Mia into the car which left grey without anyone in her hands, so she finally turned to Miguel.
"I guess I'll see you Monday."
"You will." He said. "Good night, Grace. Give me a text as soon as you reach home."
"I will," she took a step back in shyness, "bye."
The moment he repeated it back, she turned around and sat in the car. The driver took it as a signal and drove forward, leaving Miguel standing at the entrance of the club.