“Daniel!” Charles welcomed him as soon as he arrived in the study and his wife had no other choice but to let go of him as they hugged each other in greeting.
“You may leave now, honey,” Charles said to his wife. Women were loudmouths and he doesn’t want her involvement in her business.
“Sure,” Victoria was not bothered by his dismissal as she shut the double door behind her and left them all alone.
“I’m glad you’re here,” Charles said, pulling open the corner mini bar and picking out a bottle of whiskey along with two glasses. He brought it back to his desk and poured both of them a drink.
“So am I,” Daniel had already made himself comfortable on the seat in front of the desk, taking his drink just as Charles returned to his position as well and drank from his glass.
Daniel put down the glass and Charles poured him another drink which he gulped, the fiery content burning down his throat.
“You understood my message, right?” Charles asked, peering up at him.
“You are moving back to your country, and we have to wrap up our business,” Daniel said, running his thumb across the edges of the tumbler, his mind working, not that Charles noticed that.
“Exactly,” Charles sighed like he was about to part from a good friend, “It’s quite sad that our business has to come to an end. It was nice making your acquaintance. However, this is not the end and I am sure that there are future projects that I would need your help with.”
.....
Having said that, Charles bent and pulled up a briefcase from beside him, he placed it on his desk before pushing over to Daniel’s side.
Daniel finished the rest of his drink and kept the glass by the side before reaching for the briefcase, opening it. Staring back at him were fresh wraps of notes and his brows arched before he pulled out a wrap and counted it quickly. He stared at the rest of the bundles of money and the calculation mentally.
“It’s your payment in full, not even a cent missing,” Charles assured him.
Daniel nodded his head, then closed the briefcase, before leaning back into his seat, rubbing his lower jaw, and lost in his thoughts.
“What is it?” Charles caught Daniel’s expression, and he looked bothered “By chance, did I miss out on something in our agreement?” He thought it was his fault.
“Nope,” Daniel sat up, “Everything is complete just as he agreed. However, I want to make you a deal this time.”
Charles’ eyes twitched, taken aback by his words.
“What is it?” He readjusted in his seat, intrigued. As a businessman and a politician, he could sense opportunities calling.
“What if I told you that there is a way out for the both of us? You don’t need to pay me and we would have a strong relationship as well?” Daniel baited him.
Charles narrowed his gaze at him, he wasn’t born yesterday and knew there’s always a catch in sweet deals like this one.
“What do you have in mind?” He still needed to hear him out.
“I want your daughter, Natalie. Let’s join our houses through marriage, Charles,” Daniel dropped his intention, grinning at him like it was a brilliant plan.
Blood drained from Charles’ face, having not expected that of all things.
“No,” He didn’t even know when the words left his mouth. The man was greatly shocked by the offer.
“No?” Daniel’s expression fell, that was not the response he was expecting from the man.
“No, you can’t have my daughter. She was not and would never be part of this deal,” Charles said firmly.
He might be a shrewd businessman and politician, but he loved his family as well. All of his endeavors were for his family to have a comfortable life and future.
Daniel laughed wryly, covering his face before glancing up at the man. He leaned closer to the desk and set to convince him,
“I don’t think you understand what I’m offering here, Charles. If I marry your daughter? If our family is joined through marriage? Whether it be the senate position....” and to entice him the more, he added, “or even the presidential position? The Luciano Clan would support you till you reach your maximum potential.”
Daniel studied him while squeaking and from the way his throat bobbed, he knew the man was greatly tempted. He had to push him more.
“Moreover, your daughter and I have been seeing each other for a while now, ” Daniel confessed and Charles stood up to his feet, his eyes wide with disbelief.
However, something happened, they heard a noise right outside the door and both men knew at once that someone was there. Somebody has been listening in on their conversation.
Daniel set to move, but he had not taken up to two steps when the door burst open and a furious Victoria walked in, heading straight towards Daniel.
“Victoria -”
Daniel was still saying when the woman landed a slap right at his face and his face whipped to the side from the impact.
“You have been seeing my daughter behind my back?!” The woman raged.
So she was the one spying on them.
However, Daniel calmly told her, “I understand you are angry and I shouldn’t have dated your daughter without your-” She didn’t let him finish.
“In your dreams, young man!” Victoria shouted at his face and Charles tried to intervene.
“Victoria, let’s all calm -”
“Shut up, your asshole!” She silenced him with her furious gaze, “You want to sell off your daughter to fulfill your political ambition as well? I can’t believe I married a man like you!”
Charles’ expression hardened at his wife’s accusation, “I never said I’m giving Natalie to him,” He defended himself, not that his wife was listening.
Victoria turned to face Daniel and fired at him,
“Who do you think you are? I might have turned a blind eye to your business with my husband, but not one that entails my child, and Natalie deserves better! She deserves princes to bow at her feet and the best life has to offer and you can’t afford that, can you?! What would people think of my daughter? Married to a criminal?!” There was pure disgust in her tone, one that Daniel hasn’t seen even while they got along in the past and it was all directed at him.
Victoria looked at him as if he was filthy and said, “I am not going to sit still and watch a nobody, a gangster try and ruin my daughter’s life for all that you’re worth. ”