Maya.
After we settled into my place, Jack left us to take care of something important, informing me that he would return later to solidify our plan and bring us together as one cohesive unit. I sank comfortably into the couch, feeling the plush fabric envelop me, engaging in conversation with Mark, who seemed distinctly concerned and maintained an unsettling silence throughout our discussion. His eyes darted around the room, and I could sense the tension radiating from him. Finally, I decided to break the ice and invited him to join me for dinner so we could talk about everything weighing heavily on our minds.
“Mark?” I called out his name, trying to capture his attention in the midst of his silence.
He turned his head slightly but remained quiet, not uttering a single word, as if he were lost in thought.
“Mark? Why do you keep being so silent like this?! Have you called my husband? Have you contacted the office to check on our business?! What in the world happened to you? You used to be the life of the party!” I shouted, my eyes wide with frustration as I struggled to understand his sudden change in demeanor.
“Shut the hell up, Maya. Stop grilling me,” Mark exclaimed, irritation clear in his voice, his tone sharp and defensive.
“What? How dare you talk to me like that?! What kind of recklessness is this? Have you forgotten who I am?!” I yelled back at Mark, my anger boiling over, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks.
He straightened up, and for a moment, I thought he was going to back down, but instead, he stepped closer, pushing me against the wall with a forceful shove. He grabbed me by the neck, narrowing his eyes dangerously as he leaned in. “No, Maya, I haven’t forgotten who you are, but you seem to have forgotten that I made you who you are. With a snap of my fingers, I could ruin you and erase everything in your life. Your empty, foolish mind has led you astray,” he mocked, his voice dripping with disdain, and I could see the anger simmering just below the surface.
I rolled my eyes, feeling a mix of fear and anger. I struggled to push him away, gasping for breath, convinced I might faint from the pressure of his grip. The weight of his words hung in the air like a storm cloud, threatening to unleash chaos.
He released me suddenly, and I slid down to the floor, taking deep, shaky breaths as I tried to regain my composure. I looked up at him, my brow furrowed in confusion. My neck felt raw from his grip, and I rubbed it gently, attempting to soothe the pain.
He raised his arms in mock surrender, giving me a devilish glance before turning his back to me, as if dismissing the entire situation.
“Your little boyfriend thinks he can look up to me!” he sneered, a smirk playing on his lips as he paced away from me.
“What do you want, Mark? More money? You’re working for me now, so stop this nonsense and quit throwing my past in my face! You started this game for your own benefit, not for me! Don’t make me your punching bag! Why all this anger and frustration? Don’t provoke me,” I rebuked, my teeth clenched in defiance as I struggled to maintain my composure.
He ignored my words and continued to stare at me, his expression unreadable, as if he were contemplating his next move. Then, he knelt down beside me while I sat on the floor, my back pressed against the wall, feeling small and vulnerable.
“Yes, I was looking for money; that’s your assumption! But have you ever considered that I might be in love with you? Have you ever thought that I’m doing my best, making sacrifices, and giving up my own happiness just to make you pleased, joyful, and wealthy? Living a lavish life? Yes, Maya! I loved you, which is why I decided to help you, to aid you in becoming rich and happy. When you love someone, you can’t be so selfish!” Mark said to me calmly, his tone shifting to something softer, more earnest.
I stood up, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside me. “Oh, why are you telling me this now? Do you want me to give up pursuing Tomas?” I mocked him with a smirk, trying to deflect the weight of his confession.
He moved closer, his gaze intense, almost pleading. “Why not, Maya? Why do you keep chasing after him? Don’t tell me you love him, because from the very start, all you wanted was his money, and we had a deal…” Mark said, his voice heavy with disappointment, as if he were trying to break through my defenses.
I widened my eyes at him, disbelief etched on my face. “That’s not the point, Mark!” I yelled, my frustration spilling over.
“You’re not being honest with yourself, Maya. Listen carefully. You can fool yourself, but you can’t fool me, not me. This isn’t a game. Your words mean nothing; you don’t love Tomas-admit it! You just hate being defeated; you’re stubborn and want everything under your control. But have you ever considered why Tomas broke up with you like this? Do you even remember what he said to you on your last date?” Mark asked, his gaze piercing, as if he were trying to read the truth hidden beneath my bravado.
I shrugged my shoulders, my voice steady but laced with emotion. “I haven’t forgotten our last date, Mark. How could I forget? Especially when he said he couldn’t be with the same woman for the rest of his life and that he would find a new woman every year until he discovered someone worthy of his love. So, no, Mark, you’re wrong. I haven’t allowed that last date to fade from my memory.” I nodded, my conviction strong, trying to assert my truth.
“Then that means I’m right, Maya. All you remember from that date is that he will have another woman. You want him back solely to satisfy your ego and pride. But what about me, Maya? I’m the one who has done everything to make you happy!” Mark retorted, his voice rising slightly as he leaned closer.
“Is this a joke?” I scoffed, narrowing my eyes at him. “Selling me to an old man and trying to sell me to Tomas before that? This doesn’t look like sacrifice to me; it looks like betrayal, selfishness, and manipulation! I was treated like a commodity, sold to the highest bidder, but you can’t sell my soul, Mark,” I shouted, my voice filled with indignation, feeling a surge of power as I confronted him.
“How could I sell your soul when you don’t even have one? You sold yourself to the devil the moment you accepted my offer from the very first day we met! It was a test; I didn’t force you to accept the proposal. I wanted you to refuse, but you didn’t. After getting to know you better, I thought you would change your mind and back out, but it was too late. The diamonds and money from Tomas were sparkling in your eyes; you were like a blind person, thirsty for wealth. You wanted more and more,” Mark accused, his voice rising with each word as he laid bare his grievances.
I blew out a breath, feeling a mix of frustration and resignation. “Maybe you’re right, Mark,” I admitted quietly, my voice barely above a whisper as the weight of our conversation settled heavily on my shoulders.
“I’m definitely right, Maya,” he smirked, a hint of triumph in his expression.
“Yes, but if you loved me, why didn’t you do everything possible to take me away from Tomas?” I asked him, genuinely curious, hoping for a glimpse of his true feelings.
“Who told you that? I’m the main reason Tomas figured out the truth about you and broke up with you. But after that, I realized you still didn’t notice me; your focus was solely on one man-Tomas. You were looking for more money, and I was afraid of losing you. I had no choice but to rely on this old man. To be honest, I know he hasn’t touched you since you married him, and that makes me feel somewhat comfortable. Your husband isn’t the obstacle; Tomas was. I was so jealous of him. Watching you and Tomas kiss was torturous; it felt like my heart was bleeding,” Mark confessed, his voice heavy with emotion, revealing his vulnerability.
I distanced myself from Mark, crossing my arms over my chest, rolling my eyes in frustration. “Oh, I see. So, what’s your plan? What’s your decision, Mark?” I asked, my voice low but steady, wanting to understand his intentions.
“What do you mean, Maya?” he asked, raising his eyebrows in confusion, trying to gauge my seriousness.
“I mean, I won’t let you sabotage my plan to get Tomas back. I’ve made my decision, and I will keep him with me. So are you in this game with me or not?” I asked, my gaze steady and unwavering, challenging him to take a stand.
“After everything I’ve said and my confession, you still want Tomas back in your life? You’re the most heartless woman on earth!” Mark shouted at me, disbelief etched on his face as if he couldn’t fathom my determination.
I chuckled lightly, a hint of defiance in my voice. “If you love me that much, then do it for me,” I challenged Mark, wanting to see how far he would go.
“Okay, but I need an answer, Maya. Have you ever…?” Mark began, but he didn’t finish his question, leaving the air thick with unspoken words.
“Okay, I know what you want to know, Mark, and I will answer. Yes, I fell in love with you, but as you said, I’m the worst person ever. To be honest, I was incredibly selfish. I realized how much you cared for me from the first day we met, but I loved the money more than you. I mean, come on, Mark, you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth, raised in a wealthy family, while I grew up in poverty. Each day, I cried alone, asking God for a miracle. How could I give that up for love?” I explained, my voice trembling with emotion, feeling the weight of my past.
“Okay, Maya, but I was wealthy too. Why didn’t you come to me instead of accepting the deal?” Mark questioned, his brow furrowing in confusion.
“Because you don’t control anything! Your parents control everything! Not you! But Tomas is the one who controls his business; he is the mafia king! This comparison between you and Tomas is insane! You have no chance to win. I chose the richest person; that’s all,” I said firmly, standing my ground.
He stepped closer, his expression fierce, and then he slapped me hard across the face, the sting shocking me.
“You are a slut, Maya,” Mark shouted, his voice echoing in the room as the weight of his words hung heavy in the air.