Chapter5:

Mike, that was the name Japheth Ramos used when he was in America. His schoolmates called him that because he was handsome and a good basketball player, similar to the famous basketball player Mike Tyson. Seth started calling him Mike as a joke, and it eventually became a tradition.

Seth didn't receive a response from his brother, so he turned to Cecilia and said, "My brother doesn't like owing anyone or being indebted to anyone. Just ask for anything, no matter how small."

Cecilia was shocked and couldn't believe that some people were willing to beg or force someone for favors or compensation. She nervously twitched her mouth.

"I didn't mean to imply that. I just can't accept anything for simply doing my duty. I would have saved her even if it was a stray dog... I..."

"Don't worry!" Japheth interrupted her, clearly showing his impatience. "I believe you. We checked the CCTV cameras in the bar and saw that Nicki went to the storeroom on her own. We don't suspect you at all."

"But you did a good deed by saving our Nicki, so just ask for something," Seth quickly added, as if he had already anticipated their thoughts.

Cecilia is becoming increasingly frustrated with the current situation. Both her brother and the CEO are unwilling to give up, and she doesn't want anything from them either. However, if they both truly want her to make a request, then she will.

“Okay, how about you give me some cash?” She asked blinking her eyes severally.

It was said that the rich people like to resolve their grievances or debts with money right? She can’t ask for contract or anything or else all the trusts they have in her all these while will be crumbled.

Cecilia thinking that she had put forward what they want, she rested her head on the pillow and glanced at Nicki that was sleeping peacefully, then yawned.

She glanced back at Japheth Ramos whose expression had by now become more uglier and taciturn as if speaking a few words will kill him, Cecilia was at the verge of tears because he doesn’t seem to want to give up.

Seth his translating machine too, seems to be tired and vexed at the turn of things continued “Ay, no pretty, he thinks giving you money and send you off just like that will be too insulting and too arrogant of us just…” Seth stopped when Cecilia suddenly lifted up herself from the bed, she had gotten enough of their public display of arrogance and outlandishness.

She accidentally hit her hand on the cupboard next to her bed, causing Nicki to wake up from her peaceful sleep. Then Cecilia unleashed her hidden craziness that she had been trying to suppress.

"Go ahead, be arrogant! Insult me! Do whatever you want! Did I have to announce to everyone that I don't need your reward or compensation? Any decent person would have saved Nicki in that situation. Did I need to be petty about it? Should I ask for something? What else can you offer me that doesn't involve your silly money? Mansions? A car? A company? Or maybe a flight ticket?" Cecilia yelled angrily, causing Nicki to come out of her cot and observe the speaker. Maybe she was still the same kind person who saved her in the store room, or maybe she had changed.

Japheth also stood there, unmoved, and continued to look at Cecilia. Seth glanced at him, trying to interpret his expression, when he spoke up again.

"Marry me! "

Nicki looked at her father with curious eyes,

Seth seems to be in some kind of trance when he heard his brother made that sentence.

Cecilia went completely lifeless for some minutes, she coughed severally, almost chocking to death in her own spit.

“What…. What did you just say? She asked But he kept his straight face…..

Cecilia looked at Seth with expectant face as if to ask him to translate…… but Seth was also speechless

“Mike what did you mean? Japheth Ramos still not batting an eyes repeated

“Marry me!

This time it was audible and authoritative, it does not sound as if he was requesting or suggesting or pleading, he said it in a very authoritative tone that Cecilia can’t dare to escape.

At this moment, Good fortune arrived and light bulb went off in Cecilia’s head she was fidgeting her fingers so hardly that it almost bleed.

Then with a faltering voice she said “Are you trying to say you are paying me with your body after I saved your daughter?” Japheth Ramos inclined his head slightly.

After slight thought he nodded slowly, “You could put it that way”Cecilia was astounded

She quickly rejected again, "give me money, you asked for my request right? Then give me money, lots of it you don't need to pay me back with your body for that"She said quickly.

Seth also faced him "Mike, this is too much, you can give her money, I mean don't worry, I'll give her the money from my own account don't worry you can leave with Nicki I'll take care of it." He said but Japheth Ramos was not changing his will he pocketed his hands and looked up at Cecilia whose mouth was opened agape.

"No one can ever be as shameful as this Japheth Ramos of a person, how can he be proposing Marriage so simply? Is he some kind of douche? Who marries someone just like that? Marriage as if he was asking for something cheap.

Even though she had been in some relationships before, she never had a good one Anyways, all her boyfriends either ditch her or cheat on her but someone asking her for marriage all of a sudden is too much to ask of her and not one ordinary person, it was Japheth! Jap toheth Ramos of all people

"That big bully! Whose face is always clouded as if he was living in a house of ice blocks"