My Decision

As soon as the line went dead, Carmen stared at her phone, her thoughts racing. She hated the idea of marrying someone like Romero, of selling herself for money, but Mariana’s words echoed in her mind. Diego’s life was at stake. Could she really afford to say no?

Carmen paced back and forth in the garden, her mind joggled with doubts. Romero’s offer wasn’t just a lifeline for his business; it was a lifeline for her brother. The stakes couldn’t be higher.

But at what cost? Her happiness? Maybe her peace of mind?

Carmen stood still, her hand running through her hair in confusion. “What should I do?” she murmured to herself, staring blankly at the sky, as the sun began to set.

“Carmen?” Pablo’s voice invaded her thoughts.

Carmen turned to face him. “Mister Pablo,” she said, forcing a slight smile.

“I searched around for you, and I was told by one of the maids that they saw you heading down here. I just wanted to find out if you were able to talk to Romero,” Pablo said, stepping closer.

Carmen paused for a moment, contemplating telling him the proposal that still hangs in the air.

“Because for the very first time ever since the accident, he seems interested in wanting to know what is going on in the business,” Pablo continued.

Carmen's eyes lit up. “Really?”

“Yes, that’s why I was wondering if you did the magic. Anyway, that’s all I wanted to ask. I’ll get going now,” Pablo said, twirling around to leave.

“Mister Pablo,” Carmen called, her voice shaky.

Pablo halted abruptly and glanced back. “Yeah?”

Carmen rubbed her neck nervously, trying to find the right words. “I don’t mean to meddle, but I just want to ask a question regarding Monteiro’s business.”

Pablo’s forehead puckered, and he footslog to her. “And what would that be?” he asked.

Carmen hesitated, fiddling with her fingers. “What would happen if Mister Monteiro doesn’t get back to the family business?”

Pablo stared at Carmen for a moment, he sighed heavily. “Things will go badly. Like I told you yesterday, those people are desperate to take over. Right now, I don’t know what they are planning. But I do know they are up to no good. If someone is not watching them, they’ll get ahead of us and take all Monteiro’s hard-work. Romero will be left with nothing. And he’ll become more depressed, and maybe do something unthinkable…you know what I mean,” he answered.

Carmen gaped at him, then nodded. “Okay…”

“Why do you ask?” Pablo inquired, his gaze assessing her.

Carmen forced a nervous laugh. “Oh, it is nothing, Mister Pablo. Just curious.”

Pablo gave Carmen a suspicious glance. “Okay. I guess I’ll leave you now. See you later.”

Carmen nodded and watched him leave. She huffed, staring into space. Pablo’s reply bothers her, but she tries to wave it off, returning to the mansion.

The day passes in a blur and Carmen couldn’t shake off the conversation with Pablo or the heavy weight of Romero’s proposal. By the time evening arrived, her thoughts were still clouded with indecision.

***

That evening, Carmen found herself standing in the kitchen, watching in her absence as Santiago served Romero’s dinner on the tray. Her mind replayed Mariana’s voice reminding her of Diego’s critical condition. Carmen’s heart clenched at the thought of her brother’s face, pale and weak, waiting for a miracle that she might be able to provide; if only she could swallow her pride.

“It’s all set,” Santiago’s voice took her out of her deep thoughts.

Carmen nodded and picked up the tray. With the tray in hand, she walked into Romero’s room, he sat in his wheelchair close to the window, staring out as usual. Romero barely looked her way as she entered, his attention focused on the starry sky.

“I brought dinner, Mister Monteiro,” Carmen said, placing the tray down carefully on the table.

Romero ignored her, not sparing her a glance. Carmen stood there for a moment, watching him in silence.

“Is there something you want to say that makes you still stand there? Or are you planning on feeding me tonight?” Romero asked, his back still turned on her.

Carmen inhaled sharply, her gaze dropped low. “I’ve made up my mind,” she said, her words almost catching in her throat, her hands trembling.

Romero’s head tilted towards her direction quickly, getting her attention. “And?” he asked, his tone neutral, but there was a glint of curiosity in his eyes.

Carmen’s thoughts clamored for utterance, her eyes meeting Romero’s unwavering gaze. She knew once she spoke, there would be no turning back.

“I’ll do it. I’ll marry you, Mister Monteiro,” Carmen finally said.

Romero’s expression barely changed, but there was a flicker of something that almost resembled satisfaction. “Good. I knew you’d come around. I’ll have the documents ready for signing tomorrow,” he said tersely, as if he had been expecting her answer all along.

Carmen bit her lip, suppressing her anger. She wanted to scream, to tell him how twisted this entire arrangement felt, but instead, she swallowed her pride. “But…I want to set some conditions,” she said.

Romero’s brow lifted, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “You think you’re in a position to make demands?”

“Yes, I do. I need full access to my personal life. This stays strictly business, sir. You don’t control me outside what’s required for your company. And the moment this arrangement becomes more than what we agreed, I’m out,” Carmen said, her voice firm.

Romero wheeled himself closer, his gaze never leaving hers. He stopped right in front of Carmen. “You’ll have your freedom. I’m not interested in your personal life, Carmen. Anything beyond business and the public image does not appeal to me. Just play your part and you’ll have what you need.”

Carmen nodded, though her heart remained heavy from the decision she had just made. Her gaze darted to the untouched dinner on the table, then back at Romero, who seemed lost in thought. “You should eat. I’ll leave you to it,” she mumbled.

“Sit,” Romero said, gesturing toward the sofa for the first time. “Have dinner with me.”

Carmen’s head whipped harshly, caught off guard by the unexpected invitation. She couldn’t tell if it was a genuine offer or just another tactic to keep her close. “Pardon?”

Romero’s eyes rolled upward. “Don’t get any ideas, young woman. I’m just trying to return the favor, by accepting my proposal,” he said dryly, picking up his fork and starting to eat. His movements were precise and measured. He glanced at Carmen, who was still standing, staring at the food with an air of disconnection. “What? Should I go on my knees, and beg you to eat with me?”

Carmen shook her head vigorously. “No, sir,” she responded quickly, taking a seat.

“Look here, you don’t have to pretend to like me. This arrangement is just as much for your benefit as it is for mine. But make no mistake, I expect you to uphold your end,” Romero continued.

Carmen nodded, forcing herself to take a small bite from the plate in front of her. “I agree I don’t have to like you to do my job. But I won’t let you treat me as if I’m just another asset, sir.”

Romero chuckled wryly. “We’ll see. Just remember the world doesn’t care about how you feel. It only cares about results. And that’s the only thing that matters to me too. Results,” he said, his tone devoid of warmth. “We’ll start tomorrow.”

Carmen chewed the food bitterly in her mouth, her mind already drifting to the next day. She wasn’t sure how she’d manage to keep her emotions in check, but one thing was clear; she was now bound to Romero Monteiro, not by love, but by a contract that would test every ounce of her resolve.

Just then, the door flew open, and Pablo walked in. The sight that awaited him, made him halt abruptly, his eyes darting between Romero and Carmen, who were sitting across from each other in the room. His surprise was visible as he tried to make sense of the scene before him.

Carmen, seated with a cutlery in her hand, looked up at him, her face flushed with surprise and discomfort. Romero, on the other hand, seemed unbothered, his gaze coldly assessing as he continued to eat, barely acknowledging Pablo’s presence.

“What is going on here? Why are you two having dinner together?” Pablo asked, his voice laced with suspicion. It wasn’t just the dinner that caught him off guard; it was the way Carmen looked, as if she’d been cornered into something far bigger than she’d anticipated.

Romero finally glanced up, setting his fork down with deliberate slowness, and wiped his mouth with a napkin. “We were just discussing some important matters,” he said casually, leaning back in his wheelchair. “Carmen and I have come to an agreement.”

Pablo’s brows furrowed, his instincts telling him something was off. “What kind of agreement?” he pressed, his eyes shifting to Carmen, who sat silently, her face conflicted.

Romero smirked, savoring the moment before delivering his next words. “We’re getting married, but on a contract basis, and specifically for business purposes,” he announced, his tone emotionless.

Pablo’s eyes widened in shock. “Married? Are you kidding me?” he turned to Carmen, a mix of disbelief and concern crossing his features. “Carmen, is it true? Did he force you into this? You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.”

Carmen shook her head. “No, Mister Pablo. He didn’t force me to do it. It was my decision. I can handle it.”

Pablo’s face was gravely bitter as he glanced back at Romero, fury flaring in his eyes. “This is insane, Romero. You can’t just marry someone to solve your business problems. And Carmen, you don’t owe him this. Please, reconsider,” he pleaded.

“This is not your concern, Pablo. Carmen has agreed, and I expect you to respect her decision,” Romero cut in sharply, his tone turning authoritative. He leaned forward, his eyes fixated on him. “You will call my lawyer first thing tomorrow and have the documents prepared for signing. This is happening whether you like it or not.”

Pablo stared at Romero in disbelief. “You’re making a mistake, Romero. This is not how you solve things. You are the one that should be there, not her.”

“The only mistake would be letting this opportunity slip away. Didn’t you want me to save the family business? Now I’m doing exactly that, but you’re complaining,” Romero said scornfully.

“Not like this, Romero. Not like this. Sending a placeholder? Come on, what experience does she have, handling those people called shareholders and the likes? You know them better than I do. It feels like you’re setting her up just because you don’t want her to help in your recovery,” Pablo said, his temper was dark and explosive.

Romero grunted something under his breath, returning his gaze to Pablo. “Carmen understands what’s at stake, and I trust her to fulfill her role. Your job is to ensure the paperwork is ready. That’s all. Stop stressing me.”

Pablo looked at Carmen. “Carmen, you really don’t have to go through with this if you’re not sure. This isn’t the life you deserve,” he pleaded one last time.

Carmen drew in a deep breath, her gaze meeting Pablo’s. “Thank you, Mister Pablo, but I’m fine. I’ve made my decision. I’m ready for this.”