Black Rose

Chapter 8: Opening up, it ain't so bad

Author's Pov

"Dela Cruz, my friend, how are you this morning?" The minister says as he enters through the open door of Mr Dela Cruz's office.

"I'm fine thanks." He responds looking at him with a dull face. He so well knew that the surprising visit from him so early in the morning means something not so great.

"Oh well what news do you have about our situation so far? My son's patience is running out, especially after your daughter refused to go out with him." Mr Lopez says taking a seat opposite Mr Dela Cruz. Ileana's father looks through the window for a moment and looks back at Mr Lopez with a feigned smile.

"I don't know what you're trying to insuniate by that but I can't force her to go out with him if she doesn't want to." He responds seriously so.

"I think you are forgetting who I am Dela Cruz. I don't care if you have to drag her down the stairs or whatever, just make sure this alliance works. Your reputation is in my hands and I can turn it upside down if you don't convince her. Do whatever it takes." Mr Lopez says bitterly and everyone who knows him know that the man means business and doesn't like to fool around.

Ileana's father sighs in defeat because he's now got a tough job to do. He has been tough on his daughter and the thoughts of doing worse to her causes commotion in his head.

_____

At College

"Finally! I found you. I've been looking for you everywhere." Matthew says as he sits next to Ileana. She looks at him with irritation all over her face.

"It seems to me that I don't want to be found, especially by you." She says while staring at him and then takes out her binder to organize her papers.

"Mhh you're quite the sour candy. You didn't respond to my text so I guess paying you a visit would do the trick." He says and for some reasons he keeps his cheerful tone and mood.

"You're quite the pest and you never stop being pessimistic. I didn't respond because my answer is still the same as that of last night and it's never going to change." She says bitterly and leaving up to her nickname 'Sour Candy' that he just called her with.

"That I am and I will continue to do so until I get a 'Yes'. I won't stop nagging you, trust me. This will just end up with a suggested truce from you, I can assure you that much." He says whispering the last words in her ear. She shifts away from him after the uncomfortable word exchange.

"It would be better if you kept your distance." She utters after creating some space between them.

"I don't think so. Anyways I brought this for you, I heard they were your favourite, have a good day beautiful." He takes out a small bouquet of pink roses and places them infront of her. She loves pink roses but she looks at these ones with disgust all over her face.

"Stop being creepy, I don't want them. I also never said they were my favourite, I said I enjoyed picking them up and here its already been done so take them back." She pushes the bouquet on the wooden desk towards him.

"Ohh is that your way of suggesting that on our first date we should be picking up pink roses? I will surely fulfil your wish." She sighs in disbelief and holds her head in frustration before breathing out.

"Listen here you piece of shit! You're really pissing me off right now and I can't stand your creepy ass stalking me around all day. Get off my back and stay away from me." Her eyes darken a little with rage and her unexpected response leaves Matthew a bit stunned for a moment. She turns on her heels after that but she turns around when an idea popped in her head.