The Monster I Married

2: The Big Bad Wolf

•Malika's P.O.V.•

Morning came far too fast for my liking.

The sun shined through the blinds on my balcony doors, nearly blinding me as I opened my eyes. I let out a loud groan as I begrudgingly threw a pillow over my face to shield myself. Sleep had been consuming me when suddenly I heard the doorknob wiggle. I jump at the sound and a strange sensation of panic ran through me. I removed the pillow from my face and let out a sigh of relief when the door opens only to reveal Rosa, our family's house servant. She comes in holding a tray of breakfast. It smelled divine. I mentally reprimanded myself for panicking when I knew she did this every morning.

"After last night I thought you would need some comfort food, so, I had the cook make you your favorite, Omelette with the Avocado toast." She said as she placed the tray on my night stand.

"Last night?" I asked baffled as to what she had been referring too. I tried to recall last night's events in my mind but nothing came to me. It was all still a little foggy from sleep.

"Well I didn't mean to listen in, but I heard that you might be getting married to Mr.Lazaro. You must be so scared and stressed. After all he did threaten your papa and.....-"

I gasped as the events of last night hit me like a full force slap to the face.

James talking to my father, their argument, James almost coming to talk to me, The marriage proposal.....

"- But like I said it's none of my buisness. Oh my gosh, Señorita are you well? You've gone frightenly pale as if you've seen a ghost or something."

I waved her off as I rubbed my temples gently. My throat grew a knot that made it hard to speak. I was having extreme difficulty keeping my emotions concealed. Though kind hearted, Rosa was quite the gossip, I really didn't want her running her mouth to the rest of the servants if I decided to indulge her curiosities. I cleared my throat before speaking.

"Rosa, I'm fine. You may leave now."

"Yes Señorita, before I take my leave, your Papa wishes to speak to you immediately after you finish breakfast. He will be in his office, I suggest you don't keep him waiting to long. He doesn't seem to be in a good mood this morning and for good reason."

With that she exited swiftly, leaving me alone with my memories from last night and my thoughts. I tried to hold back my tears as the same panic I had felt earlier gripped my heart, engulfing it completely this time. I had really wished that last night had been some crazy, fucked up dream my mind had concocted. But, as it turns out this was now going to be my new reality.

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I knocked lightly on the door, to announce my presence, before I entered quietly with my head lowered as if I were a scolded child.

It had taken a tremendous amount of will power to walk from my room all the way to the office. I knew there was nothing I could do to avoid this conversation with my father. I knew my father had to come to an ultimatum, whichever his decision I would force myself to come to terms with it. If he chose to keep me not only would he still lose me but everything else, if he chose to let me go I would lose my freedom but my father would gain so much more. The decision was seemed like it was simple when it was put like that. A part of me knew that in the end I would have to make decision for myself, nothing seemed simple about that.

"Come in, Mija. Please shut the door and have a seat." Papa said with a serious expression and voice as he gestured towards the chair.

I did as I was told, taking a deep breath in as I sunk into the plush armchair. There were very few times I had ever been called to the office. I had a wave nostalgia wash over me, I remembered getting called in here when I heard something I wasn't supposed to hear or whenever I went into the barn to look at the weapons and shipments that had been brought in. Papa would get furious with me, he would always reprimand me that these weren't things that a girl my age should be doing. Or that any kid my age for that matter. I would always cry because those were the only times I would ever get seriously disciplined by my father. I was his only daughter so it was obvious he spoiled me. At that age, I couldn't help that my curiosity always seemed to get the better of me.