Asterio is staring at me with fascination, attentively – he's treading lightly around me. I laugh at the joke he's made. His jaw locks together, he leans back, seeming mildly insulted. "You're joking, yes?"

"No," he states, the truth in his voice evident. A splutters past my lips again. Asterio blankly stares at me, his hands reaching for the buttons of his sleeves — a noted gesture of apprehension. Then it dawns down on me, that's he's not joking and he's madly serious about this predicament he's placed me in.

Placing my cup down, my gaze meets his wearily and he's turned away now. Pondering deep in his thought. "Listen Bella, I'm being dead serious about this. I need you to marry me." There's some panicked urgency in his voice and his gaze is intensely studying me.

"Are you sure you're feeling alright? Want me to open up a window or something because–" I scratch my neck, rubbing my hand down it. It feels hot in the room.

Maybe he's overworked, and not in the head right space. Maybe, he's hallucinating and needs some water to cool himself out and perhaps flush any intoxicates out of his system. Maybe he's—

"No, I'm perfectly sane right now." He shakes his head, stating it firmly. I don't seem to believe him one bit. Underneath his eyes, they are some faint purple hues but they're hardly noticeable. He's had a goodnight's sleep at least. Next, I study his pupils for any signs of intoxication. The white is shiny and there's no rimming of red around it, passing him off for being entirely sober.

"Why?" My voice is a tiny vessel of growing anxiety. "I hardly know you and you hardly know me."

He takes in my words for a second. "Yes, that's true." He nods, acknowledging the distance between us. We're strangers, deeply unknown to each other and grown in our own turmoils. "But I want to – get to know you." he says, his eyes meeting mine and he holds the gaze. There is something sincere about his tone, his aura and for a minute, I think I'm enchanted by him.

My teeth collide with my lip and I chew nervously on it. "You and I are more alike than you think. I need a wife and you need someone to be honest with you every step of the way." Narrowing my eyes at him, I shake my head at his words, calling him for his imposter's bluff.

Alike? We weren't alike in any way.

"You said it yourself when you walked into my office," Asterio shifts his seat, leaning back and crossing his legs over. He's definitely more comfortable from last time, but that doesn't help with my beating heart that pounds like playing drums. He repeats my words: "A zero policy for bullshit?"

I roll my eyes, remembering exactly what I said to him when he started getting a bit too cocky for my liking. "I know what I said." I snap.

His lips curve with a smile, the pad of his thumb meeting it. "But why me?"

This is officially one of the worst and uncomfortable conversations I've ever had.

"I think you'd be perfect for it." Asterio states a matter-of-factly.

I look at him as if he's the most insane person in the world and scoff. "Mr Asterio, you cannot come into my home and ask me to marry you. That's absurd." I'm annoyed, irritated and just tired.

"Bella, I'm desperate." He pleads, pushing, pressing – trying again for this hell of a deranged proposal.

His hands fist through his hair, holding back at the base as if he's knowing he's slowly losing the losing battle of wills. "This will be a business deal and nothing more. No strings, no wires, no feelings." I listen to his words, actually considering his absurd proposal.

I could do that... it wasn't like I actually liked the man. "–in return, you can have anything you want."

No, no, no. Bella, you're not crazy.

"All I want you to do is help me in this."

"I think you've overstayed your welcome, Mr Asterio." I rose from my seat hoping he'd get the hint if I wasn't clear already.

His face falls, as if he isn't wallowing over in his turmoil already. He takes a deep sigh from his nose.

"Alright, Miss Romero." He states with a dejected sigh, his voice low.

He's doesn't call me Bella or Isabella. And for a minute, I don't like how stoic and ridged he's become in an instant having changed his form of address entirely.

Don't notice it, don't pay it any mins. These are simply tiny details – and I notice every single one of them.

Before he rises, he reaches for the pen that sits on my table. I tediously watch him as he clicks the nib, scribbling down digits on the tissue. "You have my actual number now. Call me," he rises from the seat, dusting and rearranges the shirt he's wearing. "–if you change your mind," he adds with a little stress.

I ignore the digits that lie on the tissue and force myself to keep my gaze locked on the door. I wasn't going to look and I intended to discard it immediately after he left.

Asterio stalks behind as I lead him out to the door, his head hangs low and treads softly behind. I open the door wide open for him and he steps out, "Goodbye Dimitri."

"Goodnight, Bella." with that, I shut the door on his face.

I blame the caffeine because it takes me an hour afterwards to get to sleep. I shouldn't have it and I knew better to not drink the cup of tea, the caffeine kept me up at night.

But that wasn't the real reason sleep didn't pay me a visit that night... Asterio's conversation played on my mind into the dawning of the night.

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