Chapter 5 An Offer From The Mafia Ii

It was past midnight, but Rose couldn’t sleep. Tossing and turning, she eventually sat up and let out a frustrated sigh. Restless, she decided to go downstairs. As she entered the dimly lit kitchen, a faint sound of sobbing reached her ears. Startled, she switched on the lights to find Aunt Sofphia curled up in a corner. “Auntie?” Rose’s voice trembled as she rushed to her. Kneeling beside her, she gently reached out. “What’s wrong?” Sofphia shook her head, unable to respond. She seemed weighed down by an invisible burden. “Please tell me, Auntie. What’s happened?” Finally, Sofphia raised her tear-streaked face to look at her niece with love and concern. “Rose, I have leukemia—a very aggressive type. The doctors said I need a bone marrow transplant as soon as possible. I’m sorry I hid it from you. I thought the money I had saved would be enough, but…” “No… that can’t be true!” Rose interrupted, her voice shaking. The revelation hit her like a ton of bricks. Sofphia had always been healthy—how could this happen? “Auntie, you will get better. I’ll take care of all the expenses,” Rose declared, wrapping her arms tightly around her aunt. Sofphia was her only family, the one person she had left in the world. “Rose, I don’t want to be a burden. You need to save your money. God’s will… it’s simply my time,” Sofphia said softly, tears streaming down her cheeks. She had resigned herself to her fate, believing it was time to reunite with her late husband. “No, Auntie! You must get better. You can’t leave me,” Rose sobbed, clinging to her. “Rose…” “I’ll handle the costs. Please, Auntie, just focus on getting treated,” Rose insisted. Her determination only deepened Sofphia’s worry. The treatment would be expensive—far more than what her niece could afford on her modest income. Rose thought about the money she had from selling William’s necklace. It was enough to cover part of the treatment, but not all of it. There would still be hospital bills, doctor’s fees, and countless other expenses. “Rose, no matter how much you try, it won’t be enough. Please, keep your savings.” “I’ll find a way. Just agree to the treatment,” Rose replied firmly, her arms tightening around her aunt. Sofphia gently stroked Rose’s hair, her love for her niece evident in her tender touch. “But, Rose—” “It’s late, Auntie. You should rest now,” Rose said, cutting off further discussion. She helped Sofphia to her bedroom before returning to her own. Once in her room, Rose went straight to the trash can, pulling out the business card she had thrown away earlier that evening. She held it up, reading the name printed on it: Antonio Sof. “So, this is my last option,” she muttered. The money she had saved wouldn’t be nearly enough. As the weight of her aunt’s illness bore down on her, she placed the card on her desk and climbed into bed. Despite her exhaustion, her mind raced, making sleep impossible. Morning came, and sunlight streamed through the windows. Rose dressed for work as usual but made a call during her lunch break to arrange a meeting with Antonio regarding his offer. She left works an hour early, returning home to change. Initially, she planned to wear something simple, but she changed her mind. Rose chose a short, strapless burgundy dress that hugged her figure and applied makeup to highlight her features. After checking her reflection, she left her room, pausing briefly to glance at Aunt Sofphia, who was napping on the living room sofa. With a deep breath, she stepped out of the house. It didn’t take long for Rose to arrive at the hotel where Antonio had asked to meet. Entering the grand lobby, she scanned the room nervously. Soon, two men in dark suits and sunglasses approached her. “Miss Rose?” one of them asked politely. She nodded, her unease growing. “Our boss has instructed us to escort you to his suite for a private discussion.” Rose frowned. “Why can’t we talk here?” “Those are Mr. Sof’s instructions,” the man replied. She sighed, reluctant but resigned. “Alright, lead the way.” The men guided her to the elevator. Rose’s apprehension grew with every floor they ascended. By the time they reached the suite, her knees felt weak. She took a deep breath, stealing herself as the doors opened. The guards led her to the door of Antonio’s suite, which swung open to reveal a spacious, luxuriously furnished room. The moment she stepped inside, the door closed behind her. Rose’s eyes darted around the room, taking in the opulent decor. Her heart jumped when Antonio’s deep voice broke the silence. “I thought you might change your mind and not show up,” he said, rising from a leather sofa. His sharp gaze swept over her, lingering just long enough to make her uncomfortable. There was something in his expression—admiration mixed with amusement—that unnerved her. “I had no choice,” Rose replied, strutting. Her instincts told her to leave, but she forced herself to stay. “So, does this mean you’ve decided to work for me?” Antonio asked, his tone measured but probing. “What exactly does this job entail?” she asked quickly, her voice tinged with suspicion. Her mind flashed back to William. She feared this might be the same degrading proposition she had escaped before. Antonio chuckled; his laugh soft but mocking. “What kind of job do you think I’m offering?” “I don’t know. That’s why I’m waiting for an explanation,” she replied, meeting his gaze directly despite the nervous flutter in her chest. Antonio couldn’t help but be intrigued. It had been so long since he felt this stir of emotion, this unexplainable pull toward another person. “Very well. I’ll explain everything in time,” he said. “No,” Rose interrupted. “You’ll tell me now, or I’m walking out.”