Marie's POV
"A week; otherwise, I will take Marie with me, and there's nothing you can do about it. You have seven days: you can help him or prepare to be mine" He slammed the doors again, it happened just the way I envisioned it.
I couldn't take it any more, I had to act fast or lose my father again. I won't let that man kill my father again, not this time. I was given a second chance to save my family and not let them die.
Watching my father go through the same misery was deteriorating, and I had to go to Dante. I wanted to know exactly what happened and how my father owed one man that amount of money.
Who knows my father might be trying to cover the whole truth and hide it away from me.
I went straight to Dante's room, he was resting surfing. I couldn't deny the fact that he was worried.
"Let's take a walk Dante" I suggested hoping he would agree to it.
He did,
"What are you doing up so early Marie? Why do you love showing up unannounced?" He asked, caring less about my mockery of his shorts.
"It's more of my trademark, even if I tell you I was coming. You would want to act busy, so I don't send you on an errand" I responded to his words.
"Keep it down, he's your father" He retorts, as he quickly wears his clothes, knowing father would never approve of him wearing shorts around the house.
"You did a lot of work right here, and I'm impressed I won't deny that" I gave him the accolades that he deserved, making his room look so stunning with the vibrant colours and furniture.
"There's a reason why you're here Marie, the earlier you tell me the better, I have work to do" He ended his words with a nice question that yielded my response.
"I'm afraid I'm losing my mind because of our father. Let's leave I don't want anyone eavesdropping on our conversation" I replied.
"I don't know why I feel so locked in this, he's on the verge of going to war with someone who he knows nothing about"
"Our father knows a lot about Mancini, even when he was a child, according to what he told me" Dante chuckles, I was fascinated by this discovery
"Our father owes Mancini ten million dollars. Do you know this?"
"Father has a lot of shady pasts, some of which he has been able to tell me, and the rest are wrapped in his mind never to be disclosed." He wasn't telling me what I needed to know.
"I need to know exactly what happened and how my father owes him. I've never seen him with my father all my life so why's it that someone shows up to our house demanding that huge sum" I expressed my thoughts to Dante.
"Mancini's parents were wealthy at the time, they were known for their exploits. They had everything they wanted at their beck and call, our father was a successful man, but according to the papers, his company brokered a bad deal that crippled his company, almost leading to bankruptcy. The papers say the loss was inevitable and everyone wanted their refund, or he goes to jail, you and I know what happens when our father goes to jail." He heaves a deep sigh.
"What did he do?" I inquired, trying to put the pieces together.
" No one would ever trade a deal with anyone bearing his name if he goes to jail so he was compelled to do anything just to save his company. You and I know we would be affected if he goes to jail so that's exactly what pushed him into going to their family for a loan to pay off the debtors and since Mancini's father was a friend to our father. Our father worked for him before he resigned to start up his own company. The loan was approved, father paid everyone but couldn't get the capital to raise the company back to its feet. That was five million dollars Marie" He replied, running his hands through his hair.
"How's it Ten million dollars in total?" I wondered if Mancini was trying to deceive us or make us pay another man's debt.
"He went to his friend again, trying to make a collateral for the amount. He helped him out again, which amounted to Ten million dollars. Mancini's parents are dead now, so it's obvious that he's gone through the records and discovered the money given out by a friend to a friend in need. He's acting up on it and trust me I would slit his throat if he dares to do anything" Dante divulged, the threat wasn't the way to end this.
"So now Mancini wants the money that his father gave to our father?" I understood his story perfectly, this wasn't what we should fight about. I have to find a way out of this.
"What does Mancini want since I'm so certain that our father can't raise that amount of money in his present state?" Dante had his ways with words, always trying to know the obvious indirectly.
"You're right, I sold most of my jewellery. I offered him one million dollars, but he refused, proving to me that it was his battle to fight." I blurted out the truth, I couldn't hide it from him.
"Why would you do that? Those are yours and not what you should sell off to pay our father's debts. Why would you offer him a helping hand and get declined? Dad's a total mess. " Dante conceded to my words.
"I'll be leaving Dante, find a lady who you should be and stop surfing the internet it's unhealthy, stop hiding yourself enclosed in this little palace of yours." I patted his shoulders as I got back into the house. We strolled around the mansion and returned to our starting point.
My father was still seated in the position I saw him when I left, he was lost in his thoughts figuring out ways to raise the money to pay him back.
"Father"
"I would like to be left alone" He growled, his voice startled me. I went to my room, had my shower, and rested in my room wrapped in the thoughts of Mancini and how he killed my father before.
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The day finally arrived, while drying off my body I listened to the voices downstairs, I needed no soothsayer to tell me what was about to happen. I quickly put on my robe and scurried off out of my room, jumping through the stairs. I barged into the room with the words,
"I'll marry you Mancini, that settles the deal you have with my father. Take your money father and build your company"
I heaved a deep sigh, knowing I was right on time.
Everyone was shocked especially my father and brother Dante.