Achilles Heel

Faith’s POV The air was filled with the warm smell of freshly brewed coffee, but it did nothing to ease the knotting tightness in my stomach. I was eagerly awaiting the end of my shift when I looked at the clock. Tom had a problem. After weeks of his odd attitude; quiet, preoccupied, and avoiding eye contact, I couldn't get rid of the feeling that things were going to grow worse. My coworker Jenna interrupted me with, "Faith, are you okay?" I tried to grin. "Yeah, just tired," I falsely said. Jenna was about to continue when my phone buzzed in my pocket. As I swiftly removed it, I noticed Tom's name flashing on the screen. A beat skipped in my chest. "Tom? "What's wrong?" I asked as I moved to answer the phone in the rear end of the café. His voice sounded tremulous and low. "I made a mistake, Faith. I require assistance. I was filled with panic. "What are you matter? "Where are you?" The words "I don't have time to explain," came out of his desperate mouth. "I need cash. "Now." "Cash? How much? My thoughts were racing. Tom sounded desperate and pleaded for money like he had never done before. "What's going on?" "I am unable to explain over the phone. Help me, please, Please, Faith. "Tom" Before I could say another word, the line died. I looked at the screen, my hands shaking as I tried to process what had just transpired. Tom was in trouble, and it was bad. Very terrible. After my shift, my heart was racing with anxiety as I hurried home. When I entered the apartment, it was dark. "Tom?" Shutting the door behind me, I yelled. No response. He was sitting on the couch with his head buried in his hands as I turned on the light and looked around the tiny living room. "What's happening, Tom? I exclaimed, "You scared me half to death," and let my luggage fall to the ground. I felt my heart sink when he looked up. His eyes were filled with a horror and his face was pale. He said, "I'm sorry," in a scarcely discernible whisper. I took his hand as I sat next to him. "What are you sorry for? "What did you do?" Tom averted his gaze, his face etched with remorse. "Faith, I borrowed money. A substantial sum of money. My stomach turned over. "From who?" He paused before responding. "Edward Mack." The name struck me hard. Mack, Edward. Nobody dared to face the mafia boss that everyone was whispering about. "Tom, are you out of your mind?" I almost yelled. "How could you borrow money from someone like him?" The words "I didn’t have a choice!" came out of his mouth. "I lost everything, but I believed I could repay him. And now... they are after me." Fear gripped my chest as I gazed at him. "How much do you owe?" "Fifty thousand dollars." The blood on my face started to run out. "Fifty thousand?" I said it again, just above a whisper. How were we ever going to have so much money? "If I don’t pay by the end of the week... they’ll kill me, Faith." I was suffocated by his words, which hung in the air like a black fog. I was unable to let him go. I wouldn't. "We’ll figure something out," I responded, attempting to sound more courageous than I felt. "We’ll fix this." However, I felt deep down that there was no way to mend it. Not without incurring an unexpected cost. I was standing in front of the tall glass structure that housed Edward Mack's business the following morning. My gut lurched with terror as I walked up to the imposing door, my palms slippery with perspiration. What happened to my life? Dealing with the boss of the mafia? After giving me a chilly, uninterested glance, the receptionist sent me upstairs to the top floor. As I pictured what lay ahead, the elevator journey seemed to go on forever, with each second agonizingly extending. I entered a sumptuous office that exuded wealth and authority as the doors slid open. Edward Mack was standing there. Tall and commanding, he stood by the window wearing a well-tailored suit that only enhanced his sense of power. Even though he was facing away from me, I could sense his presence in the room. I forced myself to take a deep breath and move forward. "Mr. Mack," I said, trembling a little. His sharp blue eyes met me as he slowly turned. He said, "Faith Robert," in a silky but dangerous voice. "I’ve been expecting you." A shiver went down my back. "I’m here about my brother, Tom." Edward's face was unreadable as he raised an eyebrow. "Yes, indeed. The one who can't seem to pay his debts, your sibling. I struggled to maintain my composure as I clenched my fists at my sides. "Please. Despite his error, he is not a nasty person. He's afraid. This has to be resolved in some other way. Edward looked at me for a long time, his eyes calculating and keen. A slight smile tugged at the corner of his lips, which surprised me. "Faith, it takes courage to come here. The majority wouldn't dare. I stated, "I don't have a choice," in a firmer tone. "He is my sibling. I'll stop at nothing to protect him." A small smile came to his lips, but it was cold. "Whatever it takes?" Even if the words were harsh to my tongue, I nodded. Edward drew nearer, his gaze never straying. He said, "There is one way," in a quiet voice. "Marry me." I squinted, certain that I had misheard him. "What?" "Marry me," he said again in a cool voice, as though he were making me an offer. "I'll cancel your brother's debt in return. He will not be harmed. Stunned, I gazed at him. Get married to him? A man such as Edward Mack? It was crazy. But I could see he was serious as I stared into his inscrutable, icy eyes. Deadly serious. With my head spinning, I left Edward Mack's office in a haze. How is this possible? Get married to him? Could Tom only be saved that way? I went aimlessly through the bizarre streets, my mind a jumble of uncertainty and anxiety. I couldn't wed a boss in the mafia. Could I? Tom was waiting for me at the flat when I returned, with a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "Have you spoken with him? "What did he say?" I was unable to look at him. I was ill. "He... he offered a way out." Tom's voice was urgent as he grasped my arm. "What is it? I'll do anything. I gave a headshake. "No, Tom. You are not the focus of this. He desires me. Tom scowled, his expression bewildered. "What do you mean?" I inhaled deeply and pushed the words out. "He said he’ll forgive your debt if I agree to marry him." Tom's face went white. "No. That is not possible. I will not permit you to." "I don’t have a choice!" My voice broke as I yelled. "He'll kill you if we don't pay," you stated. How else should I proceed? With tears in his eyes, Tom shook his head. "I'll come up with something. There must be an alternative. But I was aware that there wasn't. Not now. I sat by myself in the dark that night, gazing at the document Edward had handed me. At the bottom, his name was inscribed, awaiting my addition. When I lifted the pen, my hand shook. This was not what I wanted. I didn't want to get married to someone like Edward Mack and be drawn into his dangerous and violent world. However, what option did I have? I took a deep breath and sealed my fate by signing my name. A chilly reality overcame me as I put down the pen. I had just sold my future to a man who was far more dangerous than I could have ever imagined. I had gotten myself into what I might never understand? Faith stared at the contract, her heart heavy with fear and uncertainty. She’s now bound to Edward, but little does she know, that this deal is just the beginning of a much darker and twisted path.