Roberts Mansion
The sunlight had softened.
No noise.
No chaos.
Just calm.
The city lights stretched endlessly beyond the balcony, glowing like distant stars.
Rihanna stood by the railing, her fingers lightly tracing the cold metal, lost in thought.
Then.
Warm arms slipped around her waist from behind.
Pacho.
He pulled her gently into him, his chin resting near her shoulder.
"…You old woman, what are you always thinking about?" he murmured.
Rihanna smiled faintly.
"…Hmm...I was thinking if my prince charming would show up today."
Pacho tightened his hold slightly.
"…And what are you thinking about now?"
A small pause.
She leaned back into him.
"…Us."
Pacho smirked softly.
"…That serious, huh?"
Rihanna turned in his arms.
But instead of stepping away
She did something unexpected.
She climbed onto him.
Lightly.
Confidently.
Her arms wrapped around his neck as she looked down at him with a soft but bold smile.
"…Very serious."
Pacho blinked once.
Then laughed quietly.
"…You should be a monkey. You climb alot."
She leaned closer.
"…You act like you don't like my type of monkeys."
He didn't deny it.
"…Point of correction it's only one monkey and that's you."
She smiled.
"You funny clown, I love you."
She pulled him closer and kissed him.
Not shy.
Not hesitant.
Deep.
Her fingers tightened slightly behind his neck, pulling him closer as if she didn't want even the air between them.
Pacho responded just as deeply.
One hand holding her firmly, the other resting against her back, steadying her.
Time slowed.
Nothing else mattered.
Just them.
When they finially pulled away.
Foreheads resting together
Breathing slightly uneven.
Rihanna whispered:
"…I don't want this to end."
Pacho looked at her.
Serious now.
"…It won't."
She searched his eyes.
"…Don't say things you're not sure of."
Pacho shook his head.
"…I'm sure."
A pause.
Then
"…Let's stop waiting."
That caught her.
"…What do you mean?"
Pacho adjusted his hold on her slightly.
"…We've been circling this for too long."
His voice dropped.
"…Let's get married for real."
Silence.
Not shock.
Not fear.
Just
Weight.
Rihanna stared at him.
"…You're not joking are you?."
"…I'm not."
A pause.
"…Not this time."
Her eyes softened.
Just a little.
"…When?"
Pacho didn't hesitate.
"…Three months."
She blinked.
"… isn't that a bit quick?"
He nodded.
"Well you see I can't wait to make you my wife."
"…New Year."
A faint smile formed.
"…Start everything new… with you."
Rihanna held his face gently now.
Studying him.
Searching for doubt.
There was none.
Only certainty.
Only her.
She smiled.
Small at first.
Then real.
"…Okay."
Pacho froze slightly.
"…Okay?"
She nodded.
"…Yes."
Then leaned forward again
And kissed him.
Softer this time.
But deeper in meaning.
She rested her forehead against his.
"…Three months."
Pacho smiled faintly.
"…Three months."
She whispered:
"…Don't mess it up."
He chuckled quietly.
"…I won't."
Then.
The door opened.
Neither of them looked at first.
Then.
Pacho's expression changed.
Slightly.
Subtle.
But real.
Rihanna noticed immediately.
"…What is it?"
Pacho didn't answer.
He was looking ahead.
"…Maxim."
Rihanna turned.
And there he was.
But
Not alone.
He looked… calmer.
Almost grounded.
Beside him stood a girl.
Nearly his height.
Dark hair, she looked Mexican.
Rihanna whispered to pacho
"I wasn't informed they were adding a new chracter."
Pacho frowned
"I wasn't either."
Maxim walked toward them slowly.
He stopped a few feet away.
Silence followed.
Pacho stood up.
Instinct.
Rihanna remained seated, watching carefully.
"Relax pacho, I'm not here to cause trouble."
Maxim looked at Pacho.
Really looked at him.
And for the first time
There was no challenge in his eyes.
Just… regret.
"…I came to apologize."
Pacho didn't react immediately.
Maxim swallowed.
His voice dropped.
"…For everything."
A pause.
Then
His voice cracked.
"…For how I treated you."
That alone shocked the room.
He continued.
"…I was angry… and I didn't know how to handle it."
A breath.
"…So I took it out on you."
Silence.
Then
Tears formed in his eyes.
"…I'm sorry, Pacho."
The girl stepped slightly closer to him.
Not speaking.
Just placing a hand lightly on his arm.
Grounding him.
Supporting him.
Maxim exhaled slowly.
"…I thought I had everything figured out."
A faint, broken smile.
"…Turns out I didn't even understand myself."
He wiped his face lightly.
Composed himself.
Then looked at Rihanna briefly before speaking again.
"…This is Carmen."
Carmen nodded politely.
"…It's nice to meet you both."
Her voice was soft.
But confident.
Maxim glanced at her, then back at Pacho.
"…She… helped me see things clearly."
A pause.
"…Helped me become better."
Carmen then added.
"I assure you he's a better man now. So please find it in your hearts to forgive whatever harm he's caused."
Silence filled the space again.
This time
Waiting.
Pacho looked at Maxim.
Long.
Carefully.
Measuring.
Not just the words.
But the man standing in front of him.
Then
He stepped forward.
Maxim tensed slightly.
Not out of fear.
Out of uncertainty.
Then
Pacho pulled him into a firm hug.
Maxim froze for a second.
Then
He returned it.
Tightly.
Like he needed it more than he expected.
Pacho spoke quietly:
"…You should've done this earlier."
Maxim let out a shaky breath.
"…I know, and I'm sorry"
Rihanna stood now.
Watching them.
Her expression softened.
Not fully trusting yet.
But accepting.
"…Just don't repeat the same mistake."
Maxim pulled away slowly and nodded.
"…I won't."
They sat together.
Not perfectly comfortable.
Not fully healed.
But…
Better.
Carmen smiled faintly.
Rihanna leaned into Pacho again.
Maxim exhaled like a weight had finally left him.
As laughter slowly returned to the table and after a while they left
For a moment, the room stayed quiet.
Too quiet.
The kind of silence that comes after something important… but unfinished.
Rihanna sat back down slowly.
Pacho didn't.
He was still standing.
Watching the door.
Like it might open again.
Then he laughs loudly.
"What the hell does Maxim take me for."
"A fool or what?"
Rihanna looked up at him.
"…Pacho—"
He shook his head slightly.
"… Rihanna, this isn't me holding a grudge. I know Maxim like my brother."
A pause.
He finally turned away from the door.
"…You didn't see what I saw, you've never been present in any of our confrontations."
Rihanna frowned.
"…What do you mean?"
Pacho walked back slowly.
Sat down.
Leaning forward slightly, elbows on his knees.
"…Maxim is ambitious, he's desperate to get you."
His eyes were distant now.
Thinking.
Analyzing.
"…He will go to any level to to get you."
Rihanna studied him.
"…He cried."
Pacho gave a faint, humourless smile.
"…And that's exactly what makes me doubt him the most."
A pause.
"…He's never been that kind of person."
Pacho looked at her now.
Serious.
"…As far as I know him…"
A beat.
"…Maxim never does anything without aiming at something."
Rihanna leaned back slightly.
Not defensive.
Not dismissive.
Just… certain.
"…Maybe you're right."
Pacho's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Maybe?"
She nodded.
"…Or maybe he changed."
Pacho chuckled.
"You belive that shit."
" He finds a girl who changes him to a good guy in two days."
A pause
"what a real convincing story."
Rihanna reached for his hand.
Held it gently.
"…But it doesn't matter."
That made him look at her.
"…It does Maxim is a threat to us ?"
She smiled softly.
Not naive.
Not careless.
Just honest.
"…As long as we're together…"
A small pause.
"…I don't care."
Pacho's expression softened slightly.
Just a little.
"…You should care."
Rihanna shook her head.
"…I only care about you."
A beat.
"…The rest can come later."
Pacho exhaled slowly.
Then pulled her closer.
Not tight.
Just enough.
"…I'll still keep an eye on him."
Rihanna rested her head lightly against him.
"…I know you will."
The room returned to calm.
Soft.
Warm.
But underneath
Something lingered.
Because Pacho wasn't wrong.
And somewhere
Maxim was already thinking his next move.
Mr. Sergei's Office
Laughter could be heard from outside the office.
Mr. Roberts smiling widely.
"…Our children are getting closer."
Mr. Sergei gave a small, knowing smile.
"…So I've noticed."
Mr. William chuckled lightly.
"Kids these days don't even realize when they're stepping into something bigger than themselves."
A pause.
Then he leaned forward.
"…But we do."
Mr. William's expression shifted.
Not playful anymore.
Measured.
"…Speaking of 'bigger things'…"
His fingers tapped lightly on the armrest.
"…Sergei, do you remember our little agreement?"
Mr. Sergei didn't respond immediately.
Just watched him.
That calm… was intentional.
Mr. Roberts' gaze flickered between them.
Interested now.
Pressure Applied.
Mr. William smiled.
But there was nothing warm about it.
"The bet."
A pause.
"…Your ranch."
The room tightened.
Just slightly.
Mr. Roberts leaned back slowly.
"Ah."
"So this wasn't just about marriage."
Mr. William continued, voice smooth:
"If things don't go your way…"
"…you forfeit it."
Then Mr. Sergei smiled.
Not defensive.
Not pressured.
Just… confident.
"…William."
He leaned back in his chair.
Relaxed.
Too relaxed.
"…You're getting ahead of yourself."
Mr. William's brow lifted slightly.
"…Am I?"
Mr. Sergei's eyes didn't waver.
"…Very."
He folded his hands calmly.
"…Until the day the priest says—"
A slight pause.
His smile deepened just enough.
"…'You may kiss the bride'…"
Silence.
Then
"…I'm not letting go of that ranch."
Mr. Roberts let out a low chuckle.
"…I like this."
Mr. William stared at Mr. Sergei for a moment longer…
Then laughed.
Not loud.
But real.
"…You haven't changed."
Mr. Sergei tilted his head slightly.
"…I don't lose things that matter."
They all burst into laughter.
But beneath it
Something else lingered.
Competition.
Pride.
Ego.
And a bet that wasn't just about land anymore.
As the laughter faded
Mr. William's eyes sharpened slightly.
Just for a second.
"…We'll see."
Mr. Sergei didn't respond.
Just smiled.