"I want to know everything about you and him. How did you meet him? What was your rtionship like? What was he like when he was with you? What you liked so much about him? Tell me…everything," Hayden demanded.


    "Umm…that’s…" I said hesitantly.


    Isn’t he asking for too much? I wasn’t exactlyfortable telling Hayden about my previous romantic rtionship with Ethan. For some reason that I couldn’t phantom, Hayden was very interested to know.


    "It’s fine if you don’t want to tell me," Hayden said emotionlessly but I could tell that it wasn’t ’fine’.


    "I’m sorry. It’s not that I want to keep it a secret or anything. I’m just notfortable sharing it with you…" I replied honestly.


    Hayden was silent for a while as he stared down at my face from above. I could see his eyes darken to a deeper blue color and the next moment that he spoke; his voice was extremely stern and serious.


    "Are you thinking of taking Ethan’s offer?" he asked as his eyes stared deeply into mine.


    "I…" I began saying but then I trailed off as I hesitated. The truth was that I was too confused, and I haven’t really decided.


    "You can be honest. It’s not like I’m going to kill you and the dissect your body if you take him up on his offer," Hayden said casually.


    Is that an indirect or a direct threat? It definitely sounded like a threat, that’s for sure.


    "Honestly, I’m not sure. I haven’t had enough time to think everything through…" I said softly.


    Hayden had told me how he knew Ethan but that wasn’t what I was truly interested in. What I really wanted to know was why Ethan implied that Hayden knew me from before. I wondered if what Ethan said was true. Where have Hayden and I met before? Howe I don’t remember anything at all? Is Hayden like me?


    Maybe he too doesn’t remember anything about meeting me?


    "Hayden…Ethan said something about you knowing me from before and that maybe you’re pretending that you don’t remember. What does he mean by that?" I asked after mustering up all the courage that I had in my entire being.


    Hayden was silent and for once he averted his eyes from mine. I waited patiently for his answer as I watched him closely. Could it be…true?


    "I’ll tell you when you be my wife," Hayden said before he grinned at me.


    I closed my eyes and sighed loudly so that he would hear my frustration. Every time that he doesn’t want to answer a question, that is exactly what he would say. There’s no way that I’ll end up marrying him for real and so I guess I’ll never find out. Honestly, it didn’t matter whether we’ve met before or not. Since I don’t remember anything about it, it might as well have never happened.


    Thest matter on my mind was Amelia. Ethan acted like I should know about Hayden and Amelia. Is there something more there that I should know apart from the fact that they seem so lovey-dovey?


    "Let’s make a deal. You decline Ethan’s offer to pay off your debt and I’ll tell you about Amelia," Hayden said before smiling confidently down at me.


    My mouth hung open at the suddenness of his crazy suggestion. Did he just read my mind or what?


    Seeing that I was stunned into silence, Hayden continued with exining his proposal to me. I had to say that he was a very good salesman indeed.


    "It’s not a bad deal for you if you think about it. There aren’t many days left until the end of the contract anyways. If you take Ethan’s offer, you’ll be indebted to him, and lord knows what he’ll make you do. Mafias are mafias after all. There’s no guarantee that his gang is better than mine," Hayden said convincingly.


    "Aha…" I muttered as I tried to process his words.


    "If you take my offer, you’ll also get to know about Amelia. Who I guess you’re extremely curious about. What do you say?" Hayden suggested with an angelic smile.


    "I…don’t know…" I replied hesitantly.


    He was right about one thing for sure, our contract wille to an end very soon…


    Even if I don’t do anything, our time together will naturally run out and I will be free from my debt. After all, no one can stop the sands of time from flowing.


    "Let me be more generous. I won’t just tell you. I’ll show you…" he said and for a moment his smile seemed very kind.


    "What?" I whispered, still stunned and unable to process his words properly.


    "Don’t you want to meet her?" Hayden asked and I knew that he was baiting me.


    His unfairly handsome face leaned closer to mine until our noses almost touched.


    "…Who?" I whispered.


    He can’t mean…


    "…Amelia," Hayden whispered.


    The angel in the photo who looks too beautiful to even be in this world. The woman that he is so in love with and the only one that he says he would ever marry. Do I want to meet her?


    While I was lost in thought, Hayden started giggling softly before his small giggles turned into a full-blownugh. What possessed him this time?


    "Why are youughing?" I asked, clearly confused.


    "The curious look on your face is so hrious. Judging by the look on your face, I’d say that we have a deal…" Hayden said confidently.


    He was right. Although, I didn’t want to admit it outright, I was extremely curious. I wanted to know about Amelia. I wanted to see her in person. I wanted to know what type of woman could capture and hold Hayden’s love the way she could.


    "I guess we do…" I replied softly.


    Hayden’s blue eyes widened before he smiled joyously at me. At that time, I didn’t fully understand why he seemed so ecstatic that I had epted his deal. Does he want me to meet Amelia so much? Why?


    That was when I started to ponder if and how things would change between Hayden and me if I met Amelia. I sucked in a deep breath and steadied my nerves. The truth was already clear. No matter what happens, our time is running out…


    --To be continued…