Taken By The Mafia Lord

"You are not eating," Daniel reminded her and got no reply. Instead, her gaze flickered down to the bacon wrapped around a piece of kielbasa, held together with a toothpick that he spent his time preparing and her response was the stubborn flex of her jaw and a defiant look in her eyes that dared him to do his worst.

And of course, Daniel didn't let it go. He pulled his chair towards her till they were sitting next to each other and Natalie's body tensed up in anticipation. She waited for Daniel to hit her or something because she had been expecting it for a while.

For a man used to killing people, he wouldn't mind hitting a woman, right? She has provoked him long enough. Natalie needed reasons for her to hate him and there would never be a chance of them getting together. He can't keep on treating her nicely with the hope of winning him over. Natalie knew who he was and he already proved that by forcing her into this damned relationship!

When Daniel's hands moved, Natalie shut her eyes, mentally preparing herself for the slap to land on her face. But that never happened, instead Natalie felt him fist his hand into her hand and he pushed her forward, smacking his lips over hers with a ferocity that knocked the breath out of her lungs.

Aside from his usual intimate form of greeting, Daniel had not initiated any forceful kiss between them aside from that day she was kidnapped hence Natalie forgot that this was usually his bargaining chip. She pushed against him but it was useless as usual and he was an immovable rock.

She tasted the bacon from his lips and that must be the whole point of the kiss because his tongue ferociously chased after hers and it wasn't until dots began to appear behind her vision and she was close to dying from lack of oxygen, that he finally let go of her and she gasped loudly.

"Y-you!" She choked, pointing at him.

However, Natalie went from glaring at him to quiet down like an obedient puppy when she saw that cold glint in his eyes. She was really pushing him and Daniel doesn't seem to like that.

"Since you can't seem to eat what I prepared, I thought to give you a taste. Do you want another taste?" He asked sweetly yet she could sense the threat beneath those words.

Without a second thought, Natalie picked up the fork and began to feed herself. Her tastebud exploded with the deliciousness of the food, however, she kept a stoic expression, pretending to be unaffected by his kindness.

Giving Daniel compliments was equivalent to encouraging his behavior and she didn't want that. Their relationship was toxic, couldn't he see that? No, he saw that, he just refuses to admit it.

As if that wasn't enough, Daniel held her hand the entire time they eat and no matter of pulling could set her free. It was all so infuriating that Natalie felt like exploding. She wanted to let it all out!

This?!

Whatever he thinks that was between them could never work. He can't just force feelings on her, they don't work that way! She wanted to yell at him, but she simply kept her mouth closed.

When they went done with the meal, Daniel took her on a stroll. To others, they looked like a young couple in love, even though Daniel was very much older, and looked good together. If only they knew that she was enduring. Natalie was trying not to mess this up and let it backfire.

So all the while, while they walked, Daniel did all the talking and she had to only answer when necessary with concise answers. It went on until Daniel suddenly stopped and she stopped as well, lifting her face to look at him and wondering what it was all about this time.

He said, "I know you don't love,"

Oh thank God, can he release her now?

"But I won't give up,"

Oh, God, no!

"I won't stop proving to you that I'm worthy of you, Natalie. If there's any aspect of myself that you want me to change so we can be together, I'll gladly do it."

Yeah, change your feelings towards me, Natalie sassed in her heart.

"You don't need to love me, Natalie, I just want you to not reject me. I'll do the loving, just don't chase me away." He pleaded with her.

But Natale closed her eyes painfully, "You don't understand, you don't force -"

"I'll be the gentleman you want," Daniel cut her off having sensed her rejection coming, "I would treat you so nice that you won't ever regret giving me a chance," He said with a vulnerable look in his eyes that made Natalie's heart wrench. He looked sincere. He sounded sincere. But then, her heart was not for him, what was she going to do?

"You know what, do whatever you want," Natalie gave up when she saw that no matter what she said Daniel wasn't going to let her go. This wasn't love, it was infatuation, an obsession! He would only keep on bothering her and her parents were of no help. No one was on her side. She lost Edward anyway, what was the point?

A huge smile crossed Daniel's face when he assumed her weary response as her accepting him. Joy like no other filled his chest and he pulled her into a tight hug, nearly crushing her lungs Natalie let him do as he pleased. She was tired of fighting. It was not easy pushing Davie away and she wanted a break.

Moreover, they were young and it was mere relationship and like every other young love, it was doomed to fail, Natalie took solace in that. She wasn't ready to settle down and once the semester started, she would get out of here. Also, this was a mere vacation and her family would eventually return to their country after their father was done wrapping things up. Natalie knew the both of them wouldn't last in a long-distance relationship and that was her plan.

If only Natalie knew that was where everything began to fall apart.