Taming Mr. Cold And Arrogant

Daniel's POV:

"Daniel, are you sure of what you are planning to do?" Andrew asked from the other line. 

"Yes, actually I'm here now in the Del Mundo's lounge in his company."

"Ohh... what would you explain to Sophia when she finds your plan?"

"I will tell her the truth."

"Well, good luck, dude, not from her but from the claws of her father...grrrrr!" and he even copied the sound of a lion before bursting into laughter. 

He flew with me to Italy but I told him to stay in the hotel as I'm the one who will talk to the senior Del Mundo. 

"Shut up, Andrew! You're just adding my nervousness!" I said through gritted teeth, but the idiot on the other line laughed even more. 

"Hahaha... can you believe that? The famous Daniel Kelley is nervous to face his fake father-in-law?"

"You better pack your things and get ready to fly back to California tomorrow!"

"Oh, you can't do that to me! Haha, I know you love me!"

"He's here!" I straightened my seat when I saw a man coming with a personal nurse pushing the wheelchair behind him. 

"What do you mean-----"

"I'm hanging up!" I ended the call and got up immediately when the man in his late fifties stopped exactly two meters away from me. 

He looked like a male version of my wife, except for his eyes because Sophia had her mother's eyes. 

"Buongiorno Sigñore Del Mundo." ( Good morning, Sir Del Mundo.) I smiled and slightly bowed my head as a sign of respect. 

"Good morning, Mister?"

"Kelley."

"Good morning, Mr. Kelley. Do you really speak Italian?"

"Oh, not really, Sir." I gave him an awkward smile. 

"I see, then let's talk in English." He also smiled at me and offered his hand for a handshake. "Thank you for buying the company. I don't know your reason for doing it, but thank you."

He motioned his personal nurse to push him near the couch before telling her to leave us for a while. 

"I'm sorry if you have to see me in this condition." He sighed. "I have stage four lung cancer and I'm just trying to move every single cell of my body. I don't want to die without anything to leave to my family."

My mouth hung open when I heard what he said, but I pretended to be calm as I don't want him to feel awkward with me. 

"Are you alone, Sir? What I mean is, did you come here by yourself?"

"No, I came here with my wife. She just went to the restroom."

I just smiled and nodded at him. I saw how his eyes gleam with happiness and love when he mentioned the word 'wife', that's exactly what I feel every time I introduce Sophia as my wife. 

"You're not an Italian, are you?"

"No, Sir, I am American and I am from California."

"Ohh..." He said, nodding. "Anyway, I'm just curious on why you became interested in buying the company? Well, it's not a secret to everyone that our company is currently struggling with so many crisis. Do you have other plans to do or you want to continue the sausage business?"

"I do have other plans, Sir."

"Hmm..."

"Honey!"

We both turned to the voice of the woman who came from behind me. She didn't notice me as she walked directly to her husband. They both had a sweet smile for each other. I don't know the other reasons why they have been separated for years, but seeing the love that shines in their eyes right now, that only means that true love never fades and distance never separates two hearts that really care.

"Honey, I want you to meet the new owner of the company-----" he was about to introduce me but he hadn't had the chance to say my name as his wife had already recognized me. 

"Mr. Daniel Kelley?"

"Good morning, Ma'am." I just smiled at her as I don't know how to greet her. 

"What are you doing here?" She asked the evidence of shock and confusion was all written in her eyes. 

"You know each other?" Mr. Del Mundo's eyes were moving from his wife to me and then back to her. "Honey, I was about to introduce him to you. He's the new owner of our company."

"What? You were the one who bought the company?"  Her eyes doubled in size. "Why? Why did you do that, Mr. Kelley?"

"Wait! Can someone explain to me what is going on here? How did you two know each other?"

Our eyes turned to the old man. 

"Honey, the one who bought your company is your son-in-law. The man standing in front of you is your daughter's husband."

The emotions in his eyes changed into something I couldn't read. 

"So, you are my daughter's husband, huh?"

"Yes, Sir." I said, looking straight at him. 

We were all fell into silent and the only the thing we can hear is his loud sighs that I'm not sure if it's for being surprised or for frustrations. 

"When I learned that someone bought the company, I felt happy and disappointed. Happy because at least my family will no longer suffer the burden that will be left when I die----"

"Honey!"

"It's true, honey. But I'm also disappointed in myself as I didn't make my promise. The company is no longer mine and you're now the new owner. Honestly, I don't care whatever your plans for it, but since you're my daughter's husband, I'm curious as to why you become interested in buying the company?"

"Believe me or not Mr. Del Mundo, but I just want to help."

"You want to help?"

I nodded. 

"But we're not asking for any help, Mr. Kelley."

"Sir---"

"Why? We both know you are not my real son-in-law!"

My jaws fell to the ground because of his words. He didn't even beat around the bush, he really threw those words directly on my face. Now I understand where did Sophia get that kind of behaviour. 

"My daughter told me everything that you just married because of an agreement, so that means you have no commitment to each other."

"Yes, you're right, Sir. We got married because of a deal, a one-year agreement, but I love her. I learned to love her."

They both gasped before exchanging a glance. 

"You do?"

"Yes, Sir, I love your daughter so much----"

"But she said, you didn't feel the same."

"It's because I didn't have the chance to tell her, no, the truth is that I didn't have the courage to tell her. I was a fool, an idiot, a jerk and I hurt her."

I stood up and knelt in front of him. They were both surprised by my action but I continued speaking. 

"But if you would allow me, Sir, I want to sort things out between me and your daughter. I love her and I want to ask for her hand to take formally in the aisle. I can't promise to be a perfect son-in-law or a perfect husband for her, but what I can promise is to love her and to cherish her until my last breath."

"Ohh... as a mother and as parents, we love that idea, Mr. Kelley, but we are not the one to decide for that proposal. You should ask our daughter for that." Mrs. Del Mundo patted my shoulder. 

"So does this mean you bought my company just to impress my daughter?" His voice was serious but his eyes held emotions that far from being serious.