The third point of view

The torturous gagging noise of the woman crouching over the water closet finally ended.

Maya groaned, sitting back against the tiled wall. With a grunt, she reached for the tissue and tore off a piece which she used to wipe her mouth before tossing it into the toilet. With great effort, she rose to her feet, flushed the toilet, and walked out of the cubicle.

Slouching against the sink, she stared back at her reflection in the mirror. Gosh, she looked horrible. Her expression was pale and there was a hint of a wrinkle around her eye - Oh no, she was getting old!

Bending over, she turned the faucet, scooped water with her palms and took a big sip out of it, and held it in her mouth.

Maya tilted her head back, swishing the cold water around in her mouth and then spit it out.

After throwing up her guts in the toilet, she couldn't guarantee her breath wasn't going to stink especially considering the fact she had no breath mint with her.

Maya proceeded with that method five times before she was convinced that no one would smell a thing.

She must be sick or something, Maya thought. Else why would she recoil at the sight of her favorite spaghetti and meatballs?

After washing her face and making sure nothing was out of place, she returned to Sakuzi's table and there she again met that goddamned spaghetti.

Her hands flew to her nose to pinch it shut while gesturing to Sakuzi frantically," Please take this animosity out of my smelling radius"

" I thought you liked it ?" Sakuzi was surprised.

"I liked it, "Maya emphasized, "Just take it away from my sight at the moment, please?" She implored, having known that Sakuzi easily honors all her requests attached with "please" at the end.

"Very well then," he conceded.

She watched him give a sign to one of the waiters who hurried to their table, clearing away the food.

"So," Sakuzi began," What about that proposal, why won't you date me?"

The drink spurted out of her mouth from shock. Was this a curse or what? Why was it that each time she drinks, they choose that moment to release a shocker?

"I'm sorry," she coughed, wiping her mouth with the table napkin, "I thought I heard wrong?"

"You didn't hear me wrong, my princess" Sakuzi confirmed for her, "Once you agree to this request, you don't have to do anything, just spend time with me, I want to get to know you"

Yeah, only if the "spend time and get to know you" is as innocent as you sound right now, Maya sassed in her head.

She knew all these sugar daddies, they were no different than the young, fire blooded men who were all scums. They would say one thing yet mean another and wouldn't even recall said promise when buried deep inside a woman.

"Do I really have to answer?" She gulped.

"Yes, I can't wait to get started with you." Sakuzi was as excited as a child who just received a candle from mommy.

Fine, Maya, this was now or never, if she dies for this, so be it. She glanced up with a deep breath and said, "I'm sorry but I can't do that"

"What?"

"Honestly, you scare me and I want to be as far as I can from your kind of lifestyle as possible. Secondly, I don't date people who are old enough to be my father…"

Sakuzi was almost tempted to say, "You don't have to worry, I'm your father" but he bit back his words.

"I'm an upcoming actress who has more scandals than the movies she's acted in and right now, I finally have a chance to make a name for myself and I'm not going to ruin it, so you should kill me now" Maya declared.

For a moment there, Maya held her breath and had a nervous breakdown watching Sakuzi's blank look until a huge grin split his face.

"Your father must be so proud of you," he said, lifting a drink to her.

"Trust me, that bastard doesn't deserve that privilege" Maya mumbled under her breath," it's highly doubtable, Mother never liked me, why would the unknown father like me?"

"You never can know, try finding the man and hear his own side of the story"He advised her- inwardly hoping she does.

"Oh please, I have better things to do than to find a mysterious man that my mother does even have a clue about" Maya rolled her eyes.

The wine in Sakuzi's mouth turned bitter upon discovering that the mother of his child, Angela, has given him a bad reputation in his daughter's eyes. She'd have to answer to that later.

"But wait a minute, "Maya recalled, "Does this mean I won't be your sugar baby anymore?" She asked with a tinge of hope. Her heart was anticipating a positive reply while shifting uneasily in her seat.

"Oh, don't worry," he winked at her, "You're my baby girl, already. I'll just have to call for your company once in a while, I hope you don't mind?"

Maya was so taken aback by his pleasantness that she could only nod. What the heck did she just witness?

Sakuzi's friendly demeanor gave her the boldness to speak at last.

"Well, If you haven't killed me by then, sure, why not?" She shrugged, "I wouldn't mind being your companion. That way, when you finally kill me, the guilt would gnaw at your heart forever"

Maya hoped this would save her life somehow or buy her more time to live. It was so distressing to know that her days were numbered and that she had a limited time to do everything she wanted before the cold hands of death snatched her away.

"You know I do have a pretty daughter like you. Same age and personality, which was why I didn't cut your head off that night I had you kidnapped "

Sakuzi purposely dropped hints. Even if he wasn't going to disclose his identity to her tonight, he'd give her something to ponder over. Hopefully, this daughter of his would be smart enough to put two and two together.

"Wow," Maya gasped theatrically with her hand on her chest," Your daughter must be so proud of you," she said with sarcasm.

Sakuzi facepalmed mentally, he overrated her. The girl was too blinded by her grudges against him that she could not see the clues he was giving her.

Well, he could not blame her, Angela was at fault for all of this moreover, It was not every day that one got a mafia father.

Suddenly, there was a slight commotion as people were being led out of the restaurant one after the other cautiously and with an apology.

"What's going on?" Maya was perplexed and bothered by the noises and worried lines on people's faces.

"Relax, my princess. Niklaus is the one happening" Sakuzi replied, nonchalantly sipping his wine as if this was a normal occurrence.

Almost immediately, about ten expressionless men in black suits surrounded their table, pointing their gun at Sakuzi.

Their appearance was so sudden and nimble that it made Maya almost jump out of her skin; she almost had a heart attack.

Another set of men marched into the restaurant and in their midst was Niklaus looking so suave and noble yet downright terrifying.

His features were taut; his jaw was clamped tight, face unsmiling, eyes darkened and trained on her with an intensity that made the hairs on her arm stand on edge.

Maya's breath hitched once her eyes settled on him. Each step he took brought him closer to her which caused butterflies in her belly.

Niklaus was so angry that he was seeing red. He reached out, pulled her out of the seat, and slammed her to his side.

"Ouch" Maya cried out in pain when her nose hit his rock-like chest.

"What do you think you're doing?!" He roared at Sakuzi ferociously, scaring even Maya.

"What do you think I'm doing?" Sakuzi chuckled, he wasn't even fazed by the bulging veins on the angry Niklaus.

'I'm having dinner with my princess" he answered, enraging Niklaus further.

Niklaus let her go, approaching Sakuzi with slow calculated steps before leaning towards him,

"I don't care what your game is but stay away from her," he warned the mafia lord with a dangerously low voice.

"And if I don't?" Sakuzi challenged, staring him straight in the eyes.

Niklaus rose, snatched the pistol from the grasp of one of his men, pulled the trigger, and pressed it against Sakuzi's temple.

"Niklaus, don't!" Maya didn't know when she took a step forward but Niklaus' piercing glare glued her feet to the ground, her heart slamming against her chest.

Yes, she disliked Sakuzi but she wouldn't wish for him to die right in front of her, that nightmare would haunt her forever.

Moreover, that makes Niklaus a murderer and as much as Sakuzi's blood would be on him, it would be on her too- she was the reason he died.

Even if Niklaus uses his wealth and power to evade the law, the Sakuzi Clan would not let him or her off.

Sakuzi was after Niklaus because he mistakenly killed one of his sons. What more, when Niklaus kills Sakuzi, the head of the Falcon Gang?

It would be a full-blown war! The casualty would be uncountable - even innocent civilians would be dragged into this mess.

Maya was about to call out to Niklaus to stop when she saw numerous red lights traveling her body. What the bloody hell.

"Fine, go ahead and put an end to me. I'll just spend a good time with Maya in the underworld. That would be more entertaining, I believe" Sakuzi told him.

His weird statement made Niklaus's face scrunch up and he turned to see Maya's stiff form, there were laser sights on her body.

Shit, Niklaus cursed. Sakuzi had snipers in the building. if he fires at that asshole, Maya was as good as dead. He knew Sakuzi would never come alone but he was too furious to care.

Eyes squeezed shut, he let the gun drop to his side in resignation.

Sakuzi guffawed with his head thrown back. He stood to his feet all giddy and patted Niklaus on the shoulder saying, "You would never make a good son-in-law"

The Mafia lord laughed once again - his source of amusement known to him alone. He took his leave with his hands behind his back while whispering a tune.

He didn't even turn around or even glance over his shoulder for once to confirm if a gun was being pointed at his back.

It was a direct message and challenge to Niklaus: would you dare shoot me?