I grab the fork and dig into the eggs in front of me. Next, I take a bite of a pancake.
It’s as if Matteo didn’t know what I liked to eat and had his cook make me one of every breakfast dish.
I would think it was thoughtful gesture if he wasn’t such a dick.
Too bad he has to be so damn good-looking. It would be easier if he wasn’t attractive.
I’d be able to come up with a plan without my blood pressure rising. Not just because of his looks but also because he’s infuriating.
Earlier today when I left the room and bumped into him, I thought I would stop breathing.
He had no shirt on.
His chest had a light gleam of sweat on it.
And his abs.
Oh Lord . . .
There are no words to describe those.
I stuff another bite of food in my mouth.
Yep. This would be so much easier if he was ugly. Then I wouldn’t be lusting after my soon-to-be husband in a way that just seems pathetic right now with how big of an asshole he’s been.
If only I could find a way out of this mess, then I wouldn’t have to worry that I’m going to melt into a puddle every time he is near me.
Even thinking about this now has my cheeks warming.
I feel warm and feverish, which definitely means I’m blushing.
At least no one is here to see me.
I’m almost done with my eggs when I hear the sound of heels.
Shit.
Looking up, I see a beautiful woman approaching me. She has long brown hair and green eyes. Eyes very familiar to Matteo’s, so this must be his cousin.
“Viviana, I’m Giana.” She reaches her hand out, and I shake it.
“Hi. I’m Viviana.”
“I know.” She laughs as she drops my hand and gestures to the table. “Are you finished?”
I look down at my plate, then back at her and nod.
There’s not very much left, and truth be told, I’m stuffed.
“Okay, good, because my cousin seems to think I’m a miracle worker and can get a wedding together in one day.”
Surprisingly, I laugh at that. I didn’t expect her to talk like that about Matteo, but then I think about her words. I swear I actually gulp when the implication of them hits me.
“What do we have to get ready? It’s just going to be him and me . . . right?”
She laughs again. “Oh, God no.”
“What do you mean?”
“The whole family will be there. That’s the hard part. Trying to pull off the impossible. Trying to make it look like this isn’t a spur-of-the-moment event.”
“Why?”
“Matteo Amante doesn’t just marry anyone.”
“But my family won’t be there. Won’t that look strange?”
“No. Most everyone of importance knows why he’s marrying you.”
I want to scream but know I can’t. I don’t know why I even care that everyone knows it’s a sham marriage. I just do.
“I didn’t mean that to be offensive. Sorry if it came out that way, but in this family, no one marries for love. Him marrying a governor’s daughter makes sense.”
My head drops, strands of hair covering my eyes. It’s like a protective shield right now. One I need. “I can’t marry him,” I admit as I look back up at her.
She tilts her head, and her eyes soften. “I don’t think you have a choice. But despite the hard exterior, he’ll be good to you. There are worse men to marry.”
“Like Salvatore,” I mumble back.
“Yes, like Salvatore.”
“Well, since I have no choice, we might as well get this over with.” I move to stand, but before I do, I stop. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Do you think Matteo would let me invite someone?”
“I don’t know.” She nibbles on her lower lip, unsure. “Lord knows how his mind works. I can ask, though.”
For the first time since this whole debacle started, I smile.
“Thanks.”
Giana is a miracle worker. Not only did she find me a dress but she also found me shoes. Apparently, the only thing she couldn’t do was convince Matteo to let me invite Julia. I know my family won’t be there, but I don’t care about that. All I care about is having my friend by my side.
Tears fill my eyes.
I knew it was a long shot, but still, I hoped. Dreamed. But it serves me right.
Giana promised me the location for tomorrow. But apparently, Matteo stomped on that too.
No matter how much I try to find out, I get nowhere.
Giana says he’s probably afraid I would tip off my family.
I wouldn’t.
I don’t want them to stop this wedding.
I know the ship has sailed already, and there is no going back now. So instead of trying to think about it, I tuck myself in the bedroom on the sixth floor and close my eyes, willing sleep to come.
Fortunately for me, it does.
Now, I’m up and dressed. The gown Giana had picked out on my body. My hair and makeup also done. Giana is apparently a woman of many talents.
I look at myself in the mirror and am taken aback by what I see.
My hair is blown out in soft waves, and my makeup is nothing, merely a light dusting. The best version of my true self she had said as she placed the gloss on my lips earlier. I’m straight out of a fairy tale, ever the princess Matteo says I am. My eyes fill with tears. In this story, I’m not marrying the prince, and I’ll never have my happy ending. From here on out, I’ll be the property of a mob boss.
It feels like I’m slowly losing myself in a world I’m unfamiliar with. Like I’m walking into the unknown.
I’m scared.
Marrying Matteo is a calculated move, but what if I’m wrong?
What if this is the wrong decision?
What if, in my need to rid myself from my father’s grasp, I have damned myself to a worse fate?
My teeth biting into my lip has me shaking myself out of the void I’ve just entered. I have too much going on right now to think about this.
I head down the elevator because no way in hell am I walking down those stairs in these shoes, and before I know it, I’m being placed in a car to an unknown location.
Thirty minutes later, the car stops, and when I step out, I see Giana.
She’s smiling at me, but when I walk up to her, she pulls me into a hug. I am not expecting that, but it's exactly what I need with all the nerves running through me.
There is no one here for me today, so I welcome the friendship Giana gives me.
“Welcome to your new home.” My new home? This is where Matteo lives? It reminds me of an English manor. A large manicured lawn surrounded by trees keeps it cocooned in privacy, but the house itself makes my mouth drop. With large pillars and a limestone façade, it’s straight out of a fairy tale. “You ready?” she asks, pulling me from my thoughts.
I nod but cannot bring myself to say yes.
“How come I don’t believe you?” She laughs. Because I don’t even believe me. But I don’t say that. Instead, I just hug her back and pull back with a smile. “You will do great. Everything will be okay. Now, let’s go. It’s time.”
“I don’t know—” I start to admit. My vision clouds from the unshed tears.