The Mafia Boss Pretend Wife

ROBERT’S POV

The sound of pen on paper unnerved and irritated me at the same time. I sat in a dimly lit office with dark furniture that gave the otherwise extravagant space a gloomy feel.

My eyes fixed on the man opposite me, his fingers around a pen as he concentrated on his task of writing on paper. It was eerily quiet and calm, the silence rivaling my beating heart.

“I’m sure you didn’t call me here to watch you write, father,” I finally said, narrowing my eyes at him.

We sat in his office, opposite each other and since I arrived, he’d completely ignored me even though he had requested my presence. Finally, the sound stopped. He dropped his pen before looking up at me, his gaze intense.

“Right. Do you know what today is?” he asked, his voice calm.

My brows shot up as I thought, trying to recall if I had missed anything important. My frown deepened and I let out an irritated sigh.

“All I know is, it’s past midnight and I’ve been sitting here for too long, father,” I finally replied.

My father relaxed, crossed his arms and stared down at me, his face revealing nothing of what he was thinking.

“It’s ninety days until The Elders vote for a new chair of the Moore Syndicate. And here you are, my heir, unmarried without plans to seize it,” he said.

I let my shoulders slack before relaxing on my chair, “I told you father, I don’t want it. I don’t want anything to do with The Elders or this business.”

“You might be reckless and audacious Robert, but you’re no fool. You don’t get to decide that and walk away.” The old man said, his calm demeanor slowly creeping away.

“Watch me.”

“You will represent our family and you will get married, Robert. Would you rather the position went to Marcus?!” He pointed his finger at me and I struggled to suppress the urge to throw the half empty glass on his head.

“If Marcus wants it, why can’t he have it?”

“If Marcus takes that chair, he’ll bleed this family dry and sell you out to the highest bidder. If you leave, then you’ll do what? Run? Like a fucking coward?!” He yelled, slamming his fist on the table.

This time, dread settled in. He was right. Marcus was known for his cruelty and involvement with our rivals.

“I’m sure someone else in our family won’t allow that to happen,” I said, my lips and throat dry.

Picking up the glass, I emptied the contents into my stomach.

“Don’t be stupid. That nonsense discourse of wanting to leave the business, I thought you were being silly but now, I understand you plan on being difficult.” Setting down his pen, he got up and walked towards me.

“I discussed with members of the order and you are well aware that you can’t leave with your head on your neck.”

“I plan on finding a way, father. I didn’t ask to be part of this life-“

“And yet you are.” He snapped, infuriated. “Marry, take that chair and rule, then you can have a chance to get what you want.”

“What?” I sat up, looking at him.

He looked serious.

Turning back, he rested on the table, and stared down at me with a scowl on his face.

“I might’ve overestimated you and maybe you are foolish after all. If you take the family chair, you can bend the rules. Meet the right people then secure the opportunity to leave with your head still intact. Before your possible departure, I’ll ensure things are in place for a new heir that isn’t your cousin, Marcus.”

My breath seized and I stared up at my father. He was an uptight and straightforward man that always got what he wanted. Helping me had to mean there was something in it for him.

“What’s the catch?”

“As I said, you’ll have to marry. That way, you’ll qualify to be nominated and inherit what I have as my heir. Lucky for you…” he paused, before pulling out a file and dropping it in front of me.

I removed the paper from the file and quickly scanned the words. My mind went blank, going through each word one by one.

‘Marriage Proposal Between Robert Moore and Anya Orlova,’ it read.

“I have set up an arrangement with the Orlovas. You’ve known Anya since you were a child. Marry her and we’d have the biggest alliance with each other, setting us high in the hierarchy. This gives us more power -“

“Us?!” I snapped at him, my anger already reaching a boiling point. “For fuck’s sake, father, we have enough power as it is. You’re a member of the Elders, what else do you still want?!” I burst out.

“More!” He yelled back, shutting me up immediately.

“Our rivals are building up their strength, but what do I have? A son that would prefer to abandon his family like a fucking coward!”

The room fell quiet immediately after his outburst. I couldn’t form the words I wanted to, couldn’t say them. My mind raced and as usual, I forced myself to say something smart to infuriate him more but my gut feeling wouldn’t let me.

He was right.

I’d decided to leave the mafia but knew it was no small task. I knew I was ready to risk it all and had to be smart about the decisions I was to make.

“I’m not marrying a woman from the Orlova family,” I finally said.

My father walked over to the other side of the room, filled two cups with whisky, then walked back, dropping one in front of me.

“You have a choice, Rob. You either marry the Orlovas or get a woman from a decent family, I could care less, and marry her before the day of vote. I can work some arrangements with the Orlovas while you get your bride. Inherit our legacy, fight for the family and your freedom as you please. Or else, you run around with your balls hanging and wait for death. Trust me, it won’t be long.” He finished, downing his whiskey at a go before going back to sit on his chair.

“I get to choose who I’ll marry?”

“You do. If the Orlova girl isn’t good enough for you, then go ahead. You’d be unwise to turn down their family though. And I’d make sure they know it was you who turned them down.”

My thoughts raced and my jaw began to ache from clenching it. Involuntarily, my gaze moved to the portrait of the woman across the room.

My mother.

Her words before passing away still rang in my mind. She was the one person that wanted me free. Away from the violence and danger that was my life.

My father’s ultimatum – marry, inherit and lead or die and risk this family – was the best I could get. Choosing the Orlovas meant I’d be fighting my family and theirs for my aim. I couldn’t let that happen.

“Okay, father. I’ll do as you want, but I won’t be marrying Anya Orlova. I’ll get my bride before the time elapses but you must promise to keep true to your words.” I said, watching his every move.

“When have I ever said a thing I didn’t do.”

He never has. A commendable trait he had was he kept true to his every word and I knew that.

My heart raced and my breath quickened. I had ninety days. Ninety days to find a bride and keep Marcus from getting what he wants and destroying our legacy.