Chapter 6

MARIANELLA

We came in his car, he usually uses his drivers and security guards, but today he didn't, I sat in the passenger seat and kept quiet.

Not that I could speak, the sight of Roman driving seemed so eye-catching, it's no big deal, but on him it looks so masculine, I just discovered a new hobby by accident.

He was so focused that maybe my presence went unnoticed, this innate confidence that my boss uses to handle everything is almost suffocating considering that I literally feel like a prey heading towards its predator.

We stop in front of a restaurant, which I wouldn't normally go to alone, my salary doesn't support this kind of fun, not even if Esmeralda and I were to get together to pay for it.

He unbuckles his seat belt and gets out of the car, just like that, without saying anything or waiting for me, I quickly unbuckle myself and force my legs to stick out, I won't give him the luxury of witnessing more nervousness than is stamped on my face.

I watch as he throws the key to the valet, and then fits his hand into the curve of my back, my body goes rigid with this contact, he has never, I repeat never touched me like this, not that he should of course, and I don't have much time to think about it either, because I am dragged through the entrance of the restaurant.

My ears are ringing because I am still in shock at his hand on me, after all, he is still my boss and we don't have any kind of agreement.

The girl at the front desk greets him and says briefly that she has reserved the most discreet table as he requested, and then guides us through the corridors of the restaurant before waving towards our table and wishing us a good appetite.

Dios Mio.

It's all I can think of when I look at the view our table gives us, it's right next to a large glass wall that stretches across the hall, the night view takes my breath away, the city that seems to swallow anyone on a daily basis is now so small, it seems to fit in the palm of my hand.

It's nothing like the sights I've seen before, so I can't help but sigh and let my gaze linger on it.

“ It's beautiful," I whisper.

“ Indeed," I shudder at the answer.

I look at him briefly, and find him looking at me as well, which leaves me confused, but soon it's over, Roman moves deftly to pull out a chair and offer it to me, and I sit down and let him push me gently back to the table.

The act of chivalry fills me with surprise, he definitely does not seem like the person I have been living with for a little over a year, he seems every second more contradictory and this makes me unsure.

With the menu in hand I analyze it, end up choosing a grilled salmon with vegetables, Roman orders the same and also adds a wine whose name I am unable to reproduce, it is so fancy and robust.

It doesn't take long before the poor waiter is back with bottle and glasses in hand, my boss politely dismisses him, and serves our glasses by himself, I waste no time in taking mine and adding some alcohol to my stomach, I am in need.

“ You are avoiding me," he says, and I have the answer on the tip of my tongue, but he continues, "You know this is pointless, don't you?”

“ I didn't do it," I lie, so as not to be so obvious”.

“ You didn't do it, huh? “

I grit my teeth, hellish habit of repeating things in that sarcastic way, that's how he detects lies and uses them against people, but I'm not making it easy like that, not really.

“ This conversation was going to happen anyway," I add with conviction.

“ Is that so?”

“ Why don't you just say it? “ I retort.

A small, provocative smile stretches his lips, he brings his glass to his mouth and takes a brief sip of his drink, and it holds me, as simple as it is, I can't stop staring.

And worse, Roman is fully aware of it.

- As you might imagine, my subject is rather delicate X he begins, setting his glass down on the table - I still don't have complete control of my father's actions, and it's limiting my business, all because of some stupid will he left behind before he died.

A shiver runs through me at the coldness of these words, and I catch a certain sorrow as well.

“ And what would this will be that you have not fulfilled until today? “ I find myself asking.

" It's my mother's dream to see me engaged, don't ask me why, but she wanted to give it to her if only to force me, so here I am”.

“ Is that why you need me? “ It doesn't make sense, I don't meet any of the requirements for that.

“ Actually, it makes perfect sense - that damned cup coming back to his lips and distracting me  "My mother's original idea was to set me up with her best friend's daughter, of course it was a failure, I wouldn't marry that woman if my life depended on it”.

“ I still don't understand where I fit into this”.

“ My mother was also my father's secretary, so I am giving her what she wants, a big happy romantic scenario, she won't go against it because she has been in that situation before, which would make it easier for me”.

The understanding hits me, he has everything very well calculated in his mind, of course he does, silly of me to think that he would do anything that was not for his own benefit.

“ It's going to be difficult, I mean this is going to raise a lot of controversy," I say more to myself than to him.

“ Being my fiancée will give you a certain immunity, I will put an end to anything and everything that stands in front of you, that's not a promise, that's a guarantee”.

I shudder at the powerful words, he emanates this, man is made to be on top, and to get what he wants out of the world, even if it includes pulling the leg of his own mother.

“ How is this going to work?”

“ We will act like a normal couple, the intention is to make the whole thing very natural to the eye of the beholder, you have total freedom to act with me, this includes touching, dating, events we will do together, I just don't want to overdo it, we definitely won't be that mushy couple," he spits out the last part as if it were nauseating.

“ Is that why there is nothing sexual in the contract? “ I find the courage to ask.

He laughs, and it hits the bottom of my bones.

“ I believe that you are as grown up to say no to what you don't want to do as I am to listen and respect that, it's you who sets the limits, Marianella”.

I wish I wasn't so affected, but knowing that he is giving me the power of choice, instead of simply putting his demands on paper, changes something in me, it's a small sign of trust, coming from someone who doesn't trust his own family.

Deep down I also think that he knows things can get messy, and is just absolving himself of responsibility, it's very hard to know, he's a tyrant with a volatile mood that doesn't make his intentions as clear as I would like.

“ What's in it for me? Because I have more to lose in this case, when it's all over, you can just discard me, I don't want to be insecure and unprotected”.

“ Just say what you want, and I'll make it happen," he says simply.

I know it's no big deal to him, he could turn the world upside down if he so desired, but something in my chest guides me, an intuition that maybe this is my chance to achieve all the plans I didn't get after college.

I deserved this, even if it was riding on this man's back, I don't mind in the least taking advantage of it, nor taking whatever names they are.

“ I want you to help me set up my own business”.  

His eyes sparkle with something indecipherable, he nods positively, but I need more.

“ Consider it done”.

I smile at his response.

After he assured me that he would help me with my family, that he would let me take care of it and do it the way I thought best, I abandoned all doubts and left my signature on that contract.

From that second on, I was his bride.