Chapter 3

Jennifer's Pov

I slowly enter the mansion with my purse hanging loose .I remove my heels and hold them in my hand ,ready to climb the enormous staircase .

Having my eyes wonder everywhere ,I spot Romano sitted on the stool at the bar ,having one of his finest whiskeys.I chose to ignore the old man but then ....

" Jennifer " he calls out .

I sigh fighting the urge to tell my own father to get a life after the shitty day I've had but no...

No one disrespects Romano ,and that too not in his house

" Yes ,Papa " I walk closer to him .

He takes a long look at me in confusion but simply sighs not even in the world bothered by his daughter's raggedy appearance

" The Lombardi's request for our presence at their house tomorrow evening "

He says easily ,taking another sip of his hard whiskey .

He kept quiet for a while,giving me space to process his words.

He hadn't said it but I knew he wanted me to fix myself up because I looked like a mess.

Finding the whole situation irritating I turned to leave but he went on to speak further .

" I have been very lenient with you and letting you do whatever you please but tomorrow I am not taking any excuses and tomorrow you'll be ready by seven ,young lady .I believe you'll be home tomorrow so we can go together " he said with finality .

He didn't even glance my way as he said those words but I already knew if I didn't make it tomorrow on time ,he'd do worse than cut me off from his will and as his only succesor.

Finding no reason to stay ,I spoke " Have a pleasant night ,Father "

Romano only nodded in response .

And ofcourse what had I expected.

A " sleep tight ,honey or don't let the bad bugs bite "??

' Those days were long gone ' I thought .

I slowly make my way up the stairs exhausted .

I make it to my room and shut the door.

I glide down leaning on it ,feeling the weight of the world fall onto my shoulders.

I hadn't turned on the lights .All I had wanted was to have darkness consume me.

I wanted to find peace in the menacing silence.

To find comfort on the cold floor

But I knew it just hadn't been possible.

My life was now a huge disaster and I had no one help me fix it ,defintely not Jax .

I hadn't even told the poor guy.

Romano couldn't even help me get back up from my feet .

My father was the type to watch you fail in silence .

Thinking of Lucinda Corti,I shed a tear but wiped it before it ran through.

I was Jennifer Conti and I wasn't going to be weak .

With that I stood up ,threw my heels away from me .

Threw my purse somewhere in the darkness and made it to my bed .

Romano ,Lucas and everyone could go fuck off .

They'd have to do more than this to kick me down so easily...

LUCAS' POV

I throw the cigarette bud on the ash tray n watch it loose it's flame .

I then stare into the city lights .Nothing more peaceful than being in my office late at night .

My thoughts suddenly trailed off due to my assistant ,Catherine's chirpy voice.

" Sir ... " She trails off making sure she had my attention .

" This is the final file that needs your signature .It's the release form to the designers so they start designing the new winter line " she said maing sure to brush her hand against mine .

Looking at her skirt it had been made way shorter than when I'd seen her in earlier .

Catherine was just like that .The tall blonde ,that always wears revealing clothes inorder to get you attention .

She was the tall blonde who'd stop at nothing until she get's what I'd like to say a quick fuck with you and cling onto you for dear life .

I knew she wanted every part of me ,just like any other man wanted a piece of her but having her would only complicate my life .

I already had enough fuck buddies ,I honestly didn't need another one .

I sign the document and hand it to her .

I finally sigh when she closes the door .

As much as I hated people who tried to hard,I had to admit she was too good at her job ,plus I'd add more labour into finding someone as good as her to replace her.

Finally ,having some alone time,I let peace consume me only to be disturbed again.

My phone rings ,looking at the the caller ID ,I fight my annoyance

Christopher Lombardi .The founder of Lonbardi Jewelers .The largest shareholder in my company .

The man I called my dad .

He gave me this company 5 years ago and I'm not ashamed to say it but I made it better than it ever was in his hands.

But the old man still didn't trust me with the title of being the biggest shareholder .

He says ,he's father would turn in his grave if he did give it to me now ,something about me not being ready .

He believes a wiseman always has a supporting wife on his side who grounds him .

And I believe I was doing fine already by myself ,a wife would only drag me down but no ...

Christopher Lombardi only believed his choices were best hence I'd have to get married to a mad woman by the name Jennifer Conti .

This wedding arrangement between me and the latter would give me the position I've always dreamt of jn the shareholders group .

It won't onky give me that but it will provide an opportunity to have more Jewelery stores around the Globe .

And Romano Conti would be the loophole I desperately need .

He owned thousand and thousands of malls all over,giving me just I latfrom I need.

Smart men like Romano were bastards at heart but defintely the type of man you'd leave your whole business to .

He knew how to run a good business .

Now ever since I agreed to marrying the kid ,my father had been all up in my business.

Chosing to answer the phone, I ask him

" Yes ?"

" I hope you have made uo your mind about attending tomorrow's dinner .It's the last dinner before the wedding programs begin " he says .

" Dad I told you ,I'm not doing any of this shit .I'll come to the wedding only .That's it"

I said trying to control myself from bursting at him .

He was still my father .

" Well you have to becauae it's part of tradition .What would have your grandfather said to me if he was still alive "

I sigh knowing there was no way winning this .

If you ever want to win a conversation in the Lombardi family ,just bring up the Late Damon Lombardi ,my pops.

" So I trust you'll suck it up like a grown man and make in time for dinner tomorrow .I expect you at eight sharp and don't come empty handed and if you do ,don't tell me I didn't warn when your mother screams at you "

And just like that he cuts the call.

This conversation was nothing different, that's how it has always been ever since some genius thought it'd be a great idea to join the two families .

It was always about the wedding .

Frustrated I grab my things ,I leave my office not sparing Catherine anything but a simple glance .

Finally pushing my pride aside I make a call .

" Lombardi "

" Conti "

You could hear Jennifer shiver from the other side of the line .

" Don't telk me ,I still have that effect on you"I smirk