Chapter seven

His eyes trailed slowly from my head down to my toes, and I instinctively curled them against the cold marble floor.

Then his gaze snapped back to mine, causing my breath to catch instantly.

“What are you doing?” he asked skeptically, his deep baritone voice sending a sharp chill down my spine.

I quickly cleared my throat and shook my head too fast. “Hmm… I mean nothing. I…”

My words stumbled over themselves as I nervously twisted my fingers together. One hand kept fidgeting with the sleeve of the oversized jacket I was wearing… and that’s when it dawned on me that I was still putting on the jacket from that taxi driver.

Does this mean.. I didn’t actually take my bath last night?

GOSH!!

This is unbelievable

I immediately shook my head. With everything happening, it probably skipped my mind. I pushed it aside and sighed, hovering my other hand awkwardly in the air like I suddenly forgot what humans normally do with their hands.

“I was just..” I gestured vaguely around the room before pointing to nowhere in particular. “Looking.”

One of his dark brows lifted slowly

“Looking?”

The way he repeated the word made me feel stupid immediately.

Is this the only lie you could actually come up with, Mira?

I mentally scolded myself.

But nodded anyway.

But he scoffed and removed his hand from the doorknob as he took a step forward and slammed the door shut. The forcefulness made my throat go dry.

He slid both hands into his pockets. He was wearing a plain white shirt with almost all the buttons open… revealing that athletic body beneath. I bit my lip and quickly dragged my eyes away from there. Then my gaze dropped to the black trousers he had changed into, confusing me about when exactly he had managed to change.

I didn’t even see him come in last night

“This is his house, Mira. There are probably a hundred rooms in here,” my subconscious mocked, and I swallowed hard.

Alessandro took another calculating step forward. His sharp eyes fixed on me.

“I’m not a child. If you are looking for where to test your lying skills, then…” he nodded towards the door. “… do it elsewhere.”

“Who are you calling?” His eyes flickered to the badly arranged telephone beside me before returning to me.

And my heart skipped

Fine. No need to lie.

I mentally rolled my eyes and inhaled sharply.

“My friend,” I shrugged. “I just wanted to let her know that I’m safe so she wouldn’t be worried sick.”

His eyes narrowed slightly, clearly unconvinced. “You mean your stealing partner,” he mocked

I bite my inner lips and tilted my head to the side, not wanting to give him that reaction he craves.

He chuckled after a while before his face hardened again as if he hadn’t just mocked me.

What a waste of handsomeness.

I scowled inwardly.

Hating the fact that someone had to look so fine just to be a devil incarnate.

“Here!” Alessandro suddenly flipped his finger to grab my attention. I turned to look at him, matching the stern look on his eyes.

“You being my wife doesn’t mean that you get to do whatever you choose. I have rules, and as long as you are here… you must abide by them,” he said and I frowned, confused.

Rules?

Now I have to groomed like a child

“First rule.” Those deadly eyes settled on me again. “You’re not supposed to touch that phone…”

“Wow,” I cut him off with a laugh before he could finish and his eyebrows cringed. “Then hand me my phone,” I stretched out my hand. He looked at it like a piece of shit and glared back at me. “Like I was saying….” He continued, leaving my hand hanging awkwardly.

I glanced at my hand and licked my teeth in frustration before retracting my hand back to my side.

“I have a few rules… simple, but apparently too tempting for you to keep.” He threw me a wicked smirk as he stopped inches away from me. “First, no calls until I say so. Secondly…” his gaze darkened, “…you don’t touch things that don’t belong to you.”

I looked at him in disbelief before folding my arms tightly across my chest. “What is this? Prison?”

One of his lips twitched faintly. “Last time I checked prisoners don’t sleep on Egyptian cotton sheets.”

I rolled my eyes so hard it almost hurt. Does he think this is funny?

“Oh wow.” I nodded with a sarcastic smile. “My apology then. Should I be grateful my hostage situation comes with luxury bedding?”

I snarled, and a low chuckle escaped him unexpectedly… very deep. Brief. Dangerous.

And annoyingly attractive.

Oh my God…. this man is frustrating.

Alessandro took another slow step forward toward me until the strong scent of his cologne wrapped around me completely… and my stupid heart betrayed me by skipping.

Get hold of yourself… Mira.

This is the worst person to get attracted to.

“Can we get one thing straight here, little thief?” he muttered darkly, and my jaw clenched. “I own you. You’re my property until I’m done with you and decide to discard you. Only then do you get a choice.”

I blinked repeatedly.

and opened my mouth, but no words came out. Instead, I exhaled deeply, sucking in enough air to calm the rage building inside me.

“I have a life.” I snarled, trying to force the words into his thick skull.

But his wicked smirk deepened instead. “You should have thought of that before stealing from me,”

“I…. It was–“ I stopped myself, swallowing the word.

He didn’t need to know about Theo.

I nodded and licked my lips to control my anger. His eyes flickered to my lips but he was quick to look away.

And his face mellowed into a sudden disgust.

“Wait.” He sniffed the air before his sharp gaze swept over me.

I frowned and gave him a hard stare.

“You’re still wearing the same dr— wait.” He grimaced. “Don’t tell me you haven’t bathed.”

Fuck it….

Heat rushed to my face so quickly I thought my skin might actually catch fire.

Oh my goodness!

I quietly stepped back, my hands immediately flying to the oversized jacket like I could somehow hide inside it. The embarrassment crashed into me so hard my stomach twisted painfully.

Was it that obvious?

Do I smell?

I watched in humiliation as his nose scrunched slightly again before his eyes dragged slowly over me with obvious disbelief, then melted into sharp disgust. He opened his mouth, but a sudden knock at the door cut him off.

“Who is that?” He scowled

And a male voice came from behind the door. “It’s Marcus, boss,”

There was a silence before Alessandro muttered.

“Come in,”

The door opened calmly, and Marcus poked his head inside.

“Boss. Madam Rosalia is here to see you. She is downstairs.”

BAM…..!! The sudden mention of that name had his face pale before anger flashed through his eyes.

And without another word, he turned and started heading toward the door.

I watched him, perplexed.

But holding the doorknob, he paused and shot me a side glare. “If you love your pretty little ass, don’t you dare leave this room.” Then he turned and walked away.

The moment the door was slammed shut, I flinched.

My heart almost jumping off.

What was that?

I stared at the door, stunned before shaking my head to get this clear.

This is the second time…. “Rosalia,” I stammered, confused. Whenever that name was mentioned he always becomes this tense.

Mira… what exactly have you gotten yourself into?

I groaned and dragged a hand through my hair. My heart racing faster.

Why do I suddenly feel like something bad is about to happen?

I bit my lip and shook my head, fear gripping me harder now.

“God…..!” I groaned and fall on the bed, burying my face in my palms.

I had to think of a way to get myself out of this mess as soon as possible, but before then…

I sniffed myself again, and my face cringed.

“That is true. Jezzzz……. I smell so awful.”