CHAPTER FOUR

“Luca!”

“Talk to me dammit!”

“Grandpa wants to see you”

Luca Pavilochenki furiously slammed his phone on the jade floor of his mansion.

Immediately, two men in black suits cleaned up the mess and in three minutes, another phone was provided

Luca walked down the hallway leading to the entrance of the mansion, there was silence, except for the tapping of stiletto heels from the tall blonde woman walking quickly behind him.

He paused for a second and glares at her

“Leave”

“What?”

“I said leave, whatever you think we had is non existent.”

“But you said—”

“What is this whore still doing in my house Arman?”

“Sorry sir, I'll take care of it.”

Luca's right hand man, Arman quickly grabbed the woman before she could reach for Luca's suit.

“Let me go you eejit! You have no idea what I'm capable of —”

“Sandra.”

Luca called.

With a smile on her face, the woman turned to Luca.

“Never show up in my house again!”

With that, Luca walked out of his mansion and into his car.

Arman entered shortly after.

“Take me to the Pavilochenki family mansion.”

“Yes, sir.”

Luca entered the highest floor of the Pavilochenki family mansion. His grandfather sat down, playing a game of chess with himself.

Mr Pavilochenki raised his eyes to look at his grandson.

Luca was wearing a suit tailored to perfection, as always. His jet black hair complimented his features. His piercing blue eyes carried a mixture of rage and frustration.

Luca bowed to show respect to his grandfather, who acknowledged him with a nod.

Mr Rufus Pavilochenki was in his eighties, but he still had his vigor and stamina.

He was the reason their family held such a high position.

He had white hair, and the same eyes that Luca had.

Luca took a seat opposite Mr Pavilochenki.

“Grandfather…….

I know this marriage is strictly business, but I don't another arranged marriage.”

“I don't want to play husband while you sit there and control the game, like I'm your pawn—”

“When you are my age Luca, you will see why these decisions have to be made.”

“I know what—” Luca started.

“You will go to the dinner Luca, this decision is final!”

“The engagement, the wedding, everything has to be convincing.”

“But you must follow the script, nothing must go wrong .”

“There will be no children.”

“You will divorce her in 12 months.”

“You will not carry any emotional connection with you afterwards.”

:But I'm sure miss Gray will make a good play thing, for the time being.”

**********

Luca left the Pavilochenki mansion with a whirlwind of emotions.

This was because he was married before, briefly.

The marriage was also strictly business, but the scars it left were very deep……and he was the one who inflicted them.

Mr Pavilochenki wrote the script, he acted it out perfectly.

He was kind to her, made her feel loved, then the divorce came, she was framed for cheating, the press made the story sizzle, and that was it.

He moved on with his life because he never loved her to begin with, but she never recovered.

The monster he was!

****************

Sharon held her breath for the third time that morning. Her skin had absorbed what it needed, so why was she still submerged in milk.

Her head popped out of the white mass of fluid, and she took a long deep breath.

“Is all this really necessary?”

“Of course it is Claire replied.”

Claire also had a double personality. By day, she was a responsible young woman from a family that lived somewhere else, Sharon's bosom friend.

By night she was a club dancer, Riann’s

bosom friend.

This was the only way she could still be friends with Sharon when the Gray family was involved.

“This is a famous Chinese recipe

Your mother said you must look perfect!

Don't you know that first impression matters a lot?”

“I don't give two shits about first impression Claire.”

Sharon stood up and two women began to attend to her.

“What next?”

Sharon asked as they wiped the milk off her hair.

You go into the tub with essential oils.

“Well, at least it's not cheese” Claire teased

Sharon half submerged herself inside another tub of sweet smelling oils.

Her head rested on a comfortable platform, while her hair was being thoroughly washed.

“The press will be on your tail, they might even do some background research on me Claire said.”

“Who knows, one of these beauticians might be a news reporter, or a spy for your mother.”

The middle aged woman who was washing Sharon's hair shot Claire a bad look.

Sharon giggled.

“You know, I'd make the most of this if were you, I mean you're a princess right now.”

“Yeah right, I'm a princess. My husband won't even spare me a glance.”

“It doesn't matter how beautiful I look, arranged marriages are always like that.

He probably has someone he likes anyway—”

“Listen Sharon, any man who doesn't acknowledge your beauty and elegance is a blind fool, I said that”

The finishing touches were made, and her skin treatment was finished. Sharon put on a new set of clothes and they left.

“Mr Bartholomew, take us to the Tia's Closet.”

Sharon said as she entered her car with Claire.

They entered the boutique and were led to the VIP section, her engagement dinner dress was displayed on a mannequin.

It was dark green, with a silver leaf like lace at the hem. A modest split graced the front and it had a short tail at the back. The fabric glistened with the reflection of the rays of light, this wasn't even her wedding dress, but it was breathtaking.

She put it on and looked at herself in the mirror. Her best friend was waiting for her, but she didn't want to reveal herself.

She stared at her reflection in the mirror, and the tears she had been holding for who knows how long broke free from their ducts.

“The wedding is in a week, the dinner is tomorrow, and I'm just beginning to comprehend the fact that I'm going to be married?”

The tears ran freely from her eyes, she looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were puffy and red, she was never a beautiful crier.

Then she wiped her face clean , took off the dress, wore her clothes and walked out of the changing room.

“It fits.”

“But Sharon —”

“I just want to go home Claire”

They walked out of the Boutique in silence, and got to the car, but Claire didn't enter.

“You probably need some time to clear your head, I'll leave you to it.”

“Please let me drop you off at least.”

“Hey, I'll be fine, I'm not a kid you know.”

With that, they parted ways.

Sharon to her big castle, and Claire to her apartment.

Rain began to drizzle, little droplets fell on her hair and unto her face.

Her phone buzzed multiple times, it was Sharon obviously. She would insist on giving her a ride again, and Claire didn't want it.

“What a terrible day to wear a sleeveless top” she said as she wrapped her arms around herself.

The horn of a car jolted her to consciousness.

I told Sharon I didn't want a—

A young man stepped out of the luxury Audi holding an umbrella and walked up to her.

“Come with me, I'll give you a ride”

“Hell no! I don't know you, you could be a kidnapper or a killer for all I care”

“Really, me? He gave her an awkward smile.

“Take my umbrella then, I don't want you catching a cold.

He slipped the umbrella into her hand before she could refuse.”

My name's Donald by the way! He shouted right before he entered his car.

“Donald, Donald, I swear I've heard that name before, I just don't remember where—”