A Nightmare

I woke up a mess, not because of what happened at the party, but because of Enzo’s kiss. It felt so good. I remembered how my stomach was flipping, or were those butterflies?

It’s funny how a kiss is riling me up more than our sex could. “Why did he kiss me, though?” I asked myself.

I remembered how he told me to go to bed after that without giving me any explanation.

My phone ringing interrupted my thoughts. It’s been like forever since my phone rang. When I saw the caller, I sat straighter. It was my dad. He never calls. What could be the matter? I answered regardless.

“H…hello, Dad.”

“What the fuck did you do at that party last night?!” he barked.

My eyes widened in fear. Oh my God!

“D…Dad, I can ex…”

“I just got a call from one of Luca’s associates!” He cut me off. “Sofia, tell me they’re lying. Tell me you didn’t embarrass the Verri family!”

I didn’t know when my hands started shaking. “I…it was the alcohol,” I replied.

“I don’t care what it was!” he snapped. “Do you have any idea what Luca will do to me if this engagement falls apart? He’ll wipe my debts off with my own blood! You were supposed to keep your head down, marry him, and fix this family’s name, not go around making a fool out of yourself!”

“I will fix it, Dad,” I replied, on the verge of tears.

“Call Luca. Do whatever you have to. Give him pussy or whatever. Because if he pulls out of this deal, I’m a dead man, and it will be your fucking fault.”

He ended the call, my father and I had never been close, but somehow every problem always became my responsibility.

Before I could think any further, my bedroom door flew open, and Enzo walked in. 

“H…he found out,” I stuttered. “I’m fucking doomed,” I whispered.

Enzo's jaw tightened.

“He didn't just find out.”

He walked toward me.

“The whole of New York knows.”

My heart stopped.

“What do you mean?”

He pulled out his phone and handed it to me.

My hands shook as I read the headline.

BILLIONAIRE'S FIANCÉE CAUGHT RED-HANDED: Sofia, Luca’s Verri fiancée exposed kissing Marcus Rodriguez, the NBA star, at team’s…!

I couldn’t read the rest before Enzo’s phone slipped through my hands.

“Get it together, Sofia,” I heard Enzo say.

I looked up at him, tears already spilling down my face.

“Enzo, he’s going to kill my dad,” I cried.

Enzo cursed under his breath. “Stop panicking,” he ordered.

“What do I do? Enzo, please, what do I do?!”

“You’re supposed to think,” he answered.

“I can’t!”

I gripped my hair, tugging at the roots as if the pain would wake me up from a nightmare.

Enzo pulled my hands away.

“Crying isn't going to fix this.”

I stared at him through my tears.

“You're right,” I whispered.

“Luca is on his way back as we speak. I will talk to him,” Enzo reassured.

I calmed down a little. “Why are you helping me?” I asked.

He rolled his eyes. “Because I’ve already started getting used to having a sister-in-law.”

A tiny smile pulled at my lips.

“Let’s just hope Luca listens,” Enzo said.

I nodded.

I really hope he would.

Because if my father paid for my mistake, I would never forgive myself.

       I had never been this nervous in my life.

Enzo and I sat in silence, waiting.

Luca would be here any minute.

Then the front door opened.

Luca walked in looking very calm, and it terrified me.

He dropped his suitcase beside the table and loosened his tie without saying a word.

“Luca, I…” Enzo started, standing up.

“Shut your mouth, Enzo,” Luca cut him off quietly.

I shifted in my seat in fear.

He removed his jacket and draped it over the armchair before turning his attention to me.

He walked toward me slowly.

I sat straighter.

“You know, Sofia,” he began, leaning down so his face was just inches from mine. “When I agreed to take on your pathetic father’s debts, I expected an obedient little girl who knew her place. I didn’t realize I was buying a cheap whore.”

I was too terrified to speak.

“Calm down, Luca. It wasn’t like that,” Enzo said. “She was drunk. Marcus took advantage of that.”

Enzo lied.

“And you?”

Enzo said nothing.

“Why did you take my fiancée to your team’s celebration?”

“I couldn’t leave her home alone,” Enzo replied.

Luca’s eyes narrowed.

“Since the engagement, I haven’t taken her to a single event. Why did you think you could take my fiancée to a party?”

“I already told you,” Enzo answered.

I watched as Luca’s expression hardened.

“And you thought that was a good idea?”

“It’s my fault!” I finally spoke.

Luca turned toward me. “We know,” Luca spat.

“You made me a laughingstock in front of half of New York.”

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I was drunk. I wasn’t thinking.”

“Our engagement is over.”

My entire body went cold.

“No.”

Luca turned away.

“No, please.”

“We can handle the media,” Enzo interrupted. “You should think before making a decision you’ll regret.”

Luca looked at him.

“You seem very interested in keeping this engagement intact.”

Enzo’s jaw tightened.

“She still has value to the family.”

I looked at him. Luca seemed to be deep in thought.

“You need a wife,” Enzo continued. “And you have her father’s debt as leverage. She’s still the perfect contract wife.”

“Wait a second.” Luca said as his eyes shifted to me. “The guy you kissed… wasn't he the same guy you called handsome back in Chicago?”

Enzo immediately turned to look at me.

My blood ran cold. Fuck. He must think I acted on that instead. He won't believe my alcohol lie.

“Isn’t he?” Luca asked. I nodded. 

“What’s going on?” Enzo asked. 

“And as for you,” he said, turning towards Enzo. “She just damaged the family’s reputation, yet you’re fighting this hard to keep her.”

Enzo didn’t answer.

Luca’s eyes narrowed.

“Why?” He asked. 

My heart began pounding.

He studied Enzo’s face.

Then his gaze shifted to me again. 

He smiled coldly.

“Considering her behavior…”

He paused.

“Don’t tell me you’ve touched my fiancée too. You’ve fucked her?”