Chapter 3

Lucenzo's POV

I notice her as soon as she walks in and I am not the only one. Her outfit screams sex and calls out for attention.

What is she doing here?

I watch her from the end of the room. Watch her as she watches the performance, captivated by it. Watch her when she goes to the bar and that is when I move.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" I growl out, watching as her back stiffens before she turns around.

"Lucenzo?"

"What are you doing here?" I echo my question again.

"I want to talk to you." She stands up from her seat, her drink all but forgotten.

"This is neither the time nor the place," My voice stressed 'place'. I watch as she takes a look around. I know what she sees, men and women in all states of undress, couples fucking on the platforms, but most of all, she feels the atmosphere, sex, and lust.

She snaps her gaze back to me. "You left me with no other choice. Why are you avoiding me? I just want to talk to you."

A mocking laugh escapes from me before I can help it. "Avoiding you?" I widen my stance and cross my arms over my chest. "Please, elaborate."

"You dodged all my attempts for us to meet up together. Sorry if I concluded that you were avoiding me." Her voice is heavy with sarcasm.

I move so that I'm standing directly in front of her, then I lean into her, my lips over her ear. I want her to hear what I have to say clearly. "That's because I don't give a damn about this sham of a marriage. I don't see any reason why we have to meet up when I don't give two fucks about it. Heck, this isn't a marriage, it is a business contract." I move away from her, giving her a moment to let what I just said sink in.

Apparently, I'm getting married to an insane person because she simply smiles at me. "That's why I think we should come to an agreement." She sits again and pats the empty seat next to her, signaling me to have a seat as well.

I stay standing. "Agreement?"

Recovering quickly from my rudeness, she smiles again." I think we should file for a divorce after getting marr-"

"No." I cut her off.

"Let me explain. We stay married for at least a year, by then our families would have both gotten what they want then we file for a divorce and go our separate ways."

A pause where I pretend like I'm giving her suggestion some thought.

"No."

She sighs exasperatedly, getting annoyed by my one-worded answers." Why not?"

"I don't believe in divorce."

"But you believe in a loveless marriage?" She raises a perfectly shaped eyebrow at me.

"Love is overrated." My parents married for their company, not love, and I turned out just fine. "We could one day have mutual respect, maybe have a kid or two, and help our families' businesses grow."

With each word I say, her expression turns more grave. "Mutual respect?" She takes her seat as if to brace herself against my words. "Do you even hear yourself? We are talking about marriage, not a business deal."

"That's exactly what it is. A business deal and I plan to treat it as such." I turn to look at the platform. Another show was about to commence. "You should leave. You're not supposed to be here."

Her face takes on a defensive look, her tone sounding offended by my words. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means this is no place for a princess."

She scoffs. "What makes you think that?" Then she smiles, her eyes glittering with mischief. "I had always wanted to come to a place like this."

"Really now?" I play along. "So you knew what this place was when you walked in?" She didn't. I saw the look on her face when she walked in.

"Of course I did."

"Were you planning to participate or simply watch?" A moment of hesitation crosses her face. Then it's gone.

"Just watching. I'm not that adventurous."

"And how did you come to know of this place?" A flash of something else.

"Came across it on the internet." She looks everywhere but at my face.

"I would have thought that your private investigator would have told you about how much I came here?" This time I can pinpoint what emotion is on her face. Surprise. "You really thought I wouldn't notice someone trailing after me?"

Then she rolls her eyes. "Not like you left me with many choices. You wouldn't meet up with me and I wanted to talk to you."

Another glance at the platform. They had finished setting it up. "You have said what you needed to say, now you can go."

Panic. "What? No. I'm not done yet. I really think we should talk this through. There has to be another alternative than us staying married?"

I sigh, closing my eyes. I open them up to find her still standing there, looking up at me with hope. "There isn't another way around this. The sooner you come to terms with it, the better."

Her eyes shatter. "But we both don't want this."

"That's true, but I have to get married eventually, so why not now? This way it's done and out of the way."

"How can you-"

"Ladies and gentlemen, the next show is about to start." The announcer leaves the platform and I turn my attention back to Samantha.

"You should leave."

"No. I'm not leaving until you listen to me."

God. I'm starting to think that divorce is a good idea. How can I marry someone so difficult? "Ok. Stay and watch the show. I want your take on it?" Maybe she will be scared off and run away.

Her gaze turns skeptical, and her eyes narrow at me, then she turns to the platform. "What is the show about?"

I shove my hands deep into my suit pants with a smirk on my face. "Wait and see."

The couples ascend the platform and Samantha's eyes widen.