Chapter 4

Maria

I couldn't stop the laughter that bubbled out of my chest. I laughed and I laughed and I laughed.

“You can't be serious.” I said finally.

He didn't crack a smile.

“But I barely know you, I don't even know your full name.”

“Alvize Giovanni.” He said simply.

The moment he said his name, I discovered why he had looked familiar. Because I knew of Alvize Giovanni. Everyone in my world knew of him.

“Well, I refuse to get married to you on a whim. How is that even supposed to help you or me get revenge?”

“I am a powerful man Maria, getting married to me will show your family that you can get anyone you want. Your father despises me because I have successfully surpassed him in the business world. Imagine if I showed up on your arm, claiming I was your husband.”

I didn't have to imagine it to know my father would likely run mad. Slowly, the idea started to sound more appealing.

“How does it help you with your revenge?”

“That is my business.”

I inhaled deeply. This was not how I saw my morning going.

As if seeing the crack in my resolve, Alvize continued.

“The marriage is not a real one. We will make agreements and draft a contract based on what we agree. Terms and conditions of sorts.”

“How long will it last?”

“A year. I plan on ruining your father within a year and then we divorce. I will settle you with a large amount of money that will sustain you for a long while after the divorce but during the course of the marriage you are my responsibility and your every need and desire becomes mine to bear.”

I nodded in understanding. My father had been backwards in his thinking in the sense that he refused to let Alice and I work, claiming that our husbands would be rich enough to take care of us. Alice had willingly embraced that lifestyle but I had hated it because that meant I had to depend on my father for money. Whatever money he gave me, I decided then and there that I would use it to start my own event planning business. It had always been my dream.

“And the physical needs?” I asked.

He raised a brow, waiting for me to clarify. I blushed.

“Sexual needs.” I rushed out.

One side of his lips nearly twitched, threatening to ruin his cold mask.

“I expect my wife, however fake, to stay away from any man that isn't me as will I but you should know that we will never have sex during the course of this relationship.”

If my face could get any redder I'm sure it would have. I could see amusement swirling in his eyes at my innocence. Dick.

“Good. So do we live together or what?”

“Yes, I expect that you live in my house seeing as we want the marriage to look as real as possible. However, we will stay in separate rooms. In public, we will keep up appearances and act like the happiest couple in Manhattan but behind closed doors I advice that you stay away from me. Remember, no one is to know this marriage is fake except us and the only two people I trust enough not to betray me. They will be our witnesses at the wedding.”

“When is the wedding?”

“4.00 this evening. I will send a dress to your room and the contract. Work on your appearance.”

With that, he opened the door and left me standing in my room. Stunned and wondering what the hell I had agreed to.

*****

I had worked on my appearance but not because Mr. Jerkface had asked me to. I simply wanted to look good on my first marriage even if it was a sham. Alvize had looked at me intently from head to toe, his eyes lingered on the engagement ring on my finger which he had sent with the dress. It had a large rock which I had baulked at the instant I saw it. He gave me a curt nod and murmured a quiet “hmm.” He sure knew how to amp up a woman's confidence.

We drove together to the courthouse in silence in his Aston Martin. I was way too lost in my head to admire the calm and steady way he moved the vehicle. I could hardly believe I was getting married and that too to a man that wanted so badly to ruin my father.

Two people were waiting for us in front of the court house. A man and a woman. I wasn't surprised to see they were as gorgeous as the man walking right beside me. As we approached, I noticed the woman was grinning from ear to ear and I couldn't help but smile back. It was infectious. Even the man had a smile on his gorgeous face.

“Hey, I'm Liliana, that's my brother Antonio. Alvize is our cousin.”That explained the unreal genes.

“We're late.” Alvize clipped, cutting our introductions short, then he took off inside.

Liliana rolled her eyes, shooting me a look. I smiled, understanding the feeling.

A few hours later, I was officially Mrs. Maria Giovanni and if I couldn't believe it, the gold wedding band on my finger was proof enough for me.

We parted ways with Liliana and Antonio who promised to come visit and I was left in the solemn company of my new husband. Just like before, he didn't utter a single word during our drive to wherever he lived but I didn't mind. Being married was a lot to wrap my head around.

Finally, we arrived at a very modern duplex tucked away from human civilization. I just knew that he wouldn’t want to be around more people than necessary. I waited for him to put in the gate's code before he came back to the car and drove us in.

He drove to a large garage that opened remotely. I tried but failed to shut my mouth when my eyes took in the lineup of cars inside. There had to be over 10 cars in there.

“ Do you collect cars or something?” I asked, breaking the silence. Of course he ignored me.

He parked the car and hung the keys on a wall next to others and charged out of the garage. I scurried after him trying to keep up with his long legs.

The moment I stepped into the house, I was in awe of its beauty. I had expected it to be cold like the owner but I was wrong because it was filled with warm, earthy tones and although sparsely decorated, it still felt like a home and not just a house.

I noticed he was watching me intently and when I snapped my head to him, he looked away.

“This is the living room and that's the kitchen.” He said pointing to the open space. “The fridge is fully stocked and I make my own meals. Can you cook?” He asked me.

I nodded.

“Good. Then you can cook your own meals too. Come.” He told me as he led me to two other rooms he informed me were the game room and movie room. I asked him if he used them but he ignored me, as usual. He also showed me his personal gym room and I just knew it was one place I would never visit.Next, he led me upstairs.

“That's my room.” he said pointing to a door in a corner. “Don't ever go in there. My privacy is king.” Like I wanted to in the first place.

“The room next to it is my office. Finally, the room at the other end of the hallway is yours. The other two rooms are guest rooms.” I didn't point out that he had placed me in a room as far from his as possible.

“A cleaner comes twice every week to clean the house and do the laundry so don't panic if she comes visiting. Also, Antonio and Liliana make it a habit to drop by unannounced so don't be surprised if they pop up unexpectedly. Anything?”

I was just about to point out that I had no clothes but my phone pinged in my hand. I turned it on to check and I was shocked when I saw it was a text from Alice. So of course I had to read it.

Alice: Hello sister, Lucas and I will be hosting a dinner at the house tomorrow evening by 6:00. I would love for you to come, we haven't heard from you since the wedding and we're all worried about you. Please come.

I could sense Alvize's impatience while I read the message. I looked up to meet his questioning gaze.

“Alice just invited me to dinner tomorrow evening.”

He was quiet, then, “I guess I'll be meeting my in-laws tomorrow then.”

Kill me now.