Chapter 5

Maria

I woke up the next morning in desperate need of coffee. I could barely sleep a wink last night, mainly because I was still trying to get a grasp of my situation. Married and planning to ruin my own father. I guess I should have felt guilty about it but I could barely feel even a hint of guilt. I had no idea what that made me.

My room was large and unsurprisingly simple with only a bed, dresser and a nice cozy rug in the middle of the room, something I had in mind to fix. If I was going to stay here for a whole year, I might as well make it mine. The bed however was large and extremely soft. Even softer than the one I had at home, I wished that was enough to make me sleep though.

I got down from the bed and wore the robe I found when I walked into the room last night. It was folded neatly along with a matching red nightgown. I was more of a pajamas kind of girl but I was grateful for the thoughtfulness.With my robe tightly secured, I marched down the long stairs to the kitchen. Of course I ignored the daunting door that led to his room, albeit with great effort.

The sight that greeted me when I walked into the kitchen had me stopping in my tracks. There was Alvize, in a smart, white, dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to reveal toned forearms, scooping up eggs from a pan into two plates that already held strips of bacon. His back was to me and I couldn't help but ogle how his shirt strained against his lean, muscular body. I visibly swallowed.

“You took your sweet time to wake up.” He said without turning around.

“I barely slept last night. Besides it's just 7.00.” I pointed out as I took a seat at the island.

He didn't answer as he turned around, placing a plate in front of me and the other opposite me. He then placed a mug in front me and another next to his plate where he poured a cup each of steaming, hot coffee.

“This, right here is exactly what I needed.” I told him as I took a huge sip. The cream was alright but he could work some more on the sugar. Next, I dug into the food and I couldn't hold back the moan that slipped out of my mouth.

I looked up to find him watching me intently, a strange look on his face. His fingers were crossed beneath his chin.

“You make a lot of noise.” He said when my eyes met his.

I swallowed the food in my mouth before I replied.

“You barely make any. I wonder, really, what my life is supposed to look like with you for an entire year.”

He ignored me, of course, and went back to his food.

After a while of silent, and unbearable eating, he broke the silence.

“Liliana will be here soon to help with your shopping. By 5 this evening, you should be ready for the dinner at your parents'. I'll pick you up from here.” He said each sentence like he was creating his schedule with his assistant.

I nodded, too full to respond. With that, he got up from his seat at the table and rinsed his used plates in the sink, keeping them where they belonged. Then he picked his suit from where it sat on the counter on his brief case.

“I'm off to work.” He told me without even waiting for a reply from me.

“Bye!!” I still shouted after him. I really didn't care whether he heard me or not.

Barely an hour after he left, I was minding my business on my cloud of a bed, wondering what to do with myself when a knock on my bedroom door startled me out of my self induced misery.

“Hey love, it's Liliana.” A familiar voice on the other end announced and I let out a huge breath of relief.

“Come in.” I told her sitting up on my bed.

I still wasn't ready for the dark haired bombshell that walked into my room. Liliana was hands down the most beautiful woman I had ever encountered. To top it off, she reeked of elegance and confidence I could only dream of having.

There was a wide smile on her face when she saw me. “You should learn to lock your doors love. Not everyone walks into your house to take you shopping.” She told me playfully with her hands on her hips.

She was right and my cheeks warmed immediately.

“This is not my house.” I corrected her instead.

“Hmm.” She mumbled with a smile then she threw a bag at me.

“Get dressed. We have a lot to do and little time to do them.”

I grabbed the bag and walked obediently to the large walk-in closet in the room to get dressed.

*****

I had come to the conclusion that everyone in the Giovanni family was unhinged. I couldn't remember the last time I prayed but trapped in a car with Liliana driving at 100 miles per hour, I couldn't help but beg God for salvation.

When we got back home, I couldn't get down from the car any faster, clutching the bags containing my new clothes and shoes very tightly. Liliana's laughter followed me from behind as she helped me with my remaining bags.

“You're overreacting.” She told me.

“Really? I could have sworn my spirit left my body at some point during that car ride.”

“Look at the bright side girl, you got home safe and in time to get ready before Alvize chews your head off. You should be thanking me.”

I dumped my things on the bed and slumped down on it, visibly exhausted. I loved having new clothes, but I despised the process of getting them. You know, hard labor and all that shit.

“How are you not breaking a sweat?” I asked incredulously, as she sat next to my pathetic form on the bed.

“You're simply over exaggerating.” She told me with an eye roll. “You should go freshen up though, and get ready for the dinner. If there's one thing I'm sure of, my cousin is a real stickler for time.”

“Do I have to?” I asked, groaning loudly.

“Of course. I'm a drama loving whore and since I won't be able to see your family's face when you show up with Alvize on your arm, I would appreciate getting a detailed review from you.”

Her words made the lump in my throat go straight to my heart. I had no idea why I was so nervous about going to see my family. I kept imagining myself doing something extremely embarrassing that made me look even more pathetic.

Liliana shooed me away to the bathroom where I had a quick shower and began my whole getting dressed process.

I wore a simple black dress that rested right above my knee. It hugged my curves really nicely and the high neckline made it appear more classy than slutty. I paired it with stunning diamond earrings and of course a pair of metallic, silver stilettos. I wasn't really one for makeup but the scandalised look on Liliana's face when I told her that had me agreeing to whatever she had in mind. She respected my wishes and gave me a very natural look that I was pleased with. I let my hair down in curly waves and I was pleased with what I looked like.

We had just finished the entire process when I heard my phone ring. An unknown number flashed on the screen.

Confused, I answered the call. A familiar voice filtered through the speaker.

“I'm outside.” Was all he said, before he hung up. And they said romance was dead.

Liliana held a brow up.

“Alvize.” I said simply.

She nodded as if that explained everything.

“Oh well, we should get going. My cousin hates to be kept waiting and I may or may not have plans for tonight as well.” She said with a wink. I didn't even want to imagine what her plans were.

We walked briskly outside where Alvize was parked. His eyes were downcast and I imagined he was using his phone but when we got closer to the car, his eyes snapped up as if sensing our arrival. Could anything get past this man at all?

His eyes met mine through the windshield and I smiled awkwardly for lack of what to do. He didn't return it. Jerk. I watched as his eyes traced my body briefly, but his face didn't reveal whether or not he liked what he saw. Not that it mattered or anything.

Finally we got to the car and I got in, ignoring the protests my head kept screaming at me. I had already married the guy, no foolish act could compare to that.

I thought Liliana would walk straight to her car but nope, she knocked on his window. He ignored her. So she knocked again. And again, till I watched his hand tighten on the gear stick, the only sign of his annoyance, then he let down the window, slowly.

“It's nice to see you too cousin.” She said cheerfully. “Just try not to drag Maria with you to the dark side okay? She's too sweet for that. Enjoy your dinn-”

Alvize didn't let her finish before pulling back up the window and reversing the hell out of the compound.

Good to know he was rude to everyone and I wasn't the problem.

“So…” I said after a while of uncomfortable silence. “How was work?”

“Where are your rings?” He asked instead, ignoring my question.

“What?”

“Your rings.” He repeated without looking at me.

“They're in my purse.” I told him.

“For every second of our marriage, I want them on your fingers.”

“I didn't realize this marriage was a form of imprisonment.”

“Not imprisonment, commitment. And provided I show my commitment to you, I expect you to do the same. For now, you belong to me Maria and I want the weight of my rings on your fingers to serve as a reminder for you.”

No one told me to shut up as I quietly put the rings on my fingers. The rest of the ride, the only thought on my mind was the impending dinner ahead. And maybe my eyes couldn't stop straying to the wall of beauty seated right beside me.