ISABELLA POV The air around the room for breakfast is tense, today, it's me and Dominic.“What plans do you have for today?” he raises a brow at me, ready to interrupt my plans I assume.“I have work,” I say rolling my eyes when a woman drops my plate of breakfast on the table I turn to her to say thank you when I see Thelma.“Thelma, thank God you're back,” I say with my hand on my chest.She sends me a smile, “you missed me that much?” her brows raise, “Mr Dominic paid for a trip to a spa for me and my family yesterday thanks to you mam” She smiles even wider “It was a great experience, thanks mam” she nods walking out.My eyes and mouth open in shock as I turn to Dominic's smirking face.“You said you fired her,” I say my eyes wide, shock coursing through me, “you lied to me”“For a good cause,” he replies eating his food calmly and raising his cup of coffee to his mouth.“No for your own gain” I reply my eyes narrowed, “I can't believe I fell for your tricks” I mutter rolling my
Isabella POV The car drives into the family compound and I frown when I catch my dad’s car parked haphazardly in front of the house. “Did Dad mention anything about coming home early?” I ask frowning at the sight, it looks like it was parked in a rush also. “No mam, he frowns also, Mr Rufus was meant to exchange with me though,” he says referring to my Dad’s driver, he parks the car behind my dad’s car. My eyes meet with a horrible sight, my father on the stairs leading to the door, choking on his blood, his eyes are swollen, his suit thorn in many places and covered in sand and mud, his body filled with open wounds, a scream erupts from my throat, my eyes filling with tears, my heart beat slows down and it feels like I’m about to pass out. “Call the Ambulance!!!” I scream, running to him, my purse falling to the floor, I hold his head in my lap, my eyes filled with tears to the brim, my heart pounds hard in my chest, and my view becomes blurry with more tears as I turn to hi
Isabella POV“Mr Deluca. If you could just listen to me” I quickly follow him up the stairs, “I can assure you, I’m not wife material, and I am in no way interested in getting into some sort of marriage with you,” I say, his back turned to me He pauses, turning around, his bright blue eyes meeting with mine, my breath hitch as he moves closer, the intoxicating smell of exotic perfume filtering into my nose, “Again, Miss Isabella,” he pauses, a smirk popping up on his face, “I am in no way interested in being in a marriage with you either, it’s a simple contract between two families” he pauses, placing his hands in the pocket of his trouser, swinging on his heels, “it’s a marriage of convenience, coming from your background I’m sure you didn’t expect to marry for love did you?” he raises a brow at me, a know it all expression on his face I ignore him, “We want to spread the payments, I want you to give us three years and we will pay you back in full” I nod confident, we just have to
Isabella POV I quickly leave the penthouse and head back home, the entire ride home involved me thinking through every detail, the money, his rules, I frown, at least he doesn't plan on being a serial cheater. “Goodnight ma’am,” the driver says to me “Goodnight Rupert” I reply entering the house, I’m greeted by my brother who looks worried “Where is everyone? Nobody was home when I got back he frowned, coming into view, and he paused staring at my expressionless and tired face, “are you okay?” “Dad is in the hospital I say, he ran into a small accident and we had to rush him to the hospital, he’s fine I stop him before he starts to worry, he’s with mom and will be discharged in a few days” I place my hand on his shoulder, “he will be fine” I reassure him “Will you take me to see him tomorrow?” he frowns a worried look still on his face I nod walking past him, “and dinner?” I ask remembering I haven’t eaten since brunch “The cooks are at their quarters all ready for the
Dominic POV “Isabella Mariano?” why her? Rafaelle pulls up next to me in the bar where I settled after my squabble with the Mariano girl at the penthouse. I shrug turning to him, “Why not her?, Her father owes me a shit ton of money, so she has no choice but to do only what I say” I take a gulp of my drink “And at least she won’t betray you” he smirks turning to me knowing he stroked a cord in me with that statement I mean what woman would betray the richest, most influential, and the number one bachelor in the country? My Ex Grace Rossi was a woman who could do that and possibly more, and she did it when I was about to propose “Chin up man, who knows? You might fall deeply in love with her?” He mocks “Yeah right” I snort, “I am never falling in love with any woman for the rest of my life, never again” I bit my lip downing the rest of the drink. “Finishing your drunk so fast? Work? Or Work? He raises his brows at me refreshing to the dangerous part of me, the mafia part of me”
Isabella POVIt is 7 pm by the time I’m finally done with work for the day, I remove my glasses, massaging the nape of my neck from bending over files for hours, I look around me and the entire office is empty and dark, the only illuminated room is my office, my phone ringing brings me out of my reverie.“Hey girl” Bianca’s happy voice fills my ears“Where are you? I came over to your house, and the only one here is Matteo, say hi to your sister Matteo” she says happily which comically is followed by a frustrated Hi from Matteo“You stress that boy a lot” I laugh into the phone“Oh he loves it, so where are you?” “did you immerse yourself in work and forget our plans for tonight madam CFO?” she giggles into the phone“Of course not,” I yawn, “I’ll be there in 30 minutes I’m on my way right about now,” I say while I’m packing up my bag, grabbing my lunch plate and water bottle and haphazardly throwing it into my bag.“Yeah I believe you” she laughs slightly, she probably knows I’m not
Isabella POV“Oh my gosh_ that’s Mr De-Luca” Bianca almost screams to herself.“Don’t act like a fan girl Bianca, he’s different from what you think” I reply sipping on the glass of wine“Oh my gosh,” her eyes turn from the flowers to me and then him again “Wait, what’s going on??” “Long story” I reply about to relay everything that has happened in the last 24 hours but I’m stopped by a strong smell of earthy perfume filtering into my nose, followed by black shoes stopping right in front of us.“Isabella,” he says, voice deep, enough to make any woman go crazy“De-Luca” I reply looking up at him“Baby girl, it’s Dominic, I told you this already” he smirks turning to Bianca leaving me a blushing mess“Dominic De-Luca” he stretches his hand forward, grabbing Bianca’s hand in a hold and placing a peck at the back of her palm. “Bianca Greco” she smiles widely, “And how do you know Isabella?” She questions looking between the both of us.He turns to me raising a brow at me, “Should I go
Isabella POVIn shock, I turn around to the deep voice my eyes meeting with Dominic again, but everything becomes blurry and I stumble falling forward but he grabs me in his arms on time.“Hmphh” he makes a sound grabbing me, he sees my legs are unstable on the floor and he carries me in his arms princess-style “Are you the Prince Charming coming to rescue me?” I say drunkenly to him, giggling to myself after the statement “Hmm,” he says, his chest vibrating“You have quite a wide chest you know” I mumble as a car comes to a stop in front of us “I do?” He replies fixing me into the car and following me inSoon the car comes to a stop and again I’m carried bridal style in his strong arms, he’s quick and efficient, I hear an elevator door ping and the rise and fall of the elevator which makes my eyes spin.I feel vomit come up in my throat “I think I’m about to puke,” I say drunkenly “What” he says watching the elevator door ping open, we enter the room and he places me on my feet.
ISABELLA POV The air around the room for breakfast is tense, today, it's me and Dominic.“What plans do you have for today?” he raises a brow at me, ready to interrupt my plans I assume.“I have work,” I say rolling my eyes when a woman drops my plate of breakfast on the table I turn to her to say thank you when I see Thelma.“Thelma, thank God you're back,” I say with my hand on my chest.She sends me a smile, “you missed me that much?” her brows raise, “Mr Dominic paid for a trip to a spa for me and my family yesterday thanks to you mam” She smiles even wider “It was a great experience, thanks mam” she nods walking out.My eyes and mouth open in shock as I turn to Dominic's smirking face.“You said you fired her,” I say my eyes wide, shock coursing through me, “you lied to me”“For a good cause,” he replies eating his food calmly and raising his cup of coffee to his mouth.“No for your own gain” I reply my eyes narrowed, “I can't believe I fell for your tricks” I mutter rolling my
ISABELLA POV“Is that jealousy in your voice I hear?” I raise a brow at him turning down at him as he finally removes my shoe.He pauses, turning to look up at me, “Do you think a man like me gets jealous? I'm the one married to you,” he stands up helping me up as our bodies mesh together, his fingers grab my waist pulling me forward as our breaths mesh with each other.“I’m the one who is going to fuck you and give you orgasm for the rest of your life, so tell me why would I be jealous of a man that can barely hold your hand? My best friend?” he raises a brow at me, his voice coming out in slow and deep whisper.“Dominic,” I say out loud, nervously and wanting, I want him to kiss me again, to roam his hands around my body.“Your parents will be in our House soon, we have to go” he lets go of me grabbing my arm and leading me outside.It would look like the president of a country was at the skating ring with the amount of cars and guards around the area.……..“So Matteo, I hear you ar
DOMINIC POV“And where is my wife at the moment?” I say talking the phone at her personal bodyguard as the car carries me home, It's 7 pm and I remember Thelma telling me this last night about dinner with her family, but she's yet to be home. “Uhm sir, she's at the skating rink,” he says his voice nervous “And?” I call, my voice low and threatening “Mr. Rafaelle brought her here, they are currently here together,” he says panic in his voice like they are doing something bad.I frown but dont think about it too much, Rafaelle is my friend and is probably trying to bring her more Tk my side and he is a very friendly man, he has always been the friendly one since high school and I the brooding one, I changed in high school, after my father-”I halt my thoughts turning to the driver, “We are heading to my wife instead” I instruct him watching him turn the car around, the others following.Easily we spot her cars and guards, I had doubled her so security since her exposure to the head C
ISABELLA POV“Raffaelle” I call out surprised, “what are you doing here? “I was around the neighborhood and spotted those outside” he points outside to the 10 large bodyguards patrolling the streets and doors, Dominic assigned to me, “And I thought there's only no-one that moves with that much security in this city and decided to drop by and see you”I send him a sweet smile, “Dominic is just super paranoid” I turn to Bianca “You know Rafaelle, Dominic's best friend” I introduce again“I know, I saw him at the wedding and in Bali remember,” she sends him a sultry smile and he turns his attention to her raising her hands to meet his in a handshake.He places a kiss on the back of her hand their eyes locking, it almost feels like I'm interrupting some private moment.Her phone rings at that moment cutting them off, she turns to the phone a frown taking over her features, “it's my manager, I have a shoot in Paris tonight and I need to be on my flight” she pours turning to me.I nod, Ra
ISABELLA POVI sink myself easily into work as soon as I'm at work, but today, I get distracted.The smell of Dominic whiffs into my nose randomly when my door opens and closes, welcoming people in, meeting my meeting.The thought of his half-naked body stains my mind and I put down the wrong numbers, his blue eyes the night in Monaco when he-”I sigh, “I have to get out of this office” I pick up my phone dialing Bianca's number.“Hey baby girl, WhatsUp” she calls into the phone“Where are you? I will literally come and meet you anywhere right now”She giggles, “I'm on set at that new boutique, I'll tell my manager you're coming,” she says immediately sensing my urgency.I sigh, turning to my assistant, “I’ll be gone for the rest of the day, I have dinner with my family tonight, so postpone the rest of my meeting for tomorrow”She nods, helping me pack up my bag, I walk out of the office early and the stares that follow are daunting, it's like everyone thinks they know what’s happenin
ISABELLA POV“Mrs Deluca, Mr Deluca would like to see you in his office” Thelma walks into our bedroom as I pull on my suit for the day.I'm sure the office will be filled with gossip about what happened at the party, me, Grace, Dominic, and the auction, I should have scraped the auction when I had the chance if I knew it was going to come to this.“I’ll be there in a minute Thelma” I turn to her with a nodShe nervously wrings her hands turning to leave but turns back to me, her eyes worried.“What is it, Thelma? Is there something you want to tell me?” I raise a brow at her confused about why she's standing there like a kid about to beg for candy.“Sir Dominic hasn't always been like this” she whispers, “angry, arrogant” she bits her lip, “I held him when he was a baby, I mended his wounds when he was a teenager” she sighs her voice heavy, tears in her eyes, “He's a good boy, but his father” she shakes her head, immediately looking around to see if anyone is coming.The topic of his
ISABELLA POVHe lets go of my lips, leaving a bruise in its wake, before my brain can comprehend, my hands raise and a slap is thrown across his face.A gasp is heard from the driver and he stops the car as we are already at home.My fingers shaking in anger, my brows drawn together, my eyes raise to meet his shocked and angry ones.I push the car door open in anger and walk into the dark house, I'm yet to renovate and it still looks the same as before, dark and brooding.The slam of the door halts me at the bottom of the stairs.“You won’t ever in your life do that again” he whispers his voice deep, low, and threatening.I turn to him, my eyes narrowed, “Dare me” I threaten back turning back to the stairs His steps are heavy and fast and he grips my arm stopping me, “why the fuck are you angry?””I saved you from Giovani, I brought you back home safe and sound” he calls out anger in his voice “You put me in the position to be saved!!” I yell back pulling my arms away from him my ey
ISABELLA POVThe stage is high and I can feel and see everyone's eyes on me, my husband just auctioned for another woman, the mocking stares, the side laughter, I almost want to climb down but my eyes meet with Bianca seated at the far right, if she had enough money, she would take me right away.“For the stunning Mrs Deluca, we can begin at ten thousand dollars,” the host says and the room erupts into a mocking laughter“A hundred million” Dominic yells from his seat“I’m sorry Sir, but I assume you didn't pay attention to the rules, you paid for Miss Grace so you can't do the same for another woman” the host turns back to me“Fifty thousand dollars!” the older man with the scar from before yells from behind sending a smirk Dominic wayHis hands fold together in anger and to my surprise, Rafaelle raises his number plate.“Ten million dollars” he sends me a soft smile, always ready to rescue me and be the best of friends that he can be.“Fifty million dollars” the older man screams an
ISABELLA POV“Going to the man in the black suit at the back at fifteen thousand dollars, going and gone!” the host says as someone buys out a piece of jewelry “Now to the main part of the night” he startsThis is why I was so worried about Dominic not coming, the women and I had agreed to be auctioned off to the men for a dinner date and the money would go to a charity of our choice, not the Delucas. And this was it, of course, he will have to auction for me, my eyes move around the room landing on Grace with my sisters-in-law, giggling and laughing.“You were gone for hours I turn to Dominic, you abandoned me in Monaco and ran straight into your mistress's arms at the sign of a little distress”“You can't call her my mistress after what we shared in Monaco Isabella” he whispers to me, his face serious, “I’m really done with the accusations, you shouldn't be saying things like that to me, Grace is my Ex yes, but she's a friend and thereby connected to me”He turns to me, a deep fro