Marriage proposal??

CHAPTER 1

Valerie's POV

"How can you just send me away to some stranger?" my voice echoed loudly across the hallway. The rage in my voice can be easily noticed. I stare at my grandparents in shock and confusion.

"Valerie, it's for the best." my grandma says quietly, trying to calm me down.

"No!" I shouted.

"Just tell me the truth, you guys just want to abandon me also just like my very own parents did ten years ago. Am I really that much of a burden that you all pass over to the next available person when you're done with me?" I say, my voice cracking at the end.

By now my face was already drenched with my own tears, eyes puffy and begging for acceptance. I couldn't believe what was happening.

"Shut up!" my grandpa shouted at me. "You're getting married to Mr Stephano and that's final! I'm sick of these childish games. You're turning twenty soon for god sake" He continues, the look in his eyes held so much hate and annoyance it broke me. I have never seen him act this way before, it all came as a shock to me.

My grandpa gave my grandma one last look and walked out of the hallway, leaving my grandma to take care of my 'childish antics'.

"please tell me it's all a joke, what did I do wrong?" I say to my grandma with pleading eyes.

"No darling, you did nothing wrong. We are left with no choice but this, trust me it's for your own good. You will understand better later on" she said, then walked out just like my grandpa not looking back even once.

"Come on, let's go. The Don doesn't like waiting for too long" one of the men said to me, his face void of any emotions just like the rest of the men. They were like stiff robots who only function according to the instructions given by their Don, my soon husband.

I guess that's what was expected of me too, to be a puppet just like the rest of them. To obey his every word.

I haven't met him, but I have heard so many things about him. Things that are anything but good. He is a Mafia leader so I guess that's what was expected of him. To be violent, unforgiving, so many negative traits, but most of all...to be dominant.

He decided to make me his wife, and my grandparents more than happily hand me over to him.

Now that's where the problem starts. I can't and will not be his ideal wife, the one who would so happily offer herself to him, do his every wish without complaint. No, not now, not ever. I refuse to be that person. I will not submit to him without putting up a serious fight.

"Get the fuck up!" His men shouted at me, bringing my attention back to the present.

I sluggishly got up from the floor where I had unconsciously slipped to after my argument with my grandparents. I wiped away my tears not wanting to look weak when I met them for the first time.

Although I'm aware he has seen me before now, apparently He has been watching him for a month now without my knowledge.

I followed his men quietly, not wanting to put up another fight since going with them was inevitable at this point. I enter the back seat of his shiny black SUV.

"Where is he?" I ask, referring to Stephano after noticing his absence.

"He's occupied with something else, he asked us to take you to his mansion. You will meet him tonight." One of his men replied.

I sit quietly, mentally planning my next move. Escaping was out of the option, so I'm going to throw so many tantrums Stephano would want me out of his sight. I have to be careful though, he could easily get rid of me by ending my life which I was going to avoid.

"Miss? we have arrived" one of Stephano's men called after noticing I was making no attempt to leave the car. It wasn't intentional though, I just happened to space out once again.

"Sorry" I muttered, then stepped out of the SUV.

Damn! the luxury this mansion held was insane. This man was filthy rich and was definitely showing it in the best way possible. I wasn't from a poor background, actually a bit wealthier than the average family. But Stephan's wealth was way above my financial state.

Brushing off that thought, I followed Stephano's men into the mansion. I really need to know at least one of their names, it was already getting tiring referring to them as Stephano's men everytime.

There was a line of people in maid uniforms inside the house. About twenty of them, with a middle aged woman who seemed to be the head since her uniform was slightly different.

"I'm Fred, Stephano's right hand man," one of Stephano's men, Fred said.

"This is Melissa, the head house maid" He said, referring to the middle aged woman. The introduction continues in a blur, my mind wanders off not wanting to bother with learning names of people I have no interest in.

"Come this way," one of the maids with bright ginger hair said cheerfully at me.

"Huh? what for?" I ask in confusion.

"You didn't hear all Fred said? we have to get you ready before Stephano arrives. You must look presentable in his eyes, he already spent so much on you" she scolded.

"What do you mean by that? he spent so much on me?" I ask, incredibly confused at this point.

"Forget I said that and stop asking too many questions. Let's go. I'm Pat by the way" she says, trying to avoid my question. I decided not to ask more questions, I can just do some findings later.

"This would be your temporary room, you will move to the Don's room after the wedding" Pat says, showing me a decently sized room. Luxurious like the rest of the house, it has a queen size bed located at the center of the room. The room had so much pink it made me sick.

Well it was only temporary, although the idea of sharing a room with a complete stranger 'a dangerous one at that' doesn't seem any better in my opinion.

"Now let's start with your makeup," Pat says.

"Wait! I rather do this on my own. Why don't you excuse me for a bit while I get myself ready" I say to Pat.

" umm…" she replies unsure.

" Just go," I persuaded her.

" Okay okay, don't get me in trouble please" she requested then exit the room, leaving me to it.

Of course I wasn't planning on getting the poor girl in trouble. Although the idea of dressing in the worst way possible does sound amusing, I wasn't about to ruin my first impression over such a petty idea.

Don't get me wrong, I wasn't trying to please Stephano. I just didn't want to look more helpless and weak in his eyes by deliberately making myself look unkempt.

In fact, I was planning to do the opposite. I wanted to look the part I was going to portray to Stephano.

Confident and fearless.

With this thought in mind, I began my makeup.I went for a very bold look, making me look entirely different from my usual shy and cute look.

I opened the closet in search of what to wear, thankfully the closet was already filled with clothes. Clothes from luxury brands, the ones that make my bank account bleed when I shop from them.

My eyes immediately glow as it lands on an outfit, so fitting for today's look. It was a black leather jacket with black bralette, to pair with a black mini skirt and net leggings. Nothing screams confidence more than the color black.

"Miss? Are you done now?" I hear Pat's voice calling from outside the room, stepping inside seconds later.

"Just call me Valerie, and yes I'm ready" I say confidently.

" Great! the Don has requested to meet you now" Pay says. I know fully well his request was nothing but an order meant to be followed without questions.

"Sure" I replied, with my head held up high I walked calmly down the stairs, heading to the sitting room where Stephano was waiting.

cough*

I cleared my throat, announcing my presence. This catches his attention, making him look up. I feel myself freeze under his cold stare. It wasn't just his stare, it was the dominance oozing out of him so effortlessly, it was the insane God-like look he had.

I wasn't prepared for this meeting at all...