My girlfriend

Riccardo's POV

I look at Mia, and she looks beautiful. I can not believe it is the girl I felt sorry for at her parents' house in New York. I can not think that I, Riccardo Marino, feel sorry for someone, but she also intrigued me because she was unafraid of me and gave me hell from the start. Maybe she did not know who I was, but she cleared that up quickly. She is not going to let me play with her and her feeling. I apologized to her, and that was not sitting well. Why the hell did I feel the need to do that? I do not know. This woman is playing with my head. I can not wait to get home. I know no woman can resist me, and I am not full of myself. I know that because every bloody woman I meet wants to jump into my bed and be with me. That is why I want a mistress to help keep the ladies away from me. I do not want any of them in my life. Bria hurt me when I was young and broke, but no other woman will ever humiliate me like that again. I am no one's plaything. 

"Don, we are about to land. I can see you are tired. Are you sure you want all the photographers at the airport?" Mario asks. 

"Yes, the sooner the message spreads that I am in a relationship and am serious about the woman, I mean Mia, the better. I do not want the women in Houston to follow me around anymore. I hate when the gold diggers are after me. You know Bria has been calling me, and I want to shake her. Maybe if she sees I am in a relationship, she will leave me alone," I say. I want to get revenge on Bria, but I feel sorry for her husband. I know how it feels to be left for another man because he is wealthier than you. We are whispering as I do not want Mia and Aria to hear us talking. 

"I know she is a pain in the ass. I can not believe she thinks she still stands a chance with you after what she did. She made fun of you when you were poor. I still remember that day," Mario says. I think back to the day I was humiliated by Bria. We were out on a date, and she had become famous. I could not wear Armani or have a Rolex like the people she was hanging out with, so I bought a fake Armani and Roles on the streets to avoid feeling left out. Bria looked at me disgusted and told me to leave her party as she could not be with anyone who thought they could get away with wearing fake clothing to impress her and her guests. She said it was hard enough for her friends and her new boyfriend to hear it. I did not know she was dating the rockstar, Steven Moore. I thought I was her true love. I felt humiliated and ashamed as everyone laughed at me at the party. I have never forgiven Bria for that day. So if she gets a divorce from Steven, I plan to "date" her for years without marrying her and then dump her when she is old and nothing anymore. She must keep thinking I will marry her eventually, so I will only give her enough hope until I dumb her ugly ass. I have not told anyone about my plans, and I do not think it has anything to do with anyone what I am planning. I have seen enough about her marriage to know that Seven is getting tired of her but that he still holds on to her. He is obviously in love with her, so I am unwilling to break them up unless they break themselves. 

The plane comes to a halt, and I get ready to walk off the plane with my new girlfriend. I know the paparazzi always follow me as everyone wants to know what I am doing. I must have an exciting life according to the rest of the planet as they even follow me to Houston. Besides, Mario told them I would be at the airport with my new girlfriend next to me. I guess it is big news that I have a girlfriend and am serious about her. I waited for Mia so we could walk off the plane together. She gets up and looks at me as if she does not trust me.

I can not blame her. I dragged her away from her home and to a new town without informing her what awaited her. I know how ruthless the paparazzi and the women that try to get me in bed can be. I know she will face a lot of bullying, and I feel sorry for her. I will try and protect her as much as I can. I do not respect women much. My mother is weak in my eyes for staying with my father, who was abusive for so long, thinking it was the best for her children. Bria left me for another man, and the other women I know will jump in my bed as soon as I snap my fingers. So, yeah, no woman in my life has impressed me much. Can you blame me for not respecting them? Most women today are also not genuine and as fake as their bodies and faces. Their personalities are as plastic as they are. I do not believe there is a woman that is a virgin after she leaves school. Besides, Don Parrisi is Bria's father, and I know he is pushing her to pursue me as he sees it as an opportunity to get closer to the Marino clan and me and to make money off of me. 

"Are you ready? I want to warn you that the paparazzi follow me everywhere, and they can wait for us outside," I say. 

"Or you have tipped them off to wait for us and want them to see us together so that the world knows you have a new girlfriend, and the women will leave you alone," Mia says. I smile. This little one is way too clever. 

"You are too clever for your age, la Mia Mia. Be careful with that mind of yours. I do not like people interfering in my business too much," I say. 

"Yeah, I know the mighty Don Marino is untouchable. Please stop calling me your Mia. I am not yours," I say. 

"You are mine until I say otherwise," I say. I take her hand as we walk off the plane, and the cameras almost blind us. I make sure she is okay. I do not want her to fall. Damn, Mario could have let them wait outside the bloody airport and not let them get too close to my plane. I help Mia into the Limo, and I know why Mario did it. He had a car for us waiting where my plane landed and wanted to make sure they got the best photos of the two of us. 

"Mr. Marino, where did you meet?" A reporter shouts, and I act annoyed. 

"Mr. Marino, is it true that you are getting married?" Another shout. I ignore them and steer Mia away from them towards the Limo waiting for us. Mia looks like a deer in headlights and is uncomfortable in the spotlight. I put my arm protectively around her. I know I do not have to do it, but something about her wants me to protect her. I may be a heartless bastard, but I can not help to protect her. Aria and the rest of the passengers follow us. Aria and her team get into the other car with all the clothing and stuff they need to turn Mia into the lady I want her to be. I know I will not lose my heart to anyone, maybe someday when I have restored my trust in women, but that may take years. 

I still have revenge in my heart and do not want the wrong woman to suffer because of my hatred for Bria. No one can know how I feel about Bria as I want my revenge, but my revenge has to wait for now. I am not going to be the reason her marriage ends. She and Steven have been with each other for a long time. I was driven after Bria insulted and humiliated me, and that is why I went after the Godfather and became the youngest Godfather to rule the Italian Mafia in America. I can not let anyone take that title from me not until I am ready to pass it on. I want children someday, and I want to leave them a legacy, unlike my father, who left us with nothing. I am ruthless in my goal to become more powerful and rule the Mafia for as long as possible. 

We drive away, leaving the paparazzi with more questions than answers. I like to be mysterious and let people guess what is happening in my life and why I suddenly have a girlfriend. I do not want them to look into my life too much, so I occasionally give them something to discuss. Mia glares at me, and she does not look too happy. 

"I hope you are happy now! The bloody world will know now that I am your mistress, and they will start looking into my background and find out I am a broke-ass student. They will mock me online, and I have been bullied enough. I do not need this! Why are you doing this to me? All because my bloody father stole from you! I will pay you back every bloody dime my father owes you, but the day I do, I am walking away, and there will be nothing you can do about it," Mia says. 

"Good luck with making that much money in your lifetime. I do not think you have it to become wealthy with the little money left in your business accounts," I say. 

"Well, you have underestimated me before and are doing it again. I will show you and the whole world that I can make it alone," Mia says. I laugh as I know she is young and full of dreams, but there is no way she can make so much money in a short time, so she will be at my mercy until I say so. I am using her to lure Bria in. I know she is not happy in her marriage and is about to leave her husband. I feel sorry for Steven, but he laughed at me all those years back at that party, so if he got hurt, he brought it over himself. I can not care about anything but my revenge at the moment. I will use anyone that I have to to get what I want.

I don't know Mia, and I should not care about her, but something in my heart wants to see her happy for once and make her smile. I can not get soft. My mind and spirit are confused, and I must get home to clear it. I can not let this little girl get to me with her soulful eyes and innocent face. I need to remember that all women are the same, and they will use and abuse you as soon as you show weakness toward them. I need to harden my heart and not feel so sorry for Mia. She is not as innocent as she looks. I bet she will use me if she can, like all women always do. There are only two women I will look after and not hurt: my mother and my sister. Although I am angry at my mother for staying with that man for a long time, thinking it is the best thing for her children, I still love and respect her for all she tried to do for Aria and me. My little sister had enough pain in her life, and the next man that tries to break her heart will end up dead. I am still upset about her last lover and want to kill him, but I promised Aria I would not.