LILIANA Weekend I laid on the beach bed or rather pool bed since we were by the pool side. I picked up the orange juice on the table besides me and sipped from it through the straw. “ So our mission was successful? ” Nico lifted his shades to his hair and looked at me. He was right next to my bed. “ Yup, as expected. Our plans never fail, ” I smirked as I swirled the orange juice around in my cup. “ But there was this one time when you came up with a... ” “ Not now, Nico. Besides, that was just once, ” I adjusted myself on the bed, placing my hands behind my head. “ It was actually four times, ” he reminded. He was out to embarrass me. “ Okay, I get the point but what matters now is this one and all other of my plans excluding those four have been a success,” I said. “ You've still had a lot of messed up plans but I guess, you're free to do whatever floats your boat,” he intentionally got on my nerves as he sipped from his cup. “ If you're done talking, let's
KAYLA A month later I had managed to get dad to let me marry Ricardo and after much thought he accepted with a condition in place of course. The condition was that I would live with him for a while before deciding whether or not I could handle him. “ You look so gorgeous, Miss Leona,” my personal maid squealed as the make-up artists finished up with my makeup. “ I look so much prettier,” I smiled softly as I stared in the mirror. “ What nonsense are you spewing on such a special day?” She reprimanded. “You’ve always been gorgeous, young miss,” she praised. Today was I and Ricardo's engagement officially and it was being held in our family estate with different mafia families being present today. This also meant the big reveal. Ricardo was going to see who he'd be marrying today “ I appreciate the compliment,” I chuckled as she dismissed the make-up artists. “ And I'd prefer if you'd just address me by my name. No need for honorifics,” it
A week laterHAVEN “ Wait, where are you headed and dressed like that?” Iris asked the moment I walked past her on black booty shorts with black net socks and a black corset topping it up with black boots and gothic makeup. “ Can't you take a guess?” I said twirling so she could have a closer look. “ Hmmm... Nope, don't see nothing,” she said after a while of peering. “ I'm out to a club to grab some drinks and party? Well, I guess that's the plan,” I shrugged. “ Are for real right now?” she scoffed. “ I didn't think you'd go partying in a place you're unfamiliar with. That's definitely unlike you,” she said. “ It's all because of that damned bride of Ricardo, of course. You know how much effort I put in to get dad to let us come to Italy alone, right?” I sat down on the papasan chair next to Iris as I narrated. “ You still haven't gotten over the fact that he's now engaged and planning his wedding?” Iris asked like it wasn't supposed to be a big d
HAVENA week later… I picked up my phone and dialed a number I had previously thought I hadn't taken. It was about time we meet up. “ Yes, hello,” I greeted the moment Marco answered. “ I'm surprised you called me so suddenly,” he laughed awkwardly. “ Well, I nearly forgot that I took your number,” I admitted. “ Ohhhh, I'm not surprised,” he remarked. “ No, that's not what I meant. What I meant was I had forgotten that we had exchanged numbers because I was tipsy when it happened,” I confessed. “ It's alright, ” he dismissed and unlike me, I actually felt a bit guilty. “ So....” I hesitated. “ So?” He urged. “ I'm getting off work soon. Would you like to meet up?” I asked. I was at home but well, I didn't want it to look like I was jobless. “ Sure, I mean it's not like I have anything doing tonight,” he accepted. “ Where are we meeting?” He inquired. “ Same place where we met,” it was perfect for a second meeting and perfect for wh
HAVEN I stretched out on the king-sized bed which has layers of white sheets. It was still very early and I knew I probably missed Iris’ call but it was worth it. All I had to do was come up with an an excuse or beat the time and the second option was still possible. I could make it home before dawn if I left soon enough. “ You weren't as bad as I thought you would be. I guess I underestimated you,” I smirked as I stared at Marco who was fast asleep. I propped my head up with my arm. He looked even more innocent when he slept, it made me wonder if this was the same passionate guy of last night. I touched his face, caressing his jawline and paying attention to the details of his face. The more I looked at him, the more handsome he appeared. “ I can't believe I slept with a random person. Not to mention that I've been saving it for Ricardo when next we meet but then again, I might have grown old waiting for that to happen so I believe it's safe to say you were the perfect
KAYLA It had been a few weeks now since I and Ricardo officially got engaged and i moved in with him. He was barely ever around and I had a feeling he was intentionally avoiding me. “ Kayla? Kayla?!” Hannah, my co-worker who sat right beside me called my name. “ Yes? Did you need me for anything?” I snapped out of my thoughts. “ You're always so lost in thoughts that it's making me worried, not to mention that you've been making minor errors nowadays,” she sighed. “ I'm sorry,” I apologized. I had decided to take up this job at one of Ricardo's legal businesses managed by Luca. It was boring at home and it always made me tense with how much Ricardo ignored me. It would have been better if he had thrown a fit after he found out that I was the one he was marrying. “ Maybe you're pushing yourself too hard?” She worried. “ Not at all, I'm alright,” I smiled warmly to reassure them. “ That's what she always says. Here,” Mrs Smith, who was
RICARDO I sat down waiting in a restaurant with Enzo and Luca by my side. Luca was obviously not happy to tag along but it was necessary to have both of them around as the person I was dealing with was way more trouble than even clients we deal with. “ Couldn't you bring Enzo with you alone? Why did I have to tag along?” Luca had been complaining since we got here. “ You complain too much. I'm more stressed than you as it is,” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “ No, I'm more stressed. I don't get paid enough for this,” he went on and on like he had lost a knot or two. Just then, the door of the private room slid open and he walked in with my men behind him. “ Ricardo! Long time no see,” he smiled as he approached. Just seeing him felt like some years from my life had been taken away. “ Why are you suddenly back?” I asked, squinting my eyes, not concealing how badly I'd prefer him not to be here. “ You could at least pretend to miss
KAYLA Four days later I sat down quietly watching as Lisa took off my bandages. I'm glad it healed quite fast. “ The ointment the doctor gave me really worked,” I said, stretching my hands as I stared at it. “ Yes, I'm glad you're alright now,” she sighed. “ Would you like anything? Like a drink or food or just something,” she asked. “ Maybe an apple juice? Yeah, probably that,” I nodded my head. “ Alright, I'll be right back,” she excused herself to get me the drink of my choice. My mind went back to what had happened five days ago when I had gotten back from the team dinner. Even when I had first been with Ricardo for the mission, I wasn't this afraid of him. The look in his eyes as he forcefully scrubbed me was a sight I wouldn't easily forget. It was scary seeing him like that and for a moment, I doubted my choice. “ Maybe I should have listened to Miro and Liliana,” I muttered but I couldn't leave now, not after fighting
KAYLA We continued to sit in each other's company without saying a word to each other. As weird as he may be, being around him was oddly comforting. “ So…” he paused, sipping noisily from a straw to annoy me. “ So?” I repeated, asking. “ So you really want to keep hanging on to my brother?” He said with a blank expression on his face. “ How many times are you going to ask me that?” I could feel the sides of my temple twitch. “ I'm just a curious guy who's baffled at some naive girl's decisions,” he was way too blunt. “ Maybe you mind your business and leave the naive girl alone,” I snapped. “ Knowing that you're the long lost daughter of the Russo family, there's absolutely no way they'd let this marriage proceed with you being treated terribly here. I'm guessing you haven't been in frequent contact with them,” I hated his wits and intuition. “ No, but I do text my twin sister regularly,” I said in a low voice.
KAYLA We sat down opposite each other in the gazebo and some maids brought us drinks and snacks. I honestly wasn't hungry since I had just eaten so I sipped from my glass. This was awkward. “ You aren't as wary as before,” he broke the silence. “ That's because everyone seems to know who you are. They wouldn't act that way if they really didn't know who you are,” I answered with a shrug. “ True,” he nodded his head. Why did he want to take a stroll with me? Did he have anything to say to me? “ Does Ricardo know you're here?” I felt the sudden need to ask. “ Of course not. You should have suspected that with my attitude, if he was aware, he'd have rushed down here,” he laughed it off. “ He didn't want me to meet his wife,” he smirked at me. “ Fiancee,” I didn't know why I felt the need to correct but I ended up doing so regardless. “ Hmmm, I thought you were some sorta lovestruck dummy,” he stuck out his tongue in disgust. “
KAYLA “ I don't know what you're talking about,” something about the way he acted didn't sit right with me. Was he really Ricardo's brother and younger brother at that? He's even taller and more muscular than Ricardo and even if for any reason he was Ricardo's brother, why would he be telling me things like this? “ You seem really skeptical about me,” he smiled. “ Who wouldn't be?” I didn't take my eyes off him even once. “ Sir Gian, please do not pull the legs of Miss Leona,” Lisa stepped in. She seemed to know him. “ Ahh, Lisa. It's been a while, how have you been?” His attention quickly shifted to Lisa. “ It's been as it should,” she shrugged. “ Boss didn't tell us you were around or coming at that but I'll prepare a room regardless,” she spoke formally to him even though the way he addressed her convinced me that they had a less formal relationship than she portrayed. “ Come on now, are you chasing me?” He pouted. “ It's not
KAYLA After letting some time pass, I headed downstairs. I had nothing else to do since I couldn't go out, so maybe I could have a snack. “ Miss Kayla, what are you doing here?” One of the maids gasped as I walked into the kitchen. I had rarely entered into the kitchen since I and Ricardo's engagement and even when we were just dating, I rarely ever did. “ I was wondering if I could snack on a thing or two,” I lied. I had gone downstairs in hopes of seeing Lisa. I wanted to let her know that my decision shouldn't affect our friendship, though I doubt she'd care to listen. “ Is that so?” “ Yes,” I nodded. “ Then, I'll whip up something for you. You must be hungry. You haven't had breakfast yet, have you?” She asked. “ No, I haven't,” I took sometime before answering. I had actually forgotten that I was yet to have breakfast because my morning had been quite hectic. “ Alright, I'll make you breakfast,” she smiled. “
KAYLA Just as I was about to respond, Lisa walked in after knocking. I hung up and tried to wrap my head around things. Why would Ricardo give a direct order that would benefit me? Last time I checked, he did anything but care or even pay attention to me so I'd have sworn that he'd be pleased if I lost my job or at least that it wouldn't concern him if I did. “ Kayla? Kayla?” Lisa shook me “ Huh? Yes,” I nodded my head, snapping out of my thoughts. “ I was saying something to you but you seemed so out of it,” she said. “ Oh, sorry. What were you saying?” I felt guilty for making her talk to herself. “ Never mind that. Did anything happen while I was gone?” She asked, placing down my glass of apple juice. “ Why would you assume that something happened?” I faked a smile as I picked up the glass. “ For days now, you've been out of it but it was more because you were broken… well, at least, that's how you looked but
KAYLA Four days later I sat down quietly watching as Lisa took off my bandages. I'm glad it healed quite fast. “ The ointment the doctor gave me really worked,” I said, stretching my hands as I stared at it. “ Yes, I'm glad you're alright now,” she sighed. “ Would you like anything? Like a drink or food or just something,” she asked. “ Maybe an apple juice? Yeah, probably that,” I nodded my head. “ Alright, I'll be right back,” she excused herself to get me the drink of my choice. My mind went back to what had happened five days ago when I had gotten back from the team dinner. Even when I had first been with Ricardo for the mission, I wasn't this afraid of him. The look in his eyes as he forcefully scrubbed me was a sight I wouldn't easily forget. It was scary seeing him like that and for a moment, I doubted my choice. “ Maybe I should have listened to Miro and Liliana,” I muttered but I couldn't leave now, not after fighting
RICARDO I sat down waiting in a restaurant with Enzo and Luca by my side. Luca was obviously not happy to tag along but it was necessary to have both of them around as the person I was dealing with was way more trouble than even clients we deal with. “ Couldn't you bring Enzo with you alone? Why did I have to tag along?” Luca had been complaining since we got here. “ You complain too much. I'm more stressed than you as it is,” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “ No, I'm more stressed. I don't get paid enough for this,” he went on and on like he had lost a knot or two. Just then, the door of the private room slid open and he walked in with my men behind him. “ Ricardo! Long time no see,” he smiled as he approached. Just seeing him felt like some years from my life had been taken away. “ Why are you suddenly back?” I asked, squinting my eyes, not concealing how badly I'd prefer him not to be here. “ You could at least pretend to miss
KAYLA It had been a few weeks now since I and Ricardo officially got engaged and i moved in with him. He was barely ever around and I had a feeling he was intentionally avoiding me. “ Kayla? Kayla?!” Hannah, my co-worker who sat right beside me called my name. “ Yes? Did you need me for anything?” I snapped out of my thoughts. “ You're always so lost in thoughts that it's making me worried, not to mention that you've been making minor errors nowadays,” she sighed. “ I'm sorry,” I apologized. I had decided to take up this job at one of Ricardo's legal businesses managed by Luca. It was boring at home and it always made me tense with how much Ricardo ignored me. It would have been better if he had thrown a fit after he found out that I was the one he was marrying. “ Maybe you're pushing yourself too hard?” She worried. “ Not at all, I'm alright,” I smiled warmly to reassure them. “ That's what she always says. Here,” Mrs Smith, who was
HAVEN I stretched out on the king-sized bed which has layers of white sheets. It was still very early and I knew I probably missed Iris’ call but it was worth it. All I had to do was come up with an an excuse or beat the time and the second option was still possible. I could make it home before dawn if I left soon enough. “ You weren't as bad as I thought you would be. I guess I underestimated you,” I smirked as I stared at Marco who was fast asleep. I propped my head up with my arm. He looked even more innocent when he slept, it made me wonder if this was the same passionate guy of last night. I touched his face, caressing his jawline and paying attention to the details of his face. The more I looked at him, the more handsome he appeared. “ I can't believe I slept with a random person. Not to mention that I've been saving it for Ricardo when next we meet but then again, I might have grown old waiting for that to happen so I believe it's safe to say you were the perfect