CHAPTER 5: EMMA

What did he just say?

"Wait…what?"

"Marry me, Emma, all your bills, debts, hospital fees, fuck it, even this building will be yours, the Caruso Empire owns it, so I own it. I'll give it to you."

Wait, he's dead serious.

So what if he's fucking Vanderbilt? How dare he?

But, the money doesn't sound like a bad idea. But, it is crazy, my one-night stand coming to me with a marriage proposal less than a week after meeting him.

"Why?" I ask

"Because I need you," he replies swiftly, his face devoid of any emotion.

"Right." I chuckle. "And if I refuse?"

"You won't." Oh, he sure is an arrogant son of a bitch. "Because you need my money, the same way I need your hand."

I hate that he's right, but this feels wrong and fast, too fast.

So, I say "No. I refuse. I know nothing about you, or what I'm getting into." What if he's an organ harvester?

"Darling, if you wanna know about me, look up 'Liam Caruso', although I'm not sure if the million and one articles you see can tell you the full truth. I'm a billionaire sweetie, I got my money through a legit business, I'm as open as it gets, I have no choice, and many eyes are on me. So, no, I won't kill you and sell your organs or anything ."

Can he read minds???

"I'm not interested. Leave me alone." I can't marry a stranger.

"I'll give you time to think it over." He moves closer to me and places his card in my palm. "Call me if you change your mind." He sounds so sure.

With that, he takes his leave, and I stand there, card in my hand, wondering what to do next.

So far, in my quest for my father, I only have his diary, a brown leather book, with a fancy-looking crest on it.

Wait a minute, I fish out the card Liam handed me earlier, it reads.

'Liam Caruso, VP Caruso Holdings.'

And, it also has this crest on it, come to think of it, it also looks like a 'C'. A 'C' is hidden in a crest, embroidered with what appears to be vines.

Vines! I do know that the Caruso wealth stemmed from their vineyards, they're the top winemaking company.

Why did I never think of this? But, how would he get such a diary? Is it easy to get? Or, did he ever work for the Carusos?

I should find a way to ask Ma. And, I will, because I head to her place immediately, it's not far away, just a ten-minute walk.

I reach in no time, I find her in the kitchen, trying to make some mozzarella cheese.

"Mama!" I yell "What are you doing?"

"I'm not going to die from making cheese anymore." she protests.

"Ugh, why won't you listen to me?" I roll my eyes, there's no hope in fighting with her.

After a while, I figure out how to ask my question. "So, I was trying to apply for a job the other day, affiliated with the Caruso empire…" I lie.

"Mmhm." she urges me to go on.

"And, it seems like there's someone who worked there recently in our family. With my surname, not yours." I swallow, I hope my lie is gullible.

"Why? Does that disqualify you for the job?" She stretches out the cheese.

"No, mama. It's just, I need to confirm, I think it's him, my father." I don't miss the change in her step. Bringing him up is always sensitive for her, so, I try not to. But, at the same time, she won't tell me much except he was her high school/college sweetheart. She got pregnant with me and dropped out of college, and, he left 20 years ago, when I was almost four.

"Can you tell me, mama? Did Papa work at the Caruso company ever? Or, was affiliated with them in some way?"

She sighs, puts the cheese down, and faces me. "Piscina, your papa worked many jobs, but the one that brought us more favor was when he got a job at Caruso, he was…an intern at first, but then, he started bringing in ridiculous amounts of money home. I'm no graduate but I knew an intern shouldn't have made that much." She sniffed

I let her continue.

"I-I--I confronted him about it sometimes, he just said 'God was faithful'. But one day, I got so scared, we had a huge argument. We didn't talk for days, until, one morning, I woke up and he was…gone." She looked down at her apron.

"Mamma." I moved to her and hugged her so tightly. "It's not your fault. It must've hurt so much, I agree, he had no reason to leave."

"Emma, you're way too understanding for me. I can never be worthy enough to deserve you. You reminded me of him, a lot. I should've never left you home, alone, by yourself. You were just a baby, now, karma is dealing with me. I deserve everything I'm going through now." She sobs.

"Don't say that mama. Shh, I'm fine, we're gonna be fine." I've made up my mind.

After she'd calmed down, I brought her some tea and contemplated how to tell her the news.

After some pacing, I say "Mama, I'm getting married."

"What?" she spat out her tea. "To who? You're seeing someone? When? How?"

I smile and hold her hands. "I'm in love." I lie. "We will be married very soon it won't be grand."

"Ah." Worry was etched all over her face. "I hope he is a good man anymore."

"He is mama." I lie to her and myself.

I need to find out more about the Caruso family and empire, plus, I also need the money.

Later that night, after pacing up and down in my room continuously, I pick up his card, with his number, and dial it with my phone, he picks up after the second ring.

"Liam Caruso speaking." There's no way he gave me his real number, I thought this would direct me to his secretary or something.

"I-I've my answer." I gulp. "I will marry you, but… what will happen to me after we're wed?"

"Emma, good to hear from you." I hate the smugness in his voice. "Just be a good, lowkey wife. That's all, I just need you to be my spouse on paper. We will divorce after a year, I'll have my assistant draft up a contract, and the marriage certificate as well. He'll pick you up from your home tomorrow."

"You know where I live?" Goosebumps spread over my skin.

"I know everything anymore."

The next day, as I read the contract that stated clearly that we are not to interfere with each others' personal lives, I'm meant to steer away from the media, from making it known I'm married to him, even though that may get out.

And, after a year, after his business holdings have been successfully expanded, we are to divorce and go our separate ways.

I signed both the contract and marriage certificate, I do hope I'm making the right decision.

Just two weeks ago, I was a regular girl, fresh out of college, working multiple jobs to live debt-free. Now, I'm married to one of the richest, most eligible men in Europe, to help my cancer-stricken mama and find my father, if he is still alive, I know in my heart, that he was elbow deep into the Carusos' shenanigans.

"Thank you…Emma Caruso." Liam remarks. "Now, to seal it."

He walks over to my seat, swoops down, and engulfs me in a kiss.

His lips move smoothly over mine, now that I'm not drunk, I can feel the intricate details of his lips.

Happy married life to me.