Chapter 2: Big, Big Trouble!

Shortly after Massimo climbed in, we leave his estate, riding for about two hours until we get to a point where the road becomes packed with reporters and cameramen, all vying for the pictures of the elite invited to the private burial of famous billionaire, Alessandro Scavo’s father.

Then we drove about half a mile until we reached a mansion, and it was nothing like I had ever seen. I thought Massimo's manor was the biggest in the region, but I was wrong, the Scavo mansion was twice as huge and as wide as half an acre. My phone buzzed, and I checked it to see a message from my best friend, Hilda.

“Where are you?!” She asked.

“Already here.” I typed back. “What’s up?”

“You need to get in asap! Alessandro Scavo is here!”

My brows furrowed in confusion. "Who is that?!”

“Oh, I forgot Massimo cut you off from the internet. Alessandro is the best thing since sliced bread. He's so handsome my heart breaks every time he smiles.”

My lips curl into the faintest smile as I read Hilda's text gushing about the late Don's son.

“Did you know he was this year's Caste Magazine Sexiest Man Alive?”

“Wow. He must really be good looking.” I replied, biting back my smile so Massimo won't see it. “You could try and go out with him.”

“Nah. He has a specific taste. He only dates women with high status backgrounds but I also heard something. I heard he has specific tastes in bed too.”

“Lol. Who is your source?”

“Girl, you know what I do for a living. Girls talk and from the rumours going around, it's clear this man is a master at love making. I heard when he fucks a woman, he leaves an impression. His women are never the same after that.”

“Wow. That's quite the tale.” I replied, sarcastically.

“He must have a harem of lovers kissing his feet.”

“I bet. Unfortunately, he only sleeps with them once and has never had an emotional connection with anyone.” Before I could reply, the driver parked and it was time to get down.

Everything about the Scavos screamed money, and their house was twice as grand on the inside than Massimo's own would ever be. I almost ogled at all the expensive furniture that I am sure was imported, including the paintings, sculptures, chandeliers and so on. Seems the late Don spared no expense when it came to his sanctuary.

There were just as many people inside as there were outside and from my time with Massimo, I recognized them to be underground crime lords along with their wives or new playthings hanging by their sides.

We made our way to the front of the crowd where the bereaved family stood and my eyes still roamed everywhere else while Massimo greeted a tall man but I must have been deeply engrossed, searching the crowd when I felt a sharp pain in my arm.

"Ouch!" I exclaimed and turned sharply to Massimo and then to the point in my arm where he had pinched me. His face had a smile meant to be sweet but was menacing to me. "What?" I asked, trying to rein in my voice from sounding sharp.

"My nephew was saying hi." Massimo said, still maintaining that stupid smile of his.

That's when I raised my head and met a stunning blue gaze and immediately, my knees went weak.

It was him. My one-night stand, and as I gaped up at him with a slack jaw, I saw amusement and delight dance in his eyes.

So he was Alessandro Scavo. As in New York's most eligible billionaire bachelor, Hilda's crush and my fiance's nephew?

Holy smokes! My blood runs hot with liquid fear, while his gaze flickers with something in it.

Something I hope will die.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Scavo." I stretch forth my hand for a handshake, hoping no one notices how lightly it trembled. Alessandro looked at it like it was strange, making my heart hammer against my ribs as my hand lingered between us.

Just when I was ready to let my hand fall, he took it and I thought it would abate my racing heart, but instead he made it race faster.

Electric tingles shot up my arm where our hands collided and it took all modicum of strength to hold myself together. "My condolences on your father's passing." I stuttered, while unable to tear my gaze from his. "May his soul rest in perfect peace."

"Thank you, Miss…?"

"Iris." I managed to answer under the intensity of his gaze. "Iris Carter."

‘Perhaps he doesn't remember me anymore.’ I thought to myself. ‘Didn't Hilda mention that he only dates high class women? He must have slept with other women after me. There's no way he'd recognize me.

“Iris Carter.” He repeats my name like he's tasting the syllables. Then his eyes darkened maliciously as they stared at me from head to toe, “I have a feeling you'd look good in orange.”

My heart suddenly stopped. He remembers me?! He remembered the colour of my underwear?!

He must have seen the surprise on my face because the corner of his lips tilted up in a smirk that suddenly reminded me of how wicked they had been, sucking the consciousness out of me. Heat immediately pools in my core.

"She will soon be my wife." Massimo said, yanking me closer to him, making Alessandro gently drop my hand and me snap out of my reverie.

His gaze shifted to his uncle and back. His expression stayed neutral, betraying nothing. "Oh, I see." He said, his eyes suddenly growing cold, staring intently at me. “She’s…delightful.” My heart suddenly ran at a wild pace at the meaning behind his words. He had called me that word, ‘delightful’ in his hotel room that night, just before wrapping his lips around my left nipple and sucking on it.

Jesus. I pressed my thighs together, feeling wetness in my panties already.

"Iris?" A voice calls to my right and I turn to see a tall, slender brunette on the arm of one of the Made men.

Relief like no other flooded my system.

"Hilda!" I hugged my best friend.

There was no need for introductions because Massimo already knew her and the man she came with. They simply exchanged greetings and the men exchanged words.

After a while of awkwardly standing around, under Alessandro's heated gaze, without contributing to the conversation, Hilda asked Massimo's permission to borrow me. Being the fake jovial person that he was, he agreed while mouthing a warning to me not to go too far.

When we got out of earshot, Hilda grabbed two flutes of champagne out of a passing waiter's tray and handed one to me.

“Jesus! That man is hotter than a furnace!” She said, hand fanning herself. I downed my champagne in seconds. I hadn't realised I was severely parched.

"Girl, take it easy. I told you he was intense.” She grinned.

If only she knew.

"Are you okay?" Hilda asked, her smile fading.

"What do you think?"

"I think you look thinner than the last time I saw you. For God's sake Iris, you're becoming a ghost of yourself."

I immediately feel my throat constrict with tears. One glance at the men and I find Massimo’s nephew still watching me.

"Christ! You're trembling!" Hilda said, before downing her champagne and grabbing my hand. "Come. Let's go somewhere more private."

I follow Hilda to the restroom and once the door closed behind us, Hilda went through every stall to make sure no one else was in there with us. Once she gave me the signal that we were good, I broke down in tears.

"I'm in trouble!" I said. "I'm in big, big trouble!"

"Why? What happened?" Hilda said, coming closer to hold me. "Is this about the stuff your father was supposed to do for Massimo?"

I shake my head.

"Then, what is it?!"

"Alessandro." I sobbed.

"The Billionaire? What about him?"

I sniffled and tried to settle down. "Remember two months ago, when Massimo went to that poker game and I had that one-night stand with some total stranger…"

"So you could lose your virginity?"

I nod my head and sniffle.

"Oh my God! Alessandro saw you at the hotel?!" Hilda asked, wide-eyed.

"No," I sniffle again. "I wish it were just that but Alessandro was the man I slept with!"

Hilda's face dawns with realisation. "Oh no and he's Massimo's nephew. Are you sure he remembers you? He might not-”

“He does!” I cut in, remembering how he responded to me. “He remembers me pretty well, Hilda.”

“Wow. Do you think he would rat on you?"

"I hope not. Otherwise Massimo will kill me and my family."

"I know." Hilda said, and she was about to say something else when her phone beeped. Checking her phone, I noticed how her face fell and she suddenly looked dejected.

"What is it?"

Hilda looks at me like she just remembered I was there. Her eyes turned glassy and she gave me a look that made me take a step back from her.

"I'm so sorry." She sobbed.

My heart races as I wonder about a million and one ways in which my life could get any worse.

Did Alessandro tell Massimo about me? Did a reporter manage to catch my face and post it on the internet? Are my parents okay?

"What happened, Hilda?" I demanded.

"I just got news from Mary's mother.." She swallowed and my heart raced even more because somehow I already knew what she was going to say.

"No." I squeaked before covering my mouth in tears.

"Mary didn’t make it."