chapter one

ETHAN SALVATORE

A love disappointment is a wound that never closes, for any reason it opens, any reason it bleeds and hurts. Even though I have seen this role several times, it still hurts when I read the wedding invitation. It brings me hate, pain and anger, all at the same time, with the same intensity. It hurts in a way that I could never describe, but it loses out to the amount of hate that takes over my being.

It is not enough that they have robbed me of my love, my smiles, or my chance to be happy. Now they want to rub in my face how much they have improved, how happy they are, and what they did to me didn't matter at all, just as I was never important to either of them.

"Bastards" --- I throw the invitation paper on the table, not believing the audacity they had.

"Bastards"

Surely this was that woman's idea, Leticia. As if the humiliation she put me through on "our wedding" day wasn't enough, now, five years later, she sends me an invitation for her wedding to the one I once called brother.

From what I understand it is going to be the event of the year, the ones that all the magazines and media will want to record. They are getting married in the Maldives, but until then all the guests will spend a month with them on a high luxury cruise from San Francisco to the wedding location.

Everything the way she always wanted, that she always dreamed of. With lots of luxury and money involved. Something we didn't have in what almost became a marriage, ours.

Today I understand that that woman is not capable of loving anyone, only money. My biggest confirmation was when she came to ask me to come back for the sole reason that my company was the best in the country, being third in the world list. I passed my brother on several levels, becoming better than him in so many things I could never explain.

Yes, I kept to the letter the promise I made to myself. I graduated in business administration, taking several courses in cosmetics and all that beauty stuff. Soon I opened my company, making it the best in the country, then one of the best in the world, with global recognition, and even more.

From then on it has been only glory. Every day my company grows and I celebrate in the best way, intense nights with several different women. Intense and delicious nights with people I will never see again, keeping me away from the media and just living. Between drinks and sex, these have been my nights.

I keep myself, at all costs, away from that man. The man I once called brother, but who now makes me sick just thinking about him. He has done everything to try and talk to me, he has even come to my company several times, in all of which I have had the security guards take him away by force. Today his entrance has been forbidden, he can't even get past the door, even though he has tried several times.

Once in a while I see my parents, they always call me and we talk. But I have distanced myself from everyone, I don't want them to see the man I have become. They would be ashamed of me, after all my change was abrupt. But with them, just for them, I try to be the same man as before. They deserve the best part of me, always.

"Nothing man?!"--- Jorge, my ballad partner, asks walking into my living room with everything.

He always does that. I've given up getting his attention for it, it never changes. I just accept it.

The reality is that I got the invitation two months ago, but I've been all this time without responding. Not because I won't go, it would be too humiliating, it would give them both the flavor that destroyed me. But rather because I am looking for the exact woman to be my pretend fiancée.

I don't want to get there alone, but looking better than ever, with a better woman than my ex. The problem? Finding that woman.

Recently I've been evaluating all the women I've slept with, even the ones coming in for the secretarial interview. But none of them seem to be good enough, much less beautiful or with a conversation to make anyone in that place surprised and admired. They are all too normal.

"Nothing."---I deny my head getting up, going to the private bar in my office making a glass of whiskey.

"You're being too picky man, the blonde from last week was perfect."--- He throws himself on the leather couch on the left side of the room.

"She's too normal by our standards, you'd think I was just looking for a woman who looked like Leticia."--- I sit back in my chair, opening my notebook.

I put in a very important contract for the company. It has already been reviewed by my lawyers, but I like to read any contract. Many people have tried to cheat me, to make an overpriced contract that would hurt me, but it didn't happen because I always had this habit and always caught it.

 "Oh Ethan, understand once and for all that there is no such thing as the 'perfect' woman."--- He quotes his finger.--- "Most of the people here are blond, they're all your ex's type. If I were you I'd pick right away, because more humiliating than getting there with a woman who looks like her is getting there alone or not at all."

"Then let it be a woman from another country, but one who doesn't look like Leticia."--- I insist.--- "I won't give up until I find the perfect woman, who will shock everyone with such beauty. A unique woman, who will leave no doubt that I am over Leticia."

There are many people who believe that to get over someone from the past is to be with someone else. This is not necessary. You can get over someone and still be single, enjoying that single life. That is not a sign that you are still suffering for such a person, when you are just being happy in your own way.

Before he can say anything, we hear a knock at the door and I allow the person to enter, watching it open and the most beautiful woman of all passes through, the one I have been waiting for all along. The one who will be perfect for my lie, I will be the center of attention having this goddess by my side. There would no longer be any doubt that I had overcome Leticia, that she was now just a bitter memory from my past. A woman of unparalleled beauty, a goddess so to speak.

Her black waves went all the way down to her big buttocks, covered by the leather-like fabric that covers her knees, with a slit in her thighs. And what a thigh, not too thick or almost skeletal, but just the right way. Her thin waist accentuates her guitar-like body. The skirt only enhanced her body and her curves.

The thin white blouse, strategically attached to the skirt, gave a sense of her breasts. These were neither too big nor too small, a medium size with an inch to big. I would say her bra is "M", almost going to "G".

Her dark face, like her skin, was with a simple makeup that accentuated her beautiful, thick nude painted lips. Her eyes are a beautiful honey, to catch anyone's attention.

This woman is perfect, she is one of a kind!

"Excuse me, good afternoon. I'm here for the job interview!"--- She pronounces in a voice that is soft, but charged with determination.

I look into her eyes and feel my body on fire. I let out a cheeky smile and turn my gaze to my friend, seeing that he was watching her mesmerized.

Just now he paid with his tongue.

"What did you say again?"--- I ask him, taking the last sip of my drink. He says nothing, his attention was on the woman in front of us.

"Get out Jorge, I'm going to interview this girl"--- I give an order to him who agrees and quickly leaves the room, not before giving her a good look.

I point to one of the chairs in front of my desk, indicating for her to sit down.

Confident, she walks over to me, resting her purse on the chair beside her and sits down on the other side. I ask for her résumé and even though she looks at it strangely, she hands it to me.

I look at everything carefully and when I touch her nationality I understand why she is so unique compared to the others, she is Brazilian. She graduated with merit in architecture, speaking three languages fluently. There were more things that filled everything, but what I wanted to know was not there.

I look at her over the sheet of paper. She seemed anxious, while staring at me like an eagle. I turn my attention back to what was before and amidst the intoxicating silence of the place, my voice sounds thick and firm with the question that could change not only her, but my life as well.

"Are you engaged?!"

"No."--- He answers immediately and then immediately brakes himself, looking at me in confusion.

I put the sheet of paper aside and turn my attention exclusively to her. I put my hand on the table and let out my best cheeky grin, showing I liked her answer.

 "I have a proposition to make to you."---I get right to the point.

I have less than a week to go on that cruise, if it takes too long, I'll be without a fiancé and without going to that damn wedding. Consequently, everyone will think that I am not over that tramp, and again, I will be a laughingstock in that family.

I don't want that, I want to emerge as someone who has turned things around and never looked better. I want all the attention to be mine and to admire the woman next to me. With this young lady I would achieve my goal and, not least, I would gain an exciting and pleasurable night, or several nights. This brunette demonstrates that she knows what she's doing.

"What proposal?" - She shows interest.

"Do you want to be my fiancée?" - I throw the bomb in her lap, moving my body backwards.

She gets scared at first. Not paying attention, my gaze falls on the sway of her breasts. God, how I want to squeeze them.

"I need to go to the wedding of my ex-fiancée who is marrying my brother, too humiliating, I know. I want to get there as someone who turned it around, I want to get engaged."--- Length clarifying everything, seeing that she understands what I'm getting at.

"You will have access to my card, all the while, to buy whatever you want, and it will be on me. I will give you new clothes too, for the time we will be in this farce. Everything during that time will be on me. At the end of it all you will have a sum of two and a half million dollars in your account."

"Will we have sex?!"--- She is direct in her question.

"Many, many times!"--- I run my tongue over my lips, admiring her body. This, without a doubt, will be my favorite part of our entire trip. 

"You spoiled son of a bitch" - he shouts, getting up, taking me by surprise - "You want me to be your luxury whore".

He picks up his bag and walks out toward the door. I act quickly and get up from my seat, walking over to her and grabbing her arms, causing her to slam against me.

"Forgive me, I expressed myself badly."--- I wrap my arms around her hips and squeeze her tighter.

Her perfume is not that extremely sweet, it is strong with a hint of sweetness. Unique like its owner. A full one that intoxicates the person.

"If you want to lie with me, I will be honored. If you go more than once, I will feel very happy. Otherwise, you will receive the same amount that was agreed upon."--- I look at her lips.--- "I just answered at the same moment because they all want to stay with me."

"I'm not all of them."--- she replies in the same second, looking into my eyes.

"I get it baby."--- I squeeze her tighter against my body.--- "But that only makes me more eager to have you in my arms and I will do anything to make you mine."

"And how long would this farce take?"--- She inquires, this time a little calmer.

 "A month or so, but no doubt it won't be more than two."--- I explain and she agrees with her head.--- "It will be until the end of the wedding, after a week or so, we'll fake a fight and end it all."

"First of all, loosen my belt."--- She speaks fearlessly and I don't think twice, doing as she asked.--- "I am willing to listen to your proposal and all you have to offer me, but the first offense that is directed at me, I will walk out that door and never come back."

"Please sit down."--- I ask pointing to the chair she was in a few minutes ago. Camila does as per my request.

As I walked towards the spot I indicated, it was instantaneous. My gaze fell, going down to the movements her buttocks made as she walked. This woman is much more than beautiful.

I offer her a drink and she says no, still upset about the misunderstanding. I would say she is defensive with me. I know this because I am always the same way with everyone around me. Always defensive, feeling that I can't trust any of them.

I make a drink just for myself and sit down again, this time next to her, staring at it better.

"My proposal is what I told you; we pretend to be engaged for a few days. During all those days I'll pay for everything, you won't have to pay anything. At the end of it all you can take everything you bought."--- I begin and she agrees, listening to me intently.--- "I will transfer one third of the amount as soon as we get on the ship, then the second part in the middle of the whole farce and the last part after we part before everyone."

"Ship?"--- You inquire.

 "Yes."--- I agree with my head.--- "My ex cares a lot about getting attention and she would have no better way than to take all her guests, for her wedding, on a month long cruise. If you accept, I'll give you all the details tomorrow over dinner."

I couldn't pass up the opportunity.

She nods her head in agreement and just stares deep into my eyes, seeming to think about each of my words. As she did so, I just stood there staring at her, anxious for her answer. It has to be her, I wouldn't find someone so beautiful possessing months, let alone days.

"I accept."---I answered at last, taking my breath away.

She accepted!

"I accept to be your contract bride, Mister Salvatore!"