A R I A N A
A whole week had passed since that awful night in Dante's study and seven days since I signed that ridiculous contract, seven days since he dropped the bombshell about fertility treatments.
And seven blissful days without seeing his face.
Emphasis on the blissful.
Lina told me he'd left for a business trip to Italy the morning after our argument. She'd been extra chatty, trying to fill me in on all of Dante's habits how he traveled often, how he hated gatherings, how he sometimes disappeared for weeks.
If only she knew that I didn't care, the less I saw of my so-called husband, the better.
The mansion felt different without him here, lighter I would say,the maids smiled more and were more free and losing up, his presence makes the environment tensed and authoritative, I even caught some of the staff gossiping about his strictness while they worked.
He was turley a god damn asshole.
It was funny how one man's presence could suck all the joy out of a place
I spent my days at Melendez Corp, burying myself in work my father had started transferring more responsibilities to me meetings, decisions, everything needed to eventually take over the company.
Ever since my encounter with my father we have grown more distant, last time I saw him was at the wedding. If he had any information to pass out he'd deliver it to Raya to which I was greatful of, the last thing I want to see is his disgusting face.
I let out a breath, tonight I'd be attending a stupid business dinner with some Japanese investors.
I had try to convince Raya to represent me but she was warned or rather threatened by my father.
How despicable.
I stood in front of my closet, scowling at the endless rows of designer clothes. I really wanted to ditch the dinner entirely but I couldn't, I knew that.
With a sigh, I pulled out a sleek black dress conservative but elegant, it looked too catchy and attractive, I had to double think before deciding to wear it.
I was running out of time.
Lina burst into the room without knocking, as usual. "Oh! You're dressing for the dinner! Do you need help with your hair?"
I shook my head. "I can manage."
She pouted but didn't argue. "Will Mr. Russo be joining you?"
There was a mockery tune in her voice that I didn't miss making me go stiff before I shrugged, "No, he's still away… remember?"
Lina nodded knowingly. "He misses a lot of these things don't take it personally!"
I almost laughed.
As if I cared whether Dante showed up or not.
An hour later, I was ready.
My hair fell in smooth waves down my back. Light makeup dulled my features without being too bold the black dress hugged my curves in all the right places.
I checked my reflection one last time at the mirror before grabbing on my clutch and heading out.
Now if only I felt as put-together as I looked.
The deuce to my destination was short my mind drifting away here and there.
My phone buzzed snapping me out of my train of thoughts, its atext from Raya.
"Don't freak out, but guess who just showed up at event?"
My stomach dropped, there was only one person that message could be about.
Dante was back.
And my peaceful week was officially over.
The guards helped me pass the paparazzi as I walked to the hall. I adjusted my dress my heels clicking against the marble floor as I walked in.
I didn't miss the way people stared at me and the whispers that followed about me being the asshole's wife, Dante Russo.
A man every woman but me would die to have. I'd trade Dante for anything, if only they knew.
I grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, taking a sip just to have something to do with my hands.
"Mrs. Russo!"
A deep voice called from my left I turned to see a tall man in a tailored gray suit approaching, his slicked-back hair shining under the lights.
A smile dancing on his lips.
"Fancy seeing you here," he said, lifting his own glass toward me. "I was just telling my associates how stunning you look tonight."
I forced a polite smile. "Thank you...?"
"Ah, forgive me." He extended a hand. "Damien Voss. CEO of Voss Industries."
I shook his hand, his grip too tight, his thumb brushing over my knuckles in a way that made my skin crawl.
"We were just discussing the new merger between our companies," Damien said, gesturing to the group of men behind him
"Perhaps you could give us your thoughts? Being a Melendez and a Russo now, you must have quite the insight."
I opened my mouth to respond but was caught off by a warm hand pressed against the small of my back.
The heat of a body stepping way too close behind me his scent of expensive cologne and something darker, something uniquely him hit my nostrils.
Dante.
My breath hitched.
Damien's smile faltered for just a second before he recovered. "Ah, Mr. Russo. We were just "
"What," Dante interrupted, his voice low and dangerous "are you discussing with my wife?"
His fingers curled possessively around my waist, pulling me back against him, I could feel the hard planes of his chest against my shouldet, the faint thud of his heartbeat.
Damien cleared his throat. "Just business."
Dante didn't blink. "Is that so."
The air between them crackled something unspoken, something dangerous. Damien's jaw tightened, his fingers flexing around his glass.
Dante's grip on me didn't loosen if anything, it got tighter, his thumb pressing into the dip of my waist like a brand.
I could practically taste the tension between the two of them, the rivalry.
Finally cheering through the silence, Dante spoke again."I'll be taking my wife now."
It was not a request but rather a command.
Damien's smile turned stiff. "Of course."
Dante didn't wait for a response he guided me away with that same firm hand on my back, his steps slow and deliberate like he wanted everyone to watch.
To see.
To see how who I belonged to. He liked claiming his territory.
I bit in my lower lip, my face burned as my roared, I wanted to pull away, to scream at him for acting like he owned me.
But the way those men had looked at me like I was a prize, a thing to be won made me press closer to Dante instead.
Just for the meantime.