I was still dazed as we pulled away from the intense kiss, but I was conscious enough for a deluge of apprehensive questions to fill my mind.
I stared at him in silence, my almost blank head processing everything he had said.
"I won't bear a child for you. Never!" I blurted out.
His lips curled up in an awkward amusement.
"Never say never," he chuckled.
"Well, never!" I yelled. "A child will not be a part of the deal."
"Oh, there won't even be a deal," he said with a confidence that made me sick. "You're going to marry my because you want to, because you're always going to crave my dick sliding in you. And I will pay for your mother's treatment purely out of the goodness of my heart."
"Are you serious?" I forced out a mocking laughter.
"My friend, Julio, will drive you back to your place," he said, ignoring me. "He'll give you some documents to fill out. I'll need those documents to pay for your mother's surgery."
I stared at him as he leaned back in his chair and peered lazily into his wristwatch. "Now, sweet, I'll have to ask you to leave," he said. "I have an appointment coming up."
I remained there, my hands crossed over my breasts, staring at him in absolute disbelief. "You really mean what you said?" I muttered. "You mean what you said, don't you?"
He shrugged. "I'm not a joker."
"I mean about my mother's treatment," I said.
"Yeah, yeah," he said nonchalantly, tracing his lips with his thumb. "Your mother's surgery, about Julio and the documents and about my appointment, yes. I'm deadly serious."
My lips parted, but before I could muster any words, the door slid open and the blonde haired man I remembered seeing in the club walked in, a grin playing in his lips. He was the one who had stepped in front of Francesco that night, showing the gun sagging from under the lapel of his suit and causing Rhea to freak out.
"I believe the meeting went well," he said, glancing at me and then back at Julio.
"More than well," Roman said, tracing his lower lip with his thumb again, more out of habit than necessity.
Bastard!
I bet he was only doing that to make me haunted by that kiss again.
I could barely help the overriding feeling that he had a sort of manual on me and knew which of my buttons to push, and indeed he did push them without hesitation.
But why was it so easy for him to control me? Women were supposed to be so damn complicated for Chrissakes!
The blonde haired man, his driver, Julio, gestured at the door with a playful grin on his face.
"We should get going, Mrs Giacomo," he teased with deadpan humor.
I rolled my eyes and glanced at Francesco. He had a smirk on his face and stared at me like I was a piece of meat.
"See you tomorrow, Stephanie McMahon," he said with a tease in his voice, his lips forming like he was savouring a good, flavourful wine.
The sound of my name on his lips sent a shiver through me and I worked a difficult swallow.
"See you tomorrow, Giacomo," I forced out of my throat.
I didn't miss the way his eyes darkened as I spelt out his name. A daring part of me wanted to say it again and see the reaction come up in his face, but Julio gently tugged at my arm, guiding me to the door.
Only when I was talking through the corridor on my way back outside with Julio by my side did my mind begin to piece everything together that had just happened, how everything in my life had just drastically changed.
I felt an icy brush on the nape of my neck and by the time I stepped into the elevator I was already wearing a coat of fear and uncertainty. My breath was shallow and caught in my throat, and the high-pitched ringing in my ears announced a rising panic attack.
"You're okay?" Julio's sharp eyes narrowed and scrutinized my pale face.
I cleared my throat and gave him a nervous smile.
"I'm just a little nervous."
This had to be the understatement of the year. I was nearly falling apart, my nerves fraying, my blood curdling, my heart racing and my brain...blank. The whole of my being was riotous with doubtful thoughts.
This arrangement was a way out for me– The only way out!
Still the rules and lack of specifications made my stomach twist in all directions. I didn't know what to expect. And I didn't know what he expected of me either.
"He likes you, you know?" Julio said suddenly.
I turned to him, blinking. "What?"
Julio chuckled. "You catch his fancy. It's not everytime a lady intrigues Francesco," he said and hummed. "Who am I kidding? It has never happened."
"Never?" I echoed and I was instantly surprised that I was able to talk despite my frayed nerves."
He nodded and hummed in affirmation. "He usually finds women...boring."
My questioning eyebrows raised and he chuckled.
"Well, it's not like he needs them interesting before he can fuck them."
"So," I said, giving him a look. "Why are you telling me this?"
"I guess I just want you to not worry...too much."
Too much.
I got the message. They meant I had to worry about trouble sometimes.
Julio drew a sharp breath. "Francesco is not a bad guy...most of the time."
I was rescued from the suspense by the ding of the elevator. The doors slid open and Julio led me to a black Bentley.
He rushed to the passenger side to open the door for me before sliding into the driver's seat. The engine purred and he was soon maneuvering through the traffic.
"The documents for you are in the glove compartment," he said without taking his eyes off the road.
I nodded and pulled the compartment open.
The first thing I noticed was the folder filled with documents. I pulled it out and froze instantly as I spotted a gun lying underneath.
I knew I should get used to seeing all kinds of weapons but still a shiver ran down my spine.
As I had expected, Julio had noticed my reaction to finding a gun in the compartment.
"Do you know how to shoot?" he inquired with a playful smile.
"I never saw the need to," I replied curtly.
"I'm afraid you'll have to learn now," he said and pursed his lips. "For your own good."
"I guess I'll have to learn a lot of things," I muttered and leaned back in my seat, taking a deep breath.
I needed time to process all of this.
After a while, I looked at Julio through the rearview mirror.
"So," I said slowly. "What is it you do for Francesco?"
A soft chuckle escaped his lips. "Are you sure you want to know?"
My dumb curiosity pushed out my answer before I could rethink it. "Yes."
"I'm his second," he said slowly and waited for a while. "But what I'm mainly responsible for is...eliminating threats."
"Oh," was the only response I could muster. My stomach churned and my eyes drifted slowly to the gun inside the compartment again. Then I remained in silence for the rest of the journey.
.....
Jace and Jade showed up in my apartment an hour after I had called and told them about the meeting.
Jace had come in with a bottle of champagne in hand.
I wasn't sure I was in the mood to celebrate but I figured the bubbles could help me relax.
"What's with all the suitcases?" Jade asked, frowning at my halfpacked stuff.
"I'm moving into Francesco's residence tomorrow," I told her, dropping a few folded clothes into the suitcase.
"Terrific!" Jace squealed as he uncorked the champagne. "So, when's the wedding?"
I chuckled nervously and slumped into the sofa. "I don't know. We'll maybe talk about it tomorrow."
Jace handed a glass to me and sat next to me. "Are you ready to start a relationship with him?"
I cringed, finding it very weird to use that word to describe this thing that was between Francesco and I.
"It will be nothing but a simple arrangement," I said. It was an obvious lie and a part of me hoped they wouldn't notice. But they did.
"Baloney," Jade said and blew raspberries before collecting her glass. "There is not a single thing between the two of you that can be called 'simple'."
Jace nodded in agreement and looked at me with a teasing look. "You want him, don't you?"
I wanted to deny it immediately but the pink puddles which formed on my cheeks betrayed any attempt.
"Well, he is handsome," I said slowly, determined not to say what they wanted to hear.
"So you like him," Jace prodded.
"Of course she likes him," Jade interrupted. "She kissed him once and admitted that she enjoyed it."
"She kissed me too, once," Jace said with a shrug.
Jade's gaze flipped to me. "You kissed him?"
"It happened once and I was drunk," I defended.
"It was more than just one kiss," Jace said.
"It was one night," I argued. "Jace had broken up with his girlfriend and...well, I guess I was just lonely. Anyway, it was a mutual decision to stop and never do it again."
Jade squinted her eyes at me as if she could activate a lie detector that way. Then she waved her hand dismissively.
"Fine. I get it. At least you didn't sleep together. That would have been awkward."
"And why would it be awkward?" Jace asked, somewhat offended.
"My best friend sleeping with my brother behind my back is a lot of weird to me," Jade replied.
"You know what," Jace said, changing the topic. "Let's just go back to how badly Steph wants to fuck Francesco."
"I didn't say anything like it!" I said.
"Liar liar, pants on fire," Jace sang. "Steph, Steph, Steph," he said and paused.
I gave him a look. "What?" I demanded sourly.
"We know the progress between you two might be unorthodox, but it's okay to admit that each time you see him, your panties get wet."
"That's not true–"
The chilly sound of a monastery bell dinging came from Jade's phone.
"That's my news alert," she said and snatched her phone from the table.
She scrolled through for a while and then her face turned suddenly pale.
"Did something happen?" I inquired with nervous curiosity.
Jade looked at me with an indiscernible expression. "I know it's just hours that you've been Francesco's fiancee. But you better brace yourself."
"Brace myself for what?" I asked.
"You may soon be in the middle of war," she said and returned to her phone. Then she turned her phone towards me and pointed at the picture from the crime scene. "Bernoulli Bernini's body has just been pulled out of the river."