"I need nothing from you," Sara snapped. "Just send me the papers, and I will sign them. And for the record, during this one year of marriage, we won't share a bed."
Luca chuckled, the sound low and mocking, as he rubbed the bridge of his eyebrow.
"Are you seriously asking me to… abstain from touching you?" he drawled, amusement dancing in his dark eyes.
At that moment, Luca's secretary appeared at the doorway, clutching a file. She paused, sensing the tension that hung thick in the air, and quietly approached her boss.
"Sir, I've brought the papers," Fabio said softly.
Luca took the file without a word and strode over to the couch, his presence filling the room with authority. "Let's get this over with before it's too late," he said, leaving no room for argument.
"I—I need to make a call first," Sara stammered.
"You can do that after signing the papers," Luca replied, his gaze sharp and unwavering. There was no patience in it, only the expectation of obedience.
Reluctantly, Sara sank into the couch and picked up the file, her eyes scanning the clauses and conditions. Her face twisted with frustration.
"Luca, you're impossible! I told you, we wouldn't share a bed. This is a contract marriage, and under no circumstances am I letting you touch me!" she yelled, her voice cracking with anger.
"It's non-negotiable in a marriage," Luca said coldly. His words were not just harsh, they carried the weight of authority, humiliation, and dominance. "If you can't accept that, then leave."
The sting of his remark cut deeper than she expected. It wasn't just about rules or marriage, it was a reminder of her crumbling position, a subtle trample on her dignity.
"You've already wasted more than twenty minutes of my time," Luca said.
"I will sign," Sara replied, her tone steady despite the storm inside her, "but you need to consider this, we feel nothing for each other, except hatred." She glared at him, her eyes daring him to remove that clause from the contract.
Fabio glanced at his boss, silently acknowledging that Luca would not bend, not even an inch.
"I gave you a chance," Luca said, rising from the couch with a commanding posture, "and you've squandered it."
With trembling hands, Sara hurriedly signed the papers. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and her lips quivered as she fought to maintain her composure.
'You think you can overpower me, Luca, she thought bitterly. These tears aren't falling because of your humiliation. They're for the betrayal I've committed against my boyfriend.'
Luca's lips curved into a faint, almost predatory smile at the sight of her tears. Fabio shifted uneasily, disturbed by his boss's reaction, but remained silent.
Sara closed the file with a soft thud and placed it on the table. She wiped the tears from her face, straightened her back, and met Luca's gaze. "Nothing should happen to Falcone Industries. Now, I've signed the deal with you, you have to do your part."
"Of course," Luca said.
Sara rose from the couch, her steps measured as she turned to leave.
"Fabio will drop you home," Luca called after her. "And tonight, I expect you at my place."
Sara didn't respond. She simply walked out, her silence as sharp as a blade.
"Boss, shall I—?" Fabio began, hesitating.
"Leave her," Luca interrupted, his gaze following her retreating figure. "She has nowhere else to go… except into my arms."
~~~~
Sara returned home, only to find the mansion's security refusing her entry.
"I need to see my father," she said, gripping the bars of the iron gate.
The guard lowered his head respectfully. "I'm sorry, Miss… I can't let you in. The master has given strict orders, you're not allowed inside."
Frustration bubbled up, and Sara hastily dialed her father's number. She had tried earlier, but Adam hadn't answered. This time, she was lucky.
"Dad… please, just see me once," she pleaded, her voice trembling.
"Why? After everything I asked of you? After I told you to step down as CEO? And what did you do? You turned my company into a subsidiary of Augustino Group! You're dead to me, Sara. Don't ever show up here again!" He bitterly snapped at her before the call abruptly disconnected.
She tried calling again, but the line was busy. It didn't take long for her to realize her father had blocked her number.
Helplessness washed over her, leaving her stunned and breathless. She remained standing on the gate. The sky, which had been filled with clouds since the morning, finally thundered before the rain started.
"Miss Sara, you should leave. Maybe by morning the master's anger will subside, and then you can come inside," the security guard urged, worry etched across his face.
"No," Sara replied firmly, gripping the iron bars. "I must stand here. Tell my father I'll be waiting for him."
"He'll fire me if I let you in," the guard said, closing his umbrella, clearly torn between duty and compassion.
Before he could finish, a shadow fell over her. An umbrella hovered above Sara's head, and she immediately recognized the figure, not by sight, but by the intoxicating scent of his cologne.
"Leave!" she shouted with defiance.
Instead, Luca grasped her hand and dragged her toward the waiting car. Sara struggled and screamed, demanding to be let go, but he ignored every protest. In the blink of an eye, he shoved her into the backseat, then stepped in himself and handed the umbrella to Fabio.
Fury flared inside Sara. She spun around and slapped him with all the force she could muster.
For a moment, Luca's expression darkened, the corner of his mouth twitching as he slid his tongue across the side of his cheek, where her hand had struck. The hint of a smirk was gone, replaced by a warning that made the air between them tense.
"This is the last time you do that," he said coldly.
Fabio slid into the driver's seat, adjusting the rearview mirror, and the car glided forward through the rain, carrying Sara to Luca's home.
The entire journey to Luca's home passed in heavy silence. Sara's fingers twisted nervously in her lap. She had never once disappointed her father, and the weight of this failure pressed on her chest. It was the first time such a monumental mistake had landed in her hands. Yet, with no other option in sight, she realized she had to rely on Luca's help, the only way to keep Falcone Industries from collapsing.
Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice when the car finally stopped until Luca's deep, commanding voice cut through the quiet.
"Do you want me to carry you in?"
Sara's gaze flicked up. She licked her bottom lip nervously but shook her head. She finally exited the car. Luca strode ahead, and she silently followed him into the mansion.
The interior reflected him perfectly: elegant, yet cold and shadowed, with a brooding, almost dark atmosphere.
When they reached his room, Sara halted at the doorway, planting herself firmly.
"I want a separate room for myself," she demanded, "and if you refuse… I swear, you'll regret it."