"Please, let my Dad live, and..." I said.
"And what?" Antonio asked, seriously eyeing me while seated on his leather chair.
I stood there, unable to think of a possible solution to free my Dad out of this madness.
Rea Bianchi - daughter of Ronaldi Bianchi. He was Antonio De Luca's right-hand man - until he betrayed him.
He stole money -billions of dollars from him. I didn't want to know the reason why, let alone where the money was. All I wished for was a peaceful agreement where no one died and everything went back to normal.
As if that would happen when a Mafia Boss like Antonio is mentioned.
"Do you want to know how much he stole from me?" he asked.
I kept silent.
"Guards, take her Dad to the punishment room," he ordered.
I quickly covered the door, unable to let the men out.
"Please men, Antonio, can't we solve this peacefully?" I asked, pleading with him.
"Go on," he said.
"Fine - you can tell me how much he owes," I said.
"Then...?"
"Then, I could cover the amount in installments?"
He scoffed at my answer. He stood up and glared at me. His tall masculine body towered over me.
"Installments? Really?"
I could tell from his voice that I insulted him.
"I need the money back in cash," he replied, "Not installments."
The men laughed at me. I looked at them before turning to Antonio again.
"Come on Antonio---"
"You are speaking to me so casually, have you lost your manners?" He interrupted.
"I am sorry, Mr. Antonio," I replied, bowing my head.
He patted my head, "Looking forward to receiving the money soon."
I quickly lifted my head and grabbed his arm. He turned around and stared at my hand, which I quickly removed.
"Please. Can't we... reach an agreement? I am just a doctor, I don't get paid millions," I said, lowering my voice.
He turned around and went back to his seat.
"A doctor, you say?" he asked.
I nodded.
"Speak up. I don't understand what you just did."
"Yes sir," I replied with my voice.
I kept wondering if he was this petty with his employees. Whether he was this mean and arrogant...
Whether he had a change of heart.
Our eyes met and I saw a smirk form on his face.
Oh no...
"I do have a deal we can create, which will benefit the both of us."
Skeptically, I replied, "Okay sir. What is this agreement about?"
"Be my wife for a year, and maybe..."
He reclined on his leather chair.
"I might cancel your Father's debt."
"WHAT?!" I exclaimed. It was not the kind of deal I was planning to hear but the great man Antonio is!
I wished I should have seen this coming, but at the same time, I knew I had to expect this.
"Your wife?!" I asked, "We don't even know each other!"
"Is that a refusal I hear?" he asked.
I kept silent, trying to think of the pros and cons of this decision. If I accepted it and became his wife for a year, my father's debt would be canceled. Refusing this offer would mean death on my father's side."
I had to accept that agreeing to this offer would bring a test to my sanity and my life. It was bound to be a rollercoaster of a marriage.
But for the sake of my father, I decided to accept it.
"Fine."
"Fine, what?" Antonio asked.
"I agree to be your wife for a year," I replied.
He smirked, "Good girl."
My heart experienced a shock wave when he called me that. He then gave an order to his men to escort me to the villa.
"One request sir," I said.
"What is it?" he asked.
"May I please see my father?" I asked, "Just once?"
"Not yet princess," he replied with a hint of sarcasm, "Maybe after a few days."
"Yes sir," I replied, turning away and letting myself be escorted by his guards.
I thought of the deal I just accepted a few seconds ago.
What have I put myself into?
The moment I laid my eyes upon the villa's entrance, my mouth was on the ground. Never have I seen such a massive mansion before.
"You can stop gawking now," Antonio said.
"And get out of the car."
"Right. Sorry," I said, coming out of the car and staring at the villa. Our house was big, but this was the definition of the biggest.
"This looks like a mall," I said, before looking at Antonio, "For one person?"
"Now two," he replied, "You will be staying here."
"Yeah, but," I said.
"But this would benefit so many people who don't have homes," I said thoughtfully.
I then got inside the villa to see a whole line of staff standing beside us.
"Good day sir!" they exclaimed.
"Good day," he replied, "I would like to introduce my wife,"
"Rea."
I felt chills run through my spine when he said that. Perhaps it was because I was never in a relationship before, but with him, it felt... different.
"Welcome Miss Rea," they said.
I then came back to reality. Smiling sheepishly, I simply thanked them.
"Little Rea is new to this life," Antonio said, looking at me with some kind of smirky smile.
"If you are making fun of me---" I said before he placed his index finger on my lips.
"No princess, you are just..." he said, as if unable to describe it.
"Just...?" I asked.
Giving me an undescribable smile, he said,
"Too cute when you overly react to my words."
I heard some of the staff chuckling. I felt my cheeks turning warm.
"Like a kitten."
"Like what?!"
He then walked away, leaving me confused. I looked at the staff and guards, who seemed to enjoy themselves. I caught up to Antonio and stood in front of him.
"You are enjoying this, aren't you?" I asked.
He looked me in the eye for a split second before turning to look at the staff. In an instant, they all stopped laughing.
"Happy now?" Antonio asked, looking back at me.
I stood there in shock, unable to say a word or react. He has good observance skills. I didn't ask him to tell them to stop yet he knew what I was talking about.
But... as expected of a Mafia Boss like De Luca. You need excellent observance skills to survive in this world.
"Did you hear me?" he whispered, knocking his forehead on mine.
I felt even more confused when he became extremely close to me.
"Yes..." I said, not knowing what to call him now that I had agreed to be his wife.
"Honey."
I opened my eyes wide.
"Is that not what people who are married call each other?" he asked.
Time to use this to my advantage.
"But we haven't gotten legally married yet," I replied, "Only through contract."
He chuckled, "I love you princess. You can speak what is in your mind... We will have a fun, interesting marriage."
"And, what is that supposed to mean?" I asked.
Before I knew it, he lifted me.
"What are you doing?!" I exclaimed, worrying about the attention we were receiving from the staff and guards.
He chuckled, as he continued carrying me.
"We are going to shop for your wedding dress sweetheart," he replied.
I looked at him.
"Wedding dresses?" I asked, "Already?"
He then changed my carrying position to bridal style.
"I thought about not being legally married, and I decided, 'Why don't we get married?'" He added.
"But... that is..." I said, unable to come up with an excuse.
"Early?" Antonio asked. "Not at all princess, besides, I want you to call me 'honey'."
"Really?" I asked a small smile carving on my lips.
He pulled his face up really close and replied coldly,
"Do you think I have time for such nonsense?"
I kept silent.
"Then you can put me down. I can walk by----"
He then threw me into the air.
Stay calm Rea, stay calm...
He caught me with a wink.
"Get ready princess," he whispered.
"Because one year with me will get heated."