Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 88182 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88182 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Deanna’s teeth bite her lower lip. “It’s a little late to be asking that, isn’t it?”
“I need to know.” I tighten my grip. “Please. No bullshit.”
“I don’t know. Can you actually follow through with your deal? Are you capable of giving her what she wants?” Deanna’s voice cuts me straight through my throat and down into my core. But she brightens quickly. “I’m sure it’ll be fine. Valentina’s a grown ass woman. She can handle herself. You’ll be alright, don’t worry.”
I release Deanna’s wrist. The scent of her perfume lingers as she pulls away, leaving the ring behind, chattering quickly about last minute preparations before escaping from my room.
I pour another drink and down it.
Deanna’s words burn through my skull. Can I give her what she wants? Can I follow through with the promise I made to her? Valentina’s a good person and she’s only doing this because she thinks it’s her best option for starting a family on her own terms.
But am I really the right man for that?
I barely know what I’m doing ten minutes later as I stagger down the corridor. The sound of laughter carries from the guests in the main hall of the waterworks building. The ceremony will be partially outside in front of the river as the sun drifts down behind the trees. I’m told it’s very pretty.
The room’s crowded when I enter. Several women sit nearby, chatting, drinking wine, while more fuss around a large vanity. Valentina’s at the center, her hair getting touched-up, her make up partially finished, a big glass in her hands and a smile on her face. She seems surprised to see me and turns in my direction.
God, she’s beautiful. Stunning. A fantastic figure, olive-toned skin, everything a good Italian man could possibly want.
“We need to talk,” I say, not looking away from her eyes. “Everyone, get out.”
“Hold on.” Valentina laughs like I’m being absurd. “The ceremony’s soon and we’re sort of on a time crunch here. Also, this is bad luck, you know that right?”
“I said, everyone get the fuck out.”
Valentina’s smile fades. Her friends stand and mutter excuses as they hurry away. One lingers, but Valentina dismisses her. I don’t even know any of their names, and in theory they’re all my future wife’s closest confidantes. How the fuck would this work? What was I even thinking?
The make-up and hair ladies are the last to leave and I’m alone with Valentina.
She crosses her legs, seemingly at ease. I’m stunned at how attractive she is. Self-possessed, confident, and intelligent. Her dark eyes sparkle with charm.
“Alright, Prime, you got me alone. What’s going on?”
I decide this woman deserves more than some bullshit.
“We can’t get married.”
She nods like that’s what she expected. “Alright, I hear you. I agree this is crazy, but we knew that coming into today. That’s why we discussed everything.”
“You and Deanna discussed it.”
“What’s the difference? She was speaking of you, wasn’t she?”
“We can’t do this.”
“If there’s some clause in the contract you want to change, we can figure it out.” She gets out of her chair and walks over to a bag left in the corner. She rummages around until she draws out a spiral-bound book, clearly something Deanna put together. I’d recognize my assistant’s handiwork anywhere. “Here, show me the problem and we’ll hammer it out real fast. We can delay if we have to.”
“It’s not the contract. I didn’t even read it.”
Her jaw tightens. “Are you kidding me? We worked hard on this thing.”
“I know. That’s the problem. We can’t do this, Valentina.”
“What the fuck, Prime?” She slams the contract down onto the vanity. Make up brushes and palettes scatter to the floor. “Why are you doing this right now?”
“All of that—everything on that paper—I’m sure it’s carefully structured and well done. But I can’t give you the one thing that matters.”
“Don’t do this to me right now. Please, I know you’re probably freaking out. I am too, honestly, but we’re going to make this work.”
“You’re not listening.”
“All my friends are here. My fucking family, Prime. Do you have any idea what they think? What they’ve been saying? Last night, Lucy spent two hours begging me not to go through with this. She showed me every nasty piece of information she could find about you, and I’m still here.”
“I don’t even know who Lucy is, don’t you get it?”
“Who gives a fuck about that?!” Valentina takes a few steps toward me. I notice she’s barefoot. I don’t know why I cling to that detail. “I don’t care about you and you don’t care about me. That’s exactly why this works. I’ll play your respectable wife and help you launder your dog shit reputation, and you’ll give me children.”
“But that’s the problem. I’m not going to curse you or any potential future people with me. It’s the kids, Valentina. I can’t do it.”