What Money can't Buy

The Moretti Bride

I could’ve sworn my marriage with Dante would be peaceful throughout the contract till I was woken up.mind you I had a splitting headache from the day before, I was so sad I couldn’t remember much.

“Mrs Moretti, you have important guests downstairs awaiting your arrival.”

“Don’t you think it’s too early to have guests, my head hurts from the drinks Alfred”

“Please dress up nicely, I could call on the maids if you need me too”

“No Alfred I’m fine, I can take care of myself thank you very much”

I dressed up for the surprise, then I looked in the mirror and saw my roots were popping out.

“Oh no this can’t be happening right now, I don’t have the dye or anything, I’d just wear a scarf”

I walked out of the room and then down the stairs, the sight just to be amazed by the guests downstairs. They were all high class people, but why are they here plus they aren’t looking happy. Dante held my hand and led me down the stairs, calling on everyone’s attention.

“Good morning all, I’d like to introduce you to my bride and owner of my company. Kayda Vorce”

“Dante son, I know I urged you to find a bride but I was expecting someone of high status” Mr Moretti said.

“I don’t care if you don’t like her, I love her and she’s you alls new boss”

The room fell silent and whispers were all over the room.

“Dante couldn’t have gotten that desperate”

“ I mean he could’ve chosen any one he wanted, why a stranger”

“I thought is was supposed to marry Maria, she’s of status”

“Yes Maria, after all both families are business partners”

“Enough from the lot of you” Dante scolded

“This is my wife and you all better be on your best behavior, you’re all dismissed. Family meeting at the dining”

I slowly thought to myself, why didn’t he tell me the contract didn’t just involve both of us but his family and colleagues too. The walk to the dining was silent, u could feel the hatred from his family.

*At the dining*

“Father I do not appreciate the stunt you pulled, why bring so many people into my home to see my wife without my permission”

“It’s also my estate I can bring in whoever I like” his father said coldly

“Why don’t we all just have breakfast and enjoy as a family?” His mother chipped in

“You expect me to believe my son married a waitress, a nobody?”

“Stop with your tantrums hubby, she’s a lady who happens to be your daughter in law”

“I’d have preferred if he married Maria, after all they’ve known for year”

I just sat there quite, wondering why this man chose to have nothing but complete hatred towards me, a girl he doesn’t even know. I dropped my fork and stood up then tried to leave, Dante held me

“Sit please Cinderella, let’s finish breakfast”

“She doesn’t belong at this table son”

“She sit wherever I want her to sit”

The father and son continued exchanging words, I couldn’t take it anymore. I left in tears

“Look at what you did, you made her cry old man”

“She’s a nobody all they do is cry”

“Once you’re done with breakfast leave my house”

I sat in the room crying, heard Dante reaching out to me all the way from beneath the stairs climbing up.

“Kayda, Kayda darling don’t let then get to you”

How couldn’t I let them get to me? What makes rich people so arrogant. My hatred started boiling up again, I couldn’t take it anymore, I just wanted to disappear all over again. I heard a calm soft voice reach out to me through the door.

“Kayda, can we talk, it’s me Regina, Dante’s mom”

“You’re the only one who’d come in right? I don’t want to see any man”

“Trust me darling, let’s talk”

I opened the door to see a woman who seemed to have aged like the finest of wines, rocking a long grey hair and deep ocean blue eyes.

“Hi darling, hope my husband didn’t get to you he can be quite mean to people he doesn’t know”

“It’s fine ma’am, there’s nothing I’m not used too as a nobody”

“Listen child , you’re not a nobody. I mean you do reek of trouble because who trusts someone they just met and marries them?”

“I understand you have your doubts about me ma’am”

“I’m just impressed a girl can take Dante the dragon”

“He Isn’t much of a dragon ma’am, I basically pinned him down on our first meet”

She let out a chuckle, she was so warm and so kind to me, felt like a mothe figure to me a place I could call home. We spoke a lot and she told me about Dante’s past.

“I guess he’s worked up his dad would rather give the bastard the empire than his own flesh just because he brought home a nobody” those words stadex deeper than a knife.

“Kayda darling promise me one thing, no matter what they throw at you in this empire you’d face it head on and you won’t back down”

“I won’t ma’am, I’d protect Dante and the empire ma’am”

“I don’t want all that was built to fall into the wrong hands, you and Dante are in for very big war and the Maria’s haven’t even touched down Italy yet”

“Who are the Maria’s ma’am?”

“Maria is Dante’s childhood friend, everyone thought they’d end up together but apparently she wasn’t meeting Dante’s standard”

“Oh”

“Don’t be discouraged Kayda, she’s a serpent and I see right through her helpless sheep disguise”

“Thank you ma’am”

“ This world is dangerous Kayda, I hope you can handle the heat. Keep your friends close cause you’d need it”

She handed me a card

“This are my details, reach out whenever you need help. I’d be out of the country for a few months, I expect a grandchild when i arrive”

She smiled warmly, stood up and left the room.

Dante enters

“My Cinderella, please don’t let whatever father said to you affect you”

“ I’m fine Dante after all we have an empire to run. A few back talks haven’t hurt anyone”

“You really are strong willed Cinderella, we have a gala to attend in the US soon”

“ What’s the gala about”

“ You ruling the empire by my side, my queen just stay with me and don’t leave”

“Dante we aren’t supposed to fall in love, plus don’t let people see me as your weakness”

“I don’t care no one can try to harm you, I’d have them butchered”

“Okay playboy, you’re smooth with your words but I’m serious go back to being cold”

“As you wish my queen”

Few weeks had passed and it was time to travel for the gala. Dante had gotten his crew to design the best of pieces for me to wear.

“Wake up Cinderella, it’s time to pick an outfit”

“I don’t want to go anywhere”

I said as I turned over to continue my sleep, Dante got an the bed and held my waist to whisper into my ears

“You’re gorgeous when you’re stubborn”

I sprung from the bed

“Ahan get away from me, you aren’t Supposed to be on the same bed as me”

“Why’re you so flattered princess?”

“In your dreams perv”

“Now that I’ve gotten you to wake up, please go freshen up and select an outfit to wear”

“Okay! Get out of the room, I’d like some privacy”

I hurried to the bathroom to get ready, got my dye and had to touch up my roots again, took off my contacts to clean them and had my bath.

“Now that I’m in my robe, I can go get am outfit to wear”

A maid knocked on the door.

“Come in”

“Ma’am your clothes”

“Thank you put them on my bed”

The maid dropped the clothes as if she was startled.

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to mess up your clothes”

“Don’t worry it’s fine”

I glanced at the mirror right besides me and saw it too

“Oh my! I didn’t mean to scare you, I’ve got my medicated contacts on for my eyesight. I don’t want Dante knowing I’m partially blind”

“It’s fine boss”

“Please keep this between us, what’s your name?”

“Rose, please don’t fire me ma’am, I have a family to take care of and father that’s sick”

“Relax Rose, I’d never put you in harms way. Just keep this between us”

“Thank you”

Rose got up and left the room, leaving me with enough time to get ready before Dante sees me too

“So many dresses to pick from, why nothing casual?”

I settled for the long silver dress with an amazing slit by my legs, tied my hair into the perfect bun with strands hanging out and did some light make up.

“I’m ready, let me go downstairs”

Walking down the stairs and seeing Dante in awe by my presence started shifting something in me. He held my hands and walked me down the stairs.

“The black heels are an excellent choice but something is missing”

“What’s that?”

“You forget earrings”

He signaled Alfred and a jewelry box was brought.

“A gift form my mother to you, can I put them on for you?”

“Sure you can”

“These pearls look good on you Kayda, they were my mom’s”

“Thank you for giving me the honor to wear her jewelry”

“She wanted you too, I’m surprised you both got along fast, she never likes the women i bring”

“That’s touching Dante, can we get going for the gala now? First impression matters and I don’t want to be late”

“ okay princess, the jets outside waiting”

“Jet? Why not use a plane?”

“Use a plane to go to Nico’s gala? Please we aren’t poor”

“There you go again with being a classist”

“Sorry Cinderella, let’s get going”

My first time in a jet, I was nervous. I’m pretty sure I have motion sickness cause I was fighting nausea. The jet ride was smooth even tho I was in the air for a good 5 hours and literally dosed off. Woke up on Dante’s laps.

“Rise and shine princess, we’re here”

“Where?”

The jet doors opened and it was a mansion the size of a casino with so many flashing lights, I could’ve sworn they wanted me to go blind on the spot.

“Let’s head out princess, I don’t stay long at these type of events”

The doors open, there’s a bunch of waiters and important dignitaries. Nico spots us and comes over

“The latest couple in town and my besties how are you?”

“Pleased to see you brother, your gala is looking as exquisite as always”

“Oh Dante you flatter me, my parents really did want to meet you guys but they couldn’t come”

“Hello Nico, beautiful party”

“Ah our bride finally decided to recognize me, I’m flattered”

“Please where’s Lucia”

“It hurts my heart she’s all you care about Kayda but she’s around somewhere”

“I think I want to go search for her”

“Princess you don’t need to go anywhere, I can call her over”

“Don’t worry Dante, you fellas need your privacy to speak. I’m just going sightseeing”

“Okay princess, don’t go to far”

I wasn’t really comfortable leaving but I did need to stretch my leg and take a look around in hopes to find Lucia. As I was walking around I overheard a group whispering

“Dante’s around, he looks as proud as usual”

“I heard he brought a girl, apparently she’s his wife but no one knows her status”

“The girl isn’t our problem or focus”

“Then what is?”

“Dante’s who we came here for”

“And how do you propose we get rid of him?”

“Through his wife”

I was shocked, dropped a glass of champagne i was holding, they turned to look at me Lucia came just in time to hold me.

“Kayda are you alright, you look pale”