Chapter4
1184 Words
Ava's POV
Standing before me was the most feared man in the city.
Alessandro De Luca.
The man my father had promised me to. The man who looked capable of destroying lives without losing sleep over it.
He was unbelievably tall. I had to strain my neck to look right into his eyes.
And his eyes.
I hate to say it, but he has the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen, emerald green.
Cold. Sharp. Eyes that held a lot of dark secrets.
Dark tattoos curled along his neck beneath the collar of his black hoodie, disappearing beneath the fabric like something dangerous hiding under his skin.
Even dressed casually in sweatpants, he carried himself with the kind of confidence that made people nervous. His black hair was neatly pushed back.
My skin burned.
He was handsome. Horribly handsome.
And somehow that made him worse.
My thoughts were interrupted by my dad's ringing tone. He excused himself, leaving me trapped alone with Alessandro.
At that moment, I felt painfully small, like prey standing before a predator.
Something about his presence terrified and bothered me at the same time, like he didn't have to say a word to have people tremble before him.
He remained still a second, eyes never leaving me. I could’ve sworn I saw something dark and possessive in his eyes before it disappeared.
“Let me get straight to the point,” I assume your father has told you everything about the marriage. He spoke coldly.
Huh, what marriage? The marriage that was arranged without my permission.
Are you kidding me?
“You are part of this family now,” his voice dangerously low.
He took a slow step closer until I could feel the heat radiating from his body.
Then his hand rose to my cheek. My breath hitched instantly.
His touch was cold. Too cold.
God!
He looked like a Greek God up close.
Focus Ava, it's your life we are talking about
“And mine too,” he whispered.
Suddenly, I felt a surge of anger rising up my chest and my throat tightened. What's that supposed to mean?
I shoved his hand away from my face.
“I'm not yours.” I shot back.
I forced myself to meet his gaze, biting my lower lip as my fingers tightened around the hem of my dress.
He tilted his head looking surprised as he didn't take his eyes off me.
“Really,” he chuckled.
My dad isn't here, maybe I can talk him out of this god-forsaken marriage he's talking about.
“Look, I...” I stammered.
“I don't know what business you have with my father and I don't care to know, but…”
“I don't agree to this marriage,” I managed to speak.
“I'm just a girl trying to live a quiet, simple life and probably graduate from college. I'm not interested in you and your world.”
He just stared at me.
His gaze drifting slowly over my lips and cheekbones. There was something about how he looked at me that made my body shiver.
“Um… I think we're done here.”
I grabbed my bag and tried to move past him.
I barely made it a step.
A large hand closed around my arm suddenly, firm enough to stop me instantly.
A gasp escaped me as my back collided with the wall.
My breath caught in my throat.
He was too close.
His face hovered inches from mine, emerald eyes locked onto me with an intensity that made my stomach twist.
I swallowed hard, my head spinning beneath the weight of his stare.
“What are you…”
Let me go, I snapped, trying to escape from his grip, but I knew it was impossible because he held me so tight that it almost started to hurt.
“You think I'm interested in you,” he said bluntly.
“Then why did you agree to this, huh?
Why do you want to be with someone you don't even love?”
He froze, then got closer, his eyes trailing down to my lips. I swear I could feel his hot breath on my skin.
“ You think this marriage is based on love? I'm a very busy man and I have more important things to focus on than… he paused.
“Love. What a joke.”
His words hit me like a rock. For a second, I wondered if he even had a heart at all.
“Then let me go,” I whispered, my eyes blurred with tears.
“Please.”
His eyes softened for a second, then slowly he let go of my arms and backed away, turning his back at me.
I let out a heavy sigh rubbing my arm because it was sore already.
He went straight to the center table, grabbing his car keys before turning to look at me.
He had that cold expression again.
“My driver will be picking you up in two days,” he said.
“Why.” I frowned.
He let out a low laugh.
“To prepare for the wedding, of course,” he said smoothly.
“And after that, you’ll be living with me. As my wife.”
Wife.
Never.
I didn't know why but the word wife made my blood boil.
“In your dreams,” I shot back.
“Read my lips, I will never marry you. You monster.” The words came out harsher than I expected.
His jaw tightened, his expression switched, like I just trampled on his ego.
I liked how easily I can taunt him, if it meant he stays away from me.
He took two steps forward, and he was already in front of me.
Instinctively, I stumbled backward, but his hand gripped my jaw, forcing me to look at him.
His eyes burned with a mix of anger and possessiveness. I could feel my legs muscles tightening.
“You know I hate when people talk back to me.” His voice dangerously low.
I trembled, my legs becoming heavy as the minute went by.
I looked away, avoiding his gaze, and it seemed that angered him more.
“Look at me when I'm talking to you, Ava,” he commanded. His tone sent chills down my spine as I had no other option than to look at him.
His fingers traveled from my jaw to my lips, lingering there. “You will be back here in two days and that's final.”
“And if I don't,” I whispered.
He raised his eyebrows looking amused.
“Then, you will regret disobeying me,” his voice cold. “Seems like you're forgetting who I am.”
Shit.
I almost forgot who I was dealing with.
Putting a bullet in my head won't be a problem for him.
Then it dawned on me that wherever I go, he will haunt me down if he wanted.
I was trapped.
One question repeating itself inside my head.
Why did Alessandro De Luca look at me like he already knew me?
- Writer
