Chapter 6
1246 Words
Anastasia’s POV
“It’s been a long time since we've seen you, Matteo.” Louisa grinned, leaning over the plate of pork chops plastered in front of her.
“Well…what sort of brother-in-law would I be if I wasn’t here to support you after your son's death?” Matteo said softly, stretching across the table to squeeze Louisa’s hand.
A soft smile crept on her face and I could see how badly this hurt her. Her hair was in the same bun she had on during the ball and her eyes were sore.
“I’m just happy you managed to bring someone along.” She looked at me but I stared into space, with my bowl of soup untouched.
“Yeah, what a happy reunion,” Sergio said sarcastically, rolling his eyes.
I would be happier seeing him so uncomfortable but sadly, I was just as mad as he was.
11 hours ago……
“Will you marry me?” I blurted, shivering from the drenched clothes and the air conditioner that was blowing directly at me.
“Come in.” He said, the fuming eyes softened to something with mischief.
I wrapped my arms around myself and watched Matteo get up from his seat and pull out a fresh pair of pajamas from his suitcase.
It still had the packaging on.
“Put this on and I’ll be ready to hear your offer.” He nodded to the restroom and I hummed in agreement.
I waddled in and got myself dry. He gave me long sleeves with extra-long pyjama bottoms but thankfully my ass and hips filled them out enough to be above my ankles.
His shirt was still a bit too big on me but it didn't matter.
I’m dry.
“What changed your mind?” He asked once I pushed the restroom door open.
Matteo stood by the huge glass window centered over the city.
“I…”
I couldn’t tell him I wanted to stop history from repeating itself. I wanted to stop Sergio from killing me over some petty secrets I might know.
“You were right. I need something that hits closer to home to let Sergio understand what he’d done to me.” I clenched my fists by my side and I could tell it caught his attention.
“And what do I get in return?” He asked with a hard gaze.
“You proposed the offer first. You must’ve had your reasons why.” I said quickly but then a small smile crept on his face.
“Miss Cabrera, my reason for the proposal was long overdue and I gave you till midnight, two days ago.” He shrugged. “My purpose is gone, so I ask again. What do I get in return?” He pinched his chin.
I groaned, running my hands through my hair, pacing across his apartment-wide office.
“You’re making this harder than I thought. What do you want? I am willing to do anything.” I said firmly.
And I meant it. I wasn’t going to keep my distance and hope Sergio would just leave me alone.
The man was mischievous and crafty with cutting loose ends. The end of our relationship is a loose end, and he won’t rest till he has it tied.
“Anything?” He asked with a raised brow and I nodded with a hum.
He walked back to his desk and sat. He gestured towards the seat in front of him and I followed his lead.
“I’ll give you my condition later but we need to make this as believable as possible.” He said sternly.
My shoulders relaxed and a breath of fresh air filled my nostrils.
“And in doing so, we’ll move into the Santoro household.”
Time stopped and I think I had a heart attack.
“Huh??!”
Matteo looked at me with a bland expression and I regained myself.
“Why? Sergio is the New Don. He doesn’t need external family members living there, especially when he’s newlywed.” I puked in my mouth repeating the words I dreaded.
It didn’t change my reality but it was still sickening.
“That’s where you're wrong, doll. If you want us to hit him where it would really hurt then you’d know rubbing our new relationship in his face would trigger him.” He stared at me with hooded eyes.
I shifted under his gaze, clamping my thighs together.
“When do we start?”
“Tomorrow morning.” He said.
I could only stare blankly at him.
This was how my first day on the job turned into the most dreadful day ever.
NOW…….
“It really is. It just surprises me that you and Uncle Matteo hit it off so fast.” Camilla smiled, wiping the soup off her lips.
“Unless you were seeing each other…”
“Camilla watch your mouth,” Louisa warned, a frown etched on her lips. “Do you know who you’re speaking to? Don’t forget you’re marrying your husband's brother. You aren’t one to talk.”
“Apologies mother, but clearly this girl is trying to leech her way into this family.” Camilla frowned, “The thought of her even being here makes me sick.”
“Well, she wasn’t lying.” Sergio crossed his arms with his eyes fixed on me. “What is this? A way to punish me? By recycling my old trash?” He scoffed, and a low snicker came from Camilla.
“Have you not heard the phrase ‘another man’s trash is another man’s treasure’? My brother taught you to have more manners than this.” Matteo looked at Sergio with a hard gaze and Sergio looked seconds away from exploding.
“Don’t bring up my father?” Sergio’s eyes went dark and the frown on his lips twisted into a snarl.
His grip on his fork grew tighter and I could feel him tapping his feet repeatedly on the ground.
“Sergio……”
“NO! You disappeared immediately after his death and you think you have any right to speak about him now.” Sergio spat.
“I would watch what you say next, because you won’t have a mouth to speak from.” Matteo looked at Sergio with a raised brow.
The tension in the room was heavier and I could understand Sergio’s distaste for his uncle.
But sadly, Camilla is tone deaf to things like this and still decided to open her mouth.
“I’ll at least think you’d try to look presentable. A woman with class wouldn't be wearing a sweatshirt and leggings to dinner.” Camilla muttered with a mouth full of meat.
I clenched my fists under the table. Just praying an angel would swoop in before I decide to strangle her.
“Worry about your own fiancé and I’ll worry about mine.” Matteo interrupted her, without any emotion on his face.
He continued eating his steak like he didn’t just drop a huge bomb.
“WHAT? YOU'RE ALREADY ENGAGED.” Louisa screamed, with a grin beaming from her cheeks.
Tears welled up in her eyes and she clasped her hand over her mouth to reduce her sobs.
Sergio looked between Matteo and me before a scoff left his lips and he tossed the napkin in his hands on the table.
“I just lost my appetite.” He grimaced, scraping his seat against the tiles before leaving.
- Writer
