HIS REVENGE BRIDE

CHAPTER4

“Show her around,” he orders, then continues.

“Sofia meet Aria, Aria meet Sofia De Luca”

He says and moves toward his table, takes his tablets and sits down smugly.

We leave and shut the door behind us

She shows me around over the next hour.

Tech development labs where engineers build AI systems I can't begin to understand, Cybersecurity divisions monitoring threats in real-time.

Research teams working on projects worth billions.

"This is what he built?" I ask, genuinely impressed.

"This is what funds everything else." She gestures to the sprawling operation. "The legitimate empire that makes the other one possible."

Right. Because beneath the tech mogul is still the mafia king.

I try to not get on Sofia's nerves knowing she probably had a thing for Dominic.

I speak only when spoken to and occasionally I nod even though my mind is somewhere else.

She tells me she's done but I know it's probably a lie

“Dominic said something about the illegal part of his business I'm curious about that too”

“So bad you don't even know what your beloved husband does for a living besides this, he's not a good man Aria, I don't know why you'd marry him”

She said

“I don't like him but you like him. You said he's not a good man” I ask, observing the irony

“We have history, we've known each other for a decade, too bad I can't say the same for you”

“Okay tell me the illegal aspects” I say swallowing the shame creeping in

“He works as an assassin for high value personalities. I'm talking about rich politicians, wealthy billionaires, CEOs and government officials. He handles their dirty work and competition and gets paid handsomely for it” she says

Too much to handle but I should probably not ask her questions because I should hear the answers from the horse's mouth.

We head back to his office

"Remember our Tokyo deal, Dom?" Sofia laughs, touches his arm. "That hotel suite meeting went until dawn, we should go there to sign the merger"

The implication hangs heavy, she called him Dom, a Tokyo deal I don't know about but that's not the worst part.

He's smiling. He'd always look at me like I made him angry but here he is smiling at her

Anyways, our marriage is a transaction for revenge against my father.

I try to change the topic

I whisper

“You're actually an assassin, what happens if the people you work for decides to kill you for knowing their secrets and why don't you just assassinate the Calvetti's”

The first question was stupid, I know but the second one was better

“That's not for you to worry about” he says

Answering both by dismissing them

She discusses the merger, and I sit like an outsider

Finally, she stands and tells him "We'll finish this later. Privately."

She looks at me. "Nice to meet you, Mrs. Vercetti. I'm sure we'll be seeing a lot of each other."

Silent way of saying she's not going anywhere, I understand

“Wait, take this” he gives her an invitation card and continues

“It's for a gala tonight, me and wife will see you there, feel free to take the day off”

“You know how to spoil a lady Dominic” she says as she takes the card and leaves.

I continue sitting there and watch the man smiling and chatting turn moody and silent again.

I didn't bother to ask any questions.

One thing about me is, I know how to take hints, if someone sees me as a disturbance I pull away without any pressure.

We drive home to get ready for the gala and he asks me if I'm alright. I didn't even know I was frowning but I ignore him.

He doesn't even bother, I guess keeping him silent is more of a blessing to him than the disturbance I intend.

When we get home he tells me to wear a gown but wanting to get on his nerves I go inside, take a big hoodie and baggy trousers.

“It's a gala not a prom, wear something else”

“Make me”

I stand and fold my arms and watch as he stares at me long enough before he says anything.

Okay, come along then.

We walk to the car and drive in silence as usual.

The gala is bigger than anything I've ever seen and I wish he would let me go back and change.

Everybody there had the relaxed look on their face that tells you they're the elites.

“Speak with respect, these people are CEOs and businessmen”

I don't even answer. I stroll and try to mingle and surprisingly people take a sudden interest in me because of my dressing. They were expecting big fashion dresses.

I speak well and use my usual sarcasm which they find funny and the owner of a popular newsletter decides to feature me in her next edition.

And in case you were wondering I see Sofia, we greet and stand in silence but I was feeling confident after everything tonight so speak first

“What's the relationship between you and Dominic”

“Dom is a close friend I want things to be serious with before you came into the picture”

“Okay” I answer not wanting to know more.

A cute man walks towards us.

“Mrs Vercetti I'd like to have a word with you” he says

And I abandon Sofia as I walk with the young cute man with blonde ruffled hair like Ed Sheeran’s, he tells me his name is Mark. He runs his eyes through me like I'm a product at a market

He says he's bored and that the gala doesn't suit his taste and I keep the conversation going. He's entertaining, something I would never believe I liked had I not met Dominic.

We talked at length and I use the sides of my eye to pick out Dominic in the midst of ladies but Sofia wasn't there, surprising right? , but cool.

His eyes meet mine from a distance and I turn away.

Soon I head for the toilet so I can “powder my nose” and I get inside, shut the door and enjoy relative peace away from the crowd at the gala.

Thank God there's no guard at the door today, you'll never value the smallest freedom you have until it's taken away.

As I open the door I see Mark right outside, and walks towards me

“That's the ladies toilet, the men's are…” he takes my mouth in his and holds my throat with his hands so I can't scream.

I try to fight it but having no physical strength he overpowers me. He runs his hands through but the door swings open and Dominic walks in.

What happened next was all hazy but it was all blows and punches,none of which touched Dominic as he beat up mark with ease.

And Mark runs away

He helps me stand and his phone buzzed from a ca

ll

“Dominic” he says

“Boss we've caught one of the Calvetti's men, what do we do next”

“Wait for me and Aria, we'll be there to torture and execute him”

Today just got interesting.