BETROTHED TO A MAFIA HEIR

CHAPTER SIX

Keira stared at the small velvet box Arnold had put on the table. Making their first appearance as a married couple was the last thing Keira wanted. She had read the papers Arnold had given to her that morning when he told her about her parent's death. She was indeed married to him. Her signature was there. Her father was the one who handed her the documents to sign, and she was foolish enough not to read through them because she blindly trusted her father.

Eugene came in with a lady and an array of dresses. It was hard to choose because all the dresses were pretty, and Keira was uninterested in the whole thing.

Finally, they settled on a nude-colored, off-the-shoulder corset satin dress. It was a floor-length dress with flower patterns across the corset with a thigh-high front slit. The color suited her so perfectly and made her ginger hair stand out. They made some soft waves with her hair and added nude makeup to her face to match the whole outfit.

After they finished dolling her up, she picked up the velvet box and wore the ring inside. She always had a thing for princess-cut diamond rings, and this would've been perfect if it had been in different circumstances. She heard a small knock on her door and she got up to answer it, Eugene held out a box for her, she supposed that was her shoe.

“Arnold is waiting for you downstairs. You have three minutes,” Eugene said after she took the box from his hand.

She nodded, and he closed the door behind him, leaving her to her thoughts once again.

She put on the nude Jimmy Choo heels. Generally, she felt like a trophy, just polished to show off. After she finished, she headed down the stairs, and true to Eugene's words, Arnold was waiting at the bottom of the stairs, checking his expensive leather watch.

“Shall we?” Arnold said, holding out his hand for her.

She quickly held her gown with her hands to avoid taking his hand. It would make her more nauseous than she already felt.

He didn't make any comment or force her. They walked silently outside, and the driver opened the door for them. She gladly took the driver's hand when he offered to help her into the car, and that made Arnold roll his eyes.

The ride was silent, Keira looked out the window half the time to avoid any form of eye contact with Arnold. That didn't bother him, though. He liked her better with her mouth shut for now. When they arrived at the venue, Keira looked at Arnold, her eyes were cold and there was some other emotion in them he could not understand but they had bigger problems now.

“I know deep down somewhere, you can muster up a fake smile for the media. Do as I say, Keira, it would be best for you.” He said, and he got out of the car, and the driver opened her side of the door for her to come out.

She walked to the other side and settled her hand on the crook of Arnold's elbow, and she had the most beautiful smile plastered on her face. Arnold was taken aback by her smile. It was so pretty. The kind of smiles that poets wrote about and there was this dimple at the corner of her mouth.

The photographers couldn't have enough of them, but they finally made it inside the hall. A waiter passed by, and Keira took two glasses of champagne. She drank the first glass and then the other one. Arnold looked at her confused, and when he was about to speak, Mark walked towards them.

“If it isn't my favorite new couple.”

Keira scoffed, Mark could charm a fly if he wanted to. He always had a way with everything, and in a non-judgmental way, Keira liked it.

“Keep her busy, I need to meet with some important people,” Arnold said and walked away. It was a good thing for Keira since she didn't get to spend the whole evening next to an asshole. Not that Mark was any different, but he was fun.

“You look nice,” Mark said.

“Thank you.” She replied.

“You know, if you loosen up, this party could be fun,” Mark said, raising a challenging eyebrow. “It must be hard, but you have to at least turn the lemons into lemonade.”

“I don’t exactly feel like having fun right now. Just go find someone else to bother,” Keira replied.

“I would've done that. But someone needs to keep an eye on you. Champagne?”

He held out a glass for her, and she took it. She definitely would not go through this night sober.

“Now let's find Arnold, I don't fancy being a babysitter for the rest of my evening,” Mark said, steering her towards the direction Arnold had gone.

Arnold saw Mark coming with Keira, and he took it as an opportunity to introduce her as his wife to Simon Houston, the owner of Transcorp. He was a family man, and it would be thrilling news to his ears, and it might give him an edge in acquiring more shares.

“Ahhh, have you met my wife yet?” Arnold said as Mark and Keira were within earshot.

“Your wife? I didn't know you were married.” Simon said, surprised.

He laughed and took Keira’s hand.

“Meet my lovely wife, Keira.”

“Lovely to meet you, Mrs. Giovanni. I can see why he hid you from the rest of the world. You, my dear, are more sparkling than fine white wine.” Simon said, kissing the back of her hand.

Keira felt very flattered, and she smiled genuinely at the man. “It's a pleasure to meet you. Congratulations on the anniversary, Transcorp is a dream come true and you must be proud”. She said,

“Indeed, my dear. Forgive me for missing the wedding, I ought to give you guys a wedding gift. Please, whatever you want, I'll have it delivered.” Simon said, his hands clasping Keira’s and she smiled. She mastered the blushing bride act.

“We'll talk about it next time Simon, let's enjoy the evening,” Arnold said. They all talked some more, Mark had left to get more drinks, and Keira went with him.

The night dragged on, photographers taking pictures and all the people she had to meet. Her cheeks hurt from all the fake smiling, and her feet hurt because she had been wearing heels all night.

She excused herself and went to find the bathroom because she needed a break. All evening, she had been getting different kinds of stares from people. Arnold was feared by many, and well, being with him would make more people hate her. Also, he was desired by so many women because even if she didn't want to admit it. Arnold was so good-looking that God took a break to create him because he could be featured on the cover of Vogue if he ever wanted to.

She found some ladies at the sink while she entered, and they were looking at each other smiling. She decided to just wash her hands and get out of there as fast as she could.

The ladies left, and she stared at herself in the mirror. No one cared about her here. All of them were just kissing Arnold's ass and then no one asked about her parents. Didn't they find it odd that she was married to Arnold? Their social circles were not so different, and she had met some of her father's friends who looked at her with contempt. Everything was all too much and confusing, and Arnold wouldn't say a single thing.

“Do you think she married Arnold for money?”

Keira heard someone ask behind the door. She was about to go out, but she paused to listen to their conversation.

“She's such a cheap slut. And he deserves so much better than her leeching off him.”

Keira didn't feel like hearing more so she opened the door and let herself out without looking at anyone. She had to pretend like she didn't hear a thing.

She took another glass of champagne, another one, and another one after that. At some point, Mark had given her water instead and went on to meet various people but she helped herself to more champagne when he left.

A few minutes later, Arnold was walking towards her. Just great. As if her mood could get any more sour than it already is.

“You've had enough drinks for one night Keira.” He whispered into her ear.

“Not nearly enough if I haven't blacked out yet.” She replied, taking a sip from her glass.

Arnold was getting irritated, she had one job and now she was about to mess it up because she was sentimental and a terrible drunk.

“Keira, we're in public, don't mess up.” He warned.

She laughed ironically “Sure. Do you want to know what they're saying about me publicly?” She paused and laughed a little. “A leech and a cheap slut. Such wonderful words, but of course, it doesn't matter to you.”

She looked so hurt saying those words, it was like Arnold had brought her here to be a spectacle, to be laughed at. To see how low she felt and it was all too much.

“I just want out of this misery.” She said with a pained look on her face.

He knew exactly how to put her out of her misery, but she might hate him for it. The secret he had been keeping since the incident happened with her parents. He could live with her hating him.

She might just hate her father who she had kept on a very high pedestal. He didn't know if what he had done was the right thing, but it was all he could think of at that moment.

And he would show her, he would tell her all these secrets that seemed to haunt him where she was concerned. He just didn't trust her and she couldn't find out now.

He signaled Mark that he was ready to go and he took the glass out of Keira’s hands and they walked to the entrance.

Keira sat facing the window, Florida was exquisite in the summer. She thought of all the things she could've been doing this summer but it was all wishful thinking.

“I hate you, Arnold Giovanni. So much.” Her voice was quiet and cold.

Arnold didn't say anything. It was fine whatever she thought of him and he probably deserved it.

When they reached the mansion she kicked off her shoes and walked ahead of him, her steps faltering. He took her shoes from her and offered to help her upstairs to her room.

“I don't need your help.” She spat clinging to the stairs rails.

“You do. Don't be f*****g stubborn and miss a step that could be dangerous.” He replied angrily. It was as if most times, she was trying to have herself killed.

“You'd be happy. It would just be one less problem for you.”

“Why do you always f*****g assume that all my intentions are malicious.” He asked, stepping closer to her.

“You killed my parents and then still have the nerve to ask me that.” She laughed. “You've got to be kidding me.”

Arnold was angry. She was acting out, but still, Keira had to regain her will to live for him to be able to protect her because there was no use protecting someone who wanted to be dead.

She reached out to him and held his free hand.

“Look into my eyes and tell me you don't see how much I'm suffering. Do you think it's easy to lose a parent and I lost both in a day?”

Arnold looked into her eyes and something in him snapped.

He didn't know why he did it, but he leaned in, and he kissed her.