BOUND BY CONTRACT, CLAIMED BY DESIRE

Chapter 13: Goodnight, Valentina

Valentina's POV

"We need to talk,” Leonardo's voice came from behind me. I was in my office, reviewing files for different board meeting,and I hadn't heard him come in.

He stood three feet away, hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable.

"About what?" I asked stopping whatever I was doing.

"Friday!” my stomach tightened. "The engagement party?"

"Yes,” he said, as he walked closer and stopped in front of my chair.

"Five hundred guests," he said. "Press, photographers, every major business contact in the city."

"Understood,” I whispered, as I swallowed the lump on my throat.

"This isn't like the dinner at my parents' house. This is public…permanent. Once we announce this engagement in front of the press, there's no going back,” he said, his blue eyes staring straight at me.

"I know,” I said, as I let out a low exhale. His hand gripped my chair, and I felt the leather shift slightly under his weight.

"You'll smile," he said. His voice was low, but steady. "You'll stand beside me, you'll answer questions gracefully, you'll make them believe this is real."

"I will."

"And Valentina,” his face was close now, leaning over the chair, as his eyes met mine.

"Don't embarrass me."

The words stung, but I held his gaze. "I won't."

He straightened and stepped back. "Mrs. Chen has arranged appointments for you today, be ready by noon."

"Okay,” I said, breaking the eye contact.

"This matters," he said quietly. "Friday matters,” he said, and left without another word.

I sat in the chair for a long time after he was gone. My hands shaking. The spa was on the top floor of a building I couldn't afford to walk past a month ago, and now I'm going there.

“I'm outside waiting,” Mrs Chen said through the phone, her voice professional, but calm..

The driver opened my door and gestured to the entrance. "Miss Rossi. They're expecting you."

I walked inside, the lobby was all white marble and gold accents, as a woman in a crisp black dress approached immediately.

"Mrs. Monte-to-be," she said, as she smiled showing her perfect teeth. "Welcome. We're honored to prepare you for your engagement party."

“Mrs. Monte-to-be?” I thought, my lips in a tight smile, but what can I do anyways.

"Thank you," I said.

She led me down a hallway into a private room. Soft music played, the air smelled like

"We'll start with a facial," she said. "Then massage, hair, nails. Mr. Monte has requested the full treatment."

I rolled my eyes, a I lay on the table. A woman with gentle hands worked cream into my skin, another massaged my shoulders, and someone else filed my nails.

"Her skin is beautiful…Mr.Monte is a lucky man,” they all giggled.

“If they only knew,” I thought, as I heaved a sigh.

I closed my eyes and thought about my mother. She wore a simple gold band my father had saved for months to buy it. She never took it off, not even when the hospital bills piled up…not even when she was too weak to lift her hand.

I wondered what she would think of all this. The spa, the party, the contract marriage.

Would she be proud? Or would she see right through me?

"All done," the woman said. "Let's move to hair,” she said, as I sat in the chair and watched in the mirror as they worked.

When they finished, I stared at my reflection. Soft waves cascaded down my shoulders, my skin glowed, my nails were painted a pale pink. I looked like Leonardo's wife, but I wasn't his wife, I was his employee in a costume.

"Beautiful," the woman said. "Mr. Monte will be speechless,” she smiled, her eyes sparkling, but I just had a small smile on my lips.

The car dropped me back at the penthouse at five PM.

I walked inside, still wearing the clothes I'd left in.

I set my purse down and walked into the living room and saw Leonardo.

He sat on the couch, his laptop open, phone in hand, and then he looked up when I entered.

His eyes traveled from my face to my hair to my shoulders, and for a moment, he forgot to look away.

I watched his chest rise and fall, watched his hand tighten around his phone. And just when I decided my looks is perfect, he looked away, and when he met my gaze, his expression was flat.

"You're back," he said, his baritone filling the room..

"Yes,” I said, but he looked down at his laptop. "How was it?"

"Fine."

"Good."

He didn't look up again, and I stood there, unsure whether to leave or stay.

"Is there anything you need?" I asked.

"No,” he said, his attention still on his laptop, and I turned to leave.

"Valentina,” his voice was rough, and I looked back.

He was staring at me, his jaw tight, as his hand gripped the phone so hard I thought it might crack.

"Yes?"

He opened his mouth and closed it, as he shook his head. "Nothing. You can go."

I turned around, and left the room, but I felt his eyes on me the entire way down the hall.

****

It was thursday evening, and Mrs. Chen knocked on my door and wheeled in a garment bag on a rack.

"From Mr. Monte," she said. "For tomorrow night,” she unzipped the bag.

The dress was silk brown. Backless, and a s slit ran up the left thigh, high enough to make my face flush.

"I can't wear this," I said, curling my toes.

Mrs. Chen raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Monte selected it himself."

"It's too much,” I replied shaking my head slightly.

"It's perfect,” she said, her lips in a soft smile.

"Mrs. Chen, I can't..."

"Try it on! I'll wait."

I took the dress into the bathroom and changed. The silk slid over my skin like water, the back was open, stopping just above my waist and the slit exposed my leg when I walked.

I looked at myself in the mirror and saw someone else. Someone confident, someone who belonged at a party with five hundred guests and photographers and press.

I walked out of the bathroom, as Mrs. Chen nodded in approval.

"Perfect. Mr. Monte will be pleased."

"I don't like it," I said quietly.

"It doesn't matter what you like, dear. It matters what he likes,” she said, and left.

I stood in the dress for another moment, and when I was about to change it, I heard footsteps in the hallway.

Leonardo appeared in the doorway, his eyes locked on me, as the air between us tightened.

"I was trying it on,” I said, as I felt the heat crawled up my neck.

"I see that."

"Mrs. Chen said you picked it,” I said, waiting for his reply.

"I did."

"It's too much,” I said, my face flushed.

He stepped into the room and walked closer. I could smell his cologne, feel the warmth radiating from his body.

"It's perfect," he said, stroking my hair, while his other hands on my waist.

"I can't wear this. I don't like it,” my voice barely above a whisper, my chest heaving rapidly.

"You'll wear what I pick. That's the rule,” he said, his hands moving slightly on my waist.

“It's too revealing" I said, as my throat tightened.

He paused, something flickered in his eyes. His hand lifted slightly above my waist, but he dropped it. “No man will dare touch what's mine,” he said, stroking my cheek with his thumb softly.

"Friday," he said, his voice was low but steady. "Seven o'clock. Don't be late."

He turned and walked out, as I stood there alone in the emerald dress, my heart pounding.

I changed back into my pajamas and sat on the edge of my bed, as I picked my phone, but an idea came to my mind, as a small smile crept to my face.

I opened the message to Leonardo's contact. "Goodnight,” I stared at the screen, but deleted it.

This was stupid, we lived in the same penthouse, we shouldn't text each other goodnight I thought, but I typed it again anyway.

"Goodnight,” I hit send before I could stop myself, and three dots appeared immediately.

My heart raced, and before I could think of anything, his reply came through.

"Goodnight, Valentina,” he replied while I stared at the message.

He used my first name. Not Miss. Rossi, not Valentina Rossi, just Valentina.

I set the phone down as I lay back on the bed and stared at the ceiling.

What did he mean no man will dare touch what's mine?