TAMING THE RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Luciana yawned and stretched on her bed before forcing herself out of bed, this is the first time she has had to wake up as early as possible. With a glance at the alarm clock on the table next to her bed which reads 5 AM, she yawns once more and pushes the bedsheet aside.

Tomorrow would be her first day of work at De Rosso Empire and she didn’t want to give the impression that she wasn’t serious about working there just because the chairperson scouted her for the job. Luciana contemplated going into the bathroom in her pyjamas or taking it off.

‘I live alone, no one would care or know if I walked into the bathroom naked,’ with that, she started to pull off her pyjama before stepping into the bathroom.

Starting from now on, Luciana knew her daily routine especially her morning routine would have to change if she wanted to get her job done before her contract expired. Waking up early to make breakfast and prepare for work would now be a priority until she learn how to manage her time well.

‘What was I thinking?’ she mumbled as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. ‘Why didn’t I tell Emilia I would think about it before jumping at the opportunity?’

Knowing she could no longer cry over spilt milk, she grabbed her brush and squeezed a good amount of toothpaste on it before bringing it to her mouth. Just as she started to brush her teeth, she heard the door in her bedroom slam open, the sound startling her.

Her heart rate picked up, her brain trying to come up with ways she could defend herself from the intruder without getting killed.

‘Lucy,’ Aria’s voice reached her ear. ‘Don’t spend the whole day in that bathroom, okay? We've got work to do.’

Luciana visibly relaxed as she recalled her time with Aria last night. As it was too late to get a cab, they both decided Aria should stay with her for the night. She noticed her hands were still trembling but her heart was beginning to slow back to normal rate.

She yanked the door of the bathroom open and popped her head through it to glare at Aria who was taking off the pyjama she borrowed from her. ‘Was it your intention to kill me this morning?’ Lucy glared.

‘What are you talking about,’ Aria frowns before walking towards her. ‘Does slamming the door and asking you not to sleep in the bathroom count as murder?’ Aria grinned, earning a harsh glare from Lucy.

‘Where were you?’ Lucy stepped aside to let Aria into the bathroom.

‘I was making us breakfast,’ Aria crouches down to run a warm bath for herself as she throws in a bathbomb and droplets of essential oils. ‘I wasn’t sure you'd wake up early and didn’t know if you'd appreciate me waking you up, so I picked out your outfit for the day before going to the kitchen to make breakfast. That way, you wouldn’t have to waste another hour deciding what to wear and eat if you wake up late.’

‘That was thoughtful of you,’ Lucy smiled at her friend. ‘Thank you.’

‘It's nothing,’ Aria shrugged before stepping into the bathtub. ‘I am used to it but this is your first time, I didn’t want your first day to be crappy.’

‘I know today’s Sunday, but we agreed to act like today is your first day so you can learn the ropes and know what to do from now on so deal with it,’ she snapped when Lucy gave her a questioning look.

Lucy spit out the lather in her mouth, before rinsing her mouth and brush with enough water. ‘It seems I have a lot to learn from you then,’ she dried her mouth with a towel before getting into the bath with aria.

This wasn’t the first time they’d be having a bath together and it wouldn’t be the last as well. Being the only friend their daughter has, Aria’s parent welcomed Lucy into their home and treated her like their daughter.

When Aria requested for the bathtub in her room to be replaced with a bigger one, her parent was quick to listen to her. Not only did they change her bathtub, but they also remodelled her bathroom as well. That was why when Lucy started to scout for an apartment, she looked into a house with a big bathroom and an extra-large bathtub.

‘So what did you tell Emilia after she proposed such a deal?’ Aria asked, putting a halt to Lucy’s thought.

‘I promised to do my best, I will marry her son and do my best to make him a better man but whatever payment I will be getting from her would have to be my salary as her son’s assistant.’

Aria nods her head but remains silent as she wash her body clean.

‘What do you think?’ Lucy stared at her best friend while washing her body as well.

‘Aside from the fact you’d be marrying my crush, there is nothing wrong with your decision. Especially if it will bring her back home, then I would do everything in my power to help you succeed,’ Aria assured causing Lucy to nod her head.

‘How did you manage to snag his attention before I even had the chance to meet him,’ Aria pouted, her eyes flashing as she glared at her bestie.

‘Are you jealous I have your man?’ Lucy smirked, enjoying the scowl that took over Aria’s features a little too much.

‘Yes I am,’ Aria snarled playfully. I am so jealous of you but at the same time I am happy for you, you wanted a change and a lot of that is happening around you all at once.’

A grin found its way to Lucy’s face as she said to Aria. ‘You are the best friend a girl can ask for.’

‘Don’t patronize me,’ Aria glared. ‘I won't forgive you so easily for stealing my man.’

This caused Lucy to chuckle before they both got out of the bath and made their way to the bedroom. ‘By the way, I got the attention of his mother, not him, there’s a difference in both events.’

‘Have you talked to your husband-to-be, Mrs soon-to-be De Rosso?’ She snorted when Luciana glared at her from the dressing table where she was applying lotion over her already smooth skin.

‘I suppose I will do that when I see him today, I’ll be resuming as his assistant so yeah.’

‘Mrs De Rosso?’ Aria called, knowing damn well that Lucy would glare at her and surely, she could feel her heated gaze.

‘What?’ Aria scowled in return. ‘You will be getting married to him so that automatically makes you De Rosso.

‘Do you know how many people would kill to bear that name? Yet there’s you, who will answer to that name for a year without a struggle.’

‘’You make it sound like a lifetime achievement,’ Lucy frowned at her friend's choice of words.

‘For some people, it is a lifetime achievement. Imagine the respect and fame you’d still have even after you are divorced.’

‘You should know by now I don't care about fame or respect,’ says Lucy.

‘I know, but you will need it even if you don’t want it.’

‘Why?’

Aria sighed and pulled the door open to lead the way to the kitchen. ‘Remember I told you he was engaged to be married once?’

Lucy nods affirmatively.

‘Even though Chantelle was a popular model who gained more popularity after their relationship went public, she wasn’t without her enemy. She might not know it because Salvatore was protective of her, he moved her to his home the moment everyone knew about her and made sure she was always guarded but that didn’t stop those who thought Salvatore belonged to them from plotting her downfall and also threatening her.’

Lucy was confused about how this information had any bearing on her not wanting to be popular, but Aria sighed and continued to speak.

‘Chantelle was only able to escape all threats of death because Salvatore was in love with her, Lucy,’ Aria pinned Lucy with her gaze, her eyes filled with concern. ‘What you are going to have with him would be a forced, contract or loveless marriage, whichever you want to call it and if I remember clearly. Salvatore swore he won’t be getting married so he’d despise you for agreeing to his mother’s arrangement.’

Lucy swallowed hard as the meaning behind Aria’s words became clear to her.

‘I am afraid you’d be left alone to fight the people’s wrath unless you somehow come in some kind of power that would keep the people from messing with you,’ Aria spelt out. ‘And if I am Salvatore, I will use the people’s hatred for you to my advantage because I sure as hell know his mission would be to get you to divorce him and fail in your task.’