A Whirlwind Marriage: f*******n Love

It had been ten years since he was last on the grounds. Michael Salvatore arrived at his family's home and looked around. Even after his Grandfather's death, the place still looked amazing and well kept. He got out of the limousine and walked around, his business partner and best friend, Jason Beamont, was with him. "Who knew your granddad would have kept everything the same?" Jason stated looking around, taking in the detail. Michael bit his lip, the memories where his grandfather intervened from that Prick his mother married came at him at once. By the time he was 13, he pleaded with his grandfather if he could stay with him. The beatings he received were fresh in is memory. He was only a young boy. He could still feel the stings after whip on his back. The last time that Prick hurt him was when he was 13. He purposely worked out. Lifting weights. The very last fight had occurred when he was 14. He remembered how it felt when he had wrapped his hand around that Prick's neck, squeezing his windpipe. He saw fear in that monster's eyes. His mother stepped between them choosing that creep. He left that home and never looked back. Michael was brought out of his thoughts when he heard his best friend. "Yeah, well, my grandfather was all about tradition. I mean the Manor is nearly two hundred years old." The two men were interrupted when they heard high heels clicking on the pavement. They both turned around and saw a beautiful blond haired woman coming towards them. She was dressed in a royal blue business skirt suit. Michael straightened his tie. Jason gave a low whistle. "Damn, she's definitely cute." He whispered to Michael. Michael looked at him, his jaw tight. With that he approached her. The woman smiled and reached out to shake his hand and then Jason's hand. "Mr. Salvatore, Mr. Bell, I presume. My name is Diana Kendrick. Under your grandfather, I was his assistant." Michael and Jason were shown in. Diana was getting used to Michael's different work pace. Ever since she was aware of what was in his grandfather's will, she knew he was angry. Livid actually. It had only been a week since they met and the will was read. Michael had assigned Diana to locate reasonable women who could potentially become the new Mrs. Salvatore. Why this? Obviously you don't meet anyone in a bar. Maybe the library? Even at work. She had witnessed Michael take down a 40 year old business with a weak leader just yesterday. She knew Michael was right because they offered substandard products. The rumor was definitely true. He was a cold hearted, ruthless businessman. His mood swings were scary on top of it. Half the women in the office remarked at how handsome and sexy he was and how they would gladly have a one night stand with him which frankly disgusted Diana. In the elevator one morning, she heard three female colleagues gossiping. "Rumor has it he's taken the celibate pledge. Imagine that! I wonder if his last lover was a disgrace in bed and that's why he's sworn off sex." Diana rubbed her temples, her McDonald's Small Mocha Frappe with extra chocolate syrup was still in the plastic bag. She didn't want to know this. These woman acted like teen girls around him. One thing was for certain, this was going to be a long day. Diana didn't want anything to do with him outside of the job. Minutes later, here she was typing some names for Michael. Michael stood still by his open office door. "Ms. Kendrick, a word." He said. Diana stood up, signing and marched over to him. How could she make the deadline for him when he won't give her the time? Plus she needed her Frappe to stay awake! Diana gripped the folder that contained the three ladies. She saw how he carried himself. Such an egotistical man. Of course he thought he was God's gift to women. "Ms. Kendrick, any luck?" He replied as she stepped through the threshold with him closing the door behind her. Diana wanted to punch him after rolling her eyes. Michael took as seat and studied her movements. Diana took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. She gave him a small but insincere smile. She threw the file on his desk. He stared up at her with that action. There has never been a woman who gave him attitude before. Most wanted to please him because they wanted a chance with him. Michael arched his eyebrows. "Those are the names." She said before walking towards the door. Diana stopped before she opened it. Michael cleared his throat. "Great. Cancel any appointments for lunch for the next three days. I'll be starting with Mia White." Diana rolled her eyes and turned back to face him which he saw, walking around his desk. He was coming close to her. "As a woman who has a boyfriend, what your doing is making a mockery out of a relationship." Michael took what she said as a challenge. Diana crossed her arms over her chest putting emphasis behind her words. Diana chose to continue. "Choosing a wife like it's some sort of business deal is the wrong way to go about it." Michael leaned over her, his fist resting beside her face against the door. He looked at her closely. She was seriously a beautiful woman. They stared at each other. For some reason he wanted to kiss her. Sure, it would be s****l harassment but he could make the charges go away if she pushed legal action, that's how wealthy he was. "No." He replied. "This is me making a mockery of a relationship." He told her calmly before encircling his arms around her waist, pulling her towards him. He lead down and kissed her with so much built up s****l frustration. Diana's legs felt weak and she was purring. He moved his hands up, cupping each side of her face, deepening the kiss. Diana ran her fingers through his hair, it almost felt like a message on his scalp. He moaned against her mouth. When he backed away, he saw tears in her eyes. Diana closed her eyes, trying to study her heart rate. Michael controlled his breath. "From one kiss," He said, whipping a couple of tears away. "This is your reaction? And here I just received such a passionate response from you. Your boyfriend is lacking something then." Diana slapped him. Michael rubbed where she hit him and backed away from her, leaning his lower back against his desk, a smiled playing on his lips. "It's not that I can't meet women, Diana." He said kindly. "I'm looking for the best attributes in a woman. She needs to be devoted, loyal, respectful. Not to mention have intelligence, honor, integrity, strength, virtue and seriously love children. That's the deal." Diana remained silent as he continued. "Those traits are very important to me. Most of those girls don't even care about their reputation or their integrity in this day and age. They can't even hold an intellectual conversation. If I wanted a cheap s**t that's gone to bed with several men, I can locate one in under five minutes. I don't want easy. She would be my wife until I fulfilled my grandfather's wishes. So really a contract wife. In the end, she'll get money and a lifelong friend." Diana glared at him with those beautiful blue eyes. "You are such a cold, heartless, chauvinistic Prick. I'm sorry for anyone woman who ends up married to you." Michael gave Diana a smirk. "Yes, I can tell you cherish your boyfriend." He told her sarcastically. Diana opened the door and showed herself out. Michael watched as she left his office. He couldn't understand why he acted like some barbarian. Diana went to the balcony to clear her head. How could he possibly know she wasn't ready for passion with Noah? How could she return that kiss? And even run her fingers though Salvatore's hair as if she was into him? She did love Noah but she knew it wasn't romantic love anymore. She acknowledged herself slowly. Diana whipped the remaining tears away. The following week, Diana quickly marched up the steps to Michael's private jet. Diana was in an ivory white skirt suit and heels. Michael was in pin-stripped double breasted suit and vest. She went too fast in heels, she had missed a step. Michael turned right before she crashed into him, his strong arms holding her close to his warm chest. Mr. Salvatore had an indecent smile playing on his lips. "If you wanted to pick up where we left off a week ago, you should have just said something. I'm well aware you are a sexy woman." Diana fought out of his grasp, slapping him. She tried walking away. Michael grabbed her elbow, forcing her to look at him. "You are the only woman that's ever slapped me." His voice was low and sounded dangerously sexy. He continued. "So you never thought what it would be like to be with me?" He asked, Incredulously, his mouth speaking against her ear. His breath was so warm. Diana tilted her head, their eyes locking. At that moment, she was showing him she was annoyed, holding a folder close to her chest. "You are not every woman's ideal guy." She remarked pushing past him like a breeze. Michael stared at her. "You really don't find me attractive?" He asked her as they both took their seats, belting in. "My boyfriend is irresistible." She told him, going over the names of the men who will be at the meeting. Michael smiled to himself, knowing he had her. That wasn't an answer.