IN THE BACHELOR’S BED-SSPG

Chapter 23

The air inside the grand ballroom was thick with a dangerous kind of static.

I stood near the edge of the VIP lounge, my fingers tightening around the stem of my crystal glass until my knuckles turned as white as my father's birthday cake. My eyes were fixed on the opposite side of the hall. Vittorio was still standing there, looking disgustingly magnificent in his black tailored tuxedo, but his presence was currently obscured by a flock of high-society women who were practically throwing themselves at his broad shoulders.

Every time one of those girls let out a high-pitched, fake laugh, a wave of pure, unadulterated curse flooded my veins.

He knew exactly what he was doing. Every few seconds, his dark eyes would cut through the crowd, landing straight on me. He would raise his glass of scotch just an inch, his jaw settling into that lazy, devilish smirk that usually meant I was about to lose my mind in his bedroom. He was punishing me. He was deliberately showing me the consequences of my little "we do not enter together" rule.

Oh, you think you’re the only predator here in the city, Farinelli?

"Ladies and gentlemen," the master of ceremonies announced, his voice booming through the high-end sound system.

“To honor the patriarch of the Andrada family, we now open the floor for the traditional anniversary waltz. May we invite our distinguished guests to join us on the floor."

The live orchestra immediately began to play. The heavy, sweeping strains of a classic European waltz echoed through the ballroom, the violins rising in a dramatic crescendo.

This was my cue.

Before the commercial model I had been eye-contacting earlier could even take a step toward me, a young shipping line heir named Julian materialized at my side. He was wealthy, reasonably handsome, and carried the typical arrogance of a man who thought his family's yachts could buy him anyone's attention.

"Ms. Andrada," Julian said, offering a polished, confident bow as he extended his hand. "The orchestra is playing a beautiful waltz. It would be my absolute honor if you gave me this dance."

Normally, I would have destroyed his confidence with a single cold stare and walked away to get another espresso. But right now? I needed a weapon.

I let out a soft, low chuckle—a high-fashion, enchanting sound that made Julian’s eyes instantly widen in surprise. I extended my delicate hand, letting my fingers rest lightly on his palm.

“I suppose one dance wouldn't hurt, Julian. Let's see if your footwork matches your family's reputation."

As Julian guided me toward the center of the polished marble dance floor, I deliberately tilted my chin up, ensuring my posture was as regal and untouchable as ever. The high slit of my black velvet gown exposed the full length of my leg with every step, drawing the attention of half the ballroom.

But I didn't care about half the ballroom. I only cared about one specific pair of eyes.

The moment Julian placed his hand on my waist, I turned my head slightly, sending a sharp, mocking smile straight across the room to where Vittorio was standing.

The effect was instantaneous.

I felt a pang of relief seeing him. Ang panga niya ay marahas na tumigas. His grin vanished into a thin, lethal line. His dark eyes turned into absolute ice, narrowing so sharply I could feel the temperature in the room drop from a mile away. He didn't just look angry, he looked ready to execute everyone anytime now. Serves hin right.

But instead of storming over to break Julian's arms like I expected him to, Vittorio let out a cold, dark smile of his own.

He turned to the woman standing closest to him—the daughter of a prominent steel magnate, the one wearing a gown with a neckline that went all the way to her ribs. He offered her his massive hand, his movements smooth, calculated, and entirely terrifying. The girl practically squealed in delight as she eagerly grabbed his arm, letting him lead her straight onto the marble floor.

Within seconds, they were dancing just a few meters away from us.

The waltz transformed from a classic celebration into a literal battlefield. As the orchestra's tempo increased, Julian spun me gracefully, but my focus was entirely locked on my husband. Every time our paths crossed in the rotation of the dance, Vittorio and I exchanged looks that were so sharp, so full of venom, it was a miracle the other dancers didn't burst into flames.

Vittorio held his partner with a cold, professional grip, but his massive 6'4" frame completely dominated the space. Every time he stepped closer to our perimeter, his eyes would drop to Julian's hand on my waist, his expression promising a brutal, slow death.

"You're remarkably quiet tonight, Lindsay," Julian murmured, completely oblivious to the fact that he was currently being targeted by an Italian mafia boss. "But you're dancing beautifully."

"I'm just appreciating the music, Julian," I lied smoothly, my voice dripping with ice as I locked eyes with Vittorio over Julian's shoulder. I practically leaned a little closer to Julian, letting my head tilt back in a way that exposed the dark red kiss marks on my neck—marks that Vittorio himself had roughly carved into my skin just hours before.

Across the small gap between us, I saw Vittorio's chest heave as his breathing turned heavy. His grip on his partner's hand tightened so hard the poor girl's fingers turned white, but she was too starstruck by his handsome face to notice. His gaze was burning into my skin, demanding my complete submission right there on the ballroom floor.

Come and get me, Farinelli, I thought, my heart slamming against my ribs in a wild mix of anger, adrenaline, and a sudden, sharp jolt of undeniable thrill. Show me how mad you can get.

The violins reached a frantic, sweeping peak, the melody turning darker and more intense as the waltz neared its conclusion. Vittorio guided his partner with sudden, aggressive speed, cutting directly into our path. Parang baliw. For a fraction of a second, our bodies almost brushed against each other, his cedarwood and tobacco scent completely overpowering the cheap cologne Julian was wearing.

We locked eyes up close. His face was a mask of pure, possessive madness, mine was a shield of high-fashion defiance. Sininulan niya, sinasabayan ko lang. We were two predators circling each other in the middle of a high-society circus, both of us refusing to back down, both of us waiting for the other to break.

The final chord of the waltz echoed through the hall, and the crowd erupted into polite applause. Julian let go of my hand, bowing deeply.

“Thank you for the dance, Lindsay. It was unforgettable."

"Likewise," I murmured, my eyes never leaving Vittorio as he stepped away from his partner without even offering her a second glance.

He adjusted the cuffs of his tuxedo shirt, his jaw still locked in stone as he gave me one final, freezing glare that practically said 'your time is up.' He turned around and walked toward the exit of the ballroom, his heavy, dominant steps signaling that my punishment was already being prepared back at the mansion.

Inikot ko ang aking mga mata nang napakatindi upang itago ang pangangatog ng aking mga tuhod. The war of egos was over for the night, but the real storm was about to hit inro our house, and this time, the Ice Queen knew she was walking straight into a trap she had set for herself.

Pagkatapos na pagkatapos ng huling chord ng waltz, hindi ko na hinintay na matapos ang buong pagtitipon. Seryoso, hindi ko na kaya ang tindi ng static sa hangin. I immediately walked away from Julian nang hindi man lang siya tinitignan, dinala ko ang aking marangyang black velvet gown patungo sa entrance ng hotel, at sumakay ako sa aking sariling sasakyan.

Throughout the entire drive pabalik ng mansion, ang utak ko ay parang sasabog sa tindi ng pangingitngit. Ang lakas ng loob ni Vittorio na pumarada sa gitna ng dance floor kasama ang babaeng 'yon na halos ilabas na ang dibdib sa harap niya! At talagang tinititigan niya pa ako habang sumasayaw siya, ha? He was testing my limits, and I hated how my chest actually felt a tight, burning sensation that I refused to call jealousy. Insekyuridad lang 'yon dahil sa laki ng pakwan ng kasayaw niya. Yun lang.

The moment my car pulled up to the driveway of the mansion, nakita ko na agad ang kaniyang itim na sasakyan. Selyado na ang destiny ko ngayong gabi. May away.

I slammed my car door shut, my heels clicking sharply against the marble foyer habang papasok ako sa loob. Katahimikan ang sumalubong sa akin. Wala sina Bebang at Badiday sa sala, marahil ay natutulog na dahil lampas hatinggabi na. But the heavy, suffocating scent of cedarwood and strong tobacco was vibrating everywhere.

I slowly walked up the grand staircase, my heart slamming against my ribs like crazy. Pagdating ko sa tapat ng pinto ng kaniyang private suite na siyang naging kwarto namin kagabi—hindi ko na hinintay na hilahin niya ako pabalik. Marahas kong itinulak ang pinto at pumasok ako nang may mataas na noo, ang aking signature kamalditahan ay nakahanda na bilang sandata.

"Vittorio!" pasigaw kong bungad, bago ko pa man siya makita sa dilim.

“Ano 'yung eksena mo kanina sa ballroom? You were literally parading those desperate women in front of my face! Nagkasundo tayo na walang pakialaman sa public image ng isa't isa, but you deliberately tried to humiliate me!"

Click.

Sumindi ang nag-iisang amber lamp sa gilid ng malaking kama.

Nandoon si Vittorio, nakaupo sa gilid ng mattress. His tuxedo jacket was already thrown on the floor, and his black corporate shirt was half-unbuttoned, exposing his rigid, muscle-bound chest. His government-cut hair was slightly messy, and his dark eyes were locked straight onto me. Napakalamig, napakaseryoso, at puno ng nakatutunaw na galit ang kaniyang panga.

"Humiliate you?" he repeated, his deep, bedroom baritone voice dropping into a dangerous, freezing tone na agad na nagpadala ng kuryente sa buong katawan ko. He slowly stood up, completely dominating the room as he humakbang palapit sa akin.

“You are my wife, Lindsay. Pero hinayaan mo ang lalaking 'yon na hawakan ang baywang mo sa harap ng daan-daang tao. You were smiling at him. At sadyang ipinapakita mo pa ang mga marka sa leeg mo na ako ang gumawa."

"I was making a scene para hindi nila tayo paghinalaan!" depensa ko, kahit ang totoo ay napaatras ako nang isang hakbang nang maramdaman ko ang kaniyang matikas na presensya na sobrang lapit na sa akin. "Julian is just a business connection! Hindi katulad ng mga babaeng 'yon na halos maghubad na sa harap mo! Tinitigan mo pa nga ang mga dibdib nila. How pathetic of you! Sana nilunod ka na lang sa cleavage ng babaeng ‘yon!”

"I don't give a damn about Julian, and I don't give a damn about those women," bulong niya, ang kaniyang boses ay naging isang mababang dagundong habang marahas niyang hinawakan ang dalawa kong pulso.

Sa isang mabilis at makapangyarihang galaw, binitay niya muli ang mga kamay ko sa itaas ng ulo ko, idiniin ang likod ko sa matigas na pader ng kaniyang silid.

Napasandig na naman ako.

"V-Vittorio... let me go..." bulong ko, ang aking matalas na dila ay biglang nawalan ng lakas dahil ang kaniyang katawan ay hapit na hapit na naman sa akin, ramdam ko ang bawat pagtaas ng kaniyang dibdib at ang tindi ng kaniyang init.

"No," matigas niyang sagot, ang kaniyang mukha ay bumaba sa leeg ko, diretsong humalik sa ibabaw ng concealer na unt-unti nang natutunaw. "You want a public separation, piccola? Ibibigay ko sa 'yo 'yon sa labas. Pero sa loob ng mansyong 'to, sa ilalim ng pamamahay ko, sisiguraduhin kong maaalala mo kung sinong Farinelli ang nagmamay-ari ng bawat hininga mo."

Inikot ko ang aking mga mata nang mariin bago ako tuluyang napapikit, ang aking buong katawan ay nanginginig na sa magkahalong takot at matinding kilig habang ang kaniyang dambuhalang palad ay dahan-dahang bumababa sa aking velvet gown, handang-handa na namang sirain ang lahat ng depensa ko. Bwesit din ‘tong kayawan ko’t hindi nakikisama sa kamalditahan ko. Ang bilis bumigay.