Moving Into the Lion’s Den
1162 Words
Giulia did not sleep that night.
Not even for a minute.
The words were repeating in her mind.
You’re moving into my house.
What sort of a man came out with something like that, having made a false relationship?
And worse…
Why had she said yes?
Morning arrived too quickly.
It was precisely at 8:00 a.m. when a black luxury car parked in front of the small apartment Giulia shared with her cousin Sofia.
Giulia looked in through the window at it.
No, no, that cannot be the case with me, Sofia told herself.
However, the driver came out.
He also sported a suit which cost more than Giulia might have spent on her entire wardrobe.
He approached the door and knocked in a pleasant way.
Sofia grabbed Giulia’s arm.
“Oh my God.”
Giulia shut the door with a slow action.
“Yes?”
The driver said Miss Giulia Rossi.
“Yes…”
I came to get you to Villa De Luca.
Giulia swallowed.
So, it was real.
Matteo De Luca had not been fooling.
Sofia stared at her.
“Villa?”
Giulia forced a smile.
“It’s temporary.”
So, you are taking a temporary residence with a billionaire?
Giulia grabbed her suitcase.
“Fake girlfriend situation.”
Sofia blinked three times.
“I have so many questions.”
“Ask later.”
Giulia stepped outside.
The suitcase was grabbed by the driver.
When the car drove off, Giulia looked back towards the small building in which she had spent five years.
There was something weird about quitting it.
As though she would go across the line, and she could not come back.
The excursion lasted half an hour.
Third, it was half an hour of mounting tension.
Then the gates appeared.
The car opened huge iron gates automatically.
Giulia stared.
A backdrop behind them was a huge modern house with gardens, fountains, and costly cars.
This is preposterous, she said to herself.
The driver smiled politely.
“Welcome to Villa De Luca.”
This vehicle had stopped at the entrance.
Before Giulia could even get out--
The doors opened.
And Matteo stepped down the steps.
He gazed irritatingly calm.
Black shirt.
Rolled sleeves.
Dangerous smile.
“Good morning, girlfriend.”
Giulia stepped out slowly.
“You live here?”
Matteo spread his arms.
“Temporary base.”
“This is a palace.”
“Semantics.”
She stared at him.
You are not joking about moving in.
“No.”
Giulia crossed her arms.
“We need to set rules.”
Matteo looked amused.
“Oh?”
“Yes.”
“No touching.”
“Hmm.”
“No emotional manipulation.”
He laughed.
“That one might be difficult.”
And no humiliating me in front of anybody.
Matteo tilted his head.
Funny that you think humiliation fits in the scheme of things.
Giulia glared.
“You’re using me for revenge.”
“That’s true.”
“At least you admit it.”
Matteo stepped closer.
However, revenge is best achieved when the acting is convincing.
Giulia frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Matteo reached out suddenly—
And quietly slipped one of her strands of hair behind her ear.
Giulia froze.
“Stop.”
He leaned closer.
The cameras will notice us fighting on day one, and it will ruin the story.
“Cameras?”
He pointed towards the driveway.
A photographer was standing in front of the gate.
Giulia’s stomach dropped.
“You called the press?!”
Matteo smiled slowly.
“Of course.”
Before she could react—
Flash.
Flash.
Flash.
Photographs were already being made.
Giulia grabbed his arm.
“You didn’t tell me about this!”
“That would ruin the surprise.”
“You’re unbelievable.”
Matteo lowered his voice.
“Smile.”
“I’m not smiling.”
Then stare at me and act as if you love me.
Giulia gazed at him in incredulity.
But the cameras continued flashing.
She forced a tight smile.
Matteo wrapped his arm around her waist.
“Relax,” he murmured.
“Don’t touch me.”
“Too late.”
Here, another flash of the camera went off.
And then—
A voice that was well known came through the air.
“What the hell is this?”
Giulia turned.
Standing at the gate…
Was Alessandro De Luca.
His expression was pure fury.
He approached them with repressed anger.
Matteo did not take his arm off the waist of Giulia.
“Brother,” he greeted casually.
Alessandro ignored him.
His eyes locked on Giulia.
“You moved in?”
Giulia hesitated.
Matteo answered for her.
“Yes.”
Alessandro’s jaw tightened.
“You’re making a mistake.”
Matteo smirked.
She had already listened to that speech.
Alessandro stepped closer.
Did he inform you of the investors?
Giulia blinked.
“What investors?”
Matteo smiled a little less.
Alessandro was observing him.
“I thought so.”
Giulia looked between them.
“Someone explains.”
Alessandro spoke calmly.
My brother is not simply taking you out to toy with me.
Matteo’s voice turned cold.
“That’s enough.”
But Alessandro continued.
The De Luca board feels Matteo is a carefree man.
Giulia felt a chill.
They are determining the company's owner.
Her stomach tightened.
“And where do I fit into that?”
Alessandro gazed right into her.
“You’re the image campaign.”
Silence.
Matteo’s eyes darkened.
Giulia turned slowly towards him.
You are making me persuade investors that you are stable.
Matteo didn’t answer.
That was answer enough.
“You lied,” she said quietly.
Matteo stepped closer.
“I simplified.”
“You manipulated me.”
“It’s business.”
Giulia’s anger exploded.
“I am not a business strategy!”
Cameras were still flashing.
Matteo lowered his voice.
“Not here.”
But Alessandro observed all.
Now you know, he said to her.
Giulia stared between the two men.
One manipulative.
One warning her.
But both are hiding something.
What would they do in case the investors do not believe the act? she asked.
Matteo answered calmly.
“Then I lose the company.”
“And if you lose?”
Matteo’s voice turned darker.
“My brother takes everything.”
The strain in the atmosphere broke.
Giulia realised the truth.
This wasn’t just revenge.
This was a billion-euro empire at war.
And she had already entered the fighting field.
Then Matteo touched her and said something, she could not tell what, but she could not hear it.
Unluckily, the investors are coming at night.
Giulia’s eyes widened.
“Tonight?!”
Matteo smiled.
Hello to your first performance.
Across the courtyard…
Alessandro grumbled to himself.
She does not know what you have actually begun.
Matteo had a sparkle in his eyes.
"Oh."
He gave Giulia a direct glance.
"She will shortly."
Giulia instantly came to a horrifying realisation.
The fictitious romance had already started.
And there was no longer a way out.
- Writer
