Marchetti's Mafia Bride

Chapter 5:

Chapter 5:

Jayden's pov ....

My phone buzzed, and buzzed and buzzed then buzzed again.

"Ain't you going to pick that?"

Kozlov asked with a mighty smirk.

" No." I said and block Raya's number.

I will call her when I need her, not a second before.

People never listen, they always want more, they always need to flaunt the rules, live on the edge.

I signed off on some purchase requests, and began to peruse some new property papers.

My role meant I needed to know a little about almost everything.

We've been working for well over eight hours, we'd skipped breakfast.

It was my fault, am an overzealous workaholic, but when I want to play, it's zero to a hundred in ten seconds flat. No in-betweens.

We had lunch brought in, and I was mid way through my meal.

When my phone vibrated again with a call. But it wasn't Raya, I'd blocked her for the day or the entire week.

It was my official secretary.

" Good day Uno, Mrs Harley is here to see you."

"Okay, Tell her I have no plans to come in to the office today." I stated.

"Yes sirrr, i-i d-did and insisted, but she has refused to leave and says you'll like to hear what she has to offer."

That last bit caught my attention.

I had literarily had enough of the games. Harleytrust has been playing hard to get for way too long. They have fought long and hard to stay afloat despite the steep challenges it's had.

It's been a losing battle for well over two decades now, but like they say heaven helps those who helps themselves.

My offer is the most generous offer they will ever get and we are the only ones bidding, the only ones truly interested.

They are a drowning bank, I made sure of that, but it seems they are finally ready to play ball.

This should be interesting.

The truth is I have been expecting this call for over fifteen months now, their resilience is actually astounding.

Maybe it was finally time to sheath their sword and let me take over.

I walked briskly across the thickly carpeted hallway of my floor of the office building, with Kozlov and Jonah right behind me.

Unfortunately, they can't help me wriggle out of seeing Mrs Harley. Actually no one can help me with her, she isn't just the owner of the bank I'd been trying to acquire.

She is my grandmother.

And it's been a while since I last saw my Nonna.

She would probably be angry with me. But I would make her understand that I am not ten anymore. I am just too busy for her.

I do know everything about the private bank called Harley trust, because it's owned by my mother's family.

I pause slightly before pulling open the double glass door and walking into the private reception area to my office.

Millie, my executive (official)assistant is by the door waiting for me.

She gives me an apologetic look and quickly excuses herself.

"My beautiful, beautiful boy"

Nonna cooed in her uniquely slightly hoarse and slightly high pitched voice.

I gritted my teeth at her usual greeting. The muscle in my jaw ticking in mild irritation.

"I am no longer a boy, Nonna.

I am a freaking grown ass man."

I stated, correcting her for the millionth time.

She looked pristine in her lime green suit, the woman is a force to be reckoned with and I am apparently one of her favorite people. (Atleast I used to be).

Now I don't know anymore, it's just been too long and with the not too subtle aggressive takeover, I have pushed, I'm not so sure.

"I Don't care, you are still my beautiful boy." she huffed out stubbornly, as she pulled me into a hug.

I didn't think her smile could get any wider without splitting her face in two, but it did.

I tried as subtly as I could to wriggle out of her arms, but she wouldn't let go. she even made a show of inhaling my scent.

"F**k my bloody life, what the heck, was that?"

I exclaimed in my head, utterly exasperated.

What adult in the world is still being treated this way, by their Nonna?

I asked myself silently as I rolled my eyes at her excessiveness.

When she finally let go, I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding .

My body that had gone from stiff to slightly stiff finally relaxed.

But she didn't stop there, she grabbed my hair pulling me down to her height and pinched my cheeks before kissing my fore head, while grumbling about irresponsible grandsons.

"I haven't seen you in over two years and this is how you greet your Nonna?"

She asked.

I sighed, and let my body relax and hugged her again finishing with pecks on her cheeks and apologised.

" I am sorry Nonna." I said, making sure to look properly chastised.

"That's okay, my sweet child."

She said and grinned wickedly as she led the way into my office.

Finally some much needed privacy, to talk about business.

My mom and grandmother are estranged, it happened before I was born.

Mother said she had been arranged to marry some guy from a prominent English family, then she met dad fell in love, eloped with him and got married.

Her family never forgave her.

It wasn't just that they thought she'd married a shady character, a rake or rougue.

Her arranged marriage was supposed to be an alliance between both families and secure the Harley's for life.

But she took off with a tout like my dad, I'm glad she did though.

The wealth of the Harley family, has been dwindling at epic proportion, exactly like the banks performance, although they have exclusively owned the bank for almost a century.

It is currently bleeding money and is in dire need of an injection of funds from investors .

Its history is full of ups an downs, but no matter what Harleytrust, have always been owned and run by a Harley.

We settled into my office with a huge glass office desk between us.

"Jayden Andre Marchetti, stupidity doesn't run in your blood.

God knows your uncle's and cousins, have excess.

But did you really think I wouldn't know?" She asked with a stern expression.

"Nonna I really wasn't trying to hide the fact that it was me. I want Harleytrust and I will do what I need to do, to get it.

I didn't mean to offend you, it's just business Mrs Harley."

She smirked and said.

"You know when your father put you in charge of whatever it is that you people do, I was sure it was either too soon, or it was too much to handle.

But you've done very well, with it.

I would like Harleytrust to be in your care, because I know you will take good care of it.

There's a lot of paperwork and a few more days of negotiations to come, but it's yours if you want it.

But I can't let you get away with sabotage, son.

"It's not really sabotage if I'm going to build it all back, Nonna." I said with a smirk, but her next words made a muscle jump in my jaw.

"You misunderstand me, dear boy.

Sucking her teeth with her tongue.

"This part is non negotiable and it is the consequence of your actions.

You will be married in six weeks or Harley trust will go bankrupt.

I won't allow one of my spineless sons take over and sell it off, I'd rather it dies a natural death."

Silence fell between us.

I studied her face for a little while.

No more words were needed, I have never been the kind of child to grumble and whine about the unfairness of anything.

I took alot of things in stride.

Although, this one is uncharted territory.

Marriage? To who?

I asked myself as I stared at a small square glass box design on the table.

"My people will contact your people and negotiations would begin in ernest, you will bring your valid marriage certificate to the signing.

Be well child."

She said and walked out of my office.

I sat down there staring at the wall opposite me, staring at nothing in particular, I just felt like my muscles were being restrained.

This punishment didn't fit the crime, and it wasn't just. None of her spineless ever got this type of reprimand.

But then again, none of them would have had the guts to go toe to toe with her.

Jonah and Kozlov strode into my office asking what she wanted to speak to me about.

"is it the bank?

You look off uno, what's the matter?

did something happen?"

but I didn't answer, I didn't really hear them maybe my subconscious did.

But I couldn't be bothered.

"I need to find a bride and wed her in six weeks. Tik tok." I said.

They froze, they just stood there and stared at me like I had gone crazy.

Maybe I had, but if my mother's legacy is for us to own, Harley trust.

Then I would make it happen.

A marriage requirement can't stop me.