Chapter 3: Deal with the Devil
1284 Words
I could not concentrate on anything the lawyer was saying. Mr. Stein went on about clauses and stipulations, pointing at paragraphs with his overpriced pen, but my thoughts kept returning to Alessio's words.
“This one was made for you”.
Why me? What had he seen in me that had made me the perfect candidate for this odd arrangement?
"Ms. Russo?" I was brought back to reality by Mr. Stein's voice. "Did you hear the confidentiality clause? It's extremely important to Mr. Vitale."
I nodded automatically. "Yes. No talking about the arrangement. Ever."
"That's correct. Your settlement would be void and the penalty clause would be activated if you did not comply with that requirement.
I flipped to that page. The penalty for violating confidentiality was staggering—far more than I could ever possibly pay.
"So I'd be trapped," I muttered.
"I would rather think of it as being appropriately motivated to fulfill your obligations," Mr. Stein said with ease. "Now, about your living arrangements."
I was overwhelmed with information an hour and fifty minutes later, but one thing stuck out: this contract was written to completely control my life for the next year and to shield Alessio from any humiliation or trouble.
A subtle knock at the door indicated time's up.
"Mr. Vitale is ready for you," said the chic receptionist.
Back to the lion's den. Alessio stood up as I entered, his expression not giving anything away.
"Your decision?" he asked without preamble.
I had the contract in my hand. "Why me? The real reason."
He took a moment to examine me from head to toe. "You're intelligent enough to understand the bargain. You are attractive enough that I might choose you. Enough hunger to agree to my conditions. And isolated enough that nobody will question us being together all of a sudden."
Each word landed like a punch, even if they were true.
"You've been watching me," I said. "For how long?"
Something flickered in his eyes. "Long enough to decide you're suitable."
"And my gallery? You'll really save it?"
"By the end of the day, if you sign."
I took a deep breath. If I accepted, I'd be binding myself to a Vitale, the very family my father had been at odds with for so many years. If he ever discovered who I really was.
But if I didn't, I'd lose all I'd built. My sanctuary. My new life.
"I have conditions," I said, surprising us both.
Alessio's eyebrow rose slightly. "The contract is not negotiable."
"Then I walk." I walked toward the door, heart racing, bluffing with all of me.
"Wait."
I stopped without looking back.
"What terms?" His voice was clear.
I turned, summoning courage I never knew I had. "I still run my gallery, full time. Your business people can handle the business side if they need to, but the artistic decisions are still mine."
He looked at me with a brief expression of respect on his face. "Agreed, with arrangements for appearances requiring your presence."
"My friend Maya keeps her job. No questions asked."
"Very well."
I took another breath. "And I want it in writing that after this year, you have no stake in me, financially, legally, or otherwise. I disappear from your life completely."
That last part was necessary. After this was accomplished, I needed to be in the situation to vanish once more if I needed to.
Alessio crossed to his desk, pressed a button. "Carmen, let Mr. Stein know we need to make alterations to the contract."
My heart was racing. Was he really agreeing?
"Anything else?" he asked, nailing me with those dark eyes.
I swallowed. "When do we start?"
"The moment you sign," he said. "A car will fetch essentials. The rest of your belongings will be transferred tomorrow. We have a charity function tonight that will be our first public appearance."
"Tonight?" My voice trembled. "It's too soon!"
"You'll have a stylist at the penthouse. All that will be arranged." He said it as if these were minor details. "The ruse is that we've been secretly dating for six months. A whirlwind romance ending in a private civil ceremony last week."
"People will never believe that."
His smile was cold. "People believe what wealth and power convince them to believe."
Mr. Stein returned with the new contract and stood patiently while I meticulously read over the changes, ensuring that my conditions were properly included.
I signed on the final page with a shaky hand. Sofia Russo. Not Sofia Castellano. At least that lie stood firm.
Alessio added his signature with flair, then punched a number on his phone. "It's done. Proceed with the gallery paperwork."
He held out his hand to me. "Welcome to the family, Mrs. Vitale."
I took his hand, expecting a handshake. Instead, he pushed something cool and weighted onto my finger. A diamond ring that had to have cost more than everything I owned.
"How did you know my ring size?" I asked, staring at the huge stone.
"I know everything I need to know about you, Sofia." His voice sent chills down my spine.
The door opened, and Dante walked in, his relaxed smile fading as he looked between us.
"It's official?" he asked, his eyes dropping to the ring on my finger.
"Yes," Alessio said. "Sofia has agreed to become my wife."
Something illegible passed over Dante's face. "Congratulations," he said, though the warmth of a moment earlier had vanished. "I have the gallery documents right here."
He handed me a folder. Inside were documents conveying ownership of my gallery building to a corporation in my name, Sofia Russo Gallery, LLC, and bank statements showing an account with operating capital for the upcoming year.
"How did you prepare this so quickly?" I asked.
"Alessio knew you'd see sense," Dante muttered, not meeting my gaze.
That is when it occurred to me: they never expected me to refuse. This whole thing had been set up, down to the last detail.
"The car's waiting," Alessio said. "Dante will drive you home to pack, then to the penthouse. I'll meet you there before the event."
"I can find my own way," I responded quickly, uncomfortable with the prospect of being alone in a secluded area with Dante after his sudden shift in mood.
"Dante will walk you over," Alessio repeated, his voice leaving no room for debate. "Security is now a concern given that you're my wife."
The term seemed to hum in the space that separated us. Wife. What had I gotten myself into?
"Fine," I agreed, clutching the gallery paperwork as if it were a lifeline.
As Dante led me to the elevator, I turned to see Alessio standing where we had left him, his expression unreadable. The doors closed, and I was confined in the small space with Dante.
"He's not what you think," Dante said suddenly, breaking the silence.
"And what do I think?" I asked tentatively.
Dante studied me with those warm brown eyes that now seemed calculating. "You think he's just a rich businessman playing games. He's much more sinister than that."
My heart skipped. "Is that a warning?"
The elevator reached the ground floor, doors opening. Dante's easy smile reappeared, like a mask slipping back into place.
"Just a fact," he said easily. "Come along, Mrs. Vitale. Your new life awaits."
As we walked through the lobby, I could feel the weight of the ring on my finger, heavy as a chain. I'd just pledged a year of my life to a man who could discover my deadly secret at any given moment.
And something told me Dante Ricci knew more than he was letting on.
- Writer
