The Billionaire's Forced Bride

Chapter 3

Giovanni's Pov

Precisely two weeks later, Laura showed up at my mansion with an army of movers.

Annalise, my housekeeper, and Williams, my butler, took charge of guiding the movers through the apartment while I led Laura to her room.Neither of us to each other and the silence expanded with each step until it became a living, breathing entity between us.

Laura had been perfectly friendly to Annalise, Williams and the rest of my staff, whom she’d greeted with warm smiles and f*****g cookies.

But when she got to me, she’d shut down like I was the one moving into her house and disrupting her carefully planned life.Like I was the one who’d showed up uninvited at her mansion wearing an outfit that could send any man to his f*****g knees.The image of that black dress clinging to her curves was still ingrained in my mind, as was the fire in her eyes when she’d laid on me the moment I opened the front door for her.

There was none of that fire now. Laura was the picture of cool elegance walking next to me, and it pissed me off for no explicable reason. Even in a casual gown, her presence awoke an unwanted heat in my gut. My body had never reacted so viscerally to anyone before, and I didn’t even f*****g like her.We stopped in front of a carved wood door.

“This is your room.” I’d set her up in the farthest suite from mine, and it was still too close. “Annalise will unpack for you later.”One of her brows rose.

“Separate rooms until marriage. I didn’t realize you were such a traditionalist.

”“I didn’t realize you were so eager to share a bed with me.”

A small smirk curved my mouth when Laura’s cheeks pinked. It was her first loss of composure all morning.

“I didn’t say I wanted to share a bed with you,” she said coolly. “I simply pointed out the outdatedness of your thinking.

Sleeping in separate rooms is for married couples who are fighting, not newly engaged couples who are supposed to be in love. Word will get out. People will talk

”“It won’t, and they won’t.” My household staff had been with me for years and prided themselves on their discretion.

“If they do, I’ll take care of it. But since we’re on the subject of public image, we should establish the boundaries of our relationship.

”“Ah, communication. I do believe you’re finally graduating from the Neanderthal stage of your life.” she smiled.

I ignored her wry insult and continued, “In public, we’ll play the part of a loving couple. We’ll attend events together, smile for the cameras, and pretend we like each other. You’ll also have full access to the Moretti Group portfolio of brands.

If you want anything from any of our collections, call my assistant, Louis and he’ll take care of it. On your nightstand, you’ll find his number, a black Amex, and your engagement ring.

Wear it.”The engagement announcement ran that morning. Laura and I were officially tied together, which meant my reputation was also at stake.I didn’t care whether people personally liked me, but public perception was important in my line of work.

Obvious discord would raise too many questions, and the last thing I needed were nosy society columnists sniffing around.

“A ring on my bedside table. How romantic.” Laura touched the sapphire bracelet on her wrist.

“You truly know how to make a woman feel special.

”“I’m not here to make you feel special.” I dipped my head toward hers. The sweet, slightly tart scent of strawberries stole into my lungs as I enunciated my next words with crisp precision.

“I’m here because I made a deal with your father so don’t expect dinner dates or sweet nothings at home, mio tesoro, because you won’t get either.

”“Is that so?” She challenged me softly.“Get rid of any romantic notions you may have of us falling in love and living happily ever after. It won’t happen. This is a business arrangement. Nothing more. Are we clear?”

Laura pressed her lips into a stubborn line.The air was alive with the crackle of electricity and animosity. It sizzled against my skin, drawing my muscles tight and fanning the strange, hungry fire in my stomach.When she remained mutinously silent, I reached up and closed my hand around her throat.

Lightly, just enough to feel the shallowness of her breaths.My voice dropped to a dangerous warning.

“Are. We. Clear?”Laura’s eyes flashed. “Crystal.” The promise of retribution lurked beneath her even reply.

“Good.” I released her and stepped back with a mocking smile.

“Welcome home, sweetheart.”I left without waiting for a response.The warmth of Laura’s skin lingered on my palm until I closed my hand around my lighter and let the cold metal chase away the remnants of her touch.

“Don’t start,” I said when I passed a frowning Annalise. She was dusting in the sitting room, close enough to have a conversation with Laura. The movers must’ve already left.

“You were too harsh,” she admonished, confirming my earlier suspicion.Annalise was sixty-four, but her hearing gave bats a run for their money.

“Not harsh. Honest.” I checked my watch. I had a lunch meeting with a visiting CEO in two hours, and I needed to prepare before I left.

“Would you rather I lead her on? Indulge her childhood fantasies about Prince Charming coming in and sweeping her off her feet?”“

How do you know she has those fantasies?” Annalise swept her duster over the fireplace mantel with more force than necessary.

“She seems like the practical sort.

”“You met her half an hour ago.”I couldn’t believe I was arguing with my housekeeper over my fiancée. It must be those goddamned cookies Laura bribed her with. Annalise had a sweet tooth and a special fondness for chocolate chips.“I have good instincts when it comes to people. Otherwise…

” Another aggressive sweep over the mantle. “I would’ve written you off as an overbearing clone of your grandfather years ago.”My face shut down.

“Remember who you work for,” I warned, my tone dark.“If you want to fire me, fire me. But I know there’s a heart in there somewhere, ragazzo mio.

Use it and treat your future wife with respect.” she snorted.“I gave her a black Amex and a diamond ring.

” Every woman would kill for those things, and they were more than Laura deserved, considering who her father was.Annalise stared at me for a full minute before she shook her head and muttered furiously in Italian under her breath. I couldn’t hear what she was saying, but I imagined it was none too complimentary.I stopped next to her and placed a hand on the duster, forcing her to still.

“You’re a valued member of my household, but there are only so many liberties I’ll allow,” I said coolly. “If you’d like a vacation to clear your head, let me know and it can be arranged.”The threat hung in the air as an offer.Her eyes narrowed.

“No vacation needed.”“Good.”Annalise had worked for my family since I was a baby. She’d helped raise me and Damiano since my parents were s**t at the job, and she’d run my grandfather’s household until I convinced her to work for me five years ago.

Instead of being upset, while I had a soft spot for Annalise and considered her the grandmother I never had—both of my biological grandmothers died before I was born—I would not tolerate blatant disrespect.

If she were anyone else, I would’ve fired and blacklisted her the second the word harsh left her mouth.A polite cough pulled my attention toward the doorway where Williams stood with a neutral expression.

“Sir, the movers have officially vacated the premises,” he said. “Would you like me to give Miss Laura a tour of the mansion?”I’d taken Laura directly to her room without showing her the rest of the house.

“Fine. Go ahead.” I said casually. After all, she should get used to this place.