Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 71003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Standing just outside his office, I push the door open and listen as it creaks. Matteo looks up from something on his desk and to me as I pop my head inside.
“You asked to see me?”
He waves me inside, and I stop right in front of his desk. “Yes, I want you to go with Sophia and pick out a dress for the event. I also want you to get your hair done.”
My brows furrow. “What’s wrong with my hair?”
“Of all the things you can fight me on, you fight me on your hair?” He lets out a chuckle. “Just get your hair done, please. It looks dull.”
I’m tempted to tell him to fuck off, but that would derail my plan completely, so instead, I bite the inside of my cheek.
“When is this Sophia woman coming?”
Matteo’s gaze flicks to his watch and then back up to me. “Should be here any minute now.” I nod, ready to turn around and walk out. Why subject myself to his bullshit any more than I have to. “Also, pick something out that isn’t too revealing but gives a tiny peek. I want people to be talking about us for weeks to come.”
“Of course,” I mumble and step out of the office. I go upstairs and get a pair of tennis shoes before coming back downstairs. Lingering in the foyer, I wait for this shopping lady to show her face. Just as Matteo claimed, she shows up a few minutes later. Priding myself on being someone who never judges a book by its cover, I try not to judge the woman who comes walking into the mansion like she owns the place, a sneer of disapproval on her face when she spots me waiting for her.
“Dove?”
“The one and only. You must be Sophia.”
“That I am. Now, I’m not one for pleasantries, so let’s get on with the shopping. We have money to spend and dresses to try on.”
Well then. I follow her out to an SUV and climb into the back seat while she takes the passenger seat up front. One of Matteo’s men drives and another comes as security. No one says anything to me the entire drive.
The rest of my day is spent trying on dress after dress while Sophia critiques every single one. That one is way too short. Ugly. You look fat. Are just some of the remarks I have had to withstand. By the time we’re done, my ears are bleeding, and I feel like going back to the mansion and drowning myself in the bathtub, but that can’t happen because first, I have to get my hair done. Sophia ships me off to the hairdresser, whose name is Bernarto.
“You’re gorgeous, sweetheart,” he purrs in my ear while running his fingers through my hair. For the first time all day, I smile.
“Thank you,” I say.
“What shall we do…” He drums his fingers against his chin and takes a step back, eyeing my head. After the day I’ve had, I don’t really care what he does. Making up his mind, he gets to work, and three hours later, my hair is colored, trimmed, and styled. Surprisingly, I feel a little better. Sophia scoffs when she sees me and rolls her eyes before typing out something on her phone. Then, all over again, we’re getting into the SUV and heading back to the mansion.
When we arrive, I all but dart from the car, needing to put some distance between Sophia and me. She didn’t say anything directly to hurt me, but she sure as hell didn’t make today fun either. Walking through the front door, I can make out the sound of voices. They’re loud and manly and carry down the hall and into the foyer.
Both I know, one belonging to Zane and the other Matteo. Tiptoeing down the hall so I can hear more of the conversation, I hold my breath when Zane starts to speak.
“Fuck! I’ve done everything you’ve asked of me. All I want in return is to know that you won’t marry her off to someone. Promise me you won’t do it.” The anguish and despair in his voice makes me take another step forward. There is a pause, and Zane starts to talk again. “If you’re doing this to hurt me, then I’ll break it off with her. I won’t be with her anymore, but please, don’t ruin her life just to get revenge against me. Dove deserves more than that.”
A chair creaks, and I know it’s Matteo’s. “Listen here, boy. Dove is my daughter, and because of that, I get to make the rules here. She is marrying whoever I choose, when I decide. I’m not doing anything because of you. I’m doing this because it’s my right as her father.”
Zane growls, and I can feel the sound in my bones. “I won’t let you do this. You’ve hurt her enough already.”