I

In my world, it's eat or get eaten alive. You have to be sly as a fox in order to make it to the top of the chain. Be the proverbial wolf in sheep's clothing.

"By the powers vested in me, I now pronounce you Mr and Mrs Giovanni-" Luka didn't even let the judge finish, he turned and walked out annoyed. I smiled apologetically and took the marriage certificate and followed him out. Our marriage was already off to a great start.

"How had i gotten myself in this mess again?" I thought to myself exasperated. An image of my dad shouting at me when i'd confronted him flashed in my mind and i shook my head pushing away that thought process..

The chauffer bowed politely and opened the door for me. I silently got in and put the marriage certificate between us, my mind drifting far. I glanced at Luka, HE'd rested his head on the seat and his eyes were closed. I could feel the silent rage rolling off him in waves.

The ride back to my Luka's place- I mean, the ride back home was silent. I was still processing the entire thing,I didn't even have the energy to think of a plan. It would have been nice if I could do some work, but being a Giovanni now meant I couldn't be a part of the Adia business anymore. regardless, once we got home, I'd have to tie up some loose ends. On second thought, that might have to wait until tomorrow. Today was our wedding night, would we consummate it?

I gazed outside the window watching the people we flew past. How nice it must be to live an ordinary life. Where you were actually in control and not just a puppet.

I held out my perfectly manicured hand and stared at the ring. I couldn't help but remember how sometimes i'd often fantasize about my wedding. In my fantasies, I never thought I'd get married this way. I sighed wistfully and slipped off the ring. There was an unexplainable pinch in my heart. I dumped the ring in my bag and found myself glancing at Luka. I was doing that a lot, it was unlike me. My gaze wandered to his hand, which was elegantly rested on his thigh, no ring in sight. No surprise there. The pinch was back again. i dragged my eyes off him and back to the view outside.

I was pulled out of my reverie when I heard him conversing in Italian, and he didn't look very pleased, though on second thought I might have been the cause of his displeasure. He'd rolled up his sleeves and was running one hand through his hair. My tongue slipped out wetting my suddenly dry lips as my inner goddess drooled and screamed, aching to do more than just stealing the occasional glances. I looked away quickly not wanting to make a fool out of myself. What was wrong with me? I shook my head agitated and mentally face palmed.

"George, drop me off at the office." He said as he ended his call.

The disappointment that washed over me was overwhelming I couldn't help the words from spilling out, "But today is our wedding night…"

He looked at me like I had said the stupidest thing on this planet. "And?"

The least you could do would be to give my body some pleasure and consummate our marriage.

But instead I said,

"I thought we'd spend the night together, have din-"

"Don't be ridiculous. Didn't you already get what you want? A marriage without prenup. Don't get too greedy."

That stung. I kept my lips sealed tight, afraid that I might end up saying something I'd regret the next day.

George had already pulled into the parking. He got out and opened the door for his boss. "Bring the car back to me before you go home." George nodded and closed the door silently. I watched him walk away and into his building. I sighed dismayed.

"Wedding of my dreams." I let out silently. I wanted to scream, shout, cry. I had too much negative emotion within me. It would be best if I could find away to release them.

A few minutes later, we pulled into the driveway of my marital home. George parked right in front of the doorstep and sat waiting for me to get out.

"Of course." I murmured as I got out of the car myself. At this point, it couldn't get any worse. I had been brought on a tour of this home before the marriage, and I'd been observing the workers, they all watched how their master was treating me, and it appeared that they were picking up that I was unwanted here. My eyes landed on the certificate just as i was alighting. I grabbed it and went in. Leaving the door open for the driver to get down and close him by himself. I had to resist the childish urge to flash him my middle finger,

I headed for my bedroom upstairs and went directly to the bathroom. Shedding my clothes as I went. I scrubbed myself clean washing off all the makeup and whatever dirt that stuck to my hair and when I felt like I was clean enough I stepped out of the shower dried myself up, dried my hair and pulled it into a high messy bun: I pulled on my bunny onesie and put a face mask. At the end of the day, the face card was an important card in this game.

I went round picking the discarded clothes and put them in the clothes basket. I went and lay on the bed and closed my eyes. I needed to collect myself and regroup. All this had happened too fast, I barely had any time to register it. The important thing was, I was married to a Giovanni. The wealthiest foundation that dealt in literally anything and everything, from hotels to banks to children's homes. I had the opportunity of a lifetime here. I just had to be smart about it. Very strategic. I knew for a fact Luka was a force to be reckoned with. It wouldn't be so easy to have my way.