Chapter 3

Alfredo Dajendro doesn't want to hesitate to take me home with him. After announcing to the attendants of the soiree that he's getting married to me, I've been avoiding the whole media. I've been locked up in my room while the whole wedding preparations take place. I wish I had a friend I could talk to and cry my heart out to. I have mom, but I don't want to stress her out any more than she already is.

"There's someone for you at the door," mom tells me.

I wonder who has come to see me at this time of the day. I hurry downstairs. I don't bother to do any extra makeup. It could be the president for all I care. They have to know that I don't want to get married at this point in time.

A tall woman in a suit stares at me and laughs immediately.

"Are you the one Alfredo is getting married to?" she asks sarcastically.

I nod nervously. "Who are you?"

She stretches her hand for me to shake. "I'm Sarah Cuddleton. Alfredo's acquaintance."

"Alright," I say, shaking her hand. "Come in."

She nods and looks around the house in disgust. She scrunches her nose and sits at the edge of the couch like she's scared she might sit on a piece of leftover pizza.

"So why are you here? Don't you have some meeting to attend?"

"Oh, I could spare some time to see who Alfredo left me for."

I freeze. This is Alfredo's girlfriend. Well, his ex-girlfriend.

"Oh, I'm sorry. He didn't even ask for my permission before he said he was getting married to me."

She puts her hands in the hair, signaling for me to stop. "Oh please. Spare me the drama. I was there. And trust me. He's just getting married to you for revenge. He'll be back in my arms in a few weeks. You are just a distraction to him."

Okay, she's crossing the line. I also have a few words to spare.

"Maybe if you spared all this rudeness for Alfredo, he might have gotten married to you instead. Maybe my sassiness is what drew him to me. Now, stop being a stuck-up bitch and go have that business meeting. You don't have to spare some time to come see the future Mrs. Dajendro."

She stands up immediately and rubs her hands against her expensive black skirt. 

"Fine," she huffs. "I'll remind you."

With that, she's out of the door. I rest my back behind the door. I knew I should have expected things like this. Especially since he's rich. There must be other women waiting to strike.

Mom comes behind me and hugs me immediately, kissing my hair and telling me I'll be fine. I don't think I will be fine. Not anytime soon.

***

"I do," I say quickly so I don't have to think about anything. 

Alfredo is standing in front of me, unsmiling. He's wearing another Italian suit. I have only seen this man twice. Well, including today. And now, he is my husband.

Husband.

The sound of it on my lips wants to make me gag. 

"You may now kiss the bride," the priest says.

I look at the tiny crowd. I notice there isn't anybody from Alfredo's side. Only a handful of business partners. Mom nods at me. I look back and Alfredo and he's frowning. I notice that his thumb is around my pulse. He frowns immediately. His hand is protectively around my arm as he leans in to kiss me. 

He kisses me hard. He tastes of mint and smells of spice. He kisses me hard and I close my eyes, imagining that I was just getting kissed at prom or something. He slips his tongue into my mouth and our tongues move in sync. Like they were made for each other. Someone from the small gathering clears their throat and we finally break the kiss.

I can't read the expression on his face as the kiss breaks. 

"We seem to be good pretenders," I murmur. He looks down at me with a small smile playing at the sides of his lips. Lord knows when he's going to give me a full blown smile.

He takes me around, introducing me to his friends. When I'm finally able to get him alone, I ask him for my dress for the reception. He wouldn't want me slow dancing with him in my big white wedding gown.

He simply looks at me like I'm stupid. "There is no reception. No honeymoon in the Honolulu either. We are going home. I want to take my wife home."

I can feel the tears coming up my throat as the words leave his mouth. What kind of marriage is this going to be?

After the whole exchange of pleasantries, he practically puts me in the car. His car is a black Aston Martin. The leather seats want to make me fall asleep. After all, I haven't slept in what seems like fifty years ever since this man walked into my life. Well, scratch that. Ever since I walked into his office with my two left feet.

He is silent throughout the whole drive so I decide to do the talking.

"I said I was sorry for what I did in your office the other day. You didn't say anything about it."

He just stares ahead.

"Alfredo, I'm trying to talk to you."

"Mr. Dajendro," he finally says.

"What?" I ask, confused.

"It's Mr. Dajendro for you. The whole wedding was a sham and you know it. so stop pretending to be sorry when we both know you aren't. 

Mhm. He's right about that. I still believe he was at fault. So yes, I will stop apologizing to "Mr. Dajendro".

"Get out, we are home," he says in an icy cold voice.

Was I thinking he would open my side of the door like a gentleman? 

Stop dreaming, Euthalia Fernandez.

I gasp immediately.