Willow
The sight of him sobers me up.He stands immobile, hands shoved in the pockets of his dark slacks. That’s Luciano for you, dressed to the nines in fitted Armani, even while idling the busy streets of Boston on a Sunday afternoon. Something about it has to corners of my lips twisting.I try to move past him, offering another apology, but he gets in my way. Wordlessly shoving himself in between me and my current path.I look up at him, a bite to my voice, “Is there a point to all this?”He’s unbothered, unnaturally calm as his eyes rove over every inch of me, starting at the top of my head, lingering on my face and moving down to the pointed tips of my black heels. “You’re crying.” He states.I scoff, “Oh, you don’t say. I had no idea it was that obvious.” I move to step past him again, but just like before, he blocks my path. I light up like a fuse, all my patience diminished.“What the hell are you doing? Can you let me through?”He doesn’t respond immediately, just patiently watching me like he has all the time in the world to do so.“Luciano,” I start, closing my eyes so I don’t lash out any more than necessary, “Can you please let me go on with my day?”“Tell me why you’re crying.”That does it, the way the asshole doesn’t even ask, how he demands, like it’s his right to know things. I lash out, not even caring about the pitch of my voice when I lay it all down for him.“Yeah?” I taunt, “You’d like to know why I’m crying? Well maybe it’s because I’ve just had the worst day of my whole entire life! Maybe it’s because I just walked in on the man I’m set to marry in a few months balls deep in my best friend! That good enough for you? Have I made your day with the drab story of how my life is currently fallin apart? Well, you’re welcome. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to go drown my sorrows in peace.”I move to walk past him and the bastard gets iin my way, again.“Listen, Luciano,” The words are nothing short of a growl, “Get the hell out of my way this minute or I will impale you with my shoe.”“I don’t see a reason for you to be so torn up about this, seems to me like the man doesn’t value you. Better you found out now than after you’ve already tied the knot.”I balk, “Excuse me! I never asked for what your opinion is on this situation. What I did ask, was for you to get the fuck put of my way.”He continues on like I hadn’t said a word, “The man cant tell extravagant from pussy idling on the street. If he could slight you this way, he doesn’t value you, Willow. A real man wouldn’t cheat on a woman like you.”“Oh, please!” I bark, “Like I’d take an opinion on this mater from a guy like you.”A small smile jerks the corner of his mouth, the faintest bit, “Like me.”He still doesn’t voice it as question, and it does nothing aggravate my raging temper.“Yeah, a guy like you.” I tell him, “Word on the street says you’re no better than the man I just left upstairs.”Word on the street says worse.Luciano Roman. Billionaire bachelor playboy. He’s never been seen with the same woman more than once. And that was insane to analyze, considering I’d never seen Luciano in all the years I’ve known him with out a female dangling like a trophy on his arm.Except now.He smiles, it’s a full grin this time, deepening the dimples on his face. He leans into my space, making my breath catch, the musky scent of his masculine cologne washes over me as his voice quiets to a whisper, “Your Fiance will never measure up to half the man I am.”I don’t want to be having this conversation anymore. I spin around, attempting to walk back up the steps of the hotel building when I feel him reach out, grabbing my arm.“You’re going to call it off.”I jerk out of his grip, “Call what off?”“Your engagement.”His words make me pause, a lump lodges deep in my throat.He cups my chin between his thumb and forefinger, tilting my face up to meet his eyes, “You’re going to call it off.”Sighing, I pull my face away. My shoulders droop, “I can’t.”The greys of his eyes harden, darkening into small slits, “What do you mean, you can’t?”“I mean I cant okay!” I yell, tossing my hands up in frustration, “None of this is any of your business, Luciano. I don’t appreciate you butting into my personal life.”“Tell me why you won’t call it off.”“Because!” I grate, “It’s not that simple okay, it’s… it’s complicated.”He’s quiet, brows pulled in a kind of aggravation I don’t understand.I sigh, “I need to go, okay.”“You’re in love with him.”It catches me off guard, the way he voices the words, like an insult. My mouth twist, “Yeah,” I say, “I am.”I was.But he doesn’t need to know that. None of this is any of his concern, he doesn’t need to know the real reason I cant call off the engagement.“You love a man that disrespects you? That doesn't value you? How can you choose to be so naive.”“Again,” I seethe, “It’s none of your business, Luciano. Goodbye.” With that, I turn to walk away. This time he doesn’t try to stop me.I get in my car, pulling away from the curb and making my way to the closest bar on the street. I wasn’t joking about drowning my sorrows.It’s a Gentlemen’s club, a popular one most of Boston’s elites frequent. The pub is bustling with people, men, dressed just as corporately as the people of my world always are. The one percent. The old money riches.It’s an eyesore.The reality of my situation weighs down on me as I settle into one of the bar stools. I waste no time ordering up a glass of rum and coke. The first of many I intend to have.I’m nursing my third glass, most of my inhibitions tossed to the wind when the ‘baby shark’ song blares from my phone.Kenzo.The nerve.I turn it off altogether, shoving the device back in my purse and letting my eyes trail over the swarm of mostly men packed in the upper class lounge. A bitter feeling churns in my gut, its one I want to purge.In the world I live in, arranged marriages were very common. Not saying that what Kenzo and I had was one of those, but it isn’t far from it. Dad was more than overjoyed when I announced our engagement. The simple reason behind it covered more ground than just being a proud father, finally happy to marry off his litlle girl. It’s the art of the business. The doors that would be opened, the connections to be made.He wasn’t thinking of our marriage, he was thinking of how our marriage would benefit him. Kenzo didn’t come from money like ours, but his association with us got him places. His name is associated with not just many others now, but ours. Dad made a huge press release about my engagement, and he would never stand for the scandal it would bring if I called it off last minute.“What pissed in your breakfast this morning?” The owner of the voice pulls out the bar stool next to mine, shooting me a pearly white smile I’m all too familiar with.“Patrick,” I say to him, pulling him in for the briefest, most uncoordinated hug, “I thought you never came to these places.”He sighs, waving for the bartender, “Yeah, well, had to organize a broker deal. Needed to keep my men drunk enough to forgo reading a contract.”I laugh at that. Patrick O’neal. One of us, probably the oldest friend in my life circle I can actually tolerate for longer than an hour.He wasn’t pretentious like the rest of them.Like the rest of us.And he hates our word almost as much as I do. But he’s the heir to his father’s multi-million fueling company. No choice in the matter of things. “So, what’s got your panties in a bunch?”I sigh , it’s long and exaggerated.“You’re drunk, sweetheart.”“You can tell?” I drawl.Someone siddles up about two chairs down from where patrick sits, I don’t bother looking though, I’d probably fall of my seat if I tried.“Yeah, you look about a second away from getting on the table and showing us exactly whats hidden underneath your rich girl exterior.”There’s a cough from somewhere nearby.“I need your healp with somehting,” I say, frowning, “Do you happen to have any broker agreements with Wesley?”“Wesley?” He questions, confused, “As in, your fiance Wesley?”The sound of the word creates an empty pit in my stomach, “Yeah.”“Why?”“I need a contract fail safe, like some hidden portion of it he doesn’t put in the document whenever he’s signing his next deal.”“Why would you need that?”“He has one though right, I know you all do. You hide a little portion of the material and add it in after you get a signature to benefit you. I know Dad does it, and he taught Kenzo everything he knows.”“Yeah, but I don’t see why you would want that. It’s only going to hurt whatever plans Kenzo has.”“Exactly.” I breathe.“Hold on,” Patrick says, “Am I missing something here?”I sigh, Patrick is one of best friends, I don’t see why I shouldn’t confide in him, “I found out he was cheating on me.”“Oh shit.”“With Beth.”“Ohh shit!” His eyes widen even more.“Yeah,” I say, dejected, “I need something. I don’t know, some way to get him back.”“You’re gonna call off the engagement right?”“You know my Dad as well as I do, he’ll never let me do that. It’ll put a stain on his reputation. The date has already been set, invites have been sent out. And it’s not like I have some other fitting suitor I could use to soften the blow. There’s no way I can get out of marrying him with the way things are.”“I could always step in.” He jokes.I hear the stool next to him screech back, Luciano rising from the seat. When the hell did he get here? His arm drapes over the shoulder of a petite blonde I didn’t notice standing next to him. They walk off, disappearing behind the curtain of one of the lounge suites.I roll my eyes.“Haha,” I say to Patrick, “But really, I need to fugure out something. Maybe if his business deals start falling through, dad wont see him as that much of a catch anymore.”Patrick’s eyes soften a tad bit. I don’t want his sympathy.“Ugh,” I groan, “Forget it. It wouldn’t even work anyway.”“Mr O’neal,” A young man calls from behind us, “They’re ready for you.”“I’ll be there in a moment,” Patrick tell him, before turning back to me, “Did you drive?”“Mhmm.”“Stay put, I’ll take you home once I’m done with my meeting.”I make a mock salute, “Aye, aye, captain.”He shoves me playfully, before walking away.I order another drink. It’s been almost two hours, yet no sign of Patrick, and I need to pee horribly. But I’ll be damned if I use one of these public restrooms.The sun is blinding, I shield my eyes as I step haphazardly out of the building, trying to get my bearings coherent enough to call a cab.I had about four too many rums and cokes.Ugh, “Can today get any worse?”“Need a ride?” The familiar deep voice calls from behind me.I grimace.Seems like it could after all.CHAPTER THREEWillowIt’s a blur of designer, expensive jewelry and the finest champagne.I’m getting sick of it all.The fundraiser is packed with people pretending like they actually give two fucks about endangered whales. Yeah they showed up, dropped off fat checks that would never put a dent in the fortunes they owned. But all this is nothing more than another elaborate event held for the multiplication of the money they just let go of.It’s a playground for broker deals.There isn’t any regular in sight. The ball room is flooded with the richest men and women in America, each of them gathered here under the pretence of saving the earth, but only actually bothered about strengthening and spreading out their oil rigs and fuel ports all around the world.“Cheer up, Love.” Kenzo says, his hand settling on my hip, “You might scare the potentials away.”I try not to stiffen, or pull away from the bastards touch. It’s been about three days since the afternoon I caught him fucking my bes
CHAPTER 6I try as much as possible to hide the shock from my face. His intense gray eyes never break away and I understand. He is joking with me. It has to be.I place my hand on my stomach as a laugh erupts from my throat."God, you really got me there, for a second I thought you were being serious," I say to him as I wipe off the imaginary tears.With his hands in his pocket, he still stares at me. I wait for him to say something but he only stared."Are you serious?" I ask, and he only shrugs in response."Why would I marry you?" I ask seriously this time."Because it would also help you," He says before he settles beside me."Are you even listening to yourself?" I ask as I watch him place his hands inside his hair."Yes, Willow, my ears are fine, and my brain is still connected to my mouth, you heard what I said, Marry me," I repeats again.He never seems to stop amazing me."How did you know I was here in the first place? You left just a while ago," I ask and he gives me no repl
The little lights from behind the curtain find their way into my eyes as I open them. I can hear Kenzo's light snoring beside me. Last night was the perfect definition of hectic and not doing a second did I want to spend too morning here.I pull the blanket on my body as I make my way to the bathroom. I had to escape here before he wakes up. If he calls I would tell him I just went for a short vacation but I intend to not come back here for at least a monthI take a quick shower before I dash into the room to start packing up. I just grab a few essentials after I dress up in a black romperI glance one more time at Kenzo before I grab my things. The white platinum card on the white marble beside the table stares back at meI hesitate at first whether or not to take it, but a slight change in position on Kenzo's end makes me dash out of the room with the card in my handsI shove it into the back pocket of my white Gucci bag. Dad would find it an abomination if he finds out that I was d
"Water! Water!" I say in between coughs. Beth handed me the jar beside her and I poured it in my glass cup by myself."Perhaps my question caught you off guard?" He ask and I nod."I will answer that question later but first tell me, how is work?" I ask to distract him."Oh speaking of that," He startsBull's eye!"We will go over to your branch next week, we ought to make sure you are doing a good job there," He says before he bites into his sandwich. He glances at the untouched glass of cranberry before him."For how long?" I ask."Three to four months perhaps, we might leave before the current telecommunication project is over," He says before he leans into his chair."I will be expecting your arrival, and mum how about you?" I ask hoping to drag more time till I am done.By now, I am sure, Beth has already caught on to my plans."The hospital is fine, but of course will be visiting with your father, for support," She says before she glances at him.I think romance died in the nine
I stare out of the window as I drive Beth and I back home. She asked for a ride because her car had apparently broken down."Why did you lie to them?" She asks."I don't know, it was best if it remained that way," I say as I focus my attention on the road."Really? What is going on? You have been distant these past few days, you don't talk to me the way you used to, now you are keeping things from me," she leashes out as I can't help but throw her a dirty glare."Don't you think you have something to tell me?" I ask."What? Why? Since when did I start hiding things from you? I will tell you everything, I will never lie," She says again and I almost want to reach her and slap her face. "Please, save me the strength, I just want to happen to have a temper nowadays after I discovered something," I say and she leans back on the chair."We are here," I announce as we arrive in front of the mansion. I get out of the car and I hand the key to the chauffeur, leaving Beth in the car."Kenzo!
Luciano kicks back his head as the lady beneath him works her magic with her mouth."Sorry," I mutter as I walk out of the office."I told you he was busy," His secretary fumes beside me."He personally called and told me to come," I say to her. "So please, you can return to your work station," I say to her and she shrugs after she turns.His grunts were loud enough for me to hear, I move away from the door as I wait for them to finish up with their business.After two minutes, the lady girl who was giving Luciano a blow job earlier walks out of the office, cleaning her mouth with the money he probably paid her. She glances at me before she leaves."Come in," I hear his voice and I walk in."Busy afternoon, you have," I say as I settle in front of him."If you are jealous you could switch places with the girl that walked out of here," He says as he buttons up his shirt."Have some respect at least before I walk in on your business," I say before I roll my eyes."You could have joined,
WillowThis is bad!This is going to ruin all my plans, and Ashely is on her way here."Why did you lie to me?" He asks as he walks into my apartment."What are you doing here? Late in the night, it's not safe at all," I say.How will I get him out of here before Ashely comes? I could lie about the dress but the wedding dress? I have to find something to do.I grab my phone from the table, my hands tremble as I search for her number. If he finds out, he is going to appear to my parents before me. Worst case scenario he will tell my parents that I am planning an arranged marriage and my parents will never transfer the properties to Luciano's name.I send her a text hoping she would receive it."Come back home with me," He says."No, I can't . I haven't even traveled for work yet," I say."You told me you were out already, why did you lie?" He asks."Because I didn't want a situation like this," I explain."Are you still going? What is wrong with my love? Ever since that party have you
A week has passed and the event is in less than twenty four hours. I kick my head back as I think back to the wedding one week ago. I neatly tucked the ring into one of my suitcases just immediately I came back.I did not know what gave me the idea to change back into my normal clothes. Because of that, I found Kenzo at the door waiting for me.But something has changed about him. He is now closer than before. Maybe his instincts are telling him that I will leave him soon.The door to the room opens and Kenzo walks in with Beth beside him. Her hair is up in a ponytail. She smiles at me and joins me on the couch bed."You are finally going to introduce Kenzo as your husband, how do you feel? The internet will paint you married!" She chuckles as she nudges me on the hand a little. "I don't know, weird?" I saw it from Luciano's perspective. A strange man I know nothing of will soon identify as my husband. At first I did not think of it, but we were going to be staying in the same room.