"I can't even be appreciated for the stress of carrying her in, bridal style." Dante complains to nobody in particular as he sips the cocktail he ordered in the bar. He knew that Madonna wasn't wrong in being careful. Judging by what he did, he was already surprised that Madonna hasn't planned to poison him.
"You are here?" Madonna came looking for Dante after waiting for one hour.
"What do you care." Dante didn't look back to know it was Madonna. The night was chilly so the scarf Madonna wrapped around her body wasn't enough. Though she knew she was right in being cautious, she still can't shake away the guilt she was feeling.
"Come let's go back." Madonna thought she was feeling guilty because not for once has Dante tried to do anything funny since they arrived in the Maldives.
"Don't worry, you would feel safer with me not sleeping under the same roof." Dante took a sip of his cocktail and can't remember how many of those he has taken. The alcohol content wasn't much but he was beginning to feel tipsy.
"Don't be such a kid, come let's go. People would think that the finest couple in town is already having trouble." Though their marriage was the worst kind, it has no love or mutual benefit. The marriage wasn't even a contract marriage, it's something worse, but Madonna wanted it to appear decent in eyes of strangers.
"You think me a monster, of course, you should. What type of a man kidnaps a girl and threatens her to marry him." Dante turned and looked at her for the first time since she came out to take him home. He saw how she covered herself with a thin scarf and hugged herself tight because of the cold.
"I am sorry, let's go." Madonna shuddered and Dante knew her apology wasn't just to convince him or because she didn't want to escalate because of the cold breeze. Her apology, though simple was coming from the guilt she felt from making those allegations. Allegations that she had every right to.
"Let's go." Dante stood and led her back inside. He wondered how someone could be so innocent and seductive in every kind of way. Madonna was glad when they entered the house, the warmness was welcoming.
The two tried their best to be civil toward each other and Madonna would always catch herself stealing glances at Dante. She would reprimand herself whenever it happens and would instantly get busy with something. For Dante it was different, he don't mind looking at Madonna whenever she wasn't looking. He had subconsciously studied every little detail about her. The way she wiggles her nose before scratching it, how she trembles whenever she stretches herself because she was reading for a long in one position. He had studied the sound of her laughter and how her eyes lit up whenever it was time for lunch. He knows every inch of her body and her floral scent.
"The sun is up, it would be a good time to swim." Madonna said and went swimming in their private pool. Most people love swimming on the beach and having fun with strangers they meet but Madonna loves swimming alone. She hated having body contact with people while swimming so she always does her best to avoid swimming with people. Dante noticed it too because she never went to the beach to swim even though she always wear her swimsuit out there.
"Since we would be living tomorrow, I should have fun swimming." Madonna remembered how she would always swim in her father's pool at night just so she would be alone.
Dante watched her every moves through his sunglass. Madonna was feeling uncomfortable with his glasses because she couldn't figure out if Dante was watching her or not. She wanted to look at him and see what he was doing but she was afraid of getting cut. They haven't spoken to each other since that night but they have been civil towards each other. They even eat together and before she would ask for salt or water, Dante would give it to her. She wondered how it was possible for him to always know what he wanted. This morning when she was having coffee and needed more milk, Dante gave her the milk and she wondered how he didn't think it was the sugar he wanted.
"Stupid Viking." She muttered beneath her breath and continued swimming. Dante could no longer control himself anymore so he decided to swim too. He was already inside the pool before Madonna would notice.
"What are you doing?" Madonna asked. Dante was just a few feet away. Since the pool wasn't that big they could hear each other without shouting.
"Swimming."
"You have never done that."
"Yes, I figured since today is our last day, I should enjoy it." He smiled and Madonna felt her heart beating faster than usual. Under normal circumstances, she would have left the pool to avoid touching Dante, but today she wasn't stepping out. She looked at Dante's broad shoulder and his wet hair that have made him appear 10 times sexier. Madonna gulped as she felt a tightening in her lower region, a tightening she had never experienced.
"Are you going to keep staring or start swimming?" Dante asked in a teasing tone.
"Who is staring?" Madonna stuttered and started swimming around. Dante scoffed and started swimming also. It wasn't long after they found themselves in competition with each other. They kept swimming from one end to the other trying to see who would give up first. Madonna is an excellent swimmer but Dante's sheer will was making her doubt her skills. They kept striking and even lost count of how many laps they have swum until Dante decided to give up.
"In your face, I won." Madonna rejoiced as she floated around. She was faster and if the competition was about fastness she would have won no doubt. But the competition was about endurance and Dante had lived a life of endurance so if he didn't give up for Madonna, she never stood a chance.
"Yes, you are good at it." Dante smile as floating around. The two were currently facing each other keeping themselves afloat as the water moves their body.
"You should smile more, you look handsome that way."
"Does that mean I am ugly?" They kept getting closer to each other and their voices started coming out as a whisper.
"No, you are a very handsome man but when smile, when you smile you are...." Madonna couldn't control her heart and the hotness that has spread all over her body. Her eyes lowered to his lips and she wondered what it would taste like.
"I am what?" The two knew what was about to happen and every sensible part of them was screaming at them to stop but the force of attraction was stronger than their sensible part.
"You are..." She muttered and felt Dante's warm breath fan her face. Their skin came in contact and instead of the repulsive feeling Madonna always has when someone touches her with a wet body, she got sparks instead. The sparks traveled her whole body in form of tiny electricity and exploded something in her, something she never knew she had.
"Dante." She muttered and his name sounded a million times better on her lips. The two have lost all reasoning as they are now being controlled by feeling as old as time.
"I am what?" He asked again as he inches closer no longer able to stop himself.
My Boy is going for the price. I am rooting for you.
"Boss, there is an emergency." Anthony's voice brought them back to reality and Madonna was the first to move away. She floated to her end and looked away thereby backing them."What's the emergency?" Dante felt a pint of sadness and a load of anger at what just happened."Ricci is moving towards the market revenue." Dante let out a low growl and looked at the daughter of his rival. He dare not admit to himself what was about to happen."Ready the flight, we are going home now.""Everything is ready boss." Anthony bowed and left the two to talk. Anthony was oblivious to what he had just done."Get ready we are leaving.""I thought....""Don't question my word, if I say we are leaving we are leaving. Go and back up your belongings woman." Dante was never the type to shout but when he spoke with strong emotion, the density would be felt even without raising his voice. Madonna felt a cold shiver run down her spine as she left the pool to do as she was told. Madonna didn't hear what Anth
Chapter 10"You mean they are back?" Roman Ricci asked his personal assistant John."Yes, they are back, it's already all over the news.""Where are they now?" Roman loved his daughter so much that he never wanted to expose her to the world he is living in."He took her to his mansion, it's his wife after all.""Wife? Are you mad? There is no way that monster would think of my angel as a wife. This is what you call legal kidnapping." Roman fumes. He has been trying to get hold of his daughter ever since he saw the news of the marriage but he couldn't."What do you suggest we do?" John asked. He had known Madonna ever since she was born so she was like a daughter to him and he had his personal plans for her."I heard Madonna is back, why isn't she here yet." Mrs. Ricci barged into her husband's study without knocking."She went to Dante's house.""Good, we can go meet her there. How could she get married without informing us." Mrs. Ricci knew of her husband's business and knew about th
Dante stopped in front of Roman Ricci and the tension between them was so thick. Dante has no regard for his father in and the feeling was mutual. "I want to see my daughter." Roman gritted but Dante only smirked. "It's rude to keep your guest outside." John remarked. Dante didn't allow them to get past the gate. "Not when the guest is trying to steal my treasure." "Steal? Boy, you and I know who the real thief is." Roman was boiling with rage. "Don't lump me together with you, I am not a kidnapper." Dante smirked as he made Roman remember what started all these. "You want the government project back? I can give it back and even compensate you." Roman doesn't care about any of that with his daughter's life in danger. Now he feels what his business oppositions feel whenever he kidnaps their loved ones to make them surrender to him. Roman is not a saint and he knew one day he would pay for the crimes he has done but he didn't want the payment to be his daughter's life. "How kin
Madonna was filled with joy when she arrived at her father's house. Dante returned her phone to her and she made sure to reply to most of the messages on her phone. Since she wasn't so close to any of her friends, she didn't feel like she owe any of them any explanation. They were all about her sudden marriage and even her ex asked about it. "My daughter, I missed you so much." Mrs. Ricci took her daughter in a tight embrace. "I missed you too mother." Mr. Ricci watched the two most important people in her life hugging each other. He half doubted Dante when he said they would be visiting. "Dad, you haven't aged a day." Madonna hugged her father and took everything in him not to cry. "Why not go catch up with your mother, I have something to discuss with him." Roman pointed at Dante. "Oh, my husband." Roman winced at her daughter calling his archenemy husband. "Gone on dear, I have some things to discuss with your father." Dante urged Madonna and she left after a moment of hesita
"This is Williams, my P.A's son, I have always thought they would end together." Roman said loud enough for only Dante to hear. "These two have always been inseparable in the past." Veronica fanned the fire in Dante's heart without even knowing. "How long has it been? You promised to visit but you never did." Madonna broke the embrace and sat back with William seating beside her. "I have been busy, so what is this I am hearing about marriage?" Williams asked and Madonna rolled her eyes. "Long story, this is Dante." She turned and introduced Dante. Dante didn't miss the fact she didn't use the term husband. "Hi, I am Dante." "Hi, I am Williams." The two men stood and shook each other with Madonna sitting in the middle. Roman smiled as he loved what was happening so he decided to use the situation well. "Tell me, Williams, how is firm?" Williams is a law and not a corrupt one. Though his father is Roman's assistant, Williams didn't want to get involved in the business. "Great,
Madonna went back inside and tried her best to hide her sadness. When she got back her parents asked if she was alright and she confirmed that nothing was wrong. She looked outside and saw Dante walking back in with a steady step and nothing about him showed he was affected by the situation. "Mr. Roman, I would have to impose on you." Williams spoke but Madonna paid him no attention as she was counting how many steps it would take Dante to reach her. "What is that my son." "I would be staying with you for a while." Williams smiled and Roman couldn't have been happier. "Of course, you are always welcomed." Williams always stays over whenever he visits so it wasn't something new. "Oh dear, did you hear that? Williams would be staying over." Veronica drew her daughter's attention. "Yes, I would be staying over." Madonna spoke without actually hearing what her mother just said. Because she heard staying over, she thought her mother was asking about her. "Great, you two staying over
"What is wrong with you?" Veronica asked her daughter. Madonna had bags around her eyes as she was unable to sleep last night."Good morning mom, nothing is wrong? I was just unable to sleep." She went to the counter to make herself a coffee."What of Dad?""He went out for a jog with Williams." "Alright." She took a sip of her coffee and moan at the rich taste."Is everything alright with your husband? Last night when you came back you seem sad." Veronica noticed the changes in her daughter."Yes, everything is fine.""How long would you be staying?""A week." "You're stronger than you look." Williams and Roman came in at that moment sweating due to their jog."You are awake angel." Roman noticed the bag around her eyes. "Trouble sleeping?" She nodded."You should go back and sleep more, you have a whole week to spend with us." Veronica offered."About that, I think I will be leaving today. Dad, can you tell one of the drivers to take me back?""Why so sudden, I thought we had a lo
After the late lunch Madonna had, Nana decided to take her for a walk around the mansion. Madonna wanted to hear about Dante's childhood story."There is nothing much to say about his childhood.""So there are no embarrassing moments?" Madonna wanted to have something he could mock Dante with."Dante's childhood wasn't like a normal child." Nana reminisced and a sad smile appeared on her face."How do you mean?""Dante was always neglected by his parents. His mother was just a mistress so Dante was an illegitimate son. His mother always spend her time trying to get Mr. Russo's attention and forgot about her son.""That's absurd." Madonna didn't need further explanation to know that Dante's childhood wasn't fun."I have said a lot, Dante would be mad if he finds out that I have spoken about his childhood." Nana knew how much Dante hated to be reminded of his sad past."Alright, how about you tell me the things he likes instead." Madonna wanted to know about Dante's past but she didn't