Madonna Ricci was at the bar trying to drink her sorrows away but it wasn't walking. A lot of young men approached the seductive beauty offering to buy her a drink but she always turned them down.
"Refill." She instructed the bartender and he did as he was told. The bartender seductively smiled at Madonna and hope she would still be around when he ends his shift. The bartender was used to such situations, now and then, a girl would stumble into the bar to drink because of heartbreak or just any shitty reasons. The bartender would always give them a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on, then at the end of it, the girls would warm his bed. He was already making up ways to conquer the beauty before him.
"Rough day?" He asked as he tossed the filled glass of vodka over to Madonna.
"Is it?" Madonna asked and that's the first time the bartender has gotten such a reply. It made him lose words. His sixth sense was warning him to mind his business, that the girl before him was not someone he can deal with. He ignored the warning because the girl before him is too beautiful to just give up on.
"I guess it is, only a rough day would make a girl as pretty as you to visit such a place." He tried to use flattery on Madonna but it didn't work since Madonna was used to such flattery. The bartender was sure that this was the beautiful girl's first time coming to such a bar. The fact she had no idea what to order and always gulped down the drink offered to her was a clear indication that she was a novice.
The bartender watched a lot of guys approach the girl, he was happy when she turned them down. The bartender kept trying to initiate a conversation with the girl but she always ignore him or answer coldly.
"Hi."
The bartender turned to see a very handsome young man sitting beside the girl. The young man was so handsome that every other man pales in comparison.
"Go away." Madonna said as she had told every other man. The bartender has given up his desires, but he still smiled when the beautiful girl rebuked the handsome man away without batting an eye.
"I am afraid I can't do that." The handsome man smiled showing a dimple that would charm off the pant of any girl.
"And why is that?" She still didn't look at the stranger beside him.
"Because I am your future." The words of the young man made Madonna look his way.
"The last person I thought was my future, just broke my heart." Madonna stressed the last word as she saw the handsome young man in front of her.
"Your thought was wrong, mine is not." The young man declared with a firm resolve that would make one think he could see the future.
"And what made you so sure?" Even in her drunken state, she could still say the man sitting before her is the most handsome man she has ever seen.
"Because I always get what I want and I want you." There was a finality in his voice that touched the most feminine part of Madonna. Dante can't believe that meeting Madonna would make him remember his high school days.
"Do my future has a name?" The bartender was surprised that Madonna was still exchanging words with the stranger, he wasn't the only one surprised. He knew that the stranger was a cut above the rest but he never thought Madonna would care to have a conversation with him.
"My bad, my name is Dante Russo."
"Tell me, Dante, what else do you see in the future." Dante looked at the beautiful girl in front of him and wondered how that old devil could give birth to such innocent beauty.
"I see that you would be able to get me what I want." Dante admitted.
"And what is that?" Madonna was already stupor that she has no control over what she was saying.
"And I thought you have no interest in men." One of the first men to approach Madonna came over.
"Go away, we are discussing the future." Madonna whispered the last part and Dante was forced to smile. She was so cute that Dante felt a pint of guilt for what he was planning to do.
"And what future might that be?"
"It doesn't involve you." Madonna replied then leaned closer to Dante and whispered. "Or does it involve him? I don't want it to, I don't like his nose." She thought she was whispering but it was loud enough for the young man to hear. To worsen the situation, Dante let out full-blown laughter.
"No my dear, he is not involved." Madonna smiled and hiccuped. The bartender was surprised at the sudden change of atmosphere, he was beginning to wonder if Dante truly wields a divine power.
"How dare you?" The young man barked and Dante stood up from his chair towering over the man. Whatever he had to say was swallowed as he looked at Dante towering over him. "Be careful lady." He said and scurried off.
"You have firm arms." Madonna grabbed Dante's arms and marveled at the muscle.
"Are you my knight in shining armor?" She asked. Her innocence was like a child and Dante couldn't help but smile warmly at her.
"No, I am actually your Viking in a bloody chainmail." Madonna drew her head back and smile while looking at Dante.
"That's better." Sadness crossed her features and she looked down as tears streamed down her cheeks. "I bet you would leave me like the guy I thought was my future. What's with men and sex." Madonna started complaining.
"We have been dating for years and he had the nerves to cheat on me." She turned over to Dante, do you know what he said when I caught him cheating?"
"No, do tell."
"Since you refused me sex, I had to satisfy myself elsewhere." Madonna tried her best to mimic a male voice.
"Why did you refuse your boyfriend sex?"
"I don't want to have sex till I get married?" She answered weakly, she made the decision a long time ago and she has lost all her boyfriends because of that, she was now starting to regret her decision.
"Wait, you mean you are a..."
"Virgin" she completed the statement. She wouldn't normally say it out loud, but because of being drunk and having an attraction toward Dante, she couldn't stop herself.
"Wow." Dante was utterly surprised. There was no way a girl as beautiful as Madonna would still be a virgin in such times. Dante knew she was saying the truth since she was already drunk and had no reason to lie.
"Yes, I am Madonna Ricci by name and I stupidly believe in sex after marriage. My friends would always mock me saying I am trying my best to live up to my name."
"Madonna," Dante called her name as if he was hearing it for the first time. After Roman Ricci kidnapped his girlfriend Sophia, he broke up with Sophia. Sophia accepted as he paid her a huge sum of money for the inconvenience. Dante decided to look for Roman Ricci's only child and pay back what Roman did to him. It took him months to track down Madonna, as she was not in Italy but in New York.
"Yes, it means Virgin Mary." She hiccuped. She wiped off the tears in her eyes.
"So tell me, Viking in a bloody chainmail, what is the future like?" When Dante tracked her down and saw her at the bar, his initial plan was to kidnap her on her way home and send her back to Paris then use her to threaten Roman. But after seeing many guys approaching her she felt she might end up following one of them home and that would complicate things for him so he decided to put an end to it.
"The future is already happening. I would steal you away and lock you up in my castle."
"Isn't that kidnapping?" She whispered with a playful tone.
"In a way yes."
"Well, I don't mind being abducted by such a handsome young man. I would pretend I am Helen of Troy and there would be a war in my name."
"Oh dear, there would definitely be war." Madonna staggered and Dante wrapped his arms around her waist.
"You can steal me away." Madonna buried her face in Dante's chest and blacked out. Dante waited for a moment before carrying her bridal style out of the bar. The bartender tried to stop them because the bill was yet to be cleared but Anthony stopped him and took care of the bills.
All the men felt powerless as Dante carried away the woman they all had eyes for. They wanted to stop him but something told them that the young man was someone they shouldn't mess with.
"Don't be disheartened, he has such effect on all men." Anthony said to the men in the bar before leaving. His words of encouragement only added more injury to the men's pride.
"Take us to the hotel." Dante instructs the driver. He watched Madonna sleeping soundly beside him using his legs for a pillow.
"When you wake up tomorrow, everything would be different." Dante muttered as he stroked Madonna's raven black hair.
Madonna woke up and her head felt like it was about to split open. She has never drank so much as she did last night. She was happy it was the weekend so she wouldn't be going to work today or tomorrow. She stood up from bed and tried to get an aspirin for her headache and that was when she noticed everything was different. "No, no, no." She muttered as she discovered she was naked under the duvet. The next she noticed was that the room was unfamiliar. "What did I do last night?" She tried to remember what happened but nothing came to her head."Yes, I would be returning in less than a week." She heard a masculine voice coming from the next room. Madonna's heart was beating loudly against her rips and she was scared to think of what might have happened last night. "Alright, take care of everything, bye." Madonna wrapped the duvet tightly around her chest to cover her nakedness as she heard the footstep approaching her."You are awake." Dante said the moment he saw Madonna. The che
"Don't be ridiculous." Madonna noticed a second later that she has exposed her nakedness again. It has not been up to a day since she met Dante but she has already shown him parts of her that nobody has ever seen. Dante cleared his throat and acted indifferent about the ordeal."Just a few minutes ago you were willing to accept whatever condition." "Yes, that was because I thought it would be a sane condition.""What decision would consider sane?" Madonna pouted as she realized the whole situation was already insane."How about I work for you, I can make a very good secretary.""I do not require a secretary.""How about a personal assistant?" Madonna has no negotiation skills. After she graduated, she started working as a teacher and she enjoys it."Personal assistant?" Dante thought of his best friend Anthony, who is currently his assistant and he would not step down from the position. "That position would never be vacant."Madonna tried to speak but Dante cuts her off. "Don't try,
"They are out." The reporter rushed towards the latest couple as they stepped out of the church. All this was Dante's plan, he asked Anthony to give reporters tips that he was secretly getting married."Mr. Dante is this the reason you went off-grid for two months." One of the reporters asked. Anthony did his best to keep them at bay and they were already taking photos of the couple."She is Roman Ricci's only daughter, do her parents know about this?" Another asked."When did your relationship start, or was it an arranged marriage?" The reporters never got tired of questions"Yeah, I went off-grid to cool my head and fate brought this beautiful young girl to me." Dante smiled warmly and pecked her cheeks. Dante hardly accept interviews and whenever he was cornered by any reporter he would make sure the reporter never repeat it. The reporters were surprised to see the ruthless CEO to be smiling and acting warm toward a lady."It wasn't planned but I wouldn't have wished for a better b
Dante was just a few feet away from Madonna when he stopped. He scoffed as he realized he just lost control of himself. He was about to go back when he saw two men walking up to Madonna."I thought this island is only for couples, why do people approach strangers for a one-night stand if they came here with their couple." Dante was now feeling frustrated by the people of the island."Hello, pretty girl." One of the men said as they approached Madonna. Madonna was wearing a pair of sunglass so they didn't see her roll her eyes, this wasn't the first time she was experiencing such."I am married." She was quick to tell them and continued walking."I don't see no ring and no man beside you. He must be stupid to have left such a beautiful girl to roam free." Madonna didn't bother answering them and continued walking down the beach."Come on lady, let's just have some fun." The two guys followed Madonna and kept bothering her. Dante just followed behind keeping enough distance for them not
When the two came back to their lodge, neither of them spoke any word. Madonna stood behind Dante with her face down and Dante was embarrassed about his actions."Have they always been disturbing you?" "Yes." Madonna answered with a frown."We still have a week to spend, I will always be with you till then." Dante left the lodge immediately after speaking. He left with the excuse to go get food but in truth, he feared he would lose his cool if he stayed a moment longer "Evil tyrant, leaving after speaking his mind." Madonna muttered but didn't hate the idea of Dante tagging along.True to his words, Dante always tags along with her whenever she steps outside. Though they don't talk to each other Dante made sure to provide all she needed and Madonna made sure to make use of the opportunity."I would like to have a glass of grape juice." Dante glared at her but still went and got her order. Madonna was having the best time of her life treating the Mafia boss like her personal shuffle.
"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
"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