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 cheerfulness he had last night was nowhere to be seen.
"Who are you?" Madonna asked the shirtless stranger in front of her. His well-chiseled abs were eye candy for Madonna but she was too worried about what happened last night to bother about it.
"Dante Russo." He wasn't in the mood to play, he has gotten half of what he wanted so he didn't need to sugarcoat his words.
"What happened last night and how did I end up here?" Madonna has never had sex so she doesn't know how one would feel after having sex, especially when you slept all through it.
"That's not important, what is important is who you are."
"What do you mean?"
"You are Madonna Ricci, the only daughter of Roman Ricci." Madonna was surprised because she had never told anyone about her family.
"How did you know about that?"
"I am Dante Russo, your father's business rival." Dante introduced himself.
"I don't know you, not that I know most of my father's business partners, talk more of rivals." She muttered the last part. Dante stared at her for a few seconds and tried to bury the memories fighting hard to surface.
"Well, your father did something he never should have done?" Madonna was finding the stranger's words hard to believe. To Madonna, her father is a legitimate businessman, there was no way he would have anything to do with the dangerously handsome man standing before her.
"What could my father possibly have with someone like you?" Dante scoffed at the innocent girl's question.
"Turns out your dear old daddy is a crime lord that made his money through dubious means."
"Don't measure my father's standard with yours." The two stared at each other challenging each other, Dante couldn't hold on for something in him was screaming at him so he blinked and looked away. If the situation was different, Madonna would have laughed and jumped in the bed.
"It doesn't matter to me what you think your father as. I am here to talk to you about your future." The word future made Madonna remember a glimpse of what happened last night at the bar. She felt like slapping herself for drinking so much, her friends would laugh at her if they saw her throwing herself on a total stranger last night.
"I was drunk, that doesn't give you the right to take advantage of me." Madonna was angry for what she feared happened last night but she was not as angry as she hoped she would be.
"Here?" Dante ignored her and threw a phone tablet that landed beside her.
"What's this?" She asked while picking up the tab. Madonna's eyes widened as she watched a video of her naked self sleeping soundly on the bed. The flipped and saw numerous pictures and videos of herself in different positions. There was no way she could deny it because her face was showing in every one of them and the mole beside her left nipple was enough to tell her it wasn't Photoshop.
"Why?" Tears streamed down her cheeks as she looked at Dante. Dante steeled his heart and showed no emotions, he is a man of commitment and he is determined to get what he wanted.
"There are a lot of other ones with me having my ways with you. I made sure my face didn't appear in any of them." Dante might be a mafia boss but he knew he wouldn't take advantage of any girl, not even a girl as tempting and seductive as Madonna.
"What do you hope to achieve in all these?" Madonna couldn't believe that her price possession was taken from her with her knowledge and a stranger for that matter. The most she has had in all her years of dating was a french kiss, none of her boyfriends was allowed to get past that. The one that once managed to grab Madonna's bosom received a slap.
"Like I told you, the future." Madonna looked at the videos once again and felt defeated and dirty. Dante's resolve was being shaken by Madonna's innocent cry. It reminded him of how his mother would always cry in the darkness of her room mourning for the love she never had. Dante's father never loved his first wife. Dante was a mistake in his father's eyes, so Dante was cast out by his father.
"What could my father have done for you to resort to this?".
"He kidnapped my girlfriend and made me lose the contract I have been trying my hardest to get." Dante felt sorry for the state Madonna was in but he had no problem revealing her father's secret. Roman Ricci has always treasured his daughter above everything else, he even made her blind to the cruel part of their lives. To Madonna, her father is a legal businessman that couldn't even hurt a fly. After high school, her father sent her out of the country to make sure she was kept away from all harm. Roman Ricci was already planning to find a good husband for Madonna, a man that doesn't have anything to do with the underworld.
"My father can't do that." Madonna cried, she was still a naive girl that believes in fairytales and princes.
"It doesn't matter what you believe in. I am here to tell you that if you don't do as I say, I will expose this video. I have the means to make it the most trending news that even your father wouldn't be able to stop it." Madonna's eyes widened. She knew her family would be disappointed if such a thing was exposed.
"Please don't do that." She pleaded.
"Imagine how your family would feel after seeing that." Dante smirked and continued. "All the boys you have dated would also help in soiling your name. They would be angry that what you denied them for so long was taken in such a dirty way." Dante knew that the boys she has dated would definitely call her a whore if they see the videos. The idea of having people refer to her as a whore left a dirty taste on his lips.
"Please." Madonna cried.
"Your father would have issues with his business, and his love for you would turn sour. How glorious would that be." Dante kept pushing her to achieve his desires. Madonna already crying and heartbroken didn't know when the duvet she covered herself loosened and fell off revealing her well-curved bosom. Dante was the first to notice it and he swallowed what he was about to say. He saw a lot of it last night when he was taking the videos and photos of her but that wasn't enough. Seeing it again this morning made him lose himself again in the desire of conquering her and ignoring what he actually wanted to achieve. Madonna still ignorant of the fact that her nakedness is out was still crying and balling her eyes out. Dante caught himself already reaching out to touch the nakedness. He tried his best to resist it last night but it was getting more difficult to resist it again this morning.
"Cover yourself up, woman." He said in one breath and left the room without waiting for Madonna's reply. They both needed a moment to catch their breath so Dante left the room and Madonna wrapped herself again in the duvet as her cheeks reddened. From the words of Dante, she understood that Dante had his way with her last night, but showing off her nakedness while awake made her feel embarrassed.
"Stupid Viking in a bloody chainmail." She muttered as she remembered what Dante said last night.
After they have both calmed their nerves, well it's better to say Madonna calmed her nerves. Dante wasn't sure he would be able to calm his nerves until he find a girl to help him with that. Madonna was still in bed and covered in the duvet, she was lying down and didn't have the strength to sit up again. Her energy was sapped as a result of the embarrassment she felt from exposing her nakedness earlier.
"I am sure I have given you enough time to accept reality." Dante cleared his throat before speaking. Madonna noticed his hair was wet, Dante took a cold shower to try to calm his raging nerves.
"What time could be enough." She muttered.
"My hands were forced, I had to achieve my goals through whatever means." Dante found himself coming up with an excuse for the innocent girl before him.
"If I kill you would the evidence disappear?" Madonna asked and Dante couldn't help but chuckle.
"If it's your way of asking if another person saw have it or saw you naked, then the answer is no. I am the only one that has it and also the only one that saw you in your birthday suit." Madonna breathed a sigh of relief but it only lasted a moment because she reminded herself that the devil before him can decide to share it with the whole world at any moment
"I asked if I kill you, would the evidence disappear?" She repeated her question.
"For argument's sake, how do you intend to kill me?" Madonna raised her head to look at Dante who was now sitting on the chair beside the bed.
"Strangle you of course." Dante remembered her little fingers and the thought of them strangling him was almost comical.
"You are welcome to try, but until you do that you have to obey me."
"Now I am your slave." Madonna rolled her eyes. Dante remembered when he first saw her years ago when he was just a schoolboy trying to fight against the situation he found himself in. Then he was in a school different from his half brothers. There was no way his father would allow the shame of the family to be in the same school as his proud sons. Dante entered a convenience store to get a snack when he saw her with her friends. She was in her school uniform and her smile was enough to lighten up Dante's world. That day, because of what Dante heard another student saying, he decided to conquer the whole high school in his state and brought them other his rule.
"Is that what you call it now?"
"What should I call it?"
"I thought I was your Viking in bloody chainmail." Madonna glared at him and Dante shook his head. He wanted to tell Madonna how cute and beautiful she is but he knew if he did that, the image he is trying to build would fall.
"Can't you just delete the videos and pictures and we go our separate ways on friendly terms." After Dante left her, she kept thinking of ways to waggle off her current situation. She thought of seducing Dante but she gave up on it since she had no skills in that area. She decided to plead and know if it will work.
"Rest assured that nobody would see it if you do as I say." Madonna was sure that whatever Dante wanted would be something difficult and almost impossible.
"And what would that be?"
"You my dear would be my wife." Dante announced and the news was so shocking, beyond whatever Madonna was expecting. It was so shocking that she sat up instantly forgetting to cover herself.
"What?!" She screamed and Dante's eyes widened as he was once again rewarded with the beautiful sight of Madonna's bosom.
"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
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