THE ENGAGEMENT 3

“You startled me”, she said eyeing the gorgeous man in her view.

“I didn’t mean to”, he said as he turned around and sat next to her on the plush soft loveseat.

“But you did”, Arya said.

“I know, Arya”, he replied back.

“It’s so unfair you know my name and I don’t know yours”, Arya said, sad that she wasn’t even given the courtesy of knowing her betrothed name.

“If it means that much to you then my name is Leonardo”, he replied.

She studied his look. He had a bad boy look with his rugged beard and grey piercing eyes, but there was a hint of vulnerability in his gaze. His broad shoulders seemed to carry the weight of the world, and Arya couldn't help but be intrigued by this mysterious man named Leonardo.

“You want one?”, he asked her as he gave her a pack of cigarettes, offering her one.

“I don’t smoke”, she replied him.

Leonardo withdrew his pack of cigarettes and gave it to one of the waiters passing by.

“Okay. I don’t like women who smoke cigarettes in the first place”, he replied nonchalantly.

“Then why did you give it to me?”, Arya asked with a mix of curiosity and slight annoyance. Leonardo looked at her, a small smirk forming on his lips.

“I wanted to see if you could be pressured”, he asked her. Arya crossed her arms and smirked back at him. "Well, you clearly underestimated me," she replied calmly.

“I wonder what kind of woman you are. I can’t quite read you, but I’ll find out in due time, wife”, Leonardo said.

“Did you agree to this marriage?”, Arya asked.

“Don’t ask too many questions now, baby”, Leonardo said.

“I’m not baby, I’m Arya”, she said softly.

“Okay……baby”, Leonardo said, clearly taunting her.

“At least you’re not ugly, on the outside……..yet”, Arya said to him, squinting slightly.

“Yet? Are you threatening me wife?”, he asked, irritated.

Arya was taken aback by his sudden reaction.

“No, I meant you’re not ugly on the outside unless you’re ugly on the inside. So if you’re a bad man, automatically you’re an ugly man”, Arya said trying to soothe him. She shuddered at what her father would do if she annoys her betrothed.

Leonardo laughed. “Look at you, how can you even threaten a bunny? I was pulling your legs”, he said, chuckling at Arya’s behavior.

“You’re beginning to get ugly. It’s not cool to tease people”, she said.

“Come on Arya, I run many cartels and mingle with bad people everyday. No one dares question me when I speak. I’m not just a bad man, I’m dangerous”, Leonardo said as he turned to her.

“Is that suppose to scare me?”, she asked.

“It should”, he answered with a bored expression.

“I’m sorry, it didn’t”, she taunted.

Leonardo leaned closer to her. He was close to her that he could see her lashes very clearly and they were dark and luscious, just like her hair.

Arya’s breath hitched as Leonardo leaned very close to her, she flinched and his expression changed.

“Why did you flinch?”, he asked her, upset.

“I thought you were going to hit me”, she said, trying to steady her breath.

“Why would I hit you?”, he asked.

“You tell me”, she answered.

“You know, you got guts. I like that!”, he said and moved away from her. Her scent was overwhelming up close and he was getting ideas. She smelt like roses and vanilla.

Arya sat up straight and her eyes strayed into the crowd and she saw Carls watching her. She got nervous and started to play with her fingers.

“Why are you doing that? It’s awfully disturbing to watch you do that”, Leonardo said, bringing her out of her thoughts.

“Then don’t watch”, she snapped back.

Leonardo raised an eyebrow and she sighed.

“I’m sorry for snapping”, she said. Leonardo looked at her father and looked back at her. He immediately understood that there was something more going on.

The engagement ceremony went on smoothly and it was time to exchange rings.

Two maids stood by Arya and Leonardo’s side each holding a gold tray containing ring boxes.

Leonardo took the ring on his side from the tray and signaled Arya to give him her hands. Arya looked into the crowds and wondered if there was a way around this. No one would help her out and she knew this. Hesitantly, she placed her hands on Leonardo’s and he slipped the ring on slowly, maintaining eye contact.

The guests cheered and clapped and Arya slipped the ring on Leonardo’s finger. They stood close to each other as the cameras around them started clicking.

“And by the way, I’d never hit a woman, at least not one as delicate and exquisite like you”, Leonardo whispered in Arya’s ears. Arya felt a shiver down her spine as Leonardo's whispered words sent a chill through her body and left a budding sensation in her tummy.

Soon, the celebration came to an end and guest started leaving the hall. Arya walked up to her family and her mother, Camille, enveloped her in a hug.

“Let’s go home sister. You need to rest”, Antonio said to her and Dante held her hands.

“You seem to be getting comfortable around your husband to be”, Carls said to Arya.

“At least he is not a monster that hits women like you do”, Arya said, forgetting for a moment she was talking to her demon father.

“What the fuck did you say?” Carls asked and held her arms tightly, so tightly that she started to bleed.

“You think you can speak to me in that manner because your fiancé is a big shot, huh?”, Carls asked angrily.

“Let go of her father!”, Antonio and Dante said simultaneously. Carls glared at the two brothers, his grip tightening on Arya's arms. Antonio's rage began to boil as he watched Carls harm his beloved sister.

“Let go of her Carls, she’s in pain and this is no place for this”, Camille said to her husband.

“I think you should listen to your wife”, a voice said calmly. Carls turned to the direction of the voice and his eyes widened.