Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 93425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Sal, as my father calls him, is a man about my father’s age, maybe older, but not much. Everything about him speaks of money, and if I have to guess, he’s the client who insisted on my father and me attending his nephew’s wedding. His suit is perfectly tailored, his hair is well styled, and I’m not an expert on menswear by any means, but I can bet the watch on his wrist is worth more than the car my father bought me as a graduation present.
I’d fear the man who needs military levels of security for his nephew’s wedding if it wasn’t for the genuine love and affection on his face as he speaks to my father. Sal may be a powerful, but it’s clear he values my father.
“And this must be Emma!” A few heads turn our way to see what’s causing the commotion. My father notices the increasing attention as well. He shifts uncomfortably in his seat while I turn to Sal. “I’m thrilled I could convince your father to bring you. It’s been ages since I’ve seen you. You were just a little tot the last time.”
I glance at my father, unaware Sal is someone I have previously met. Sure, it had been before any memory I might hold, but it still would have been useful information to have. I can ask him about it later.
“I’m honored to be here. The wedding was beautiful.”
“Yes. It really was the start of something beautiful. Which reminds me, Eric, I have some paperwork that needs to be finished up quickly before we can continue with the festivities. Would you mind coming with me?”
His odd choice of words doesn't escape me. I glance back at the bride and groom who sit stiffly at the main table. Neither one of them looks thrilled to be at their wedding.
My father gulps down some water nervously, his eyes darting between me and his client. I can’t go with him. I don’t know what kind of paperwork needs to be completed at a wedding, but he’s always told me I must give his business dealings the utmost privacy for the sake of his clients. But he doesn’t want to leave me here alone.
“Don’t worry about her. I’ll keep her company while you and Father sort out the business side of things. Can’t leave a beautiful woman like her alone at these sorts of events.”
The offer comes from behind me, a stranger with a deep and husky voice that sends shivers down my spine. It does nothing to soothe my father. If anything, it winds him tighter. Still, he gives Sal a stiff nod of agreement before tightly gripping my arm and whispering into my ear. “Remember your rules.”
Chapter Two- Enzo
“You would think you would be a little more excited about your wedding day.”
“Fuck you, Enzo.”
I let out a wry chuckle as my cousin struggles with his bowtie in the mirror. It shouldn't give him this much difficulty. He’s tied a bowtie hundreds of times, attending the obnoxious events our parents insist we go to for networking. It’s the nerves making his hands shake. That’s why I can’t help but to give him shit.
He might not love Bianca, his future wife, and this might be an arranged marriage, but he can’t deny she has a certain effect on him. He calls it infuriation. I call it infatuation.
If my father had arranged for him to marry someone with less zest, he would find himself bored in no time at all. Andy has always been about the challenge, about the chase. And his wife will certainly give him something to chase. Or maybe something to run from.
“Why, again, does your father insist I marry her? Couldn’t he have chosen someone more likely to suck my dick than bite it off?”
“I don’t think he was taking your dick into account when he was arranging this marriage.”
“Then what was he taking into account?”
“Business. Money.”
It’s the cruel reality of our world. Andy has never been fated for a love marriage. Truthfully, I think my father has done a good job of pairing Andy and Bianca together. I won’t admit it to Andy right now. The two of them could be very good together if only they could get over their pride keeping them from getting to know one another.
If my father allowed Andy to find his own wife, he would never get married. He’s been living the Playboy lifestyle for the past couple of years and isn’t fond of giving it up. It’s ironic. He’s a family man at heart. He just refuses to acknowledge he has a heart.
Despite the collective wealth of our two families, Enzo and Bianca have opted for a smaller garden wedding. If you can call nearly two hundred people in a garden that costs over a million dollars a year to maintain, small. And, after attending one of my father’s associate's weddings last year, I can confirm this is what our social circle would consider an intimate wedding.