Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 94048 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94048 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 313(@300wpm)
“I need an heir,” I explain, since clearly this girl isn’t going to make this easy on me. “I need my father to think that I’m ready to take over the family business. In order to do that, I need a wife, and I need her to provide me with children. If I can guarantee the continuity of the dynasty, he might be more amenable to retirement.”
She groans and leans on her elbows, putting her head in her hands. More people are staring, and I’m starting to think doing this in public was a bad idea.
“What the hell is happening right now,” she murmurs to herself before looking at me again. “How rich are you, exactly?”
I almost laugh. What is with this girl? Every time I think she’s about to say something normal, some new insanity comes out of her mouth. “I’m rich enough that my family cares about this sort of thing. I’m offering you a new start for your father, and all I’m asking is five years in return. I think this is a bargain.”
Her cheeks turn red, and I wonder what she’s thinking. I’d love to get in that dirty mind of hers.
“Five years and a baby,” she says.
Which means she’s blushing because she’s picturing me putting that baby in her belly. She’s picturing ropes around her wrists, her legs spread, her body willing and vulnerable and aching to get fucked. That’s why she looks so fucking adorable and frustrated.
“Again, it’s a bargain. You’ll be taken care of. Hell, you’ll be pampered. Our marriage will be a business arrangement, and I’ll make sure you’re given whatever you might need. At the end of five years, assuming I have my baby, you’ll be allowed to divorce me. We’ll sign a prenup that continues to provide for you for life, say something like ten thousand per month until the day you die.”
“This is insane,” she whispers, shaking her head like she doesn’t believe it. “Ten thousand per month? Are you insane?”
“I need a wife and a child, and I take care of my family.” I lean in closer, my eyes straying from her mouth to the tops of her breasts. I like that she wore something low-cut tonight—like she expected me to come see her again. Like she was waiting for me. “I’ll change your life, topolina. I’ll make your father’s debts vanish. He can keep his house and enjoy his retirement. All you have to do is marry me and give me a child. Help me prove to my father that I’m ready for leadership.”
She hunches over her drink. I let that sink in, and it’s obvious that she’s at her limit. I’m aware that what I’m proposing here must seem absolutely batshit insane from her perspective, but this isn’t all that crazy in my world. My brother Davide was arranged to marry his wife, and their match worked out. These sorts of business marriages happen all the time, and it doesn’t much matter to me if love doesn’t grow out of our relationship.
She’s exactly what I need right now. Beautiful, yes, although that might be a problem, but most of all, she’s desperate. She needs me as much as I need her. I really wasn’t kidding when I said we can help each other, and if she’s as smart as I think she is, she’ll see it.
“I can’t,” she whispers, almost choking the words out. “I don’t even know you.”
“My name’s Simon Bianco. You’re Emily Hayes. What else do you need to know? I have money, you need money. I need a wife, you can be my wife. Say yes, topolina.”
She stares at me, our faces close together, almost huddled overtop the bar. The rumble of conversation and soft background piano music fades, and for a second, it’s only the two of us, and god, she really is beautiful. That smooth, olive-toned skin, and those high cheekbones, and her plump fucking lips. I want to sink my teeth into the point of her chin. I want to run my tongue along the outer shell of her small ears. Most of all, I want to grab her hair tight and hold it while I lick her from collarbone to eyebrow.
I have to remember that’s not important here. Wanting her won’t convince my father to hand over the Famiglia. She’s only a placeholder and nothing more. She’s only convenient.
“This is too much.” She shoves away and the feet of her chair scrape against the floor. “I’m sorry, but no.”
“I’ll give you two days to think about it,” I say before she can run off. “I understand this is a lot to process. Take your time and think it over.”
“There’s nothing to think about.” She faces me, all five-foot-three of her, and all those lovely curves. “I’m not going to marry an absolute stranger. I’ll just… I’ll get another job. I’ll work myself to death. I don’t care. But I’m not interested in selling myself to you. Thanks anyway.”