Kiara

It had to be that it was a normal wedding with normal people. Something that wasn't like Giovanni's party after which I witnessed a woman almost lose her life. I guess we already missed the exchange of vows but we made it right in time for the reception. While I was in the car waiting for either Luke or Antonio to get out, the door next to me was pulled open, and standing there was the latter. He signaled for me to scoot over and took a seat next to me while the driver made his way out. It was just me and him left in the vehicle and if it wasn't that this was a wedding reception area, I would've been worried he would do something bad.

"Have you made the decision?"

"You gave me three days, it isn't even up to twenty-four hours yet"

"Change of plans, you need to talk now. Are you in or out?"

"Excuse me?" I said in complete surprise "You expect me to make a lifelong decision in what? Two minutes?"

"It's clear, do you want full custody of your sister or not?"

"I do"

"So it's settled then, you'll have your ring delivered to you"

"Delivered? That's not how it works"

"What do you expect me to do? Go on one knee?"

"I don't expect you to just hand it over to me either"

"This is more of an agreement than an actual proposal"

"And this the man I'm supposed to marry?"

"Yes" Before I could say anything, he left the car and closed the door behind him.

In awe, I remained in my seat, a decision already made. There was no time to think nor did I step out of the vehicle to make any objections. What happened was that I went on with the day like nothing happened.

I had Luke escort me inside while Antonio waited by the entrance to the event. The act was to begin immediately. Me standing next to my now alleged husband, hand in hand, and Luke standing behind me.

Everything still felt surreal and my mind couldn't wrap around the fact I was now to be someone's wife. I let out shaky breaths while I felt my vision go slightly blurry. There wasn't a reason to cry. All I did, I did for my sister whose life would be ruined if I left her all alone with my parents. It's not like I'm going to get a million dollars tomorrow or anyone to help me get full custody of my sister.

Luke came closer and I heard him whisper "There's an average of one hundred and fifty guests, seventy percent of which are influential. A few are potential business partners, including Henry Crowell and his daughter and" He paused to clear his throat "Stand straight Ma'am, you're slouching"

I felt Antonio's gaze at the side of my head and that was my cue to straighten my posture. I guess these are the things I would have to go through now I was living as his wife, temporarily I hope.

The party was just as elegant as the last with very influential people walking around like they didn't have their faces in magazines. It was a simple design, white with touches of gold but even the smallest things looked expensive, like the shiny tiles that covered the ground beneath my feet. I tried to avoid the gaze even when it felt as though a thousand eyes were burrowing holes into my skull.

What more would anyone expect? Luke had left us both and stayed a few feet away from us while Antonio's fingers and mine were intertwined. A simple gesture that felt as though electricity was pulsating through my veins. I didn't want to pay much attention to it, and neither did I want to worry about the small smiles and gazes on me.

"Don't talk to anyone without me by your side"

"Yeah, so when they walk up to me, I'll just plug my ears and run away"

"We're in public Kiara, try to be a little less sarcastic, especially in front of anyone that isn't me."

"So I'm supposed to be a nice little wife"

"Yes, as stated clearly in the contract which you have verbally agreed to"

"Excuse you, I don't remember agreeing to_"

"David Russell, a pleasure it is to finally see you in person" Came the masculine voice of a young man. He looked a lot younger Antonio and he was a little shorter in height. He had a mop of beautiful golden hair on his head and sandy brown eyes while his lips curved in the most welcoming smile. My eyes went straight to his finger, thinking he was the groom, but with no shiny appearance of metal, I realized he wasn't the one.

"Ah" Antonio, which is now David again, said. He made it seem as though he didn't notice someone walking up to him "Kevin, isn't it?"

My goodness, can he be any ruder than this?

"It's Phillip actually, heir of Alexander and co. I was at your office last week, and was told you had an urgent assignment"

"Yes, I did. Is your father not here?"

"I'm sure he's around somewhere and if I may ask, who is this damsel next to you?"

"We both know you have all the information I can give, isn't that what little rascals like you do nowadays? Feed your pea-sized brains with unnecessary information. If you do a little better in life, maybe you'd stand a chance of not ruining your father's hard work"

Phillip, as I have known him to be, cleared his throat in embarrassment. That was the harshest words anyone could ever get in a conversation in less than three minutes. Rude, if anyone would ask me and he would say all of that to a young boy?

"I see there's a form of misunderstanding here. As you must know, I work in the entertainment industry. I'm building something that isn't dependent on my father's wealth. If that isn't hard work for you, I wonder what is"

"Hard work is picking things up from scratch and making them something, I think you're the one who's misunderstood common English. And for the record, everything you do revolves around your father's money. Always has, always will be. This isn't wrong in any way, only that you've turned a lifetime opportunity to sharing gossip and rumors to get a few thousand"

"I give premium news with evidence to prove"

"Yes, like you spread to the entire social chain that this woman here is my ex-worker and we've been having a flimsy affair for years"

"That was the closest to the truth and you didn't come out to justify yourself, the public needed answers"

"That does not necessarily have come from a confused man like yourself. A blind man leading people, what a joke?"

At that point, things were getting very uncomfortable. I didn't know where I was supposed to but in or if Antonio would permit I even said anything at all. Besides, it's not like I had anything important to impute cause the beef between these two is insane.

"Walk away" was the next thing Antonio said and he complied quietly, giving me a tight smile before turning to leave.

"Antonio" I whispered, his eyes meeting mine "Don't you think that was a little too much?"

"No. No, I don't. Let's take a tour around the place, a little smile would do to make this more believable"

"Great," I said, smiling in annoyance.

"Looks a little fake"

"It's the best you'll get"

The area was big and there were a lot of things to look at, like the huge chandeliers hanging from the top, the aquarium, the elegant museum-worthy pictures on the wall, the elegant wedding cake, and the little Cupid figures. We stopped at the aquarium, where Antonio looked straight into the clear waters like he found a jewel. There was this glint in his eyes, something sparkled in them when he looked at the fish, and that one time, even if it only lasted a few seconds, was different.

"You like the fish? Something about the aquatic life?"

His eyes snapped back to mine and everything I saw in his eyes suddenly vanished "Yes"

"Wow," I said, wondering why he came out clean without any bickering "That's cool. Well, I love astronauts. It used to be my dream to become one"

"Why did you quit? Funds?"

"Yes and a few other things. What dreams did you have growing up?"

Antonio's gaze remained on me but I noticed there was a difference after I said those words and it made me want to take it all back. There was something at the beginning, even though it was just a spark in the darkness. It didn't look like that spark would come back any time soon.

"Ones that aren't your business"

Great.