Adeline Santiago's POV

I am getting ready to go out. I asked Matéo what I should wear and he said that I should wear something 'elegant'

That could mean anything!

I dig through the closet and finally find something to wear.

I can feel my heart skip and a grin stretch across my lips.

It's payback time...

I slip into the dress and I do my hair and my makeup.

I think I'm ready.

I walk out of the room and down the stairs to see Matéo, in the kitchen on his phone.

He looks so good!

He looks up, when he hears me walk in.

His jaw drops and even from where I'm standing, I can see that his eyes have gotten darker.

He walks up to me and his eyes glide slowly over my body, drinking me in.

"You look amazing" he says.

His voice is deeper and makes my heart almost stop.

"Thank you" I reply, my voice a lot bolder than I had expected.

He moves closer to me and I step back until I'm up against a wall.

Even with my heels, he's taller than me still.

"What are you doing to me?" He asks.

His voice is a low whisper, his breath fanning my neck.

He bites the top of my ear gently and I bite my tongue to stop a gasp that threatens to escape.

"I can't control myself around you, amoré" he says.

His body is pressed up against mine, his arms trapping me at either side.

His smell is intoxicating.

I close my eyes until the spinning stops and then open them again.

"Do you know what I want to do to you?" He asks me.

"Tell me" I say curiously.

He chuckles softly.

"If I tell you, I won't be able to stop there" he responds and he pulls away.

"Let's go" he says, offering me his arm.

I take it and we get going.

We walk outside and are met with a limo.

"It's beautiful!" I say excitedly.

He chuckles and opens the door for me.

I sit inside and he sits next to me.

A few minutes later, we have arrived.

He gets out of the car and walks around to help me out.

He offers me his hand, which I take and step out of the car.

I look up to see a grand looking mansion.

I gape at what I see.

Its massive!

Matéo leads me inside and we walk into a large hall, full of people.

I'm suddenly nervous.

Matéo senses this and whispers in my ear.

"You need to relax, amoré. You look amazing and we are just here to show our faces, ok?" He says.

I nod at him.

As we walk through, I realised that a lot of people are looking at us both.

Some of the women are whispering into their husbands ears, looking at me up and down.

I ignore them.

A man walks up to us.

He is quite good looking, but he isn't Matéo.

He has dark green eyes and naturally tanned skin.

He is built but Matéo is just...

More built.

"Ah, Matéo! Che bello vederti!
( How wonderful to see you!)" he says.

Another Italian...

Wonderful.

"It's good to see you too Riccardo" Matéo says with a genuine smile.

He lets go of me and they hug.

Riccardo turns to me and his eyes widen.

He looks between Matéo and I, and then back to Matéo.

"This is your girl? She went for your stupid ass?" he asks.

He has a thick accent like Matéo.

I turn away shyly.

"Riccardo, this is my wife!" Matéo cuts in, before he can rant on further.

Riccardo glares at him.

I look at Matéo, whose face has gone slightly red and looks a little embarrassed.

Riccardo scoffs.

"Your own big brother, and you say nothing" he asks.

If it helps... my dad knew and still didn't show up!

He rolls his eyes and turns to me.

"What's your name, gorgeous?" He asks.

"Adeline" I respond and he takes my hand before kissing it gently.

"I'm Riccardo, this dumbass' older brother" he says and I giggle.

I have never known anyone that is brave enough to insult Matéo to his face.

But then again...

I've known him for just under a couple of months.

"Nice, to meet you, Riccardo" I say to him.

He turns to Matéo.

"Aww, she's so polite, can we keep her?!" He asks.

He hugs me tightly and makes puppy eyes at his brother.

Matéo groans and pulls me towards him.

"Riccardo, she's my wife, not a dog" He says, frostily.

Riccardo flaps his hands about dramatically.

"Just don't screw this up. She's clearly good for you" He says

"Si" Matéo responds, looking directly into his eyes.

Riccardo turns to me.

"Enjoy my party, bella (beautiful)" he says and I smile back.

"I will, thank you" I respond.

I turn to Matéo.

"I didn't even know you had a brother!" I say.

"I don't talk about him much" he responds.

I am about to ask him why, and I'm interrupted.

"Teo!" Someone squeals. I turn around to see someone running towards us and Matéo's body stiffens.

A woman.

She's tall and quite beautiful, her light blue dress, swishing about her body.

Her long brown hair cascades down her shoulders and to her waist, her blue eyes wides and excited.

As soon as she gets to us, she wraps her arms around him.

I feel a pang of jealousy strike me hard.

Ok, calm down Ade, she could be just a friend...

Or a cousin...

Or an ex girlfriend.

"Oh, Matéo I missed you so much!" She says. 

He hugs her back a little stiffly and feel like ripping them away from each other.

Matéo pulls away first.

"Hera, meet my wife, Adeline" he says circling his arm around my waist.

I smile at her and she looks shocked.

"Oh my gosh, you're married?!" She asks.

Her voice is shrill and annoying.

"Oh, I also thought you'd marry a more..." She trails off, looking me up and down slowly.

I mentally dare her to do it.

"Anyway!" She continues, grabbing my hand.

"I'm sure you and I will be such good friends! You know since we have such common interest..." She says, eyeing Matéo.

It takes every single fibre in my body to hold back from punching her in her small mouth.

"I'll call you soon, Matéo." She says slowly and winks at him.

That's enough.

I step forward, ready to slap the stupid smirk off of her face, when I feel Matéo's arm tighten around my waist.

I glare up at him, once she is gone.

"Who the fuck is that?" I ask him.

"That's Hera, she was a short term girlfriend" he responds.

I roll my eyes.

"I think that she may have feelings for you still" I say through gritted teeth.

He chuckles and moves to whisper in my ear.

"Well whether she likes it or not, I'm taken and I like it that way" he says.

He holds up my left hand, kissing my ring like I'm royalty.

"And you're the one with my ring. Not her". He reminds me.

My body goes from being tense and rigid, to melting into his.

He has that effect on me.

He kisses my ear and we mingle with more guests. 

A few minutes later, Matéo is called away by some men to talk.

He looks at me apologetically and leaves.

I'm left alone, and I walk up to the bar in the corner.

I order a drink and sip it slowly.

A few minutes later, I feel a figure right beside me.

I turn and see the same delusional woman from before.

"So, you're the girl he decided to marry..." She says a bit too cheerfully.

I ignore her.

"I didn't even know that he was into... Fat girls" she says.

My ears burn at what she says and I try not to wince.

"Yes ma'am" I respond taking a sip of my heavy drink.

She looks shocked and I smirk.

"He loves thick women. It gives him a chance to grab what's his" I reply swallowing my martini down all at once and ordering another one.

"But you're flat, pale and single" I say looking her up and down.

"Unlike me" I add, holding up my left hand to display the blue diamond, admiring it.

She stands there, red faced and absolutely flabbergasted.

"You could never satisfy him like I do" she says.

I chuckle softly at her, mocking her attempt at an insult.

I wipe away a laughing tear, before I speak.

"I'm very much aware of his skill set in our bedroom." I say laughing some more.

"I told him that last night and I'll remind him again tonight, if I have my way." I tell her and she gasps.

I start to walk away.

"You little bitch!" She screeches.

"You forgot the 'bad' at the start" I respond.

And with that, I take my martini and strut away.

"Bitch, you thought!" I mutter to myself.

I am distracted when I smack straight into a body of muscle.

I spill my drink on the person and look up to see Matéo staring down at me.

"Oh my gosh, baby I'm so sorry!" I slur.

He frowns.

"Have you been drinking, amoré?" He asks.

"Only one. And I was getting harassed by your ex-broad" I say, getting annoyed with the possession in his voice.

"Come on, let's go home" he says with a sigh.

I nod and following out.

We sit in the limo and I grab his hand and look at him.

"I need you to promise me something?" I ask.

He looks at me.

"Yes, love?" He says.

He looks worried.

"Promise me, you won't hurt me" I say.

I feel like I'm about to cry but I'm too proud to.

He looks hurt.

He leans toward me and stops just before our lips can touch.

"I will never hurt you baby, I will never have a reason to" he says and he kisses me like I'll disappear.

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