Swerving into the Giovanni Enterprises parking lot, Valerie wasn't surprised to find that the parking lot was already filled to the brim with cars. The building was huge so of course it's staff would be too, and a parking lot in New York was hard to come by, period.

However, time was of the essence.

The whole drive back to New York Nicki's scream was echoing off the walls of Valerie's skull. Goosebumps had appeared and hadn't left the whole drive there, and if one more thing happened to her she was sure to lose her shit.

She prayed the cold sweat she was in wouldn't cause her makeup job on her bruises to look splotchy. It was hard looking like she hadn't been involved in the fight of her life when she indeed had been.

And she'd have to keep herself made up for days, if not weeks.

As she drove up and down the seemingly endless rows of cars in the lot, she realized she'd made it to the executive row. People's names were painted on the spots as well as signs were placed in front in big no nonsense lettering. She even noted that Luca drove a red Model X Tesla.

The spot next to his beauty of a car was his father's. Romano Giovanni was painted loud and clear, but Valerie Stevens pulled into the spot with no remorse.

Grabbing her purse, Valerie stepped out of the car and the fall breeze that ran up her shirt made her starkly aware of what she was wearing. Turning and looking at her reflection in the car window, she winced.

This... is what she was going to show up as to accept the most prestigious offer of her life.

A damn hobo, but at least she had covered up her bruising with concealer.

And at least her ass looked amazing in these size too small leggings. With a shrug, she fluffed her curls a bit in the back and strut into the building.

Gwen, the receptionist, looked up and was visibly a bit taken aback by Valerie's more than relaxed appearance, but Valerie didn't have the time to even process it.

"Hey, is he back in for work yet?" Valerie spared the formalities. Gwen must've felt the tense energy radiating from Valerie because without protest she began to tap on her keyboard and nodded her head yes.

"Yes, but he's in a meet—" Valerie was already gunning for the elevator by the time Gwen got that out. All she needed was the yes.

More curious eyes were sent her way when she stepped off.

She wasn't a red head first

And now, she wasn't even business casual.

Not sparing anyone more than a simple nod, Valerie walked down the long, but oh so familiar hall to Luca's office. There was a single security detail standing outside, his stature stiff and he was stone faced. As Valerie approached him, he looked down at her expectantly.

She could hear Luca's deep voice behind the huge doors, followed by another gruff tone. They were discussing something passionately, but sadly she came to interrupt.

"I know he's in a meeting, but please tell him this is urgent." Valerie asked, desperation spiked her words. The man did not move, his brow creased. "Ma'am, Mr.Giovanni is busy right now. You're free to wa—"

"Tell him it's Valerie. Please!" Valerie begged, tears pricking her eyes. She crushed her purse to her side as a means to comfort herself, she felt so small in this big office. Even more so she felt as if her life was crumbling by the second.

The guard looked like he was very uncomfortable with Valerie's resolve crumbling right in front of him. He hesitated a few seconds before turning and stepping into the meeting room.

"You're not meeting what was asked of you, Don!" An older man curtly stated behind the closed doors, punctuating with a thud on a hard surface.

"A good life long investment takes time. What you asked of me was imprudent." Luca shot back evenly.

"What is it, Samson?" She heard the unknown voice ask, disdain lacing his voice and she couldn't help but assume that it was truly meant for Luca.

"Mr.Giovanni has a guest. It's Valerie." Samson told the room.

Silence.

"Tell her to come in." Luca answered after a beat.

"Are you fucking serious? Right now?!" The mystery man boomed.

"Samson." Luca dismissed the security guard, and within seconds Samson appeared and held the door open for the visibly shaken Valerie. The light from the windows inside the office blinded Valerie temporarily, but when she adjusted she finally put a face to the man who dared to curse at Luca Giovanni.

It was his father.

In the same chair she had sat during her interview was a salt and pepper version of Luca. Except his eyes were green and he had deep laugh lines around his mouth. He was very handsome and pictures in tabloids did not do him much justice. However, right now he looked at her like he could burn her to the ground with his eyes. 

When she met eyes with Luca she could see the hardness in his expression melt away partly. He sat behind his desk extremely reclined in his chair. His shirt slightly unbuttoned at the top, he donned a gray suit with a light blue button down. A silver diamond encrusted watch glistened on his wrist.

Valerie found herself drawing a breath to push back the tears that just kept seeming to spring up. In her peripheral, she saw Luca sit up at attention.

"Valerie, what's wrong?" He broke the silence of the room. His father said nothing still, appraising Valerie silently.

"I... I came to accept your offer." She said to her feet at first. It was almost like she could hear the breath of surprise Luca took. "Look at me." He softly demanded.

It took all of her strength to wrench her eyes away from her feet and look into his glistening light brown depths. His emotion unreadable, all she could get was deep emotion.

"I came to accept your offer." Valerie said more confidently. Her toes digging into the soft making of her flip flops. In the corner of her eye she could see his father watching their interaction intently.

Luca held her gaze for what seemed like hours, before his eyes flitted over to his dad, and then back to Valerie.

"It's done, Romano." Is all he said.

His father grinned a wolfish grin and began a slow dramatic clap. "You've always been a lucky son-of-a-bitch, Don. A deal will be a deal." He told his unmoved son. Romano made no move to get up quickly, Luca was becoming annoyed it seemed. His father paid him no mind and turned his attention to Valerie.

"My God, you're a beaut. You know what you just agreed to, no? To be his wife." He repeated for her as if she didn't understand the gravity of the situation.

Oh did she fucking know alright.

Valerie tried her best to loosen up, shifting her weight on her legs back and forth slowly as she softly smiled at Romano. "Of course, sir. Luca and I have talked about this for awhile now..." Glancing at Luca she saw him watching her closely, she knew once they were alone he'd have a million questions.

He didn't miss a beat though.

"Like I told you, Romano. A good deal takes time, and she's something I won't be letting  go of once I have her." He addressed his father while looking dead at Valerie. It was like she was willingly handing herself over to the devil. Willingly walking herself into the lion's den covered in bacon grease.

Romano let out a hearty laugh, now standing to his full height and Luca stood as well when his father did. Romano approached Valerie and grabbed her by her shoulders, holding her away from him as if he was inspecting her. She found herself holding her breath.

He brow creased for a second and Valerie thought she was going to pee on herself, but then he grinned brightly, bringing her in for a tight hug. Valerie lightly returned it out of politeness, her face twisting in pain from her bruises underneath her shirt.

"Welcome to the family, principessa." Romano congratulated her before placing a wet kiss on her forehead. Valerie fought the urge to wipe it off immediately once he backed away to grab his briefcase.

He then walked up to Luca and patted him firmly on the back, smiling at his son proudly. Luca was still unmoved. Although his father was a hair taller than him, he looked at him as if he was only an inch tall.

"You are everything I created you to be, my boy." His father told him, like he was admiring the Mona Lisa. It was an interesting dynamic to behold.

Luca said nothing in response, which obviously did not faze Romano because he patted him once more for good measure then began heading towards the door. Samson beat him to it and opened the door for him, Romano had halfway stepped out before he turned to Luca again.

"And if someone is in my parking spot again, I'm slicing their tires. This is still my damn building!" He yelled loudly before stepping out fully. His hearty laughter could be heard bouncing off the walls in the hallway. Samson closed the door behind him with a polite nod to the couple left in the room.

The energy in the room shifted as soon as the two realized they were alone.

Electricity seemed to charge the air, and Luca made no move to take his seat behind his desk again.

He approached her and it was like Valerie was glued to the floor. All she did was drop her purse to the ground as Luca softly grabbed her face in his hand, his eyes searching hers like he was trying to read her for all she was.

Valerie was instantly entranced, his touch making warmth travel from her cheek to her toes in an instant. She matched his look, ready for his onslaught of confusion.

"Why?" Was the question that broke the tension between them. Valerie closed her eyes briefly, preparing herself for whatever was gonna come out of her mouth. She was going to tell as close to the truth she could get.

"I can't stay away. I can't take it slow." She revealed, her hand reaching up and covering his on her face. He wasn't satisfied with her answer, she could tell by the slight cloudiness in his expression. Somewhere in his heart, he knew this wasn't her.

"Why?" He repeated with the same tone as before.

Swallowing thickly and hoping it wasn't obvious. Valerie wrapped her arms around his neck, her whole body brimming with butterflies it felt like as he slipped his arms around her waist and brought her closer. His cologned engulfed her, her senses being filled with rich spice and amber wood.

She'd dreamed about being held by him just like this, him gazing at her— just like this. It was the circumstances though. In the pit of her stomach, Valerie was disgusted with herself.

One look at Luca again though and she couldn't help but pull herself closer.

"I need you, Luca. I don't want to wait. You've given me an offer I just cannot refuse." She teased lightly at the end and Luca smiled. He toyed with the curls on the nape of her neck, his expression now morphing into one of lust. His amber eyes now the color of coffee.

"You don't know how I've longed to hear you say that. I don't want to be apart from you. I promise you won't regret this." He promised her, his brow furrowed in passion. Valerie thought it was the cutest thing, she reached up and smoothed it with her thumb. He took her hand and kissed it.

They stood there in his office silently admiring each other for a few more seconds before Luca pulled away. Valerie instantly felt freezing cold when his body left hers, wordlessly yearning for him to come back.

He went into his desk and pulled out a very familiar stack of paper. It was the contract.

Valerie walked up to his desk and leaned over it, giving a very dramatic roll of the eyes. Luca was eating up every second of it. "Do I haaave to?" She whined for the fun of it.

It was Luca's turn to roll his eyes as he threw a very nice fountain pen on top fo the stack for Valerie to sign the dotted line. She caught it and began to flip to the back of the packet to look for the signature part.

"As much as I want to believe you came here led by your heart, you're a smart girl. I don't underestimate you at all. So, yes baby." He told her matter-of-factly, leaning against the bookcase behind his desk. Valerie playfully scoffed, "How nasty of you. To think me as such."

He definitely was no fool. I see how he's a beast on Wall Street.

Valerie thought as she signed her signature under the prospective wife line. A line she had swore to herself she'd never sign.

When she was done, she slid the paper back to the other side of the desk. As soon as she did that Luca was on her again, this time behind her. Valerie was excitingly on edge as he smoothed her curls to one side of her head, his lips barely grazing her ear, but his breath was hot on her neck.

Chills ran down her spine as he pressed her ever so slightly into the desk in front of them. "I meant what I said to my father." He said into her ear, his voice had dropped an octave. Valerie was practically panting.

One hand of his snaked up the front of her body until it reached her neck, pressing her firmly against him. His other hand out in front on the desk, steadying them both. Valerie was thankful because her legs felt like jelly.

"W-what?" She breathily asked. She couldn't remember anything, her mind was a fog of unbridled lust. Never have felt this way before, she thought at any moment she'd detonate.

Luca darkly chuckled behind her, his laugh vibrating on her neck as he began to deliberately place kisses from the middle of her neck to the very top of her ear. When he reached directly below her earlobe he lightly nipped at the skin making Valerie's breath audibly hitch. She instinctively flinched away from him, but his hand around her throat kept her close.

Valerie felt like a whore in church. So many feelings for a man all from a few neck kisses. Her hands were sweating as she leaned over the desk more and more, almost until he's directly on top of her. She couldn't lie, she loved the feeling of being under him.

The hand that was steadying the both of them on his desk now roamed her body freely. Everywhere he touched being trailed by fire, slowly he reached down and parted her legs. Now she definitely felt all of the nuns in her head screaming bloody murder, she softly gasped, but she made no move to stop him.

She was very surprised to find herself enjoying being at the mercy of him.

This was definitely something to write home about.

Once she was bent over the desk, his free hand went back to her waist, pressing her against him. "I meant that now that I have you..." He trailed, letting her neck go and standing his full height behind her. She knew that if she had a skirt on, this position would be a completely different story. He placed the hand on her shoulder, and Valerie resisted the urge to arch her back.

"I won't be letting you go."

He punctuated his statement with a hard smack on her ass, groping it roughly afterwards. Valerie squealed at the impact and the sound echoing in the room. The sting spread across her ass, and it was exhilarating.

She fought herself from asking him to do it again.

Luca then moved from behind her, leaving her in her almost perfect doggy-style positioning alone. Immediately embarrassed after he put some distance between them, Valerie stood up. Fussing over her clothing and trying to push her hair back in place. She just knew she was as red as a fire hydrant.

When she glanced at Luca she saw him shaking his head in amusement.

"What the fuck is funny?" She snapped self-consciously.

Walking over to her purse, Valerie grabbed it and put it in one of the interview chairs.

"Nothing. This is just gonna be fun."He said like he was talking to himself.

Then, Luca walked back behind his desk and took his keys from his drawer, afterwards pointedly looked at Valerie getting comfortable in the office. He said nothing as he grabbed the purse and tucked it under his shoulder. "C'mon, I'm hungry." He told her as he gestured for her to walk in front of him.

The looks of surprise and some of absolute horror as Luca followed behind Valerie— who again was only dressed in a t shirt, leggings, and flip flops— for some reason made her feel like a queen amongst commoners.

When they made it out to the parking lot, Valerie unlocked Sweetness's car to put her purse in it. Moving to grab it from Luca, he stepped back, holding it closer to his chest. He looked at the silver civic with confusion.

"So you took my father's spot. When did you get a car?" He asked with a rightly arched brow. Valerie moved to grab the purse again, but he simply sidestepped her.

"Why can't you ever mind your business?" She groaned, crossing her arms in defeat.

Luca paid her no mind as he unlocked his car and put her purse in the backseat of it, then walked around opened her car door for her. Valerie dragged her feat as she made her way around to him, defiantly glaring up at him as he stood by her door.

"Your business is now my business, wife." He emphasized the end and Valerie's blood cooled.

She watched in concealed horror as her now contractual fiancé walked around his car and got in the driver's seat.

He started the car and began to back out of the parking lot, and Valerie was trying to will herself to say something, but she just couldn't.

Wife.

***

Over the course of the day, she'd gone out to eat with Luca, he'd sent for her belongings from her apartment, toted around New York and now they were finally on their way home.

His home.

Every five minutes Valerie was trying to adjust to her rapidly changing world as she watched boxes of her wardrobe being carted inside of Luca's multi-million dollar space. She stood in his huge living room holding herself as a frenzy of workers moved her in.

"Can I get you anything, miss?" A woman asked from behind Valerie, making her jump. It was an older woman dressed in the mint green housekeeping uniform as everyone else wore at the estate. Valerie smiled and softly declined.

What she needed was a damn drink, but felt it was inappropriate to ask.

It was now about nine at night and Valerie felt as if she had been running since six this morning.

She also had no idea where Luca went, but of course. Since this was now her home, it was kind of her job to learn the space. Leaving the living room, Valerie went up stairs and was greeted with the same hallway she slept in and from there everything from the tour started springing in her mind.

Who knew she'd need the information from that tour so soon.

Following the way which they walked before, Valerie found Luca in his office again. This time he was typing rapidly on his laptop, the light from the screen lighting his sharp jaw perfectly.

Valerie leaned in the doorway and gave a light knock on the doorframe to signal her arrival. Luca looked her way, a ghost of a smile on his lips when he laid eyes on her.

"Well hey there, stranger. Don't you know it's rude to leave your guests unattended." She softly tsked as she playfully admonished. Luca slowly closed his laptop and leaned back in his seat, stretching his arms behind his head and Valerie couldn't help but drool over the way he looked in his half done shirt.

"I'd thought you understand you're not a guest anymore. You are the soon-to-be owner of this house as well." He explained in an almost duh tone. Valerie rolled her eyes.

"Don't worry, we're going to correct that." He said right after.

Valerie's face twisted in confusion, "Correct what?"

Luca just smiled.

He then got up from his chair and walked over to Valerie, freeing her hair from her loose pineapple ponytail she'd threw it in while looking through some of her boxes of stuff. She closed her eyes as his fingers scratched her scalp and he revved her curly fro to life again.

"Are you ready for bed?" He asked next, and Valerie stiffened a bit in the door frame.

Was she ready for bed?

Was he gonna make them share a room?

She had not thought this through at all.

It was as if Luca saw the questions bubbling up in her head and he laughed, taking her waist in his hand and rubbing circles in her side. Valerie found herself relaxing in his touch.

"Don't worry, I'll go slow..." He started and Valerie's eyes almost fell out of her head.

Luca's smile got brighter. "I'll go slow. We don't have to share a room if you don't want to. I understand this is new for the both of us." He explained more thoroughly.

Valerie blushed under his gaze, he made her feel so childish at times.

She took a deep breath and nodded, rubbing her shoulders a bit. Luca just regarded her fondly.

"I do want to share a room..." She slowly admitted, Luca tilted his head in surprise. Valerie giggled a bit at that. "I mean, your— o-our house is huge. What if I can't find the bathroom? Then I'll have to find you." She softly went on and Luca's eyes crinkled with amusement.

"Fair point." He agreed, pulling her into his side and leading her to his room.

They walked at a slow pace to his room. Valerie realizing quickly how long his strides were and he was definitely slowing down so he wouldn't leave her behind.

When they reached the master bedroom, Valerie was surprised to find it very cozy inside. There was a California King bed in the middle of the room. The color scheme was warm, which was surprising seeing the rest of the house was cool grays and other neutrals.

His comforter was a deep crimson and the wood of the furniture was dark. There was a TV in the room that was mounted on the wall and even a couple of trophies and a football helmet. It was weird seeing personal tokens of his, almost like she was prying. She felt Luca watching her as she took in his space.

Valerie decided to cut the quietness by pointing to the football helmet and smiling, "Who's big ass head can even fit in that?"

Shaking his head, Luca walked over to the helmet, came back, and put in on Valerie's head. The front of it immediately drooping off of her face. When he stood back to look at her, he grinned. 

"Maybe you should sleep with this on tonight. It'll help me control myself." He laughed, slapping the top of the helmet a bit.

Valerie scrunched her face up at that, then took the helmet off her head and shoved it into Luca's chest, beginning to fluff her hair back to life. "Tuh, you wanted this arrangement, honey. Get used to seeing this face and not touching."

In almost seconds, Luca had his arm around her waist again. He looked down at her like he could eat her with a spoon, Valerie glanced at his lips she wanted so badly to kiss him as she grabbed a fist full of his shirt.

"I feel like I'm pretty free to touch where I please. What about you?" He rhetorically asked, a boyish smirk on his face as he lightly spanked her before letting go and setting his helmet back up on the mantel with his other trophies.

Groaning loudly, Valerie looked down at herself and realized she'd forgot to bring any pajamas upstairs. Like he had telepathy, a shirt flew over Valerie's face from Luca.

When she uncovered her face, she realized it was quite literally the shirt off of his back. He now was shirtless with low slung sweats on his waist. Valerie shook her head, putting his shirt on. It instantly hit right above her knee, so she went ahead and undressed under it, all but for her bra and panties.

Luca didn't pay her any attention as she did so which she was so grateful for.

When she got in the bed, she couldn't help but moan as the cool silk sheets soothed her blushing skin.

"I didn't even touch you yet." Luca grumbled, as he reached over and turned off the lamp on his bedside. Valerie snorted at his remark. She couldn't resist moving closer to him in his big bed, and Luca obliged her, rubbing the bottom of her thigh when she slung it around his waist.

Valerie had no idea why she couldn't even kiss the man, but suddenly wanted to cuddle with him. She was happy that he had no protest though.

As she sighed tiredly and snuggled into the pillow she was given by him, the surreal-ness of where she was set in.

In Luca Giovanni's bed, a contracted one year wife, and bound by blood to the mafia.

But before her thoughts could eat her alive, Luca cleared his throat.

"You wanna know a secret?" He asked in the complete darkness they were. Valerie could hear the smile in his voice.

"Sure," She shrugged even though she knew he couldn't see it.

"All the bedrooms in this house have ensuite bathrooms. There is no getting lost."

Valerie couldn't hold the laugh that bubbled out of her and lightly punched his chest, but as she settled in a little closer she found some words to say.

"My secret is... I already knew that."

***
(a//n: 4:22 am, y'all know the editing drill by now)