Three days later
Valerie sauntered towards Luciano’s office, the click of her heels echoing in the corridor. Though Jade’s unforgiving words of Luciano never accepting her still rang like an incessant alarm on repeat in her head but her eyes, veiled by a smoky allure, held a confident gleam.
She came here for one purpose and that was to seduce Luciano and prove his stubborn wife wrong that indeed, Luciano would want her and find her attractive.
And besides it was not a bad thing… Valerie thought to herself. After all Luciano had wilfully decided to marry her and Jade herself consented to it, they both had no objection to it.
So what was the harm in seducing her would be husband? A devious smirk appeared on her face as her mind carved out so many unholy thoughts.
On reaching his office, she knocked lightly, the door swinging open to reveal Luciano immersed in work. A subtle smile played on Valerie’s lips as she entered, leaving a strong fragrance of perfume lingering in her wake.
Valerie, draped in a form-fitting red dress, entered Luciano’s office with a sultry smile.
Luciano, engrossed in his work, glanced up, his expression unyielding. Undeterred, Valerie gracefully approached his desk, her fingers lightly trailing its surface.
She had expected him to fawn at a first glance but he did the opposite still she was unyielding in her efforts.
“Luciano dear…” her sultry voice cooed.
“How can I help you? Why are you here?” He asked briskly not bothering to look and stare at her.
The only thing in his mind right now was Jade. He wondered what was really going on in her mind for her to freely speak on his behalf that he would marry another woman.
Did she not care for that marriage? He was ready to fight for their marriage and not marry Valerie but she did not seem so. She was more determined on helping him rule his mafia.
Did she really value the position, power and wealth more than she did for him? All those questions wouldn’t leave his head.
He could not believe Jade was ready to give up in fighting for their marriage.
“Luciano is that a way to welcome your soon to be wife now? I believe not” Valerie swayed her hips as she got closer to him.
“Can you just tell me what you want already!?” Luciano barked, his irritation bubbling to the surface.
“Luciano, why the heat? Did Jade push your buttons today? Did she get you upset” Valerie chuckled, settling into a plush black leather chair positioned right across from Luciano.
“Don’t bring up Jade, got it?” he cautioned, shooting her a stern look. “Okay, okay,” Valerie sighed.
“I just came to say hi to you then. I mean it’s not a crime is it?”
Luciano glared at her before narrowing his eyes back onto his computer.
He knew she had an ulterior motive.
“You work way too much don’t you think so?” Valerie asked. “Maybe you should take a break once in a while” a cunning smile drew on her features once more.
“You know why I am working so hard” Luciano replied unmoved, as he continued to type away.
“C’mon Luciano” Valerie stood up, elegantly sauntering towards him.
“My brother has promised to help already. Do not act like you are alone in this. As long as you marry me then consider all your problems solved” She placed her one hand on his shoulder.
Luciano gave no reply but shrugged off her hand.
Still unwavering in her effort, Valerie spoke again, ” Anyways I just wanted us to catch up you know. It has been a while”
Luciano gave off a breathy sigh and glanced up, meeting her eyes with a cool detachment. ” As you can see I am very busy. Your brother has promised to help but that isn’t any reassurance for me”
“Whatever you are busy with can wait Luciano.. c’mon” Valerie stood up and placed both arms on Luciano’s neck.
“I mean let us make today exciting don’t you think so?” She gave an alluring wink, biting down her bottom lip seductively.
“Man Valerie…” Luciano spoke but was quickly cut off by the defiant woman. “Shh, when last have you had the touch of a woman baby?” She airily whispered in his ear, her finger trailing all around his face.
“It has been long yeah? I doubt if Jade has let you touch her since this entire shit began” Valerie added, her fingers now greedily moving downwards, reaching for his dick.
“Allow me sweetheart. I can make you feel good” she whispered, grinding her lower half onto him when he suddenly gripped onto her waist catching her off guard.
Triumph surged within her, it seemed her advances had paid off.
“Fucking stop this!” Luciano growled to her surprise, pushing her away roughly. The initial feat of success that had appeared on her face were washed away immediately, replaced by a bewildered look.
“Lu-luciano what is-is wrong? I t-thought…” Valerie stammered, unable to speak freely.
“Everything is wrong Valerie! Are you insane?!” He raged. Luciano was as angry as a bull at the moment.
His countenance spoke of raw pure rage. Bolting up at once, Valerie jerked at his sudden outraged, fear glued onto her like a second skin.
“Luciano but we will get married soon. What is wrong in this?” She cried out.
“You really don’t see any thing wrong in what you and your brother are doing? What you are doing, I assure you, you will regret it sooner or later. Did you ever think that I would love you or care for you the way I did for Jade in the course of our marriage?”
As Luciano raged, tears filled Valerie’s eyes and her chest heaved with so much disdain and anger.
“I will never accept you as a wife and you will just be a second option for me because that is what you have reduced yourself to” Luciano spat acrimonious words at her.
“I loved you first. I knew you first. I was the one supposed to marry you Luciano!” Valerie yelled, marching towards him, her rage mirroring in her heavy breaths.
“And I never loved you neither did I want to even marry you. My family wanted that not me”
“Oh and you want Jade? Huh? Was it not also an arranged marriage? My brother told me everything. Your marriage is not that of love. You do not love her and you never will. It was a marriage of convenience for you both. So do not try and act like you are so much in love with her! Or has the almighty Italian Don start to fall for an ordinary woman handpicked from the streets?” Valerie scowled, pushing Luciano to the wall.
“I do not love her! Yes I do not but I care for her at least!” Luciano thundered, the words flying out of his mouth without restraint.
“Luciano…” Jade whispered, her voice a disappointed plea as she stepped into the office. Her ears could not believe what she had just heard.
Her hands carried a vase which she had bought from the supermarket she was coming from.
It was supposed to be a gift for Luciano.
Her hands shook uncontrollably and tears streamed down her cheeks, the vase leaving the confinement of her fingers and falling to the floor , breaking into pieces.
“Jade love….” Luciano breathed, pushing Valerie out of the way and briskly trying to reach out to Jade but she stepped back at once.
“Don’t touch me!” Jade yelled, her once bright eyes now clouded with tears.
“You don’t love me? You never loved me? I-I thought you felt something for me. In the room the other night you were drunk y-you said..” Jade broke down crying.
“I do feel something for you” Luciano softly said. Seeing her cry like this hurt him.
“Oh really?” Valerie cackled, enjoying the show.
“Can you just shut up!” Luciano ordered her, almost making her jump out of her skin.
“No you don’t. I was such a fool” Jade whispered before scurrying out of the office, her tears clouding her vision.
Luciano wanted to run after her but he knew that at that moment, nothing he said would make sense to her.
Valerie giggled, snapping him out of his daze.
“Are you fucking happy now? You made me say that out of anger. Are you happy?” He pivoted and pulled her by the arm against himself.
“Yes. Stop deceiving that woman. You said the truth” Valerie replied unbothered.
“You are sick” he scoffed, pushing her out of his office before banging the door on her face.
Valerie straightened her shoulders, glaring at the closed office doors. She came here to seduce Luciano which was unsuccessful but atleast she had achieved something better.
Now she was fully convinced that Luciano had no feelings for Jade.
And she would use that to her advantage.