It wasn’t until noon of the next day that Cara was woken by the urge to pee. Still sleepy, she rolled out of bed with a big yawn, her hair a fizzled mess as she blindly located the restroom.
She forcefully plopped one eye open as she did her business, staring at the transparent bath cubicle in the combined bathroom.
Cara sat upright. All traces of sleep vanished from her eyes.
Transparent bath cubicle? In her home?
She hurriedly finished her business and dashed out of the restroom. She had almost pulled open the door of the room when memories of the previous day came flooding into her mind.
The lightness she felt disappeared and was replaced with the gloomy feeling from the day before.
She turned back towards the queen-sized bed and caught sight of some clothes laid out by the side.
A black pair of sweats and a new set of underwear in her size were kept neatly, and by the side, a new toothbrush. She felt exposed at the fact that someone came in while she was asleep and mentally reminded herself to lock up the room next time.
Picking up the clothes and brush, she walked back to the room to get ready for the day.
She had just changed into the spare clothes and was combing her fingers through her wet hair when a firm knock resounded at the door.
“Who is it?”
“Adonis. Can I come in?”
“Hold on.”
She ran around the room, putting away her previously worn clothes before pulling the door open.
“Hi”
Adonis hummed in reply, walking past her to take a seat on the bed.
“You slept in.”
“I didn’t sleep early last night,” Cara replied.
Adonis hummed again. If he was curious about the reason why, he didn’t let it show. Instead, he pulled open the brown envelope he’d brought along and handed her a document and a pen.
“That’s the contract. Before we go further, you’d have to put your signature on it. Mine’s on it already.”
Cara scanned through the contents.
“Two copies?”
“I believe you’d need to have one.”
She nodded in agreement.
“In summary, it states that you agree to be my wife for a year and in return, you’ll get protection for yourself and your friend only since you have no family left. You’ll also get a payment of one million dollars per month for twelve months. As my wife, you’d have access to two cars of your choice in the garage and a card that I’ll store with 300 grand every week for your normal upkeep. Any other special expenses will have to be communicated with my accountant. Is that all right with you?”
Adonis asked Cara who kept on bobbing her head absentmindedly. He’d lost her since the access to two cars and 300 grand per week statement. She shook her head to snap out of her dumbfounded state, her face holding a scrutinizing look
“Apart from the hotel and club, what other business did you say your family was into?”
Adonis stared at her, his eyebrows pulled down as his eyes narrowed into slits.
“I never said.”
“But if you did?”
“Our family had dabbled into winemaking for years. My great-grandfather built a wine-making factory, and it’s what we’re majorly known for. I don’t know if you noticed on the drive up to the estate, but the mansion is built at the centre of a grape vineyard.”
Cara pursed her lips
“I did.”
“This is just the American branch. The major vineyard is back home in Italy on over 700 hectares of land. Aside from that, we have various hotels and clubs around. Why do you ask?”
“Nothing. Let me sign this quickly.” She squeaked out with a nervous laugh as she signed the papers before handing them back to Adonis.
He placed one back into the brown file and pushed it back into Cara’s hands.
“Here, this is yours. Follow me.” He stood up and headed for the door without waiting for a reply.
Cara walked behind Adonis as he led her through a corridor until they reached another staircase.
“There’s more than one floor?” She blurted out.
“Four to be exact.”
And then, he led her up the staircase.
“This mansion is like a family inheritance. It has been passed down from six generations back. It became mine the moment my father died.”
Cara looked taken aback. This was the first time he was willingly divulging personal information about himself.
“Your father’s dead?”
“Don’t sweat it. It’s been a few years.”
“I’m not sweating anything. In case you’ve forgotten, mine died yesterday, and it’s your fault.”
Adonis faltered in his steps. He glanced over his shoulder.
“Is that what you think Bel?”
Bel?
That was new. But she didn’t care. New nickname or not, he was the enemy.
“That’s what I know.”
He shrugged.
“If you say so.” And then continued up the staircase, “There’s the underground parking area, the first floor where the living room, the dining room, the rest area and the kitchen is. The second floor mainly consists of spare rooms for the guests, a movie or pool room as Luca likes to call it and a small general gym for anyone.” He paused as they arrived at the third floor.
Cara instantly knew that the floor was inaccessible to guests. Unlike the other floors with simple welcoming colours and enough lights, this was painted in monotone grey and all the lights were dim. It was like a mini flat in the mansion itself. From where they stood, she had the entire overview of the floor. A simple, minimalistic living area adjoined to a kitchen and a small dining area with a two-seater dining table. To the far right was a transparent room filled with various types of workout instruments. To the left were other rooms, but their doors were shut, so she couldn’t tell what they were for.
Even in the minimalist decor, the floor looked so enigmatic, and she could practically see dollar signs all over.
“You stay on this floor right?”
“The entire floor is mine. I had it remodelled to my taste. I may not look like it but I value privacy.”
Cara snorted.
“You’re telling me. So Mr Bernardi, what about the last floor?”
Adonis spun around, catching her off guard.
“I call you Cara. Sometimes Bellissima. It’ll be hard to convince my Nonno when you’re so formal.”
Cara looked everywhere but at him.
“Nonno?”
“Grandfather.”
“And Bellissima?”
“Gorgeous.”
This caught her attention.
“I look gorgeous to you?”
Adonis offered a bored stare.
“That shouldn’t be a legal question.” He took a step towards her. “Alessandro. Say it.”
Cara felt her cheeks become hot, she was sure that she’d be burning a bright red at this point.
How come he managed to make almost every conversation sound so alluring? Adonis took a step closer.
“Why that? Why not Adonis.” There was something about that name that made her feel uncomfortable. And not in an uncomfortable way if that even made sense. He ignored her question.
“Come on Bel. Alessandro.”
Cara cleared her throat.
“Ale… Alessandro.” She softly called, her voice barely above a whisper. Adonis’s grey eyes became darker than the night, and she could’ve sworn she saw him shiver in delight. She quickly created a diversion.
“How we done now? I’d like to go downstairs to my room.”
“Your room’s on this floor.” He replied in a husky voice.
“I thought this floor’s for you. Moreover, I don’t see a spare room here.”
Adonis lips curved to the side, making his Greek godlike sculpted jaw more prominent.
“That’s because you’ll be staying in my room.”