ARIA’S POV
I woke up in a strange room. My mind was foggy due to the drug Evelyn gave me. Everything happened in a blur. Despite that managed, he lifted myself to a sitting position and looked around.
The was tastefully design. The gold and black design gave it an anaristocrate feel, each object or piece of furniture placed intentionally. It was obvious that it was done by a professional, yet the room itself was very cold, crossing luxury over comfort.
There were no pictures on the wall, or scattered clothing, or little thing that proved that the actual person lives here. In all, it was a sad, beautiful room.
“You kept me in my room,” I heard the voice murky around the door
“Yes, it was Jones idea. He said that you wouldn’t mind, ” a different voice responded, and a click of the door opening could be heard. I laid back down, pretending to be sleeping.
“Wake up,” Matteo demanded. My heart sped up in relief from hearing his voice.
“I know you’re not sleeping,” He said tiredly, like talking, wore him out.
Embarrassed at my poor acting skills, I lifted myself in a sitting position, my eyes fixed in my feet in front of me.
I raised my head to look at him and found him walking in an askew manner unike his usual confident strode. It was probably the side effect of the drug.
“I’m happy you have recovered,” I whispered, trying to break the awkward silence that followed.
“Are you insane?” He asked calmly, my face showing confusion at his cussial.
“What were you thinking when you ran from the lake to the house?”
“You were injured, so I”
“What if something happened to you? Do you know how bad that would look for me, for everything I’ve worked for?”
“I was trying to help,”
“You wanted to help.” He let out a dry chuckle
“You can help by doing nothing. Just sit down and be quiet or maybe even only come out when I need you to play house with me for a while, so that the entire fucking world can get off my back” Mattel heaved in frustration, each words louder than the other until he was shouting at me at the end of his speech.
“I never asked for this,” I whispered fearfully, realising that at that moment, Matteo
“What was that?” He said, his
“I never asked for this,” I repeated louder. ” This house, the wedding, a marriage to a man I don’t love and just met on my wedding day” the tears were flowly freely, through my blurred vision, I looked at Matteo in the eye for the first time. Brown colouerd eyes stared back at me.
“If you hate it so much, you can leave,” He said, his breath heavier than before.
I watched him pace the room for a minute before storming out. Ben stood there by the door. His hands are in his pocket. He shot a crooked smile at me and walked away
***
“You look like shit,” a familiar voice said from behind me as I brushed my hair in front of the room mirror. I had relocated back to my room on Matteo’s orders.
“Rosaline?” I exclaimed in shock, turning to see my beautiful friend.
“Get over here.” Her arms were wide open, and I didn’t hesitate to jump into them. Remembering how much I miss her and here coconut scented perfume.
“That’s enough.” She laughed, giving me a light push “Now… tell me everything,” She demanded, making herself comfortable in my oversized bed. Sitting down beside her, I began to pour out everything I kept inside.
“That slimy god complex asshole!” Rose exclaimed after telling her my experience in the mansion.
“Rose, please lower your voice,” I begged, not wanting Matteo goons to hear her
“No!” She stood up aprubtly and began to march for the door. I quickly ran in front of her, slamming the door with my back to the door.
“Rose, please calm down.”
“Calm down, calm down,” She scoffed. ” That bastard was about to starve you to death, and I should clam down. Bullshit!”
“Someone might hear you,”
“Let them hear. LET THEM HEA!”
There was a knock on the door. Covering Rose’s mouth with my hand, I asked.
“Who is it?”
“Mr Marino wants to see you,” the voice behind the door said “Alone” She added for extra measure.
“The audacity of that bitc” Rose remarked
“Tell him I’m on my way,”
“I was instructed to escort you… ma’am”
Letting a sigh, I turned to Rose
“Please just stay here, okay?” I purposefully looked up at her slightly taller frame with a gaze that she couldn’t say no to
“Fine, but if I hear something off, I’ll make sure he’s never called Mr Marino again,” She threatened.
My heart lifted at the thought of her wanting to fight the scariest man I had ever met for me. I gave her a brief hug and opened the door after a deep breath. I let the owner of the voice, a tall muscular blonde, usher me to where Marino was. This was the first time I had seen him around the house or anywhere. He works a black tuxedo and wore his hair in a low bun. He was beautiful.
We made a stop just outside Matteo’s study, and he tapped the wooden door twice before a gruff ‘come in’ sounded through the door. He nodded for me to go ahead, and I did. My bare feet tapping the wooden floor softly. My eyes saw Matteo against the window pane. His eyes ran from my head to my toes.
“You have a problem with shoes?”. He asked, his voice low and calm.
“I…err…”. I stuttered
“Take a seat, Aria”. He demanded, and I did just as he said.
“There’s a ball in two days and I want us to go together”. He continued.
I looked up at him. His tall body towering mine. He moved towards me, stood a few feet away, and examined my body with his eyes raking up and down.
“Have you been eating enough? You want people to think I don’t feed you enough”. He said, pulled me from my seat, and made me look him in the eyes. I saw a playful glint in his eyes for just a second, and then it was good. His eyes watched how I parted my lips to draw more breath. I was anxious and my frame shaking in his hands.
He closed his eyes and trailed the tip of his nose down my neck, and kissed it softly. I stiffened. My eyes were wide open as his wet tongue made contact with my skin. His tongue trailed its way down to my collar bone and bit and kissed with his tongue still on it. I let out a low moan. He was incredible. He held my body even closer towards him. His hard body crushing mine. I moaned again, and he locked his lips with mine. It was a slow and breathe taking kiss that I responded to moments after it started. He pushed his weight against me while holding my small frame in his arms. I felt it against my abdomen. He was hard. I trailed my small hands down his chest and towards his groin, but he caught it mid way.
“Don’t. Except you want me to take you right here”. I heard him whisper against my skin.
My hands involuntarily pushed him away from away from me, and I watched his eyes grow dark in anger. It was as though he hated me for what I did.
Suddenly, the door swung open, and we saw Carter, documents in his hands and his eyes darting from Matteo to me and then back to Matteo. He took a small step in and chuckled nervously, squinting and unsquinting his eyes.
“Did I miss something?”. He asked
“Aria was about to leave”. His voice was even more stern than I remember.
“How’s your ankle holding up? “. Carter asked, completely ignoring the boiling Matteo by his side.
“The pain’s not too much. I can walk fine now”. I said, keeping my eyes away from my husband, but he didn’t dare look away.
“I’ll see you”. Carter chirped as I walked towards the door and then out the office.