Page 7 of Corrupt Desires

Brushing past her, I make my way down the stairs and out of the house. I am resigned to my fate as tears build in my eyes. Wiping them away, I make a call to Matteo and Lorenzo.

* * *

Today I’m goingdress shopping. It’s a beautiful, sunny Saturday; it warms my skin but does nothing to warm my soul.

If I had my way, I’d be getting married in a black lace dress, just to shove it to James and make it apparent how I view this marriage… a sham. But no, Mother says I have to look the part. Happy and in love, otherwise the Romanis will know the marriage is a way to escape from their grasp. Apparently, one of the old rules set up between the two families is that no daughter or son can be used for bargaining if they are already married. The sacred vow of marriage is a law upheld by both families, and the only thing more precious to each family is children.

Mother predicts they will probably have someone undercover attend the wedding to ensure it’s the real thing. Let them come. I want Anthony Romani to be seething when he hears of it.

Stopping at the local boutique in town, I start browsing their selection of dresses, but before I can get too far, a woman approaches. She looks nice enough, Latino, light brown hair done up in a bun, wearing a black pencil skirt, a white blouse, and black heels. Her name tag says “Olivia.”

“Good morning, ma’am, is there anything I can help you find today?” she asks, smiling sweetly as she takes in my attire. I opted for my black skull crop-top today with my camo leggings and black sneakers. I probably look completely out of place here.

“I am looking for a wedding dress that will stop a man in his tracks. Something elegant but with a hint of sass.”

She looks me up and down. “Ohhh, yes that would fit you so well. I might have just the thing for you, one moment.” She hurries off to a back part of the store. Continuing to browse, I find nothing catches my eye. All the dresses are very princess-like. I feel more like a viper in a pit. I want lethal beauty to be dripping from every fiber of my being.

She returns shortly with a bundle of dresses on her arm. “Right this way, please.”

She leads me to the fitting rooms, and I take the dresses from her. They are surprisingly heavy. “If you would try each one on and let me know what you think. I have a good feeling about the ones I picked out, though. If you need help getting the back of them done up, just let me know. I’ll be right outside your fitting room.”

I thank her and head into the large fitting room nestled into a corner of the store. The first two dresses I try on are an immediate no, and I don’t even bother getting the backs done up. The third dress is promising so I set it on the “maybe” rack. The fourth dress… well the fourth dress is beautiful, in a badass sort of way. The dress is a pearl white, mermaid-type gown and has a halter-style top with an open plunging neckline. The back is open and a very daring slit runs up the left thigh. After exiting the fitting room, I ask her to zip up the back of the dress and tie the straps around my neck. The dress hugs every curve of my body. The slit up the thigh would make easy access to my thigh holster, too. One can never be too safe, especially given our circumstances.

“This is the one,” I tell her while giving myself a look in the mirror.

“Perfect, and seeing that this is a floor model, you’ll get an extra twenty percent off the sale price.”

After going back into the changing room, I peel off the dress and place it back on the hanger, leaving the room with the dress in hand. Olivia takes the dress from me and places it inside a gown bag, then leads me to the front register. Making my purchase, I can’t help but to feel a hint of trepidation. I’m getting married tomorrow. Not for love, but for convenience. I never thought this was the route my life would take. I always imagined I would settle down with a man I love with my whole being. If it weren’t for my father making it his dying wish, I would never in my life marry James. He knows I despise him.What does he hope to get out of it?

With the dress in hand, I leave the boutique and make my way back to my vehicle. I get the sense eyes are watching me, but as I look around, I can’t spot what has piqued my intuition.

Six

James

Never in a million years did I think that Francesca would readily agree to my favor, not after I denied their request all those years ago. Emilia is her only daughter after all, but it appears they must be as desperate as I suspected.

Wasting no time, the first thing I did when I woke up this morning was call Kayden. Giving him a brief overview of the circumstances, I let him know he will be my best man in tomorrow’s ceremony. To say I caught him off guard would be an understatement, but he understood the importance of the situation. As much as I would love to include Jaxon, I know he has his hands full with Melody right now. My parents are out of town on vacation, so the only family I will have there will be Kayden and Brooke.

Walking into my garage, I think back to when I first met Emilia seven years ago. She was just as much of a firecracker then as she is now. She had just turned eighteen, and I had just been granted a favor for a long court case I had been employed for on behalf of the Bonetti family. As I waited in the booth, I saw the most beautiful woman sauntering up to our meeting place, Bonetti’s Diner, on the west coast. She looked like an avenging angel coming to take my soul. Perhaps she did because ever since that day I haven’t been able to get her off my mind.

I remember the way she looked at me with curiosity, but I also remember the caramel hue of her eyes that was more pronounced when the sun hit her face just right. Ever since that first meeting, she has despised me.

It might have to do with the fact that her parents asked me to wed her shortly after our first encounter. Robert had called me one evening, asking me for a significant favor after I had already declined Francesca.

“James, my friend, you know I wouldn’t ask you if I didn’t think it would work out between the two of you,” he had said, a hint of pleading leaking into his words.

“Robert, I understand why you’re asking this of me, but I simply cannot accept it. She just reached adulthood and has much life yet to experience. You should let her live while she can. Not only am I much older than her, but she doesn’t even know me well enough, or I, her. At least let her be the one to start granting my favors, this way we can get to know one another. Maybe things will happen naturally.”

Robert sighed heavily. “Alright, James, always the one to speak the harsh truth. I suppose that is the lawyer in you, after all.” He briefly paused before continuing. “Fine, I will have her grant your favors, and you will try your best to win her over, agreed?”

“I will do my best,” I had replied.

Ever since that conversation, I have asked Emilia out to dinner every chance I get with her, and every time she turns me down. I have tried to win her over to no avail. She’s a stubborn woman, but I love it about her. I always hoped to eventually win her over, but first I wanted to let her experience life before being tied down. It was only fair.

But now, life has taken an unexpected twist, and it’s as though fate is intercepting, bringing us together in the most unlikely of ways.

* * *

---