Nikolas searched her face.
He craned his head to the side, watching her with keen interest shimmering in his eyes.
Viviana mimicked what he was doing, tipping her head to the side as well. "Do you have something you want to say?"
"Yeah." He smiled, biting down on his lip. "You want to use me. You're trying to use me to get back at your family. That's what this is, hm?"
"Yes, I will not lie about it. I do want to use you. Why?" She pinned him with her gaze. "Do you want money?"
"What?"
"If money is what you want in order to cooperate with me, I'll give you however much you desire. All you have to do is name your price."
Nikolas stared long and intently, unblinking. Surprised.
There was just something about this human that just… It fascinated him.
Was it the way she spoke? Her articulated words. Or was it how standoffish she was?
He chuckled.
She elevated her head. "What's amusing you?"
"You." He laughed, drawing his tie loose "You amuse me. What makes you think I want money? Do I look that unfortunate to you?"
"Hm…"
She scrutinized him briefly with a ghost of a smile in her eyes.
"No. Quite the contrary. You could pass off as a tycoon, and anyone would believe you. But as you said, you're none of that. Or did you lie?"
"Unfortunately not." Nikolas leaned back against his chair and crossed his legs. "I'm a nobody."
"Then name your price."
"Are you sure about that?"
"Yes."
"And all I have to do is pretend this marriage is real? Even though it won't be?"
"Oh, but it'll be very much real, Mr…" Viviana trailed off. "What's your name again?"
"Nikolas?"
"Nikolas who?"
"Nikolas… Bastiani?"
"Ah, like the famous Bastiani who owns Bratva," she commented, staring at him for so long it felt invasive, almost as if she were peeling off layers of him. "Right."
"Huh..." he hummed. "What if I am that Bastiani?"
"You couldn't be."
"Why not?"
"First of all, the Bastiani everyone knows looks nothing like you. Second of all, Mr. Bastiani wouldn't sit here, about to let me use him."
Nikolas grinned. "You'd be surprised, Miss Princess."
"Look on the bright side though. You are far more handsome than him. He's average at most. I'm not exactly a fan."
She wasn't so sure what sounded so funny about her words because this man began chuckling, his eyes smiling along.
"Are you done laughing to your heart's content, Mr. Bastiani?"
Nikolas waved a hand at her. "Don't mind me. Continue."
"Very well then. As I was saying, the marriage will be as real as it can get. After all, we'll be signing some legal documents."
"Fuck," he muttered. "This is crazy."
"I'd like for you not to curse."
He furrowed his brows at her. "Oh?"
"It's not cool. At least I don't think it is."
"We barely know each other, your highness."
She sighed at the name. "That doesn't matter. We'll learn to know each other. For now, I know enough. Name your price."
Nikolas played absentmindedly with the cup of tea on the table.
'What a woman'
"Five million. And I'm all yours."
A deafening silence dropped between the both of them.
He was sure she wouldn't give that much just to marry a man she didn't even—
The horrified look on her face made him swallow the rest of his thoughts.
Had he gone too far? Five million was a lot. But it was only a tease. He didn't need her money. He was Nikolas Bastiani. Not even her father held a candle to his wealth, but—
"You're greedy!"
He drew his head back, caught off guard by her disdain. "What?"
"Five million? Your greed is sickening!"
A beat of silence passed between the two of them. Then all of a sudden, he barked out a laugh, throwing his head forward, forehead buried in his palm. A bit of tears welled up by the edges of his eyes.
"What's so funny? Huh?" Viviana bit out.
Nikolas dragged his fingers through the dark strands of his hair and looked into her eyes. "But you set this up. You asked me to name my price, and I did. Now you call me greedy?"
"You embody the character of a broke man."
"That's insulting."
"Insulting? No." She pursed her lips, scoffing, "I stated facts!"
He stood up suddenly, his body now hovering over hers. And she followed his movement up until he took her jaw in his grip. She narrowed her eyes at him as he said, "Let me get this straight. Is it too much for you? You won't pay five million? Well, that's a shame."
"I called you greedy, Nikolas Bastiani, I never said I was backing down." Her fingers wrapped around his wrist. "I'll give it to you."
"What's that?" He wasn't oblivious to how close their faces were. "I didn't hear you."
It was only a matter of who would move first.
"I said, I'll pay you." She had yet to let go of his wrist.
It made him want to laugh more, and he wasn't even a man who laughed much. He barely found anything amusing enough to earn even a chuckle from him.
This woman, however…
"Again, what is so funny?" Viviana leveled him with a glare as she stood to her feet, letting go. "Stop finding every little thing I say funny. It's annoying."
She snatched his hand and dragged him off with her before he could even say a word. "Come with me."
"Where are we going?"
"To buy rings, and…"
Her eyes glided up and down his broad frame, at the body-fitting waistcoat he had over a shirt, then to his slacks.
"…And to get you a more suitable nice color," she said. "The wedding is tomorrow. We barely have twenty-four hours."
"Wait, what?"
"It starts at four p.m."
Crap.
The sun sets at six. How would he—
Oh, right. Francesca could help.
"I'll leave you at five a.m."
Viviana paused. "Why?"
"Because the sun rises at six a.m."
She looked at him. "So?"
"I have somewhere to be."
Viviana frowned.
"Mr. Nikolas Bastiani."
She fished into her purse, taking out and pressing something cold and metal against his chest.
Nikolas glanced down. It was a pistol. "Hm?" he hummed, amused.
She coldly smiled. "Are you messing around with me? Perhaps, trying to scam me? Just so you are aware, I can find you if you even dare. You won't be able to escape me, so I'd advise you not to even think about it."
"Now, now, sweetheart, let us calm down." His chuckle vibrated. "I told you…"
He wrapped a hand around the finger, smiling charmingly.
"…I am all yours."