*Vincenzo's POV*
The first official wedding meeting was today,and better still, right now. Was it impromptu and unethical to do something like this on such short notice?
Yes.
Did I give a fuck about it though?
No.
I leaned on the balcony,watching the guests waltz around so freely in Evangeline's house. I wanted them out…I was hoping this place remained untouched until she was ready to relax and actually enjoy it.
But I had other priorities today and I was willing to swallow the discomfort of having the swarm of gossips in her space.
I had to find out if Evangeline was really Hector's daughter and if Marlene was as much of a snake as I suspected.
When I made the decision to marry Evangeline,I was fully prepared to battle off preys from my family who made a sport of finding prey.
Hers however had kept a strong enough facade to think they were actually caring towards one another.
And since I didn't see their interactions until now,news of Marlene's claim was a shock to me and thus today's dinner.
Only close friends and family were invited and although the other aunts gave excuses rather than admitting they would rather get electrocuted than step foot on Del Toro territory,there's one Hidalgo I'm sure couldn't resist being in attendance–Robert.
"I think this is a great idea."Deena said,walking to me. "Making everyone acquainted so there's less tension at the wedding."
I nodded,mentally noting down her reasoning in case someone questioned me.
"Where is she?"
"She's doing embroidery in her room–I think it's to help her relax."
"Relax?"
"Yes,"Deena nods. "She says it's just a hobby but between you and I,she hasn't been herself since her last visit with Mrs.Hilalgo–I think the DNA results will be in today."
She frowns at someone plucking the ornamental flowers by the door and excused herself to go and shun them.
My hand tapped steadily on the railing,observing the party–I contemplated going to check on her so I can offer comfort but assumed it wouldn't be the best idea,after all I had successfully done the exact opposite of that very consistently now.
I saw Zane walk in with a short haired brunette on his arm and pep in his step,I felt a strange sensation wash through me,maybe it was jealousy.
He's been on cloud nine lately and wouldn't shut up about how great his sex life was going.
All he did was think irrationally and take stupid risks,maybe that's the secret.
Being stupid,well we all know where Zane's tactics got me the last time so I wasn't particularly thrilled to try it again.
Where's Arturo anyway?
Zane saw me staring and despite any obvious distaste of him,he waved brightly at me and excused himself from the lady.
I looked away but he caught him making his way to me from the corner of my eye and I knew I would have to listen to whatever he did to her against my will so for the sake of sanity,I turned to find Evangeline's room.
I pushed the door open and my memory of manners increased the wider the door opened.
"May I come in?"I asked either way.
She nodded a yes but kept her attention focused.As Deena said,she looked too busy to be natural.
"Do you want me to ensure the DNA stays in your favour?"
She raised her eyes to find mine in what seemed to be a desperate search for some remorse that came with the sentence.
She realised I wasn't joking.
"No,thank you."Her tone was firm and she returned her attention to the lemon and yellow hue mix she was making with the beads in the pattern. "I won't need it."
Well,at least I tried.
I held the door knob and began to turn.
"Vincenzo?"
"Yes."I said faster than my brain could process a reply.
"About Luca."
Oh fuck,I should have just listened to Zane's story.
"I have this contract I was preparing that my head hasn't been in the right space to finish,however,I think I can still find it around here–"
I urged my focus to be on anything productive instead of the mention of his name,but I couldn't. If there was a painless medical procedure to erase memories–I might not use it but I will be heavily tempted to.
She glided around the room and pulled open a drawer from her bed side table.
I let myself be distracted by her,her walk,her delicate movements,the long strands of wavy hair that were dancing springs at the sides of her face.
From this angle of the room,I could almost see the bathroom mirror or at least the replacement of it.
I remembered in more clear details than I'd like to share exactly how that day went.
The perfect mirror back on the bathroom wall and her returned perfect composure seemed like an awful close to a chapter I never fully explored.
"Here." A sheet of paper with jagged cursive writing was handed to me.
A small quiet passed.
"Evangeline,I can't read this."
"And why not?"she asked defensively."I expect you to treat this with the same severity as you do your business."
"No,not that,your handwriting is–"I watched her eyes widen as I spoke. "Horrible."
She gasped and poked her head over the paper,and for just a second,I felt I could absorb her very smell if I sniffed hard enough.
She looked up at me from the paper,dangerously close,a few inches away from a bad decision but just close enough to fantasise about said bad decision.
"Do you need glasses?"she taunted.
"No."I narrowed my eyes at her. "I have perfect vision."
"Right."she said as if I was lying and snatched her paper from me. "This is why you are always squinting."
"I don't squint."
"Yes,you do."she retorted,walking away from me and carrying her scent with her.
I followed.
"I'm just going to read it." she announced and gestured me to the couch she was sitting on previously.
It takes a lot of willpower to abandon the scent and take a seat instead.
"I have prepared a set of rules,"she said,walking further away. "Rules that'll bind our marriage."
"Well this will be interesting."I chuckled.
"Firstly,"she began,ignoring my mockery."No smoking in shared living spaces--if you must live in the same house as me,please find a smoking room."
I could survive that--I quit again after all.
But then Evangeline decided to test how much I could survive…
I couldn't punish innocent by standers cause apparently my tone with Deena when she obviously wasn't doing her job properly was wrong.
She wanted none of my money.
No unannounced guests,today made that an added rule.
She didn't want to be informed about my businesses–I wasn't going to anyway.
No work,voilence or business meetings in the house.
I wasn't allowed to police her on where she went,she wasn't going to be hounded by my body gaurds.
We were NOT(she had added just as much emphasis) going to be having sex and I wasn't allowed to test boundaries by trying to arouse her.
"And what exactly do I get in return for all these?"I asked.
"My cooperation."she answers,raising the paper back to her face. "Staged romance is allowed,I'm willing to perform the role of a happy wife as long as the rules are upheld."
She doesn't meet me in the eye when she reads the next part. "On the matter of exclusivity. I think it's best we both remain flexible.As long as we are discreet and the family name isn't dragged through the mud, you are free to find your pleasure elsewhere. And I expect the same courtesy."
"So you want blessings to cheat?"
Her eyes shoots at me with the same intensity as a friend being offered to commit murder. She looked so baffled,you would have thought I was the one who came up with the idea.
"This isn't a lawful marriage by any means,I don't think restrictions over sex life makes alot of sense."
"So your answer is yes?"I insisted. "You want to cheat."
"I value my reputation too much to engage in a scandal but you can–"
"I'm the triffling one?"
She cocked her head in the most adorable way. "Aren't you?"
"I am,"I nodded. "I just didn't imagine you'd be so kind to think about my satisfaction in your rule book."
She pursed her lips. "Lastly–and perhaps the whole reason for the list. Luca's safety."
The damn name again.
"You cannot harm him,threaten him,or even be indirectly involved in anything that brings him harm. Is he still alive?"
I shrugged.
"Vincenzo?"
"Barely."
"I need him released as soon as possible,if you can call someone to get it done now–"
"I'll do it."I guess I'll just dally with my odds. "But you aren't allowed to ever contact him,mentioning him is also prohibited."
Her back straightens and she pauses to think,it takes her about three excruciating seconds to decide she could live with that.
"I'll need proof of his safety."
"Done."
"And one final goodbye."
"Don't push it."
She folds the letter in satisfaction,probably unaware of how much I'm seething in side.
"And if I find out that you didn't hold on to your word,I'll have you know,I learnt very nicely from the little-" her eyes flicker away from my gaze for a while."lesson you gave the last time you were in here and I won't be afraid to use them."
"I'm not accepting that."
"Which part?"
"All of it."I raised my feet. "You aren't going to be hurting yourself in my name."
"You are so narcissistic." She scoffed."This has nothing to do with you."
"Do you hurt yourself?"
"No–"she stumbled back wards as I approached.
"Evangeline."
"I do not."
I watched her to see if she'd scoop hair behind her ear,she didn't.
"Good,because you're too comfortable playing that card."
"Desperate times calls for Desperate measures."
"Desperate times or not,you aren't hurting yourself–"
"If we are to be married,you must treat me as a wife not as a captive,this control of yours can stay in other aspects of your life."
"You think this is how I treat my captives?"
A knock interrupted her before she could reply.
"May I come in ma'am?"a voice asks.
"No."I reply and Evangeline glares at me before going to open the door.
"Dinner is ready,and the special guests are waiting downstairs."
"We'll be down in a minute."
The maid bows and leaves and Evangeline stays still at the door for too long.
"Are you alright."
She jolted out of her head space and nodded unreassuringly.
"Let's go,there are people waiting."
I followed promptly downstairs and watched Evangeline morph into a host that was excited to meet everyone.
As much of a sight that was,I had other business to handle.
After confirming with my own eyes that Robert was in attendance,I went to the kitchen to confirm ask for the glass he used.
I beckoned Zane as I went.
"Where's Arturo?"
"Hopefully getting fucked–"Zane replied.
I frowned and pushed the seal wine glass into his chest.
"Evangeline's DNA is already in the lab,to get this one checked to confirm if there are any matches.I want it as fast as I can."
"Right now?"
"Yes."I said through gritted teeth.
"I'm on a date."
I should punch him,I really should punch him.
"I'm only doing this because of her."he murmurs grumpily and finally gets his butt out to do the job.
I finally relax when I see him walk out the door with the definitive calm that when he walks back in,the truth will be in my hand.