Dangerous Seduction: The Mafia CEO’s Temptation

Chapter 5

ARIANA

He was crazy.

Gabriel Fernandez was crazy, if he thought I was going to get married to him. Impossible.

I checked my face for the last time in the little mirror I had in my bag, before exiting the cab that was taking me to my boyfriend’s house. I wasn’t sure it was convenient to call Damien that, given the fact that we had gone from being friends, to kissing, and to going on dates, without actually talking about what was going one. One thing though, was the fact that I liked him a lot. And I knew he liked me too.

Damien was my best friend. The only other person I could confide in, apart from my sister, Natalie.

Just the thought of her name, made me sick.

I bit my lips as I walked through the entrance, going straight for the stairs as Damien’s house was on the first floor.

By the time I reached the door, I was already managing a smile, and hoping my eyes were not too puffy.

“Damien?” I called, and knocked on the door several times, before letting out a laugh as I noticed the door bell which I always, always managed to forget.

No answer.

I bit my lips and decided to ring the doorbell again, frowning when I still didn’t get an answer. Where was he? Especially now that I needed him the most?

I pulled out my phone and leaned on the wall just across the door, searching for his number when I heard laughter coming from the window at the end of the hallway.

Natalie?

I frowned as I made my way towards the window, wondering what the heck my sister was doing, laughing outside my boyfriend’s apartment. No one else laughed as loudly as Natalie, and I was sure as hell, that that was my sister.

My eyes widened as I felt my whole body grow still in surprise, and shock, as I watched Natalie slam the door to the passenger side of Damien’s car, and watched as Damien walked around to her side, and slipped a hand around her waist, pulling her closer to him.

A certain kind of pain, so raw, my chest literally squeezed, made it’s way through me as I watched them lock lips, right in front of the building.

No. It wasn’t possible.

I had to be dreaming.

The Natalie whom I had witnessed cheating on her fiancé, wasn’t standing in front of my own boyfriend’s apartment, licking lips with him.

It couldn’t be…

~

ARIANA

I sat in front of the mirror with the strangest expression on my face. Even to me, it seemed strange as hell, but it was exactly how I felt inside of me. I felt dead. And had felt like that for the past one week since my life had taken a u-turn, spiraling towards what I could only describe as my own distruction.

I couldn’t for the life of me, explain why I was sitter in front of the mirror of my bedroom, with my face dolled up by my mother, and covered by a veil. I counter explain why I was wearing a white dress, which by the way, was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen in my own life, waiting to be ushered out of my room, to the venue of my wedding.

My wedding.

More like a sham.

I was indeed getting married to Gabriel Fernandez.

“Are you ready?” My mother called out, smiling brightly as she walked back into the room, having gone out to get the car ready. “You are the most beautiful bride in the entire world, my seeet Ariana.” My mother said, bending down to place a kiss on my temple, while I shivered from something I didn’t want to name.

I knew they were all being nice, because they knew I was standing in for Natalie. I was sacrificing my whole life for her, and them, because they were avoiding losing their empire to Gabriel.

I said nothing and got up from the chair instead, and smoothed down the creases on the dress.

I looked up to see my mother looking up at me with her eyes glistening with tears of what I knew was joy.

I blinked at her, and eyes the door. “Is the car ready?” I asked, trying to avoid whatever long speech I knew she was about to give, as I lifted the dress and made for the door.

But my escape was cut short when the door opened and the very last person I wanted to see, walked into the room, looking at me with an expression I couldn’t read.

Natalie.

My throat, which was already dry, began to burn as everything inside of me screamed at her presence. “What are you doing here?” I asked instantly, talking a step back as she made her way towards me. Natalie stopped a few feet away from where I was standing.

From the corner of my eyes, I saw my mother adjust her hair, and turned, leaving us alone in the room.

Natalie’s eyes narrowed. “It’s not like you are being sent to the gallows or anything, Ariana. Chill.” She said ever so casually, a smile playing on her thin lips.

I fought the gasp that threatened to leave my lips at her words and instead raised a brow at her. “Gallows? Natalie, I don’t need to be sent to the gallows before I know I am about to live a miserable life!” I hissed at her, feeling slightly nauseous.

I hadn’t seen her since the day I saw her kissing Damien outside of his home. Hell, they hadn’t even known I had gone there, as I had gathered whatever’s strength was left in me, and had made my way out of the building, through the back door just down stairs.

Natalie and Damien had torn whatever was left in my heart. And I don’t going to forgive them for that. She had been visibly angry when she had learnt that I was getting married to Gabriel, but had said nothing, and had disappeared the whole time, till now.

I didn’t need a seer to tell me where she had been.

Then again, I couldn’t forget the orgy..

Natalie took a step closer. “Marrying Gabriel is hardly what I would discribe as living a miserable life, Ariana. I know him like the back of my hands…” those words held a lot of meaning behind them. Even the ones she had left unsaid.

But then..did she know him as she said?

I cleared my throat and picked up my gown in my hands again. I needed to focus. I needed to focus on the rest of the day, and not on her.

“Ariana.” Natalie said, rushing to block the door. “Listen…I’m so sorry that you had to do this.” She pleaded, but I was beyond telling sorry.

Sorry just didn’t cut it.

What if I told her that I knew she was sleeping with my supposed boyfriend who had not even said a word to me since that day, even when I knew he was aware of the wedding.

“Excuse me.” I told her, and brushed her aside lightly, pulling open the door and closing it in a haste. Just to come face to face with the very last person I would have expected to see in my fathers house. “Gabriel?” I said in a whisper, as shock sliced through me.

He smiled, showing me perfect white teeth. “I came to make sure my bride doesn’t cancel on me.” She said smugly, and with a voice deep enough to send shivers up my spine.

Oh dear..