Contract Marriage

Chapter Ten: I love you

Vita is nervous in their bedroom. Yes, they are moving together after they got home from Italy. The makeup artist is already finished their job and is gone, leaving Vita alone in the big master bedroom. She is dressed with the dress she chose the other day from Italy.

She chose the fitted dress body with a tail. The tail is not really long, but neither it too short. It’s just in the perfect length. She looked at herself on the body mirror once more. She looked perfect, just perfect in her definition.

She let out a breath, the door cracks open. She turned back and watch Tio walking in to the room with his expensive tuxedo, tailored suit.

He walk in on his glory. He looked rich and expensive, his look could make women dropped to their knees. Men feared him just by looking at him, just simply looked through his dark eyes.

“Are you ready?” He asked. Tio scanned her body from hair to toe on the mirror. She looked marvelous, he didn’t regretted choosing her over someone that he almost agreed to marry to. Even though the other woman who’s agree to marry him only care for the fame and money, he doesn’t care. He just need someone to be his wife legally.

“Yes.” She breathe out. Tio can see with his bare eyes how nervous Vita looked. He can understand that this is her first time to attend something big like this. Moreover this is his company anniversary. This is important to him and the reason why he married her in the first place.

Tio walk closer to her, placed his hand on her lower back. Their eyes meet for the longest time they have ever done. Tio is staring hard into her eyes, drowning himself in her caramel brown eyes. Vita placed her right hand on her thigh, trying to lose some tension that building itself within herself. Being so close to him and not having him giving her a cold shoulder is something new to her.

“You need to relax, Vita. I don’t want my guests to think that you are just a paid wife. Act like you are my wife and always stays by my side.” Tio said, so close to her ear. But his composure is straight and cold.

Isn’t that what I am, now. She thought. But she didn’t say it out loud. She didn’t want to piss him off in his special day.

“Let’s go.” Vita gathered her things and put them in her purse, a matching one with her dress. Then Tio grabbed her slim waist, they start to walk out of their room.

A car is already standby for them in front of their house. The car drive them to the hotel Tio has chosen to hold his party, one of his many hotels. He ordered his assistant to take care of the decoration and he approved. So it’s all doing well, just how he like it.

The grand entrance with a red carpet filled for some media that only have passes. Just by looking at the media outside of the car make Vita feel nervous. Suddenly she don’t feel good.

“Tio, I’m nervous.” She whispered, looking out of the window of his side. She wants to back out, she couldn’t handle the pressure. This is too much for her.

“It’s fine. We’re not going to stop for anything. We are going to walk straight inside.” He told her. He will do anything to make her feel less under pressure. “We are going out when you’re ready.”

She takes a deep breath and exhale slowly. It helps a bit to loose some nerves. Then she wrapped her hands around his upper arm. Gripping it tightly, she doesn’t want to let go. She feels safe beside him. “Okay, I’m ready.”

Tio looked at her now determined self. He wants to doubt it that she is just faking them, but there is no time. He is not going to spend all night in the car of his own. He need to go to his own party. How would it look if he didn’t attend his own party? That would be bad for his reputation.

Tio sign the security outside of his car and the door opened instantly. Camera flashes, a clicking sound and every lens shoot towards them.

The first step he take, the cameras goes crazy. Tio could still feel her arms wrapped tightly around his arm. He will have to manage to go out of the car with this position. But somehow, they could. Tio is bending over her, waiting for her to slowly get out of the car. Once she did, the both of them straighten their bodies. And again, the media shooting questions after questions to them. But as they committed, they won’t speak up to the media for their sakes.

Tio turned to her, making sure that she is fine. When everything is going good, they start walking up to the entrance. Tio’s steps match hers. He couldn’t walk faster, they will end up falling to the ground, which he prefers not tonight or ever.

By the entrance, Tio stopped walking. He turned Vita to face him. She give him a questioning look. She is confused as to why he is stopping her. She thought they are not going to stop, but he did, so Vita is only following him.

Just like a moment of strike, he placed his lips on hers. It was just a gentle kiss and not giving away anything. Without a word, they continue to walk inside to the ballroom. A guard is leading them to the ballroom, the guests already arrived. Leaving them, the host to be fashionably late.

The huge wooden doors being pushed open, welcoming them with a glamour and luxurious room. The guests match with the theme colour, grey and white. Every eyes watching them from where they stand, Tio and Vita have made a grand entrance.

Amazed by the hosts, the guests star-struck with their appearance. Of course, the guests never seen Tio with a woman before. So this is new to them. Some of them held friendly look, some are jealous of them and some are just none of the above. There are mixed of looks they give to the couple. The soft music has stopped as the couple made their entrance.

After a moment of adoration, they walk further in to the ballroom. The guests make a room for them to walk up to the little stage on the front. A letter of CONGRATULATIONS OF THE 23TH YEARS is just above their heads. Flowers and balloons scatter everywhere around the ballroom.

Silence followed as the couple make it to the stage. Then, someone handed a microphone to Tio. Vita has already let go of his arm, but not completely. She let go, just to make him stand comfortably on the stage.

“Thank you for all of you who have make time to attend my company anniversary for the 23th years. Thank you for everyone who have believe in my company to be partnered with. The year will continue and we will give our best to you. Thank you and have a blessing night.” After the speech, Tio bring Vita down the stage.

As soon as he get down the stage, people congratulate him, wishing the best for his company and so on.

“Do you want a drink?” Tio offered her. A little champagne wouldn’t hurt. Maybe it could lessen her nerves and for her to start enjoying the night.

“Sure.” She said. So when a server walked by, Tio grab two glass of champagne for himself and her. He handed her the glass and she take it carefully.

“Thank you.” She smiled weakly.                          

She bring the glass to her lips, sipping the champagne slowly and elegantly. Vita is back clutching his arm. She rubbed his arm thought the suit.

A man come up to them, interrupting their moment. It’s none other than Mr. Donatello himself. Showing up with his most worth-drooling look, expensive suit.

Mr. Donatello smirks up, “The party is amazing Mr. Harlington. You never fail to amaze me with your annual party.” He said.

“Thank you. I’m glad you are enjoying the party.” Tio wrapped his left arm around her waist, which he hold a glass on. Mr. Donatello shifted his eyes to the little movement Tio made. He noticed little things Tio did too, somehow if he can find any hole. He can’t lie, he watches and envy Tio of what he have. A wife as beautiful and innocent as she is, a temptation.

“You looked beautiful, Mrs. Harlington. I feel like I’m being rude for calling you by your surname. Do I get to know your name now?” Mr. Donatello’s eyes moved from Vita to Tio. Asking for permission to get a name. He looked at Tio with an expecting look. Expecting if Tio will ever tell him.

“Mrs. Harlington is fine.” Tio said with a hard and piercing look.

“That’s okay by me.” Mr. Donatello nodded his head. He already knows how hard to get something out from Tio. Tio is hardheaded and never cracked. That’s something everyone knows about him. “I guess I’ll see you around.”

Tio nodded his head curtly at him. They watch him leave them in peace.

Vita, who have been silent throughout the conversation can just be quiet. She understand the situation, she never wants to put herself in that situation again if it’s not for Tio.

Tio suddenly let out a breath which she didn’t know he held for so long. That makes her turn to him immediately. “Are you okay?” She softly asked.

“I need to breathe.” Vita looked confused. Is he okay? Was he and Mr. Donatelo never in a good term?

Tio brought her to a private room in the ballroom. He have access to all of the rooms in this hotel. The room have nothing in there, just a free space. It’s usually used for people who asked for a room to dance, so they have more space to moves on the choreography. But after all, it was just a free space.

They stand side by side, but more like Tio is behind her. He pulled her closer to him, so he could have her in his arms. The moon shining through the window, a huge window that facing the city.

Vita turn to faced him in the eyes. But he looked at outside. So much going on in his mind. One of them is being Donatello hitting on his wife so openly. He couldn’t think straight, but wants to strangle him for eye r****g his wife.

“Tio, are you okay?” Vita put both of her hands on each arms. He’s not okay and that makes her worry.

“I’m fine.” He said without looking at her. If he look and stare at her for far too long, he couldn’t control his hormones. He couldn’t control his hormones since Vita came to his life, it’s just different.

She didn’t believe him. So she did something she never done before. Vita cupped his face with her hands and force him to look at her. She didn’t have to force him too hard, because he didn’t objected.

His eyes meet hers. She found nothing in his eyes, just a blank look. But little did she know, behind those blank eyes have so much in mind. He just couldn’t describe them in words. He want it in action. Get the work done and get satisfied.

She inch closer to his face. She did it even she have to tiptoe. “Don’t fight it, please. You’re not okay.” She whispers.

He looked at her blankly, but she wants to bring emotion to him.

Their breath labored together. Inhaling and exhaling at the same pace and time. Their eyes still looking at each other. Vita is waiting. And then she saw it, like a blink of an eyes.

She felt his arms around his waist, wrapping them firm on her slim waist. Such a tempting offer that Tio can’t turn down. He pressed her body close to his, then he claimed her lips in the intimate position. Once he is feeling her, he couldn’t stop. He doesn’t want to stop.

He kissed her with so much passion, he pour his feelings out on the kiss. Only her, he wants her to learn about him in so many ways. This is one of them. He had revealed himself one by one to her. She is being his shield breaker.

He kissed her, not just a lip locking. He pressed harder his lips on hers, making sure he left no room in between them. He loves the feeling about her in him. He held her captive in his arms. They were clouded with love and without them knowing, they have fall hard for each other.

I love you.