Contract Marriage

Chapter Nine: Torn

The fresh air of Italy feels different. Every places she had been, it’s always leave something in her heart. When she woke up today, she saw Tio still sleeping on his bed side. He slept fully clothed.

She decided to take a shower first and ordered some breakfast from the room service. It was nice to have a tasting food from around the world. Well, she is glad to be here, where she is at and what she’d be today.

The food is filling up the table just by the balcony view. She looked back at the bed, she wanted to wake him up. To have breakfast before it gets cold and hard. But looking at him right now, all she wants to do is mesmerized the moment. Mesmerized him. He’s beautiful when he is unconscious, sleeping. Because she doesn’t have to faze a cold, glaring and hard man. She loves him this way.

Feeling himself being watched, he decided to wake up. He felt tired emotionally. He had to make a call about the business he run that night after he walked her to the room. The work need managing immediately, because something was wrong. He need to meet the manager who runs his company when he got back or maybe he could just fire the manager right away.

Vita is shock when she sees him opening his eyes. She feel like being caught red-handed. Then she blushed, hard. Noticing that Tio is staring back at her.

“Good morning.” Tio greeted her, who is looking down embarrassed. He strangely find it cute.

He was never the one to think about marriage, let alone to be in a relationship. Rushing things like marrying is out of his league. He never intended to get married, let alone with his childhood friend, more like an acquaintance. But the marriage need to be done as soon as possible.

The marriage is to not rumor him about the business he did. It was being around for quite some time and he handle it fast enough not to destroy the business and himself.

“Morning.” She replied shyly, still not looking up. She need to maintain her heart first which is beating so fast at the moment. “I have ordered room service. Let’s have breakfast.” When she finally look up, she blushed even harder. Tio is still looking at her intensely.

“Okay, let me use the bathroom first.” She nodded like a good girl.

Tio get up from the bed and go straight to the bathroom like he intended to do. Once he is out from her sight, she breath out in relieve. His intense stared is making her feels something stronger. She have admitted to herself that she fall in love with him. But to confess her love to her own husband is still not thinkable for her to do. She haven’t prepared to be turned down, getting her heart break again, she is not ready for that.

Tio walked to the table his wife on. He sit on the other chair. In front of him is placed a plate of pasta, the famous Italian dishes. He looked over to his wife’s meal, just the same. But her plate is now half empty, she must be eating without waiting for him.

So the breakfast went well and silence, peaceful. Neither Vita or Tio talked. It was half comfortable and half silence.

“What time are we going to the fitting?” Vita asked. She is done with her breakfast, so was Tio. Vita is having her dessert, chocolate mousse, with Tio still sitting with her, just drinking his juice.

“Eleven.” He said.                                                                   

“Okay, I will get ready now.” Tio quickly look at the watch hanging on the wall, then he frowned. He turned to look at her, confused.

“It’s still 8, Vita. Are you going to get ready for three hours?”

“I don’t want to make you wait.” She said lowly, playing with her fingers and looking down at her thighs. He scoff in amazed. So that was the reason why she always get ready hours before and being ready hours before the actual time. Unbelievable. She is indeed an extraordinary woman.

“You don’t have to do that. You are unbelievable.” He whispers the last sentence, more to himself. He still can’t believe it. He know a new fact about her now and he will get to know them more soon.

“I just—, I thought—” She couldn’t even form a words to defend herself. Because there is nothing to be defended. It was her choice to do that, not because he told her to.

“Just stop, okay? Stop doing that.” He said in seriousness.

“Okay.”                                                               

“And we are flying back after getting pizza.” He said. After that he get up from his seat and to the bathroom again.

Tio wear a casual clothes, while Vita is wearing a long slight transparent dress. Tio honestly almost scold her for wearing yet another dress like the previous one. He didn’t like it, not just because any man could see her body, her body is ravishing. No doubt every man she walked by will have a dirty mind.

Vita crossed her legs, leaning against the seat. Tio sit beside her, doing nothing like she did. Suddenly, a hand dropped on her thigh. Vita quickly turned to Tio and where his hand is. But he is still looking up front, like he didn’t just dropped his hand on her thigh. She didn’t complain until they arrived at the boutique.

The boutique is nothing special, but the most expensive tailored by them. They really looked into the details, every little thing. Tio chose this boutique because they offered the best after he announced the celebration party for his company.

Tio won’t think twice if they give him the best for his wife and make this party is a top searches on the internet. The theme is glowing in elegantness.

“Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Harlington.” The assistant designer greeted them. She led them to the private room where they kept the dresses. They made two choice of dresses, just in case. This is a big deal for them as well.

“We’re very sorry that Mr. Emilio can’t join us, he have a runway overseas. But he have made the best dresses just for Mrs. Harlington. He hoped that you likes it.” The assistant look at Vita with a warm smile.

“That’s fine. Show us the dress.” Tio demanded. Vita hold his arm, she’s nervous. This will be the first time she had a designer dress and moreover she get treated so special. She knows it’s all Tio’s power, but still.

The assistant quickly walk to the closed curtain. She slide opens the curtain. The blink from the dresses shining to Vita’s eyes. The two dresses is a long dresses, one have a tail and one is rounded. The diamonds shining by the sunlight through the big window behind them.

Her mouth slightly open, amazed by the dresses. She couldn’t believe her own eyes, the dresses is amazing. This is the first time in her life she see a dresses looked like this. She clutched Tio’s arm, making him look down to her.

“It’s beautiful.” She whispered. Tio smiled faintly.

“Choose whatever you like.” He said to her, secretly looking at her. She is not aware of that.

She looked into his eyes gratefully. She is silently saying her thank you. And he nod, he understand.

Now she is torn, to choose between the two.