Contract Marriage

Chapter Eight: Seductive smirk

Tio is dressed in a boxer and white t-shirt. After that encounter, the room fell into an awkward silence. Tio is now standing on the balcony while watching the beach wavering the water to the edge. Meanwhile, Vita is taking a shower and get change in the bathroom.

Tio can’t understand her and especially, he can’t even understand his own feelings. What she wants and what she demands him, did he have to grant them? He never got demanded by a woman, he always the one to demand them, not the other way around.

When Vita get out of the bathroom, she saw Tio on the balcony. She decided to walk up to him. He seem to be in a deep thought, he didn’t heard her coming. Not until she wrapped her arms around his chest. He didn’t get startled, he just look down to her hands in front of him. Warmth wrap around them in the chill weather.

“What’s wrong?” She asked in a muffled.

“We are going back in the morning.” Tio have planned everything, including their honeymoon and the return. He decided that he had enough of break and need to go back to work. If he continue to stay here, he will get distracted so easily.

“Why? Is something wrong back in the state?” She is genuinely concern. Even though she didn’t know that much about his work, she still asks.

“We need to start preparing for my company’s anniversary. It’s in about two weeks and I need to get you ready. I will introduce you to my employee and business partners.” Vita didn’t expect that answer. Maybe she expected to hear something is wrong with his work.

“Oh.” She weakly loosening her arms around his body. She takes a few step back and Tio finally turn around. He look at her dazing state and frowned. Did she expect to be just a hidden wife, then what’s the point of their marriage? The only thing he married her is because he wants to show his business partners that he is not a womanizer who plays around with women and never serious in taking his businesses.

“You okay?” He asked in amused. Lifting his eyebrow in question to her state right now. “I don’t think you’re fine, take a seat.” He told her, usher her back to sit on the chair on the balcony.

“Hmm.”                                                                                       

“What hmm?” Tio asked.                                                     

“I’m fine.” She said, slowly getting back to her sense.

“Good. We’re going to Italy for a fitting and then we’re going back home.” He explained. It’s not going to be fair for her if he leave her in the dark.

-

Landing on the island of Italy, Vita is amazed. She is amazed with the beauty of the city offered her. It is magnificent and just different. Being her first time in Italy, she couldn’t help but excited. Just like other tourist would be.

Tio who is sitting beside her in the car, just watching her with a faint smile on his lips. He didn’t know just being aware of what he have bring happiness to others, especially his wife. He just couldn’t help but to be happy too. Her happiness radiated to him.

He is used to being moving place to place in one day. Because he is a businessman, he have to, it’s his job to do so. He need to meet others businessman or businesswoman to make a deal or just to not lost contact with them.

“Do you want to grab dinner first? We will spend the night here and the appointment is tomorrow.” Tio asked as he inform her. He didn’t know they were going to arrive in the evening.

“Sure, can we have pizza?” Vita look at him with hope. It was one of her to do list when she can travel all around the world is to taste their iconic dishes. It was her hopes, but now one by one her wishes come true. That is all because of him, her now husband.

“Yeah.”

She smiled gratefully at him. He might not open his heart for her yet, but she hoped that he can open up to her and they could make their marriage work as a real one.

A year and a half is not a short time. And just a couple months of the marriage, she already fall for him. Because she know, no matter what people talk badly about him, that is not true. He is sweet and responsible towards her.

His promises and acts prove more than anything to her. She couldn’t ask, but she received just how she wanted.

She have nothing to do in the car and just stay silent on the rest of the ride.

They arrived in front of a big building. It’s a hotel building. Vita is confused, why are they at the hotel? Aren’t they going to eat pizza?

She saw Tio getting out of the car, then her door side being pulled open. She quickly turned and see a bellboy opening her door. Without a word, she hopped out of the car too. Catching up with her husband, Vita have trouble of walking fast with heels.

Tio walked normally, but Vita walks fast just to catch up with him.

They end up on the front desk. She see him talking to the woman behind the desk. Shortly, he looked around for her. She stand not too far away from him. So he walked up to her and give her the card to their room.

“Let’s go.” Tio walk ahead, leaving Vita walking by herself. He walks towards one of the restaurant in the hotel. He remember Vita requested to eat pizza, but he can’t go out. The hotel must have pizza, right? They have to.

Vita is disappointed knowing they didn’t have the pizza at their own pizza restaurant.

Stopping at the entrance, Tio is looking for someone. His eyes meet with a familiar person in the restaurant. He turns to Vita, “We’re going to meet my business partner. I expected you for your best behavior.” He whispered.

Vita nodded.

Once he is sure about Vita, he wrapped his arm around her slim waist. They walk towards the man who have been waiting for their arrival. This is the first time Tio ever introduced her to any of his business associate.

“Mr. Donatelo.” Tio shakes hand with the man.

“Mr. Harlington.” He greeted back. Then his eyes move to Vita. She felt uncomfortable with the way he’s looking at her. “Mrs. Harlington.” He extend his hand towards her.

She take his hand and smile politely.

“Have a seat. I was waiting for you to arrive. Please, order anything you want. My treat.” Mr. Donatelo said.

A waitress come to their table. Handing them the menu of their restaurant. When Vita open the menu, her eyes landed on the food she wanted. Pizza. They actually serve pizza here.

“I’ll just have red wine and for my wife, serve her your best pizza in here.” Tio said to the waitress. He didn’t hold gaze for more than five second and then back to Mr. Donatelo.

“Are you sure that’s all you wanted, Mr. Harlington?” Tio could care less about what he ordered. He noticed. He notice the way he looked at his wife. He didn’t like it for one bit, from the bottom of his heart. He is ready to rip his eyes out of its socket.

Tio wants to quickly get rid of him if he is not important for his business here in Italy.

“Yes.” He answered short and curd.

Vita move uncomfortably in her seat. She wants to scoot closer to Tio, but decided not to go with it. He doesn’t want to embarrass Tio in front of his business partner.

“So I heard you will be throwing a party for your company anniversary.” Mr. Donatelo begin to talk. Taking his drink and gulping down the content. His eyes secretly glance at Vita lustfully.

“Yes. I hope you received the invitation by now.” Tio said while glaring at Mr. Donatelo. He followed where his eyes land on and he is furious. But he keep it in, gritting his teeth. He pull her chair closer to him, he make her turned to him by grabbing her chin softly.

“Are you tired?” Tio asked. He look at her with a pointing look. She needs to understand some implicit look he throw now and then starting now.

“Yes.” She cleared her throat and her voice come out rasp. “Yes.” She repeat again, more clearer now. She too, want to get out of here as soon as possible. Just about minutes she involve in his business life and she already hate it. It’s not her lifestyle to live on.

Tio turn back to look at Mr. Donatelo. “You heard my wife. She is tired. I hope you understand us, we just arrived from our honeymoon. But I hope to see you soon.” Tio said in a nice tone, decided to cut the meeting now. Better now before he beat the s**t out of him.

“Oh, what a shame. We just met right, Mrs. Harlington? But I hope to see you soon as well, maybe at the party?” Mr. Donatelo smirked.

“Most definitely.” Tio said in a hard tone. It takes him everything in him to keep himself calm. That smirked wasn’t just a smirk, but a seductive smirk.

He stand up from his seat and Vita followed. Shaking hand with Mr. Donatelo as a goodbye, the couple walk out from the restaurant.

Vita can finally breathe as they are out of the restaurant. She didn’t like it, she hate it so much. If just she could tell her husband that. She doesn’t care anymore about the pizza, she is glad she can get out of that situation.

“We’ll get pizza tomorrow. Just get some rest.” Tio ordered her. He isn’t oblivious, he can see Vita is uncomfortable too. Being gazed lustfully, it bothers her.