HIS HIRED BRIDE

CHAPTER - 21

"It's stillness and pressure and rhythm and breathing."

AVA WILSON P.O.V

"What are you doing?" I asked him with a fast heart beat.

"Just checking!" He exclaimed, taking out the ring and putting on another one.

"There are too many. I want something normal" I exaggerate.

He smirked. "I always want the best. If you're going to be Mrs. Marcello Trocelli, you are going to have the best of the best."

My eyes brightened with a mischievous smile "Can I have the best husband then?"

Instead of a prickly come back, he just barked out a laugh, the deep rich velvety sound rumbling from his chest.

"You're something else. You know that, amóre." He said with a twinkling grin.

My heart stopped as I gasped hearing that from him.

AMORE.

I know enough to exactly tell, he just called me Love.

I stare at him searching his eyes to give my rhythmic heart a break. To tell me he meant it. To confirm it, he was just not using it as an endearment.

"Your returns are too high compared to your height." He joked looking up from the ring and giving me a cherished smile.

"I'm five-three, for your information." I slapped him on the shoulder. "Not all of us like to give a competition to the Eiffel Tower."

"Just accept it, you're short." He smirked.

"I can wear that death trap and be five-eight in those high heels."

He just laughed, "And reserved a bed in a hospital."

I gritted my teeth and crossed my arms over my chest grumpily. "I didn't wear them today, it doesn't mean I've never worn them. Are you forgetting, I was wearing heels when we first met? I can be crazy enough to damage mother nature."

"You could've worn them today." He said, eyeing my sneakers.

"But I choose not to. And I have only one pair of that killer, and I took them out on special occasions." I rambled on. "Besides, who runs behind their customers making flowers in hooker heels?"

The lights in his eyes changed and for the second time he looked at me with emotions. But it went as fast as it came.

"So, I have something for you." He said after clearing his throat, the playfulness disappeared from his voice.

He took out a small velvet-wrapped box from his pocket and slowly kept it in his hand and lifted the lid slowly.

"What is it?" I asked excitedly, leaning forward to take a look.

I sucked in my breath covering my mouth. My eyes were literally bulging.

"Holy fries, is this sapphire?" I said through my suddenly dry throat, glancing up at Marcello who was watching me closely instead of gazing at the engagement ring he was holding.

"It's your engagement ring" He said with a sigh as I beamed up at him. He lifted the ring out of the box and held out his hand to me. "It's my nona's (grandmother). It was her engagement ring, she wanted me to pass it to my wife. I was carrying this from yesterday night. I wanted to make sure you liked it."

I watched as he took my hand and slipped the ring over my finger, the cold hand contrasting the feel of his warm skin against mine. "What if I don't like it? Would you let me pick something else?"

He took my hand and sat back still staring at it "No. This is perfect." He replied by studying my hand from all angles.

I rolled my eyes at him and lifted my hand to admire the ring. "Then why did you not give it to me? Admit it, you were debating whether I would love it or not."

"It's already been decided, Ava. My wife will wear this rock on her hand. If you didn't like it, I would've persuaded you."

I c****d a brow at him. "You sounded so sure that I would give in. Don't be so cocky. I'm immune to you."

Liar!

Well, I wasn't but he didn't need to know that. He doesn't need more satisfaction to boost his already arrogant ego.

He let my comment pass and nodded to the ring. "So, do you like it?"

I glanced at it again, mesmerized by the large, princess-cut diamond sitting on an elegant platinum band with a diamond encrusted V-shaped ring setting that held the rock together.

"Isn't it too late to ask but nevertheless it's gorgeous and frightening at the same time." I replied, staring at the ring.

Its substantial weight had a conflicting effect on me. I felt the dreadful weight of the scheme I was doing with Marcello.

This was no joke now.

I was really marrying Marcello Trocelli, the casanova Italian bachelor for money and it felt so ugly in my mouth turning my mood into sour.

Suddenly, he reached for my hand and gave it a light squeeze as if he knew what I was thinking before he turned his attention to the display.

"Anyways, we have to pick out our wedding ring." He said as two sales people walked inside behind Ashton. He smiled broadly at us before seating himself from across the table.

Ass-stone spent the next half hour singing praise for each set we touched and I was nearing the end of my patience. Marcello on the other end was inspecting each piece with a certain detachment. To end our misery, I pointed to a plain golden band with a round shape. "I want that one."

"This?" Ashton looked at me weirdly. "We have more unique design-"

"I want it simple and uncomplicated." I said firmly. "I don't like a lot of trapping and overdoing each other. Marriage on its own is complicated, don't you think?"

Ashton looked at Marcello with a hopeful glance as he would just brush off my taste.

I was tense, what if he sided with Ashton who treated me like garbage.

"She can choose whatever she wants." Marcello said quietly, nodding at the set I'd chosen. "I like it too. Make it our size accordingly and have it ready till friday."

Ashton nodded and dispatched order to the staff taking all the boxes and giving us a moment to complete paperwork.

When they were gone, I leaned closer to Marcello "So, do you really like it or ?"

He studied me from the corner of his eyes and smiled faintly. "I like it. It was the only thing that didn't look overdone. I'm glad you chose that, not some sparkly eyes damaging diamonds."

I grinned. "Well, I'm glad we agree. That's a first for us and hopefully the last." I winked.

"The Last?" He asked with a brow wrinkling in amused confusion "I thought we made a pact to try to get along?"

"To get along, sure. But that doesn't mean I will be agreeing with you all the time. I told you already and I'm reminding you again don't try to tempt me and make me dance in your tone. You will regret it. We have a long way to go and play an agree and disagree game."

"How will you get along then, if you will behave like this always?" He arched his eyebrows at me.

I rolled my eyes. "Well, I'm much more sensible than you, as you saw it today and you also agreed with me. Keep doing that and we will leave happily ever after."

Marcello looked at me with an amused smile. "What will I do with you?" He shook his head signing the paper.

"Are you done?" I asked him.

"Yes. Do you want something else from here?" He questioned me.

"Nahhh, not really. Besides, I cannot afford anything." I shrugged.

He sighed "You really have to start thinking like Mrs. Trocelli. You are going to be the richest lady in this country at least for a year. So it's not nice to say you cannot afford it."

I thrust my shoulders high with a proud chin "I'm marrying you for one million dollars and I'll only take that. It's completely unfair if I spend what is not rightfully mine."

He looked at me with hooded eyes as if he could not believe my words. He shook his head as if he couldn't figure out what I was babbling about.

In the next ten minutes we were out of the store, heading for his car. "I can take a cab from here." I said pausing by the door "I have to go to hospital. You'll be late for your office."

"I'll drive you to the hospital." He ordered holding the door open "Get in."

"I can go on my own, there's no problem." I argue.

"Get in or I'll shove you." He challenged me with raised eyebrows.

"You wouldn't dare, you are to etiquette." I replied with a smirk.

He arched an imperious brow at me "Try me."

I stuck my tongue out at him "Bad Marcello!" I exclaimed sitting inside the car. I can see him from the close window as he smiles to himself and shakes his head coming from the opposite side.

"Do you like testing my patience?" He asked as he just closed the door securing his seat belts.

"Why? Would you spank me for being naughty?" I fired back with twinkling eyes.

His face turned towards me as his eyes were wide. He looked at my lips and then again my eyes and that's when I noticed what I actually said.

The sudden flare of heat and electricity that swept through me startled me into a frozen state where I could hear or see nothing except the sudden drum roll of my heart beating fast.

My mind went blank as I stared at him with wide eyes. His face was inch apart as his pupils dilated. Marcello's warm soft lips moved against mine, angling slightly to deepen the kiss, his tongue slowly teasing his way into my mouth.

And the bold move, my reflex fired back up to life and I reacted by slipping my arms around his neck as I took him more near to myself. His arms wrapped against mine as I matched his kiss.

I thought I knew what I wanted for my first kiss. I dreamt it often enough to remember how it works, how I will feel. But this...this...this is totally crazy.

No one would ever think of me doing such a bold move. I was always a shy soul in front of strangers. But Marcello's own heated reactions gave life to my fire which I didn't know also existed.

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