HIS HIRED BRIDE

CHAPTER - 20

"The way I detached myself from people is by far is the most scariest part of me. I can love you to death and never speak to you again."

AVA WISLON P.O.V

"Ready?" He got up and offered me his hand.

"As ready as I will ever get." I said as I took his hand, fighting the instant urge to run my finger on his warm skin. "Lead the way Mr. Trocelli."

"Marcello." He said as we walked together towards the door, the hand he offered me earlier now pressed lightly on the small of my back. "Make a habit of calling me that."

I swallowed hard at the possessive way his strong muscular arm slipped around me as we passed a couple of girls who gave me a deadly glare. "Yes, Marcello."

"Come, car's this way." He said as he took my hand again and led me down the block.

As I looked down at our linked hands, I wondered if he was holding me because he did not want to lose me on this busy road or because I was his possession that caused him one million dollars.

He intertwined our finger, taking me in his left side as the car and bus passed by his right making my heart beat fast and it that moment it dawned on me that I had more to lose in this deal than just my self respect. That made me truly afraid of this crazy arrangement for the first time when I ignored all my guts and Sam's disagreement for this.

"You have to stop wearing that." He stated as his dark blue sports car that was screaming money came to our view.

I looked up at Marcello. "Excuse me?"

He sighed and glanced down at my feet. "We're going to one of the most exclusive jewellery stores in the country and you're wearing sneakers. How will they know you can afford it?"

I crossed my arms over my chest and gave him my deadliest glare. "They won't because first I can't afford it, and second you're walking with me. And it's you, who is itching to marry me. So you will buy it."

"I am buying it." He retorded, rolling his eyes. "I was hoping you would at least look like a woman who deserves it."

"ahhh...that was the point?" I scoffed. "So I don't look like a woman to you or I don't look like a woman of your type, who walked naked wearing earth destruction heels and caked face with forty kilos of plastic." I snapped.

"And let me point out two things. One, I really am not that kind of a woman. My brain is bigger than my fake boobs jobs. Two, what a shallow man you are. You just made your own conclusion just because I am wearing sneakers, in which I feel comfortable."I finished spitting my anger.

"I'm not shallow, it's how people will judge you in high society." He shot back and made a sharp turn still grumbling. "But since you are going to be my wife, no one will dare to criticise you to your face. Who knows what I can do with them if I feel offended."

I laughed "Oh yes, The mighty Marcello Trocelli. That's what you do to people who try to cross you. Are you in some kind of mafia gang? I heard Italian's like that shit." I coolly replied.

He pulled into traffic, checking over his shoulder before giving me a sharp look. "Should I take my gun out or you can run with your imagination."

"Huhh...you can't even deal with the sight of my sneaker and talking about guns." I argue, throwing my hands up in the air. "What do you wear on beaches? Versace or Louis Vuitton's? Do you even know what hawai-shorts are? Have you walked barefoot in wet sand? All you have is pin and proper etiquette."

"That's what I was talking about." He countered. "Unlike you, I don't always say everything I am thinking of but it doesn't mean I wear three pieces on beaches."

I broke into a grin. "Oh intriguing. What do you wear then? Or the main question I should ask, why would you visit beaches where you can build your own? Check out tanned bikini bodies? Long slender legs which never end or perfect shape peaches?"

I fought the urge to pump my fist in the air when Marcello cheeks turned red making him blink his eyes and turned his lips into a tight lock. He cleared his throat and turned back to the road, the image of pink cheeks is the only proof I just left Marcello Trocelli Speechless.

I decided to end our banter here, as I also turned my face toward the window. Now that we have mentioned scorching hot summer, beaches, I couldn't help but imagine Marcello shirtless, barefoot, only wearing shorts and a sexy smile. Despite wearing a suit all day, I can usually say he has a broad shoulder and a powerful physique. In my fantasy, he would be showing off the hard abs and the tight flexing muscular arms.

As my eyes traveled from his shoulders to his waist. I noticed something and frowned. "Why are you not wearing your seat belt? Strap it on."

"We're five minutes away and hardly anyone can drive in this busy traffic." He reasoned, sounding like a teenage rebel boy.

"Strap it." I spat but he shook his head "It'll be fine."

"Strap your goddamned seatbelt on, Marcello Trocelli!." I exclaimed sharply. "I can't believe you're stupid enough to drive without wearing a seat belt. Don't you know how risky is that? You don't care what will happen if you get thrown out of the window and crunched your skull, opening it in half, what would your family do? How will they cope with your loss?"

I saw his jaw clench as if he wanted to snap back but he wisely shut it and secured his seat belt.

"Thank you." I muttered glancing out the window as the tension drained out of my body.

"That's how your parents died, wasn't it?" He suddenly said, stabbing a pain in my heart.

I chose to remain silent and ignore him.

"They were driving without seat belts and their car directly hit the truck making them fall out of the window." He continued and I wasn't surprised by his knowledge of the details.

"Something like that." I bit out, still avoiding his gaze.

"I'm sorry. No matter the circumstances, it's hard to lose a parent."

I snorted, gripping the edges of the seat. "It's hard to lose a parent but it's harder to live in this society as an orphan."

Silence again faded inside the car and I barely stifled my gasp when I felt his warm large hand squeeze mine for one second before it was gone.

I wasn't sure how to react to that. Since meeting Marcello, he provokes my invisible side which I have never shown. I've been armed with all my shitty comeback and inflamed temper with no filters. But I wasn't prepared for any hint of kindness from him.

"We're here." He announced as he pulled over in front of a magnificent building with a glass facade. Two sharply dressed doormen came over to hold the car door open for us and escort us to the entrance.

Standing by the doorway of the vast, luxurious interior and the endless rows of glass showcasing a blinding light of diamond and array of jewellery, I felt, I shouldn't argue with him about wearing sneakers.

I couldn't deny the wisdom that was in Marcello's advice earlier about wearing something nice and elegant to a place like this.

I hide behind him feeling self-conscious. "Are you okay?" Marcello murmured slowly, slipping an arm around my waist.

I tensed at the touch but saw a beaming man in a suit barreling towards us excitedly, his arms gesture so grandly for a moment I thought he was some kind of royal and he would bow to greet us.

"Mr. Trocelli, welcome!" The man greeted as he shook hands with Marcello. He turned to me, his smile curled into a thin line as he did a double take of my appearance."You must be the lucky lady." He chuckled. "I am William Ashton, at your service."

I gripped his hand firmly, giving him my smug smile as my shoulders square "Ava Wilson. Nice to meet you Mr. Ass-stone, I mean Ashton."

Marcello squeezed my waist with his hand. I snuck up a glance at him ready to give him a reply but I could see that he had a ghost of a smile on his lips and his blue eyes were twinkling with humor.

"Ashton, we'd like to see those exclusive designs you mention on the phone." Marcello said in a business tone. "Bring the other item as well."

Ashton's head went up and down like one of those bobble-head dogs on a taxi's dashboard.

"Of course, Mr. Trocelli." He answered before stepping aside "Please follow me to the private room."

We followed the man down a private hall, a good two feet away behind him.

I grasped Marcello's elbow and leaned close to him "He is so desperate to impress you that if I asked him to lick your ass, he will do it without complaining."

Marcello gagged but his lips curved into a slight smile. "I can imagine way better than him, You being desperate to impress me wearing nothing. Will I be expecting anything like that?"

My cheeks instantly burned and I playfully jabbed him in the stomach, the hard muscles that came in contact with my elbow made me think of what would happen, if Marcello walked on me while I wore nothing.

"phewww....dream on." I said in an attempt to get the ball back on my hand. "I preferred more humanly, other than stiff ass and stone bones."

His eyes narrowed at me slightly. "Too bad for you…..you are marrying one of the stiff ass and stone bones."

I rolled my eyes "Oh I forgot to mention saggy balls? Come to think you're what? Forty? Forty-five?"

His cheeks flushed and his shoulder stiffened. He grabbed my elbow just as we were ready to enter the private room. "I don't have saggy balls." He said emphatically. "I just turned twenty-eight."

Looking at Marcello, the age gap didn't seem to really register. I always wanted someone of my age. To have the same comparability and maturity.

He looked smoking hot for a guy of his age. His handsomeness had depth and character. If he told me he is fifty year old, still I wouldn't complain about it.

"I must've been staring quite a bit because he relaxed and his face held a smug smile. He slowly released my elbow. "How old are you? Sweet sixteen or seventeen. I can clearly say, you have fantasy for an older man."

There he goes and ruins it by opening his mouth.

"If they are paying one million dollars. I don't have any problem then." I retorted.

That made him angry. I could tell by the way his beautiful hazel eyes fluttered and his nostrils flared.

Damn me if that didn't make him any less sexier. "You're mine. I dare you to look at any man other than me."

An unidentifiable ache shot through my body and I became speechless.

Before I could snap out of it, The door opened. Marcello straightened his posture and guided me to the leather two seat couch as Mr. Ashton came inside with four workers following him.

They set up a four crystal pendant light shone brightly down on the table, reflecting against the glass cases and then open the boxes taking out the various stones that glitter among the impressive jewellery collection.

"We've already set this up, collecting all the marvellous pieces for you. We will bring more in five minute. In the min-time you can check this out." Ashton spoke and took his leave with the staff.

"Everything is so.....big and shiny." I said and glanced at the blinding display of rings "and expensive also" my eyes widened looking at their price tag.

He picked up the one with a square cut circling with a small diamond making it bigger and shinier. He held my hand and slipped it in my ring finger making my eyes wide in shock.

And in that moment, I wished this was true as my heart skipped looking at Marcello, as his face held a boyish smile.

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