While I was looking her over, I realized she was not as ugly or frumpy as I had been led to believe. She had most of her shape covered with a flowy silk shirt. She was shorter than Serena, as I had seen Serena plenty of times at events and gatherings. Sophiewas the hidden daughter. I could see why since she seemed more resistant and refrained. She was definitely her sister’s opposite in all things. What shocked me the most was the tightening in my pants. My cock apparently thought she was worth noticing.
Fuck that. She’s a means to an end. That’s all.
“What do you do with your time?”
In her same flat tone, “I completed my Bachelors in communications about three months ago and I have some social media platforms I earn money from.”
The Dons usually didn’t have women that work as their wives, but since this arrangement should be temporary until I get what I needed, I could let it go. As long as it doesn’t interfere with my plans or bring a hit to my reputation. Besides, I could have Diego look into her social media accounts. He’s pretty good at deep diving into people.
I kept my expression blank, and I continued to assess her. She may actually be an asset I could use, if she was this open with information.
“I would be open to you continuing your work, as long as it doesn’t interfere with your duties as my wife.”
She turned back towards me. She frowned, which was actually beautiful. She wasn’t obviously beautiful, but standing next to her sister, she would look invisible. Sophie’s beauty was understated, the way she had her hair and the clothes she chose did not help matters. She appeared plain until you really looked at her. She actually had the most intense dark brown eyes I had ever seen.
“Wouldn’t you rather pair up with one of Don Valentino’s daughters, or even Don Pedro’s daughter, Catalina?”
Hmmm, she really does know things.
“I need this arrangement with your father.” I figured a half truth would work. And it apparently did.
Her shoulder’s slumped. “Oh.”
“We can make a deal. You can continue your work, we live the life of a married couple in public, but maintain our own ways in private. A Marriage on paper. Yes?”
She seemed to think it over. For the first time, I saw a crack in her stone demeanor. “Okay.”
I nodded, “Good. We will go to City Hall and do the wedding there in two weeks.”
She raised an eyebrow at me. “Aren’t you supposed to put on some big fancy, splashy thing for a wedding?”
I was irritated by her response, and now I was wondering if there was more to her easy acceptance of this arrangement. “Do youneeda big fancy wedding?” I’m sure she could read my anger.
She put her hands up defensively, “No, no. I’m good. Even City Hall seems too fancy for my taste, but whatever you think is best.”
I raised my eyebrow at her, then shook my head. I really needed to figure out her game plan.
I muttered, “Now just getting your father to be fine with it will be another thing.”
She rolled her eyes, which surprised me. “Don’t worry about that. He will be more than accepting of it. If you were marrying Serena he would have expected a Paris wedding or something else just as ridiculous. He probably doesn’t want it advertisedthat you’re marrying the boring, ugly daughter anymore than you do.”
That pissed me off, making me feel defensive. “Don’t assume you know what I’m thinking.” My jaw tightened, irritated with her.
Her voice was back to a flat tone. “Let’s get real. I’m a means to an end. Not even the one you or my father even wanted, but here we are. I don’t like this any better than you do.”
That also pissed me off. She should be grateful I’m accepting her as my wife. If I didn’t need this arrangement, I wouldn’t even be entertaining this.
Before I could snap at her, she spoke up, “We should let my father know we plan to move forward. I’m sure he will be grateful to you for taking me off his hands.”
That felt like a punch to my gut. Why would her own father be so ready to get rid of her? I get that she wasn’t at Serena’s caliber, but still. She was his daughter. She had a degree so it sounded like she was fairly intelligent. I would think he would use what she had to offer to help his clan however he could.
“Why do you think he would be so eager to let you go?”
She rolled her eyes again, and turned away, facing the desk again. “I’m a disappointment.”
“I’m sure that’s not sure.”
“Oh, it is. He makes sure to tell me as often as he can. As does my adoring sister.” I could hear the sarcasm in her tone.
