Page 4 of Ruthless Match

Turning my back to him, I began to leave, but he stopped me in my tracks before I could open the door. Slamming his fist onto the desk, I slowly turned to see Matteo Santoro glaring at me. His gaze hardened, his eyes flashing angrily as he rose from his seat.

“Aurora, I don’t believe you understand. You, my dear, have no choice in the matter. Your father and I have an agreement, an agreement you will abide by and honor if you don’t want there to be consequences.”

Trying to keep my voice from quivering, I tilted my head and asked, “Consequences?”

“Yes, Aurora, consequences that a pretty woman like you shouldn’t have to consider. After all, I know how much the hotels mean to your family. It’d be a shame if – well, let’s not think about that.”

Catering to a man like Matteo Santoro was not something I was prepared to do. Standing my ground, I lifted my chin defiantly and met his gaze head-on. “I don’t give a damn about your threats or your consequences, Mr. Santoro. I won’t be forced into a marriage I didn’t ask for and don’t want. You may be able to intimidate others, but not me. The marriage is off, Mr. Santoro. Go find someone else to control with scare tactics.”

While I still had nerves of steel, I turned and walked out of Matteo Santoro’s office, hopefully forever. My heart was pounding through my chest as I fled his suffocating presence. I had no idea about my future, but I refused to be shackled to a man like Matteo Santoro, no matter the cost.

When I arrived home, I couldn’t sit still. I began pacing in my room as the walls started to close in. My mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. Part of me wanted to do what was best for my family and the business, but the other part of me felt betrayed—betrayed by my own father, who had orchestrated this web of deceit.

Why would he do this to me?

I was pulled from my angry reflection by a knocking on my door. Expecting to find my mother or one of the maids, I was surprised to see my father standing before me. I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised, but I was.

“Aurora, we need to talk.” His voice was irritated and concerned, but in my heart, I knew his concern was for himself.

Immediately, my anger soared back to life as my fists clenched at the sight of him. Struggling to contain my rage, I stepped aside to let him in. The entire house didn't need to hear what I had to say.

Once he was inside, I shut the door and spun on my heels. “Talk? Do you want to talk? About what? About how you made a deal with a monster, expecting me to play the part of a happy and dutiful bride? I won’t do it. I can’t live like that. I won’t sacrifice my future and happiness to help your greed; I’m worth more than that.

Softened for a moment by my words, he almost looked ashamed and full of regret, Unfortunately, it was fleeting. “Aurora, I have made many mistakes in my life, many that haunt me to this day, but the decision to enter into this arrangement with Mr. Santoro isn’t one of them.”

Is he kidding me right now? How can he possibly think this is a good idea?

Sighing, he continued. “I know you’re disappointed, and I know I’ve let you down, but you need to understand, you have no choice in the matter, not if…”

Almost yelling, I looked at him, and for the first time in my life, I didn’t see my father but a man who would sell me to the highest bidder. “Not if what, Dad? Why do I not get to choose who I spend my life with? What have I done that I am being punished by being forced to marry someone that would scare Death itself? I didn’t graduate top of my class at Yale to become the victim in some crime boss’s fantasy.”

“I know you didn’t, but life doesn’t always go how we plan. You know you are in line to take over the business once I retire. It could alter my decision if you choose not to go along with this.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. My father threatened me with the only thing I have ever dreamed of: running the family hotel business.

Walking to the door, my father, the man I once trusted more than anything, turned back to look at me. “I’ll leave you to think it over. I hope once you are calm, you’ll make the best decision for everyone.”

Like a twelve-year-old, I rolled my eyes. “Everyone means you, right, Dad?” I didn’t allow him to respond before I slammed the door in his face.

Maybe I would go along with this ridiculous sham of a marriage, but it would be for me and what I could get out of it. To hell with everyone else.

CHAPTER 3

Matteo

Two weeks have passed since Aurora stormed into my office and ‘called off the wedding,’ today was the first time I’d seen her. For the sake of publicity, I agreed to attend a cake tasting with Aurora and her mother, Teresa.

Looking at her sitting across from me, I can’t deny how stunning she is. Dressed in a dress from Gucci’s fall line, she looked like a model.

The air between us is tense as Aurora delicately picks at her food with quiet defiance and determination. Her mother refuses to speak to me unless forced, but she tries to make cheerful conversation, but I’m not interested in what she has to say.

Maybe it’s rude, but I don’t care. I have nothing to say to her and respond only in short one-word answers. Today will be a long day if it keeps going like this. Glancing nervously between us, she furrowed her brow with concern about how to bridge the animosity and gap that had developed between her daughter and me.

“Aurora, dear, why don’t you try some raspberry-filled buttercream cake? It is absolutely delicious,” Mrs. DeSantis said with a noticeable hint of strained desperation in her voice. “I’m sure Mr. Santoro would love to know your thoughts.”

Aurora remained silent, eyeing me cautiously as she slowly swirled the straw in her drink. She was obviously still upset about our last encounter, but I struggled to understand what happened to the vivacious and stubborn woman who arrived at my office unannounced and made her presence known. Why was the woman who had just recently met me with fire in her eyes and heart now refusing to even look at me?

My patience was wearing thin as I watched her silent defiance through my cold gaze. I needed to speak with her alone.

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