Page 7 of Ruthless Match

Unfazed by my rejection, Matteo only smirked. Sparkles of triumph glittered in his eyes as he attempted to stroke my face gently.

“Consider that a preview of our wedding night and many nights after, my dear Aurora. You may not want me now, but I can damn well promise you that you will.”

Walking to the door after his confident declaration, he left me alone in the confines of my dark room, my heart pounding in my chest as I struggled to make sense of what had just happened. My brain was a rollercoaster of emotions, and I didn’t know how to stop.

Unable to sleep, I paced back and forth in my room, replaying Matteo’s words in my mind. Was he really that arrogant? Did he actually think he had some “claim” on me?

This marriage is nothing but a business arrangement that I am caught in the middle of. There is no love or affection between us. It didn’t make sense.

I could barely stand in the same room with Matteo Santoro, so his kiss threw me for a loop. No matter how I try to rationalize it, I am faced with the knowledge that it stirred something in me that has been dormant for far too long.

Beneath the layers of defiance and resentment, there was desire. Desire for a man I despised. The idea was maddening. How could my brain scream no while my body screamed yes?

Frustrated, I collapsed onto my bed and buried my face in the pillow. Tomorrow should be the happiest day of my life. I may not want to be Mrs. Matteo Santoro, but at least I would be free from the scrutinizing eye of my father and his sexist way of thinking. Instead, I realize I am marrying a man who makes my determination look like a kitten facing a lion. I felt trapped. I was trapped by a situation I couldn’t control and forever tied to a man I never wanted.

No matter how hard I tried to sleep, the hours ticked by like a time bomb luring me into the smoky haze of my unknown future. Sleep eluded me. When I closed my eyes, all I saw was Matteo’s penetrating gaze and his mocking and mischievous smile. He haunted my thoughts as time slowly crawled toward a union I couldn’t escape.

Damnit, Dad. What was so important that you had to make a deal with the Devil himself?

When the first light of dawn peaked through the curtains, I had resolved myself to the realization that my life would never be the same. After today, I would be Mrs. Matteo Santoro, bound to him for better or worse. Our lives would now be intertwined in ways I couldn’t fully understand.

Unwillingly and with a heavy heart, I got out of bed and headed to the shower to prepare for my ‘big day.’ Too bad it felt more like preparing for a funeral.

Shaking my head to rid myself of my morose thoughts, I made a vow to myself. I may not have chosen this direction for my life, but now that it was happening, I would do everything I could to make it okay. Husband or not, I would be damned if I let Matteo Santoro control my destiny.

No matter what, I will continue to fight. I will not sit silent and let my life be controlled. No matter what the cost may be, I will determine my future, my way, and on my terms. If my ‘husband’ doesn’t like it, that’s his problem.

My mind was made up; I chose to ignore the nagging feeling that Matteo’s kiss had awakened something inside me that would not easily go away. The lingering thought of “what if, despite my resolve, there is some iota of truth in his ‘claiming’ me last night?”

Not wanting to entertain the thought, I turned my stereo on to drown out the voices in my head. As I sang along to Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got to Do with It” (a fitting song for my wedding day), I knew that no matter what, I would be okay. This Italian grumpy billionaire kingpin of Manhattan, Matteo Santoro, has met his match. Even if he doesn’t know it yet.

CHAPTER 5

Matteo

The wedding was a blur. All I remember is the stunning image of Aurora as she walked down the aisle in her candlelight Vera Wang gown. The kiss last night wasn’t planned. It had only meant to shut her up, but I can’t quit thinking about it. Was I really trying to claim her as mine? I don’t know, but the thought of her sleeping with another man the night before our wedding was more than my ego could take.

As I watched her cheerfully greet guests during our wedding reception, I again found myself unable to take my eyes off her. Her laughter filled the spacious room as she gracefully glided through the crowd with poise and elegance. Looking at the woman who is now my wife, Mrs. Aurora Santoro, I wondered if, for once, I was in over my head.

Deep down, I know the smiles are for show. I do the same as my crime family slaps me on the back to congratulate me. I appreciate the support, but their congratulations rang hollow as I attempted to play the part of a happy groom.

The tension between my new wife and me is palpable, and I have no idea how to overcome it. I’m not entirely convinced she isn’t seeing someone, but she planted the seed, and it continues to grow. If there is a man in her life, he won’t be there long. I’ll see to it.

Do I care? No. At least that’s what I tell myself, but my wife will not shame my name. As I watched her mingle with our guests, frustration began in my chest. I was amazed. I was amazed that she could walk and talk so effortlessly as if there wasn’t a two-ton ball of tension between us.

For a moment, I wondered if she didn’t care about the seriousness of our situation and what it could mean for her family and me. Then I realized she didn’t know. All she knows is that this is a business deal arranged between her father and me. She has no clue what’s at stake.

Even as my anger continued to simmer, I couldn’t ignore the fact that, in a way, I was thrilled. Thrilled by the idea of what was ahead. Now that Aurora was my wife, I would finally have the leverage I needed to take Dominic DeSantis down. Taking control of his hotel empire would only add to my power and influence. And I’d be lying if I said, I didn’t want to see DeSantis suffer. Taking DeSantis out will be one of the greatest pleasures of my life.

As soon as I have the evidence in my hands, I will quickly divorce Aurora. The thought of the future sent a rush of exhilaration coursing through my body, a unique mixture of ambition and desire. But underneath, there was a nagging feeling of doubt that refused to go away. What it was exactly, I wasn’t sure. Whatever it was, it refused to be silenced.

As the night wore on, I found myself drawn into the festivities, my mind drifting tirelessly between the present and the future I had meticulously mapped out. I watched Aurora dance with one of the guests, her laughter resonating in my ears.

There was no denying how breathtaking she looked. The way her flowing blonde hair was delicately swept back and the way her dress hugged every curve in just the right way made me pause. For a split second, I allowed myself to entertain the idea that I could be happy.

Quickly, I shook that delusion from my head, but as I did, I made eye contact with Aurora. For the first time since we met, I didn’t see hate or anger in her gaze. Instead, I saw doubt and vulnerability, starkly contrasting her usual tough exterior. What were her ocean-blue eyes trying to tell me?

At that moment, I knew I was not the only one struggling. We both had demons that were threatening to overtake us. As the music played and guests danced around us, I found myself drawn to her like a moth to a flame. Without realizing what I was doing, I made my way through the crowd to get to her, my heart pounding in my chest with every step.

---