Page 35 of Diavolo

"Sì, you will."

"You promised that I wouldn't be kept here against my will."

Alessandro shrugged unapologetically. "I lied."

"So... you intend to marry me? No matter how I feel about it?"

"Sì."

"Why?"

He started, "I—"

Eyes flashing, Elyse warned, "Don't give me more bullshit about my worth as a woman."

"Very well. You want the truth?"

"Yes."

"I want you," he declared, "because you are your mother's daughter."

Elyse balked at him. "What?"

Because she was her mother's... daughter? This sounded even more fucked up. It made absolutely no sense to Elyse. Why did he care about her mother? She didn't know anything about the woman.Papáhad raised her single-handedly since she was an infant.

Alessandro seemed to take note of her bewildered expression. He went on to explain, "It has come to my attention that your mother was the daughter of a very influential man in my world, and an alliance through marriage with his granddaughter—you—would greatly benefit me."

Elyse's eyes narrowed sharply.Ay—there it was. The other shoe. It finally dropped.

9

Elyse closed her eyes.Her head was beginning to hurt. "You can't be serious."

Alessandro dragged his fingers through his jet-black hair. He sighed, "Why would I lie about a matter as serious as marriage?"

Green eyes flicked open. Both brows knitted together. "I don't know."

Oddly, his point was valid. Alessandro didn't strike her as the type of man who would give up the freedom to fuck whoever he pleased and commit to one woman. Their relationship was already hurtling toward sex with no strings attached. It should've suited him just fine. There was no reason for Alessandro to bring up marriage if he had no intention to marry her.

Alessandro insisted, "I am being honest with you."

She flung back, "You should've been honest from day one."

He cocked an eyebrow and crossed his arms over his chest. "You were already threatening to resign over the fact that I was your employer. It did not seem like the best time to nominate myself as your future husband."

Elyse glared. "And it feels like the right time,now, to drop this bombshell on me?"

Surprisingly, Alessandro seemed to share her sentiments. He shook his head. "Of course not. I am aware that nothing about our situation is ideal. My timing is extremely flawed. When you first arrived in Zurich, I had hoped to ease you into the idea of marriage, so you might come to accept me as your husband.Willingly."

Alessandro looked genuine. He sounded sincere. Elyse suspected it was all an act. She muttered, "How noble of you. Manipulating a woman into marriage is such a step up from forcing her into one."

He cleared his throat. "I suppose you have a right to be upset."

Her expression burned with quiet rage. "No shit."

Alessandro eyed her warily. "For the record, I wanted you before I learned about your mother. Our time together in New York was—unforgettable. No woman has captured my interest quite like you,angelo."

Her heart gave a stutter even while she scoffed, "You're unbelievable."

---