Page 34 of Lorenzo's Claim

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I stood beside Red,waiting for Anastacia at the foot of the stairs, hoping that tonight she behaved and acted as a wife should. Tonight wasn’t just a ball nor was it only a dinner. It was us showing that we were united. I knew Anastacia had a hard time putting on that front, especially since I was the one requesting it.

“How do you think tonight will go?” he asked, smoothing down his jacket.

“Honestly, I have no idea. I told Anastacia exactly what I wanted from her, so I guess I have to hope she listened.”

“Maybe you should ask her rather than demand, you know?” he responded with a soft smile.

“I don’t think that woman would bloody listen, no matter if I asked or demanded it.” I scoffed, shoving my hand in my pocket.

The air shifted around me, turning that same level of tense it always did when she was near.

“I’ll meet you in the car.” Red beamed as he left the pair of us alone.

I turned my head to see what daring number Anastacia wore but my breath hitched in my throat. She was a vision, her gowna deep sapphire that hugged her frame. But it wasn’t her dress that caught my attention. It was her eyes. That piercing blue that seemed to hold my gaze. Her lips curved up ever so slightly, as if mocking me for admiring her, as if she knew her appearance captured my attention.

She descended the stairs with the grace of a woman who knew just how much she was worth, each step calculated and deliberate. My jaw tightened as she came to a standstill at the bottom of the last step.

“You’re late,” I growled, my voice low and authoritative. My words cemented that I would always be in control. That I held the power between us.

“And you’re still an asshole.” She scoffed as she swanned past me without a care in the world. “Are you coming or are you just going to stand there?”

Her attitude was already in full force. Fuck, I had my work cut out for me tonight.

Luckily,the drive to the ball would be a short one. I took a moment to study her. The streetlights cast shadows on her cheekbones. Her lips parted ever so slightly. And her chest rose and fell softly as she breathed. She was a damn puzzle I had yet to solve. The woman wore her hatred towards me like a second skin but still managed to carry herself with the poise of a fucking queen.

Hell, I even respected her for it. Even though I despised her for the way she made me feel. Deep down, I was a little more alive than I'd felt in a long time. The hatred and banter betweenus was becoming part of my daily life and I had to admit, I enjoyed it.

“What do you want, Lorenzo?” she asked, her gaze focused on the passing buildings as she spoke.

“Nothing, just trying to predict if you’re going to behave tonight.” I rested my hand on her thigh, squeezing it gently as if to warn her.

“I don’t know yet. I haven’t decided.” She grabbed my hand, throwing it off her.

“Anastacia,” I warned, but she wasn’t in the listening mood.

“Oh, look, we’re here.”

I let out a sigh at just how insufferable she was as I exited the car, making my way to her door.

I held out my hand to her, which she took with very little hesitation, her fingers cool against my skin but her grip firm. “So, it looks like my wifecanbehave,” I whispered, my lips bushing her ear as I leaned into her.

“And it looks like my husband can play the part of a gentleman all too well,” she breathed with an eye roll.

“Touché.” I chuckled. “Are you ready?”

“To put on an act? Sure.” She glanced up at me. “Because that’s what it’ll be, us pretending. And Lorenzo, I’m a pretty good actress.” She winked.

“Looks like your family is already here.” I nodded towards Victor, Florence, and Miles, who were laughing and joking at the entrance. “Do you want to join in on whatever it looks like is splitting your papa’s sides?”

“No, I don’t. Let’s just go inside. I’ll speak to them when I feel like it.”

I led her up the stairs as she neared her family. I truly expected her to at least smile at them, but she looked straight ahead, not giving any of them the time of day.

“Anastacia,” Victor called after her. “Sobirayesh'sya li ty neuvazhitel'no otnosit'sya k svoyemu ottsu i ignorirovat' yego?” He continued to speak to her in Russian. I was pissed that I couldn’t understand it.

“Da, Victor,” she replied, her voice calm. All I knew was that she didn’t call him Papa like she would have before he forced her to marry me. She only referred to him as Victor.

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