Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 84324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
I join Laurie, in case she has more questions, and enjoy watching her.
Minutes fall away, and while I’m lost in every inch of her beautiful face, the world could go to hell, and I wouldn’t notice.
Laurie flips the pages faster and faster, a clear indication that she’s struggling to focus on all the legal jargon. Suddenly she stops and leans closer to whisper, “I don’t see anything about sex and preferences about what happens in the bedroom.”
“That’s because it isn’t in the contract.”
Her eyebrows lift in surprise. “Really?” She flips through the rest of the pages, then gives me a questioning look. “So this contract is basically saying I have to be in an exclusive relationship with you, accompanying you to events and on trips, and to be available whenever you want me?”
“Yes. That and the NDA. I’m a very private man and don’t want you discussing anything about me with other people.”
“No kinky stuff like in Fifty Shades of Grey?” she asks.
Little Ricky lets out a snort, which he masks under a fake cough.
I shake my head. “No. Nothing like that.”
Laurie flips through some of the pages again, then bites her bottom lip as she stares at the dotted line where she has to sign.
She takes a deep breath, then looks at me. “Do you have a pen?”
I glance at Little Ricky, who gets on the phone to call the manager.
“We just have to wait for two witnesses to arrive before we sign,” I tell Laurie while I take the fountain pen from my inner pocket.
I set it down by the page, then lock eyes with her.
She seems nervous and struggles to meet my gaze. Eventually, she pretends to look over the first few pages again.
When the elevator doors open, Mrs. Langford, the manager, and Sabrina, who usually works in guest relations, step out.
I stand up and adjust my jacket. “Thank you for coming.”
“Of course, Mr. Rizzo.” Mrs. Langford offers me a professional smile before her eyes shift to Laurie. “Good morning, Miss Barnes.”
“Morning,” my butterfly murmurs, giving me the impression she feels intimidated by the other women’s presence.
Wanting to get this over with, I pick up the pen and sign my name before holding it out to Laurie.
After a brief hesitation, she takes the pen and signs beside me, sealing her fate.
Mrs. Langford and Sabrina add their signatures as witnesses before stepping away from us.
“Have a good day, Mr. Rizzo,” Mrs. Langford says before nodding at Laurie. “Miss Barnes.”
“Thank you.” I watch as the two women leave, then gather all the papers, taking a moment to look at the final page. Lifting my gaze to Laurie, I say, “Put on shoes. We’re going out.”
“Oh.” She looks at my tuxedo, then down at the plain jeans and blouse. “Should I change?”
“No.”
I hand the contact to Little Ricky and say, “Once we’re done, take it to Remo and tell him to place it in the vault.”
He nods, then grins at me. “Just so you know, I’m not stopping her when she bitch-slaps you.”
“Shut up,” I mutter, turning back when I hear Laurie approaching.
“Here’s the envelope.” She holds it out to me, and I pass it to Little Ricky.
Without another word, I take Laurie’s hand, and walking to the elevator, I link our fingers together.
Mine.
All. Fucking. Mine.
As we step inside, the corner of my mouth lifts because there is nothing she can do now.
She legally belongs to me, and in an hour or so, the Church will recognize her as my wife.
Father Gallo is expecting us.
Just like my father did with the previous priest, Father Parisi, I told Father Gallo he will either marry us or say his final prayer and join the rotting corpses at the back of the cathedral.
Laurie
Little Ricky seems to be driving us back to Long Island.
I glance at Adriano, who hasn’t said a word since we left the hotel.
I’d love to know where we’re going, but things feel a little tense, so I keep quiet.
I feel better about driving around with them now that people at the hotel have seen us together and Elise has Adriano’s details, but it’s super unnerving sitting beside the man.
I keep replaying yesterday, trying to convince myself it’s not a dream that I somehow managed to catch the attention of a hot filthy rich club owner who can make me forget my name with a single kiss.
I can’t stop thinking about my bank balance. It was nice of Adriano to help me decide which investments to go with.
Later today I’ll deep dive into investments so I can make the right decisions for myself in the future.
Oh wait.
My head snaps to Adriano. “We signed the contract.”
He turns his face to me. “We did.”
I feel very awkward reminding him, but it’s a lot of money. “When will you transfer the rest?”
He pulls his phone out, and without thinking, I watch as he opens it with his thumbprint before doing the same to get into his banking app.