At The Britannique Hotel Naples, my car came to a stop, surrounded by my vigilant bodyguards. Stepping out, I exuded confidence in my white suit, adorned with diamond earrings that sparkled in the sunlight. As I made my way through the entrance, the mesmerizing sight of the cascading waterfall greeted me, a serene contrast to the hustle and bustle around me.

Her outfit:

Amidst the flurry of activity, my bodyguards seamlessly executed their duties. "Controllare le armi (Check for weapons) and assicurarsi della sicurezza delle premesse (ensure the security of the premises)," their voices echoed in the air, a constant reminder of the dangers that lurked in the shadows.

And then, amidst it all, I caught a glimpse of him—Salvatore. He stood with an air of confidence, swirling a glass in his hand before placing it delicately on the table. As he turned to face me, our eyes locked in a moment of unspoken understanding.

His Outfit:

"He looks hot, man," my unruly thoughts whispered, a blush creeping up my cheeks as I silenced my inner provocateur.

"Stop it, you dumbass brain," I chided myself internally, willing away the inappropriate thoughts that threatened to surface.

"Sure, honey, you know what I mean. You want to beg, and you want him to beg, too. Maybe both of you begging for more, with bruised knees and flushed skin... Oooooh," my mind continued to taunt me, igniting a firestorm of desire within me.

"Brainie, shut up now," I commanded, attempting to regain control over my thoughts before they spiraled out of control.

As Salvatore approached, his presence commanding attention, I braced myself for the inevitable collision of our worlds, unsure of what lay ahead but unable to resist the magnetic pull drawing us together.

Salvatore extended his hand forward with a flamboyant smile, his amazing hair catching the light as he leaned in slightly. "My name is Salvatore Ricci," he introduced himself with a charismatic charm.

However, I couldn't shake the impression that he resembled the men in my household. Eyeing his hand briefly, I passed it off, keeping my own hand at my side as I replied, "My name is Valentina Romano."

Just as I moved to pull out my chair, Salvatore appeared behind me, effortlessly straddling it and pulling it out for me with a whispered command to sit down. The gesture seemed almost too polite for someone entrenched in the world of the mafia. I couldn't help but wonder if it was all just an act.

As we both settled into our seats, glasses of wine in hand, I began the conversation. "Mr. Damon Ricci," I started, only to be interrupted when Salvatore's eyes lit up with recognition. "My brother?" he questioned, and I confirmed, feeling the weight of the sudden change in plans for the wedding.

Swirling my wine, I couldn't shake the confusion swirling in my mind. Did Salvatore genuinely want to meet me, or was there something more to his intentions? And why was I finding it so difficult to trust him, despite his not unattractive appearance?

With his gaze fixed on me, Salvatore's lips curled into a soft smile. "I wanted to meet you, why I wonder?" he mused aloud, leaving me feeling even more perplexed.

Pushing aside my doubts, I replied, "Alright," but Salvatore's intense focus on me made it difficult to concentrate. It felt as though he saw right through me, and I couldn't help but feel exposed under his scrutiny.

"How do you think?" he pressed on, his gaze unwavering.

"What?" I stammered, caught off guard by the intensity of his stare.

"The wedding was going to be held here," Salvatore continued, seemingly unfazed by my confusion.

"It doesn't matter where," I replied, hoping my opinion wouldn't sway the situation.

"Seeing that it doesn't matter, you seem to have a good personality," Salvatore remarked, his smile never faltering.

"No, I'm the type of person who throws away my family," I retorted, feeling a pang of guilt at the truth in my words.

Salvatore's response caught me off guard. "A woman like a sword is sexy," he declared, but I wasn't about to let his flattery sway me.

"She said that men who say that in front are not sexy," I countered, my tone sharp as I bristled at his attempt to charm me.

"It's better if you're sure of yourself," Salvatore remarked, his expression unwavering.

"It's even worse with that rude attitude," I shot back, refusing to be swayed by his smooth talk.

"Val, you are the type of person who fits me well, respecting but half-talking," Salvatore remarked, his smile widening as he continued to unsettle me.

"Don't talk nonsense, just do it," I replied tersely, my frustration bubbling to the surface. Why was he still smiling? And why did I feel like I was drowning in his enigmatic presence?

"I heard you are two years younger. I don't want to hear like your sister," I stated firmly.

A/N: Valentina is two years elder to Salvatore.

"That's good. I have no intention of talking to my sister," Salvatore replied casually, catching me off guard.

But his next words left me speechless. "But that doesn't mean I'm not being polite. I'm going to do it; I will call you Bella," he declared with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Damn him... I could feel the flush creeping up my neck, but I refused to show him any weakness. I wiped my hands with the hand cloth and replied, "As you please."

His reaction puzzled me. "Why are you laughing so much?" I asked, unable to comprehend his amusement.

With a smile playing on his lips, Salvatore held his face in his hands as he looked at me. "The groom laughed. See you at the wedding," he remarked casually.

"We are not married yet," I pointed out, trying to maintain a sense of reality amidst his playful banter.

"I know, only one week left. Looking forward to it," Salvatore replied nonchalantly, his demeanor as calm as ever.

Even as I deliberately said things that should have made me feel bad, Salvatore continued to laugh. It was unusual for a mafia man to tolerate a woman like me.

flashback -

I recalled my father's harsh words. "Where women meddle in what men do! What kind of man likes a girl who talks back and forth?" The memory stung, reminding me of the constraints placed upon me since high school.

Back in the present -

Salvatore waved his hand at me, breaking me out of my reverie.

"Are you good in bed?" I blurted out, unable to resist testing his reaction.

"What do you mean?" Salvatore responded, his expression unreadable.

"Literally, I just hate boring relationships between men and women," I explained, the truth slipping out. I was a virgin, and I wanted my first experience to be worth it.

"I'd like to know slowly. However, I listen to what my woman says," Salvatore replied smoothly, his words surprising me.

"What? Your woman?" I questioned, but he cut me off before I could continue.

"Good or not," he continued, plucking a flower and gesturing towards me. "Can I check it out?" His playful smirk caught me off guard, and I couldn't help but be drawn to his charm.

"Go rest and get ready," he instructed his bodyguard, who promptly complied with a respectful nod.

"Yes, president," the bodyguard acknowledged.

"Shall we go, Bella?" Salvatore asked, extending his hand towards me. His demeanor was confident, his smile inviting, and despite my reservations, I found myself unable to resist his magnetic pull.

"My family told me Mr. Salvatore Ricci is a good person," I remarked, my voice tinged with uncertainty as I took a moment to assess the man before me.

As Salvatore extended his hand towards me, I hesitated briefly before rising from my seat. "Nice to meet you," I replied, my tone firm yet tinged with a hint of curiosity. I didn't need a man's hand to help me, but I couldn't deny the flutter of hope that danced in my chest at the prospect of exploring love.

"Can you check?" Salvatore asked, his gaze piercing yet gentle.

"I checked. You are a considerate person who accepts unreasonable suggestions from others," I responded, trying to mask the swirl of emotions churning within me.

Salvatore took a deep breath before speaking again, his words carrying a weight I couldn't quite comprehend. "Have you ever wondered if a man could sleep with a woman he couldn't even hold hands with?" he questioned, his vulnerability catching me off guard.

"I can't even say no," I admitted, feeling a blush creep into my cheeks at the embarrassing confession.

"But more than that, I don't want you to not like what I was doing. I guess I didn't know why I accepted it," I continued, grappling with the conflicting emotions swirling inside me.

"I... I want to hear everything the person who will be my husband has to say," I added, my voice barely above a whisper as I dared to reveal my innermost thoughts.

"If you ask me if I'm good in bed, I want to show you how well you are doing right on the spot," Salvatore remarked, his proximity sending a shiver down my spine.

"So it's okay if you don't bother thinking about it," he concluded, his words carrying a dangerous edge that sent a chill down my spine.

Different from my father and brothers, Salvatore exuded an aura of danger that both intrigued and intimidated me. Yet, beneath the veneer of danger, there was a kindness in his eyes that I couldn't ignore.

"I was rude, sorry," I apologized, unable to meet his gaze as I lowered my head in shame.

As Salvatore removed the chair for me to sit on, I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for pretending to be the only victim in this arranged marriage.

Who was Salvatore Ricci? He was the man who showed kindness in the face of my absurd questions, the man who dared to challenge my assumptions about love and marriage.

"Marrying a woman you don't love wouldn't have been as good as that," I remarked, my voice barely above a whisper as I voiced my doubts.

"No," Salvatore's firm denial echoed through the room, causing me to look up in surprise.

"No?" I echoed, my heart pounding in my chest as I awaited his explanation.

"I wasn't sold to this marriage. That's where I jumped in, Bella," Salvatore declared, his eyes locking with mine as he revealed a truth that shook me to my core.

Valentina couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope ignite within her chest as Salvatore's words sank in. Maybe, just maybe, this arranged marriage held the promise of something more than she had ever dared to imagine.

A/N: Let me know in the comments how is this chapter ? 

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