ALFONSO

I still didn't know what madness had possessed me to visit my parents in their vineyard early this Sunday morning.

Usually, I was still in bed at this time of the day after partying hard last night with my group of friends. But that thing never happened when a pretty little thing barged into our VIP room and accused me of things that I had no idea about.

A small smile fitted my lips. The whole thing amused me every time I recall the event last night. That was probably the first time a woman boldly marched into a gentleman's club to declare war with a man and then refused to properly apologize when she learned her mistake.

The smile was replaced by a frown on my forehead.

Wait a minute...

It was not as if I was enjoying that fiasco last night. It reminded me that I need to have a word with my damned cousin about using my name in his philandering way. I didn't want yesterday's mishap to happen again.

But what I still didn't get was the fact that I was so early at the Orsini Vineyard. I have a million things to do than subject myself to another round of lectures from the old man.

"I am surprised to see you early this morning, Alfonso. If I recall you are not a morning person."

I threw a disapproving frown in my father's direction. "I came here to visit mother."

"Really?" My father asked, settling back from his chair as he sat from the mahogany chair in the library of this manor.

"Yes."

Salvatore Orsini smiled privately which made me scowled even more in my direction.

"Is there anything that you want to say to me, Padre?"

My father eyed me for a moment as if gauging my reaction or worse yet he was simply playing with me. "Nothing much. I just want to inquire about the progress of your quest to find a bride. I am getting impatient here, my boy."

I winced upon hearing the absurd ultimatum the old man had given me. I almost forgot about it. I stood from my chair and walked towards the glass window overlooking the fields of grapes trees sprawled before my eyes.

Do I need to surrender my freedom for this massive land our family owned for centuries?

If I don't find myself a wife soon this old man was threatening me to disinherit me named the annoying Piero as his heir. I knew he was just bluffing but...

I took a deep breath as I continued to stare outside. "Taking a wife is the last thing on my mind as of now, father."

"Does this reluctance have something to do with this certain young actress? Violetta Ricci, is it?"

I turned around to look at my father sharply. "Where did you get that?"

"Alfonso." Salvatore stared at me with calculated eyes. "Whom do you think you're talking to?"

I felt my jaw clenched. Of course, no information escaped my father I should have known better. "It's not what you think."

My father arched a brow. "I think your reluctance to marriage has something to do with this woman. Tell me, she doesn't want to be your wife yet because of her budding career, is it?"

"I don't know what you are talking about," I informed him with an irritated tone.

"I think you do." The annoying old man contradicted. "I think you dating different women almost every week is just a ploy to cover up the real score between you and this young actress."

How on earth did he know that?

But of course, he's the powerful Salvatore Orsini no information eluded him. If there's anything he doesn't know it only means that he has no interest in matters as simple as that.

I tried not to show any emotion in my face but I guess I can't help it since the old man smiled knowingly in my face.

"I think I hit a nerve."

"Whatever we have stay out of it, father. I don't want you to butt in with Violet's career. I am warning you."

There was a cold calculated smile fitted his face. "Ah, smitten, I see."

"Father..."

There was an unmistakable warning in my voice but the old man ignored it. "Tell me," he started, rather enjoying this more than he should have. "Did she refuse your marriage proposal already?"

I let out an angry sigh. "I am not having this conversation with you. I am not discussing my relationship with Violet."

Well, we're not really into a relationship. How should I describe our association?

Secretly dating?

Dio. I don't even know how to explain our relationship. All I know is that if we want to see each other it will be in secret. Right now Violet's focus is solely on her career which I understand.

Well, sort of.

"I think you have no future with her, figlio." My father announced, dragging me out of reverie.

My eyebrows drew together while looking at him. "What makes you say that?"

He looked at me straight in the eye while he sat back from his chair. "I think you are just waiting in vain. You are just wasting your time waiting for her when you can find a woman suitable to be your bride. Think about it, Alfonso. That woman might not want to have children even if she marries you. Bearing children might ruin someone's body figure, after all.

I glared at my father hotly. "Violet is not that shallow, padre. We talked about this in the past, once she established her career that's the time we'll talk about our relationship."

The old man cocked a brow. "So up until that time, you are her kept secret like a dirty laundry? That's quite pitiful if you will ask me, son."

I tried not to cringe at my father's words but hell if he didn't hit a bull's eye. "I don't want to talk about this anymore, father. Besides, like her, I also don't want to get married yet. I think you're ultimatum has no use in me. I will marry when I think it's already the right time. You cannot force me to do this crap. I am already a grown man."

"I think you will marry sooner than you think, figlio." My father stated with a strange smile on his face that I don't trust. "If you will just find the right woman whom to marry you will forget this actress in no time. Some girl who can spark your interest."

"My interest is solely focused on Violet, father," I informed him harshly.

So why an image of a beautiful brunette with enchanting blue-green eyes suddenly crossed my mind? I shook my head immediately. That's absurd, I just found her fascinating not those usual ladies I met who always bat their lashes on me. She's just a breath of fresh air, that's all.

"I think you are lying," Father remarked. "I can see on your face right now. Sometimes the woman for you will come when the least you expect her. Who knows she's just right around the corner."

I took a deep breath, trying not to let my father get the better of me. I am aware that he doesn't like Violet's line of work because her life is always in the public domain but I love Violet and my father needs to accept that if he wants me to settle down and have a family of my own. "Back off, father."

Salvatore sighed deeply, shaking his head in the process. "All right. Enough of this for now. I don't want to argue with you early this morning. How about you come with me and let's play golf together."

I snorted, looking back to the picturesque scenery outside. "No, thank you."

"Why not?"

"You know very well that I hate playing golf." I reminded him dryly. "That's probably the most boring sport ever invented."

"I hate to tell you this but you are highly mistaken, boy. Golf is fun."

I shook my head. "Well, not for me at least."

"I think golf is more fun than watching movie shootings." The old man muttered under his breath which made me turn around and glare at him darkly.

He's not yet done irritating me, has he?

Before I have the chance to give him a hot retort. I noticed a car in the driveway. I looked at my wristwatch to see the time. Who would visit this man early in the morning? I glanced at my father who seems remain clueless about the newcomer. "Do you expect visitors today?"

Salvatore frowned for a moment before his expression brightened. He straightened from his seat. "That's our company lawyer. I asked him to come over because I want him to review some contracts for the company. Is he here?"

I shrugged indifferently, gesturing the car outside. "I guess so. A man is sliding out of his car just now."

"That man is always on time." My father commented looking at the grandfather clock on the corner.

I found myself smiling slightly. "Are you going to play golf with him?"

"No. Why?"

I looked at the old man with a smirk. "Well, looks like he's also about to play golf today with his outfit."

"Maybe I should just tag along with him today to play golf."

"Lucky you, then," I commented sarcastically. "You just found yourself a playmate."

I didn't know what made me turn back my attention outside something did. My eyes automatically settled on the passenger's door at the front of the car. I felt the familiar tug inside my chest as recognition hit my brain.

I knew that familiar figure of that brunette. Suddenly, I found myself smiling and I tried my very best to stop that stupid smile since my father eyeing me curiously.

But damn! What are the odds of seeing that wild creature in less than twenty-four hours after our unforgettable first encounter? I didn't expect to see her again since I only knew her first name not even her surname. But I guess the world is really small after all. She's the daughter of our lawyer.

This is going to be interesting.

"You know what, father?" I found myself saying. "I must leave you alone with our company lawyer so you can talk with peace."

While I entertain his daughter.

I didn't wait for his reply as I flew out of the library and jogged to the staircase so I could go outside as soon as I could. I don't understand why I am so excited to see her maybe it has something to do with the fact that I can't wait to see the disbelief in her face upon seeing me.

I'd like to catch her off-guard for once just like what she did yesterday on me. My devious mind was already hatching a plan on how to annoy this fascinating creature to kill my time.

"Well, well, well..." I said by making myself known. To be honest, I couldn't think of a better way to make myself wittier. All I know was that I want to make an impression which doesn't make sense "...look who we have here. The fine creature who accuses of things I didn't even grace our home with her beauty. Buongiorno, Claudia. What a lovely morning to see you here."

Oh, the look on her pretty face was more than I imagined. This is going to be an interesting Sunday morning, indeed.

"I told you," I informed her. "We will see each other. I just didn't realize that we were going to see each other earlier than I anticipated. Fate must be on my side today."

"Go away." Her blue-green eyes snapped with fire.

Not delighted to see me, are you?

"That's no way to treat a new acquaintance, Signorina," I told her pleasantly with the most winsome smile on my face.

She glared at me indecorously. My, this woman was something else. I wonder how to tame this woman? "We're not acquaintances. We're nothing stop assuming."

"Such a tart mouth you have there," I observed, not my kind of woman. I prefer a lady with fine grace. "I wonder what your father will say about this."

"You will not tell him anything!"

I cocked an eyebrow in her direction challenging her. I usually don't like arguing with a woman but find it fascinating when I bicker with her. "Want to bet?"

"I will kill you, I swear!" Futile threats.

I chuckled. "That's not how you suppose to talk to the only son of your father's client, tesoro."

"Scram!"

"Claudia?" She paled when she heard the voice of her father behind us with the old man. I didn't notice that they were already here. Did they hear us?

"Papa..." She started like a proper lady very a complete opposite of a woman who just nearly killed me with her looks.

"What's going on here?" Her father asked with a visible frown on his forehead.

"We're just fooling around. Your daughter and I are old friends, Atty." I inserted it smoothly because this woman was lost for words for a moment.

She gave me a deathly glare but I just smiled pleasantly in her direction.

"Is that true, Claudia?"

I gave her a warning look. Silently, telling her that if she didn't play along I would expose her to her strict father. Oh yes, from the look of this man I could perceive that he was kind of strict. "Uh...y-yes."

"See?" I started with gleefully. "I told you, we're friends."

There was still a disbelief look on the Attorney's face but for some reason, my father beamed like an idiot that's when it hit me.

Wait a minute...

I looked at the unsuspecting woman and then to my father. Perhaps, this woman was the answer to my problem. There's no need to date other women so the paparazzi would not suspect me and Violet seeing each other. I would use this woman as a decoy so I can see the woman I love without the media getting wind of our relationship.

That's a brilliant plan!

"Is this your lovely daughter?" The old man asked pleasantly.

Claudia's father nodded and performed the introduction. "Claudia, this is Signore Salvatore Orsini, my employer. Sir, this is Claudia, my eldest daughter."

"How do you do, Signore?" She said meekly like a refined woman.

I nearly scoffed out loud. What a great actress she is! Maybe she might also want to consider auditioning for movie roles because she's one hell of an actress. If I didn't know better I would also believe her acting skills. Hard to believe that she's the same woman who nearly spit with fire at me moments ago.

Probably seeing the disbelief in me. She threw a deathly glare in my direction making sure our fathers didn't notice. See? She's one scary woman and she's perfect for my plans. I need this woman's cooperation. I will do everything even if resorting to blackmailing her just to achieve my goal.

"Are you going to play golf with your father?" My father asked her keenly. My eyes narrowed at the old man. If I didn't know better I know where this thing is heading inside my father's one-track mind.

Too bad for my father because I already knew where this extra friendly conversation with Claudia heads.

Don't worry, Padre. I will give you that satisfaction. She will play the role of my girlfriend so the paparazzi would leave me and Violet alone.

The only thing I need to do now is to convince her to play that role.

"Yes," she replied meekly, which made me nearly snort out loud. "I love playing golf with Papa that's our favorite bonding."

Salvatore shot me a knowing look before smiling at Claudia. "I also want to play golf today but I am all alone since this son of mine--"

"I will come with you." I interrupted my father.

The old man blinked at me. "But I thought you hated that sport?"

"Did I say that?" I tilted my head to one side while discreetly glaring at my father. "Maybe you just misheard me saying it."

"Is it?" My father asked sarcastically.

"Si." I gave my father a warning look. "I love playing golf."

Salvatore grinned at me. "If you say so, figlio." He looked at the Attorney with an expectant look. "Can we gatecrash your father and daughter bonding and let's all play golf together?"

"Bad idea," Claudia muttered under her breath. I am not sure if Salvatore heard her or he just pointedly ignored her protest.

"What can you say, Atty. Romano?" My father demanded.

The Attorney looked at his daughter torn from refusing or saying yes. When Claudia smiled at him to reassure him that it was fine that made me smile triumphally to myself.

This woman just sealed her fate. I looked at her intently from head to toe so darn pretty in her girly outfit. I already brewing my plan inside my head on how to convince her of my plan. I swear before this day ends she'll be my pretend girlfriend.

I smirked in her direction.

You are now mine, Claudia Romano.

There's no escaping it.

Mine...