CLAUDIA

I never sucked at playing golf in my life until today. The rays of misfortune were blazing at me in full blast.

For some reason, my precision with my swing was absent. The ball kept on landing on bunkers that earned a series of chuckles from the obnoxious Alfonso.

I tried to keep my calm and do my best with my play but that was so hard to do when that devilish man kept on mocking me silently. He didn't need to say a word his expressive eyes were enough evidence.

"Having a bad day?" He had the nerve to ask when he was casually studying me using his golf club as a support to the ground while his ankle crossed with the other feet. His stance was a picture of pure enjoyment due to my mishap.

I glared at me darkly, cursing him inside my head. I gave him a big fake smile. "Not really."

"Looks like it from where I was standing." He commented, letting out another chortle.

My lips were thinning as I prevent myself from swinging this freaking golf club in his head instead of the ball that was currently in the deep shallow of the sand pit. "Why don't you just shut up and let me play?"

He shrugged and didn't say a word.

I took a deep breath and focused my attention on how to let this ball out of the sand. I will not let this man ruin my day because of his mere presence. I can still ace this game if my bad luck leaves me alone.

Focus, Claudia. Focus...

As I swing the golf club to hit the ball, I groaned when I kept on hitting the sands unable to remove the damned ball out of this bunker. Oh, this is frustrating!

"You're about to powder me with sand, sweetheart," Alfonso remarked with a deep chuckle. "I will not be surprised if I went home with a brown shirt instead of this pristine white I wear."

"Oh, for the love of God. Shut up!" I snapped at him. I was annoyed by myself because I was having a bad day today and mostly to him with his nonstop goading. "You're not helping with your snide remarks."

"What did I do?" He inquired with such innocence that I don't buy. "I just want to tell you that I don't want people to think that I went to the beach instead of to the golf course with so much sand you kept on swinging in the air."

I threw a deathly glare in his direction. "I suggest you zip your mouth before I decide to put unintentional sand in your mouth. A gentleman will not mock the woman he's supposed to be courting the way you do."

He acted like an innocent gentleman and he's bad at it. Maybe he should learn a thing or two with his lady actress about acting. "I am just being honest, sweetheart."

"And stop calling me 'sweetheart' It makes me nauseous and it adds more to my already bad luck." I snarled at him. Seriously, if this whole fake courtship thing was real he'll be out of the picture on day one.

"How about 'dolcezza'?"

"No."

"Amore?"

"No!" I glowered, giving him a severe look. "No endearments for me. Save those words for your lady love when you're not her dirty little laundry anymore, will you?"

I couldn't miss the way he winced at my words. I don't regret reminding him at every opportunity that I have about his current label when it comes to Violetta Ricci.

It was his turn to look darkly in my direction. "Will you stop saying that?!"

"Saying what?" I smiled coyly. "That you're her dirty little laundry?"

I wanted to laugh when I saw the way his mouth hung open. "Y-You...!"

"Ah," I wiggled my index finger in front of him. "Careful with your words, if I were you. Are you forgetting that you need my help? I suggest be nice to me or you're forever be Violetta Ricci's dirty little laundry."

He took a deep breath and looked away. I could see the way he was preventing himself from retorting me. "Just hit the damn ball, shorty. The old man and your father are probably halfway from finishing the game and we're stuck here."

Of all the insults that I was expecting from him this was certainly not one of them. I shouldn't be affected by it. But... "Excuse me, Mr. Lamppost. For your information, I am five feet four inches tall. I am not shorty as you put it that's your leg's fault."

He looked down at the lower part of his body. "What's wrong with my legs?"

"They are stupidly long!"

He laughed heartily, his eyes held amusement in their depth. "Blame my parents for my perfect genes."

I snorted with a haughty look. "You are just a sperm who just championed your way to your mother's womb by chance and nothing more."

If I thought that I couldn't shock Alfonso Orsini with my unfiltered mouth I was mistaken. I wanted to laugh the way heat spread through his cheeks while he's looking at me as if the devil was beside me right this moment.

He shook his head in disbelief when he finally recovered from his shock. "Woman, you are something else. I wonder how your suitor keeps up with you."

"He's not aware of my wild side," I told him truthfully.

"Why not?"

I thought my answer for a moment. "Maybe because he doesn't bring the worst of me while spending time with him."

"Then you are not yourself when you're with him." He remarked smartly. "You're just pretending."

"That's some accusation you have there." I was annoyed by his opinion. "Did you consider the fact that maybe he's not trying my patience like you do?" I gave him a saccharine smile. "Unlike you, he's such a perfect gentleman."

He scoffed rudely. "Perfect gentleman? Shorty, you need more than just a perfect gentleman. You need a man who can tame you and a perfect gentleman can't do such a tough job."

I raised an eyebrow at him. "You think you're that man?"

"Not really." He smiled pleasantly. "I don't want to subject myself to such a dilemma. You're too much for me to handle. Unlike you, Violet is the perfect amount of being a faithful, kind, and graceful human being."

"In short, she's docile," I observed sarcastically. "I didn't realize that you want a submissive woman as your wife."

"And that's a bad thing?"

I shook my head with a mocking smile. "Oh, no. I think you are perfect for each other. You know, a famous actress and heir to a billion-dollar wine empire. A man who wants to avoid the media and a woman who is always in front of the camera. A perfect match."

He eyed me guardedly. "You're being sardonic, are you?"

"Oh, you are highly mistaken, Signore Orsini," I replied innocently. I gave him a friendly grin. "I am admiring you and your woman's love story. Aw..."

He gave a self-mocking smile. "An average guy will likely be killed in an instant with your savage personality while merely chatting with you. I will not be surprised if you wounded my ego severely as I spend more time with you in the future."

"You'll be fine," I assured him, coming out from the bunker. I gave up. Playing golf and arguing with him at the same time was too much for an elegant lady like me. "Be thankful that this is only a fake courtship or you'll find yourself being dumped on your first day of courtship."

"Thank goodness, then." He replied sarcastically. He cock his eyebrow. "You're giving up?"

"Yeah. I lost my appetite playing golf today. I will just play better next time."

He chuckled lightly. "Just admit that you have no talent in golf and you just want to impress. Stop making excuses, shorty."

That's it. All of my pent-up frustration because of him bubbled up inside me. Before I realized what was happening I found myself hitting him with my golf club the only thing I sorely wanted to do since he joined us here.

"Ouch! Hey, stop it!" He's trying to dodge my strike with running. "You're about to kill me with that thing. Stop it, woman!"

"Die, you bastard." I tried to catch him swinging my golf club like a mad woman. All I want is to strike him as hard as I can but that's so hard to do when he's running with his long strides.

Damn, those stupid long legs!

"What's wrong?" He taunted while still running around the golf course. "Can't catch me, shorty?"

"Pray to God that I will not catch you or Violetta Ricci will be boyfriendless before your love story even starts."

He laughed out loud. "That is if you can catch me with your short legs."

Our caddies were looking at us as if I lost my mind. Maybe I have, thanks to this man. How unladylike of me to run around like an insane woman chasing this man with my golf club. I just hope that Papa will not catch us like this we're behaving like children.

Finally, my exercise-deprived body takes its toll on me. I stopped running while trying to catch my breath. Damn this man.

"Truce?" Alfonso also stopped running several feet away from me.

I glowered at him while still trying to catch my breath. "S-s-shut...up." I took several measured breaths. "Don't you dare come closer to me? I assure you that you will face your demise."

Before he had the chance to goad at me even more Papa and Signore Salvatore came back from their game. Papa went to my side while the older Orsini did the same with his obnoxious son.

We decided to call it a day. Signore Salvatore wants us to treat to lunch but I made the excuse that I have some errand this afternoon when the truth is I have enough of his son's presence for today.

Once I was inside Papa's car I fully prepared myself for his rounds of questions about the developments of my association with the evil Alfonso Orsini.

But Papa surprised me when he remained silent throughout the whole car ride. I guess that he was still in a state of shock or he was just simply mad at me for breaking my promise to him.

Either way, I am kind of grateful that the interrogation was postponed for now.

The car ride was uneventful, papa dropped me off outside my flat's building. I kissed his cheek before going out of his car.

I went straight to the apartment I shared with my best friend. Once I opened the door I saw Anna cooking something in the kitchen. "Oh, you're finally here. How's your day with your dad?"

"Very eventful."

That made Anna's eyes light with excitement. She turned off the stove burner and removed her kitchen apron. "Tell me everything."

I pouted as I sat on our small kitchen table while Anna sat next to me.

"So, how did it go? You're bonding time with your dad, I mean."

I sighed deeply. I am now debating if my impulsive decision has been correct. Did I just really agree to this ridiculous scheme just to prove to myself that I can make Alfonso Orsini fall in love with me after indirectly insulting my pride?

"Are you just going to stay silent there or you're going to speak up?" My best friend demanded impatiently. "Come on, can't you see that you're killing me with the suspense, Claudia?"

"Okay, here it goes," I started, staring at her curious eyes. "After this, I want your honest opinion."

She nodded eagerly as I recalled the event that transpired the event that was supposed to be an ordinary Sunday with my father.

I started my tale when Papa told me that we needed to have a slight detour from our destination because he needed to get the documents his client wanted him to review and to my horror, Papa was working for the Orsini.

That was rewarded by deafening laughter from Anna who also tapped the wooden table as she was laughing.

"Oh, that's rich!" She said between laughter. "So your father is working for Alfonso's father."

I made a face at the thought. "Yes. That's rather unfortunate, don't you think?"

"I think its fate." My best friend remarked smartly. I think she just said that to annoy me even more. "Oh, you are fated to see him again after your unlikely encounter yesterday. Who knows this might be the start of the great love story."

I threw her a look of disgust. "Curse your tongue."

"What happened next? Oh, wait...I will just coffee." Anna stood on her stool and poured us coffee. "Did you meet him at their vineyard?"

"Yes!" I took the offered coffee and took a sip. "Can you believe that? He was there to annoy me early in the morning."

"Claudia," My friend stated dryly. "That's his freaking home. Where do you expect to see him?"

I didn't bother to give her a reply and just continued my story on how he and his father decided to gatecrash our golf bonding and how much I wanted to protest but stayed silent because his father was Papa's client. And then, I also told her about my bad performance while playing golf and how the devious bastard kept on mocking me. I also told her about the insane proposal of Alfonso.

"He going to be your what?!"

"Pretend suitor." I replied sourly.

Anna stared at me for a moment before bursting out laughing again. "Oh my God! How did that happen?"

I sipped my coffee again and muttered under my breath. "That's a decoy to hide his relationship with this famous actress."

"Who?"

I glanced at my friend briefly before looking away. "Violetta Ricci."

She blinked in surprise. "Oh, so he's dating that famous actress? I thought he's a playboy heir to this billion-dollar empire."

"It appears that's only a façade so that if they're seen together in public no one would assume about their romantic relationship."

Anna's eyebrows knitted together. "Where do you fit in this charade, my friend?"

I took a deep breath, staring at her with guilty eyes. "Well, when he's telling me with his proposition he kinda insulted me that I am a good choice for his plan because he's sure as hell that he will not fall in love with me and that made me so fumingly mad. I vowed that I would use this opportunity to make him fall in love with me and then cast him aside to prove him wrong."

My dear friend was silent for a moment. I couldn't fathom what she was thinking right now.

"What?" I asked defensively.

"Don't you think that's a little bit impulsive?"

I bit my bottom lip. "You think so?"

She exhaled deeply, sipping her coffee. "Honestly, I am not sure. All I know is you're going to play a dangerous game with him. It's like a game of cat and mouse."

I raised an eyebrow in her direction. "Don't you have faith in me?"

"The real question is," Anna said with a slight smile. "Do think this plan of yours will work without your heart messing with you in the future."

"My heart is already set on Dante from a long time ago," I informed her proudly. "Spending some time with Alfonso Orsini will not waver my heart."

"I hope you are right." My friend announced but I could see that she was not convinced with me. "Because I hate to tell you this but from what I see Alfonso Orsini is a dangerous man."

I frowned at her. "What do you mean dangerous?"

"You know," she shrugged casually, giving me a private smile. "That kind of danger that can make you fall in love with his charm not just his good looks."

I shook my head resolutely. "That will not happen to me."

"I certainly hope so."

"I will not fall in love with that cynical man."

Anna raised her coffee cup in a mock salute. "Let's see who will fall in love first in this dangerous game you both started playing."

I gave her a devious grin, clicking my mug with her. "Not me."

"Let's see."

All of a sudden, the telephone in our living room sounded. I stood from my chair. "I'll answer it. It's probably Mama."

Anna nodded silently, watching me to answer the telephone.

"Hello? This is Claudia." I said on the other line.

A deep chuckle sounded over the telephone. "Ciao, amore."

My heart skipped a beat when I heard his familiar voice. Did his voice sound so deep? I ignored the erratic beat of my heart as I tried not to sound shocked upon hearing him on the other line. "What do you want? And how did you get this number?"

He chortled again. "I have my sources, sweetheart."

"Creepy," I said in a bored tone. "What do you want then?"

"Let's meet tomorrow." He stated nonchalantly. "I need to attend this party and you will come with me."

"I have work tomorrow. I'm busy."

He made a sound of displeasure at the other end. "You have no choice but to come with me that's an order. Besides, tomorrow is the right time to inform society about our fake courtship."

"But--"

"I will pick you up tomorrow after your work."

I sighed in resignation. What an autocratic ass. "You don't have to pick me up at work I hate office gossip."

He scoffed. "You have no choice. I'm your suitor remember?"

I took a deep breath. "Fine. Just don't forget to bring flowers tomorrow when you show up at the office."

"What?"

"I like pink roses," I informed him before disconnecting the phone call. A small smile fitted my lips once I placed back the receiver on the telephone. Tomorrow will be the start of making Alfonso Orsini fall in love with me. Making him fall for me will be just a piece of cake. After all, who can resist my infamous charm?

Soon his infatuation with that actress will be just a distant memory from the past.

Score one for the beautiful Claudia Romano. I thought with such satisfaction as I dramatically flipped my hair.