Ada's father was way nicer than I expected him to be. Maybe my charm had worked after all.
Was I nervous when coming here? A bit.
But I was glad at how things turned out.
"Adanna has done very well for herself. I hope her marrying you would not stunt her growth?"
"Not at all sir. I'll be here to support her and ensure that she reaches her full potential."
"This marriage is happening quite quickly, don't you think?" He raised a brow, peering into my face like he could read my every thought.
But I was unmoved by it because I had been in the room with even fiercer men and not flinched. I only cared for his approval to marry his daughter because it was the right thing to do.
I smiled in her direction, spotting her side profile from the open plan kitchen as she conversed with her mother.
"When you know, you know sir."
"Hmmm." He sighed deeply. "Hope you haven't impregnated my daughter?"
I almost turned pink. Ada and I had never really discussed kids. We didn't have to. I did think about the process that led to having children but even that line I wasn't sure could be crossed. At least not yet.
"No sir. We haven't even gone there." I wasn't lying this time.
He seemed impressed.
Then he tapped my shoulder.
"You have my blessing."
"Thank you sir. Your daughter is in safe hands," I smiled, awash with relief.
"I truly hope so."
I nodded in appreciation.
Looking up, my eyes locked on hers. They were full of questions.
I blinked slowly. She understood. And the grin that followed made my heart lurch in a way I didn't understand.
~
"So, you really aren't going back with me tonight?" I asked as she walked me to the car.
"My dad is quite religious. So he'll want me to be 'chaste until the wedding night.' "
She said with air quotes as she mimicked him.
We laughed at the same time.
In a spur of the moment, I took her hand in mine and rubbed on it slowly.
"Adanna..." I tested the name on my tongue. "I think I like the full name better." It sounded even more alluring.
She bit on her lower lip. She liked it.
"You pronounce it quite well."
"What can I say? I'm a fast learner."
She shook her head slowly. "You're cocky."
"I know."
I lowered my face to hers.
"Alessandro, my family is watching." She whispered, wide-eyed.
I could tell they were watching from one of the windows too. But I didn't care.
"Let's give them a show then."
"They'll tease me so much." She shut her eyes.
"I'll make it up to you." I promised, drawing closer to her face.
"Speaking of which, you got my whole family gifts and gave me nothing." Her pout was the cutest thing.
I grinned as a nice idea came to my mind.
"What do you want?"
"I can ask for anything?" The glint in her eyes was that of mischief.
I nodded slowly. "Yes. Anything."
"Hmmm. What's the catch?"
"You'll let me kiss you."
"Alessandro..."
I knew she wanted to kiss me too. But her hesitance stemmed from worrying about the dynamic of our relationship. I wasn't thinking about that right now. All I knew was that I wanted to press my lips to her soft and succulent ones.
"Deal?" I nuzzled her.
"Hmm," She hummed her approval.
I covered her lips with mine before she could say anything else. I felt her sigh into the kiss as I pulled her closer to me. I couldn't get enough of her.
We pulled apart because I wanted to stop myself from crossing certain lines.
"So, have you decided what you want?"
"I'll let you know when I think about it." She managed to say. She was flustered. Totally understandable.
I watched her go back inside before slipping into the vehicle.
Now I had to deal with a boner for the rest of the night.
~
I was back at her sister's house the next morning to say my goodbyes as we had a flight to catch that afternoon.
"They really like you," she said during our ride to the hangar.
"You talked about me all night, didn't you?"
"No," she smiled in a way that made me know it was the opposite. "My mother is already planning the wedding."
"I thought as much."
"I'm just so relieved that they approved."
"Me too. I have a question though."
"Okay?"
Curiousity got the better part of me as I asked, "Why does it seem like you have a bone to pick with your sister?"
"Is this about what happened at dinner last night?" She asked back.
I gave a one-sided shrug. "Well, yeah."
Ada swallowed. Apparently, this was a sour topic.
"She..."
I heard her suck in a breath and release it.
"It's okay if you don't want to talk about it. At least not now."
She shook her head. "Let's just say she did something that really hurt me."
"You don't want to go into details?"
"Not for now, no."
I nodded in understanding. She would open up eventually. One day a time.
The ride to the hangar was pretty much smooth. We talked about a lot of things and it reminded me of our first date and how we got along like old friends.
Maybe this contract marriage of ours would not be so bad.
We could get along perfectly.
I was however curious about her angry side. I was stunned when she cussed at me. But my fucked up brain interpreted that as a turn on. I wanted to hear her cuss like that when I did not so innocent things to her body.
Alessandro..m
I had to caution myself.
~
The moment we touched down in LA, my first stop after dropping off Adanna at her apartment was the company. I had missed out on quite a number of meetings.
Unfortunately for me, as soon as I stepped into my office, I was met with the one person that could be deemed as my rival - my cousin, Leo.
"What do you want?" My tone was as cold as ice but he was unbothered.
"If it isn't my dearest cousin. What a way to welcome me."
His dark smile grated on my nerves.
"What are you doing here? Who let you in?"
"Easy brother. You should be happy to see me."
"Happy?" I scoffed, dipping my hands into my pockets.
"What. Do. You. Want?" I gritted out, enunciating every word.
"I hear congratulations are in order."
I paused, not letting my expression give anything away.
He couldn't possibly have found out about my engagement. I told Lorenzo to not tell anyone. Unless he had someone spying on me. I was going to crush that mole once I found him.
"What are you talking about?" I played it cool.
"The tech company acquisition we both wanted. I hear you won the bid."
Him and his cursed father opened a rival company out of spite, dividing the family and causing unnecessary tension. They easily became my rivals, poaching employees and ideas due to the access they had as 'family,'. I hated their guts, especially Leo's. But we weren't allowed to kill family members. At least not until I found a way around the will my grandfather left us.
That will was why I had to marry Ada and in such a hurry too.
"You didn't come all the way to congratulate me did you?" I questioned him.
"You make it sound like our offices are that far apart."
I gave a deadpan stare.
"Okay fine," he cackled. "You don't have much time before you lose all this." He waved around the office.
"Although I do find it strange that you of all people have been unable to find a wife. Anyways, I came to you with an offer."
"No." I didn't need to hear it before knowing it would be something stupid.
"Always the temperamental one, Alessandro," he tsked, shaking his head in mock pity as he poured himself a drink and took a sip, grimacing at the burn of the liquid. I wished it could burn him up from inside out.
"You can come work for-"
"I swear to God, if you complete that sentence, I'll hurl your ass out this window."
He chuckled.
"You and I know you can't do that. You'll lose everything. Not like you wouldn't already." He taunted me.
"Leonardo, get the hell out of my office." I said calmly.
"Let me at least finish my drink first. You're a terrible host."
I balled my fists, fighting the urge to throttle him.
Thankfully he casually walked out soon enough.
"Fucking asshole." I muttered, finally sitting down on my swivel chair.
I knew he wanted my position and would do anything to stop me from taking as the heir.
I was older. But his father never seemed to get the hint that I was the rightful heir. It caused a stir so much my grandfather had to stipulate a crazy condition in his will before he passed on. And that was for me to be married before thirty five.
I thought it was going to be a piece of cake to find a wife so I never stressed about it until I realized how incapable I was of love and how my attraction to women easily faded.
I just knew the usual route wouldn't work me and the last thing I wanted was my parents arranging a marriage for me. That was why I chose Ada.
No one would believe it wasn't a love union because she would be unexpected. My mother especially would expect me to bring some random girl from LA which she would be ready to refuse.
But now I was going to stun them with the sight of my Nigerian goddess who doubled as a successful surgeon. I had hit the jackpot. There was no way she could turn that down.
With Ada's parents on board, I figured it was time for the next step.
It was time for her to meet my family.