Accidentally Married To The Mafia Boss

Chapter 4 - The Pizzeria Falls

Chapter 4

"Kevin! We finally get to meet the elusive bastard," Jonathan, my coworker, exclaims as he bumps into us during cocktail hour. He whistles as he examines Nick from head to toe. I may not have much social acumen, but I can tell that Jonathan is admiring more than just my fake husband's suit. "I can see why she kept you a secret until she got a ring on you. Wanna trade workout tips?"

"Jonathan!" I hiss, but he keeps going. I can tell he's bad at holding his liquor because his cheeks are flushed like Santa Claus. He's pretending to toast us with his glass of what looks to be champagne. Wow, he is more of a lightweight than I ever imagined. "This is Dr. Jonathan Meyer," I remark absently to Nick, who has raised an eyebrow in confusion. "He specializes in general surgery, but he is working with our lab on a side project."

"Lyvia is as clever as they come," Jonathan gloats and pats me sloppily on the shoulder. "Do you remember that time you whipped together an aerosolized version of gentamicin for our bronchiectasis patient who couldn't tolerate it any other way? That was genius. "

"Okay, you've had too much to drink," I apologize and wave Jonathan away. I don't think I want to start off my relationship with Nick by bragging to him about all the ways I've helped Jonathan use a medicine in an off-label way, even if it was to save a kid's life.

Natasha Line shows up before Jonathan can speak further.

"Lyvia, your mother and stepfather are looking for you. They're saying you need to finalize the wedding certificate?"

Although I appreciate Natasha's attempts to silence Jonathan by changing the conversation topic back to the wedding, I suddenly remember that I need to face my parents. My throat is suddenly dry as the Gobi desert, but I know it's time to come clean to my parents, who had seen Kevin before. My would-be husband stood me up. There's no finalizing the wedding certificate. I untangle my hands from around Nick's arm.

"Thank you," I mouth to Nick. My voice is shaking, and it's barely audible above the chattering guests. "But your job here is done. You can go now."

"You sure?" Nick asks me, as though he is just starting to make himself comfortable. "You don't want me here for the after-party?"

"No, no, I'm fine. I'll take it from here."

"What kind of a husband escapes right after taking his vows?"

One who is head and shoulders above a husband who doesn't show up to his wedding day?

I laugh politely, but this entire pretend married gag is getting old. My mom and Jim (my stepfather) must have figured it out by now that Nick is most definitely not Kevin Monroe, not even remotely related to any of the Monroes, and most absolutely not going to inherit a stake in Big Joe's Pizza.

I'm still just a girl with several hundred thousands in medical school debt, with no husband and no way of paying back my school loans with my lousy biochemistry job.

"So," Jonathan says to Nick. "Do you have a last name? The ceremony was short, and Lyvie here wouldn't give us any juicy details."

Marigold, my other friend from work, is also here now. She's admiring my hunky husband with saucer-like eyes. I forgot I invited her. Maybe I didn't invite her. I think I just announced to my lab last week that anyone who wanted to come, could show up. I said that out of desperation because Kevin told me around that time that not a single person from his side was coming. "What do you do for a living?"

"I work in finance," Nick replies effortlessly. I have to admire his smoothness. He's ordering a glass of scotch from a nearby waiter without missing a beat. "Goldman and Sachs, I don't want to bore you with the details."