Quiet Temptation

PART III: Chapter 14

PART III

Spring 2019

Chapter 14

Martina

Three weeks until this semester is over.

Three weeks until I can be away from Rocco Rossi.

At least for a little while.

He wants to spend some time in Chicago for the summer with me. My mother is completely thrilled. She's already picking out linens for the wedding next year.

I play the act well.

I've been a good girl all my life. I've behaved. Done as I've been told.

After everything happened over winter break, I had some time to sit and think about the decisions that were made.

I realized I didn't want to be the good girl that was prescribed to me.

Yes. I agreed to marry for my father's business benefit in exchange for going away to school. However, I could always still get out of it. I just had to play my cards right. I could be smart and cunning like Mira.

My mother guilting me into agreeing to the marriage because of her sadness over Marcel wasn't fair.

When I told Mira everything that went down, she was furious. As always, she was on my side instantly.

"We will get your out of this, cara sorella," she'd told me.

When my sister is determined to do something – it gets done.

I had faith in Parker though. He told me he was working on some things on the down low. He assures me he'll take care of everything, that he just wants me to focus on school. Which is hard to do when Rocco's got his claws in me.

After winter break, he was all too thrilled to take up the role of doting boyfriend. I quickly learned how the prince charming act was all a facade, just as so many warned me. He was secretly extremely jealous and possessive. Even over me hanging out with Gwen, of all things. When we first dated last year he'd seemed so cool, so carefree. Now that I was a sure thing, the coin had seemingly flipped.

No more weekend trips to Dublin to try to sneakily see Parker.

I knew Rocco wasn't for me when he came to pick me up for a date and Donatella hissed at him. She never hisses at anyone.

She is an extremely good judge of character – my sweet girl.

It got so bad that I noticed Rocco watching over my shoulder when I'd be on my phone. I wouldn't be surprised if he was tapping into my phone.

Gwen helped me get a second phone so I could use it to communicate with Parker.

I miss him every fucking day.

I play the act of Rocco's girlfriend fairly well. I'm polite. I tell him I want to wait to have sex till marriage. I don't let him kiss me, even. Not like before. I think that only makes him more insane.

Sometimes, I notice a darkness in his eyes. He's so good at faking it around others – at wearing the mask. He's bound to crack and unravel at some point. I only have to bide my time.

I throw myself into school because I know it's something I'll always be good at.

I'm the only woman in my business law class. I sit in the front row and wear my pink clothes and ignore the way they whisper and chuckle at me behind my back.