❛𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒊 𝒂𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 ❜
|18+| "Get on your knees." Valerio orders, removing his tie and throwing it in the bed.
"You can't just order me around anyhow you want." I snap back, eyes trailing dow...
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"Will you marry me, Isabella?"
Irritation coiled in my belly.
"No."
If my reply made him mad or upset, he wasn't showing it but his icy glare deepened.
"I'm offering something that's beneficial, not only for you, but—" he waves his hands around. "—also your company."
I bit my tongue so hard the taste of copper filled my mouth.
"What exactly is your problem?" I ask, crossing my arms over my chest before leaning back on the chair.
His lips thinned as his gaze trails my eyes to my lips them back to my eyes. He was thirty-four years old, famously married to his work, and up until now, showed no intention of giving up his bachelor lifestyle until his father gave him that condition.
"The stocks stumbled." his gaze was firm on me, eyes blank of any emotion. "I give you about a week before you finally see signs of bankruptcy—if not by now—and also, who'd want to give loan to a company that can't even keep itself up so you obviously need my help."
I remained silent for a while. He has a good point but that doesn't mean I'd accept. I'm not dumb. Even if it benefits my company, I can't just be expected to enter a lifetime contract because of this.
"I can set you up with someone." I suggest, hoping I can get out of this and also get help for the company from him.
"Do you think my dad hasn't? I can't just get married to anyone—a stranger at that. I already told my father I had a girlfriend."
"We're strangers too." I point out.
"No?" he takes a step closer to my desk. "I know you like pickles and jam."
"That was six years ago," my cool reply masked away the surprise I had from him remembering that. "I hate pickles now."
Valerio nods in understanding before a line appeared between his brows.
"Listen," he starts and I raise a brow at his tone. "Our dads are fond with each other, it wouldn't be a surprise if we started dating. But instead, they'd love it."
True. Why is he always right?
"I'm not spending my whole life with you just because of that and I know you also don't." I bit out and his eyes narrowed a fraction of an inch.
"I obviously can't spend the rest of my life with you." he states and I frown.
This isn't making any sense. Valerio seemed to notice my confusion because he speaks up again.
"After the marriage, we can cook up a story and get divorced six months later. That's the max I can go."
That made sense.
"So an arranged marriage then? Or you have an ulterior motive?"
He lifts a brow as a silent question and I rest my forearms on the table, a teasing smile on my face.
