Bound to Us (Bound Duology Book#1)

A Proposal Neither Expected

A week after their close encounter in the art room, something unexpected happened that forced Emma and Ilario's rivalry into unfamiliar territory. The school was abuzz with news of the annual cultural exchange event—a schoolwide tradition where students were paired with "hosts" to experience different aspects of each other's lives. The catch? Partners would spend an entire month working on a project together, sharing cultural traditions, and even attending school events as a team.

When Emma saw the signup sheet, she was intrigued. It seemed like a great way to make friends and settle into Italian life a bit more. But she'd barely put her name down before the whispers started: the teacher in charge of the event, Signora Bianchi, had a "special interest" in pairing students with contrasting backgrounds. So naturally, when the list of pairings went up the next day, Emma found herself staring at one name beside hers:

Emma Romano & Ilario Ferraro

She stared at the board, frozen in disbelief as Ilario sauntered over with that all-too-familiar smirk.

"Well, well, look who's lucky enough to be my partner," he drawled, leaning against the board. "Maybe you should start thanking me now, straniera."

Emma shot him an icy glare. "Trust me, Ferraro if there were any way out of this, I'd be first in line."

He chuckled, folding his arms. "Well, there isn't. So we might as well get started. Besides, maybe you'll learn something useful for once."

"Learn something? From you?" She let out a mocking laugh, but inside, her nerves were already unraveling. "I'm just trying to figure out how I'll survive a whole month with you."

But the truth was, neither of them had much choice. The project was a school requirement, and backing out would mean failing the assignment, something neither Emma nor Ilario would risk.

The first week was filled with awkward meetings and bickering over every little detail. Ilario wanted to center their project around Florence's Renaissance history, while Emma wanted to explore modern Italian culture and how it contrasted with her own Canadian background. Every decision, every task became a battleground.

Until one fateful day, when their project took a turn neither expected.

They were at a café, surrounded by papers and notes, arguing over the project's theme when a group of their classmates walked in. Among them were Matteo and a few others who had noticed Emma and Ilario's forced partnership. Matteo waved at Emma, smiling warmly as he came over to chat.

"So, you two, huh?" he teased. "Didn't think I'd see the day."

Emma laughed, rolling her eyes. "Trust me, this wasn't by choice."

Matteo grinned. "It almost looks like a date," he teased. "You sure you're not just using the project as an excuse?"

Ilario's face hardened, and he straightened up, putting an arm casually across the back of Emma's chair, his gaze locked on Matteo. "Actually, we're doing just fine. Don't you have your own project to worry about?"

Emma's eyes widened. She hadn't expected Luca to act so... possessive. But Matteo just laughed, brushing it off with a shrug. "Alright, alright. I'll leave you two lovebirds to it."

After Matteo left, Emma looked at Ilario, her brow furrowed. "What was that?"

Ilario shrugged, not meeting her eyes. "He was distracting us. We don't have time for interruptions."

She raised an eyebrow. "Interruptions? Or was it something else?"

He scoffed, changing the subject. "Anyway, back to the project. So, we've got the itinerary for the weekend field trip sorted, right?"

But over the next few days, the gossip spread. People began talking, rumors swirling that Emma and Ilario were more than just partners. And while it should have bothered her, she noticed Ilario's strange behavior continued. He'd walk closer, lean in to talk to her, even brush her shoulder when passing in the hall. He never said it, but Emma could see the way he looked when Matteo or any other guy talked to her. And, despite her better judgment, she found herself caring just a little.

Things came to a head during the cultural event night. It was a big school gathering where the paired students had to present their projects together. When Ilario picked her up at her place for the evening, she felt her heart skip at the sight of him dressed up, a rare nervousness in his expression.

"Ready?" he asked, his usual cockiness nowhere to be found.

She nodded, tucking a stray hair behind her ear. "Yeah. Let's get this over with."

The event went smoothly, their presentation a mix of her ideas and his, blending modern and historical elements of Italian culture. As they finished, a few teachers applauded, and Signora Bianchi raised a knowing eyebrow, clearly pleased. Then, to their surprise, she said into the microphone, "A beautiful presentation from our new couple, Emma and Ilario!"

The room went silent. Emma's cheeks flushed, and she looked at Ilario, unsure what to say. But then he took her hand, his grip firm and steady, and turned to the crowd.

"Thank you, Signora," he said smoothly, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Emma and I are, let's say, still learning about each other. But this project was a good start."

When he let go, she pulled him aside, fuming. "What was that?"

He shrugged, looking a bit sheepish. "It was either that, or everyone thinks we hate each other."

She narrowed her eyes. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

"Maybe," he admitted with a smirk. "But it's not the worst rumor, is it?"

Despite herself, she laughed, shaking her head. "Fine. I guess we can pretend for now."

They spent the rest of the evening together, dancing and laughing as they kept up the "act." But deep down, Emma began to wonder if, maybe, it was starting to feel real. And as Ilario held her close on the dance floor, she had a feeling he was wondering the same.

Guys im still thinking about giving Matteo his own book maybe its gonna be a series but idk give ur opinion in the comments,

Bisou,