CHAPTER 11
Nirah
THE HOUSE WAS quieter than expected this morning as I headed downstairs.
My favorite part of the kitchen was the fridge with double doors. Mine only had one.
I groaned as I craned my neck back, trying to look into the cabinet. Even when standing on my toes, I still couldn’t get the glass on the top shelf. I shrugged my shoulders and carefully climbed onto the countertop. I sat up on my knees and opened it.
A hand flew by my head and into the cabinet to grab a glass as well, and my stomach dropped. Crap .
I turned my head, seeing Antonio blink back at me.
He shot me a questioning look, and I grabbed a glass, putting it down next to me.
“Some of us are vertically challenged,” I said, looking back at him.
“You mind?” I looked at the little space between him and the countertop, and when he didn’t move, I turned myself around, sitting flat on my ass.
When I hopped off, I eliminated all the space between us.
“First you step on my car seats with your boots, and then you’re climbing onto my kitchen counters?” he asked, and I swallowed hard.
“I already apologized for the car thing,” I defensively crossed my arms over my chest. “And I wouldn’t be climbing your countertops if everyone who was as tall as you just used the glasses on the top shelf, I mean seriously?” I sighed, and his lips slightly twitched into a timid smile.
“Any other rules you’d like to declare in my house?”
“No sir ,” I shot back, gripping onto the counter behind me.
The air between us had suddenly become hotter, and for the first time ever, I felt nervous and intimidated by a man . Who am I?
“Where is my little vixen off to?” he asked, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.
“Out,” I vaguely answered. “I need to buy a few things.”
He stared down at me, and I felt my chest tighten. “More details.”
" ‘Out’ as in out and ‘I need to buy a few things’ as in I need to buy a few things, ” I shrugged my shoulders. “I’m not reporting my every move to you, De Luca.”
“I think it’s time I brought out the maid outfit. Maybe then you’ll lose the attitude.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Nice try, but no,” I said as I propped myself up on my toes to brush a strand of his hair back.
I fell back on my feet and ran my hands down his chest. “It should be illegal to look this dashing in a suit,” I said, looking straight into his chest.
He took my chin between his fingers and tilted my head up.
“A police officer uniform would work too,” he grinned.
“I’m not participating in your weird kinky fantasies where the woman dresses up, Antonio,” I narrowed my eyes at him.
“And here I thought you were at my bidding.”
“That’s why I’m not marrying you to think,” I smiled, and he softly chuckled. “You’re prettier when you smile,” I admitted. My heart dropped as soon as those words left my lips. I didn’t mean to say that out loud.
The corners of his lips twitched into an amused grin, and my heart skipped a beat at the sight. Our gazes shared silent words, and everything inside of me exclaimed that I made the right choice with him.
I chewed the inside of my cheek in an attempt to hide my smile. “What?”
A beat passed between us.
I felt his hand glide up from my hips to my waist, and instinctively, my body reacted by jolting away from his touch.
A smile of embarrassment played on my lips and I covered my mouth with both hands making his brows draw together in confusion.
“I’m ticklish.”
He grinned— mischievously . “Yeah?”
My eyes grew wide as realization hit me, but by the time I tried slipping past him, he already had me trapped between his arms.
His hands found their way along my waist, and I broke out in a laugh, wiggling back and forth.
“No—stop!” I laughed, trying to break free, but it was no use. “Antonio!” I reprimanded, looking up to see his eyes glisten in amusement.
I grabbed his forearms to stop him, not wasting a second and ducked underneath his arm—trying to run. He wrapped both arms around my waist, pulling my back to his chest.
“Okay, okay,” I laughed, and he finally stopped, but still held onto me. “I’ll never share anything with you again.”
“Take that back.”
I whipped my head back, staring straight into his eyes as our faces lingered inches apart. “ No .”
He didn’t hesitate before he was back to tickling my sides, bringing out my loudest laugh. I hadn’t realized how strong and sturdy his hold on me was.
No matter how much I wiggled or fought back, it did nothing in comparison to his strength. The more I seemed to find out about this man, the more I started to like him.
“ Ahem .” Our heads snapped up toward the entrance of the kitchen where I saw one of the helpers I’d met before. I wasn’t sure what her name was.
I cleared my throat, pulling away from Antonio and stood idly beside him with both of my hands in front of me.
“Rosalia needs you,” she crossed her arms over her chest, looking directly at me.
“Is everything okay?” I asked, and she sighed, subtly rolling her eyes.
“How am I supposed to know? Go find out yourself.”
I nodded, feeling goosebumps trail over my skin. Right .
“Okay,” I smiled. “Excuse me,” I said to Antonio, but he gently grabbed my arm to stop me.
“Nirah, is my fiancée and you will talk to her with respect,” Antonio ordered, and I watched her drop her arms to her sides. She didn’t expect that. “Understand?”
“Yes sir,” she bitterly said.
“Don’t even think for a second that you’re going to disrespect her in my house. You’re replaceable. Don’t forget that.”
She directed her attention back to him, and her face softened. “I’m sorry,” she apologized, and I held back a frown. She should be apologizing to me, but whatev—
“You owe Nirah an apology,” he said, and my head shot up to look at him. Did he just read my mind? Hot.
She instantly apologized, and he dismissed her. Before he could speak, I headed out as well.
When I eventually found Rosalia, she made a list of foods that I liked and disliked. She also took down bananas and mushrooms. Two things I was allergic to.
Antonio instructed Cesar to drive me around today, and even though I felt it not to be necessary, he clearly thought otherwise. It was smooth sailing in the beginning, but after a while, I couldn’t stand being constantly followed by a man. But this was what I wanted. Needed .
After all the shopping I bought myself an ice coffee and headed home. “Let’s go!” I beamed, rushing up to my bedroom.
“Yes, Miss Nirah,” Cesar nodded, following suit.
His personality was the complete opposite of mine. But, opposites do fortunately—for me—attract.
“Call me Nirah, please,” I insisted as I entered my bedroom with him behind me. “ Miss makes me feel like an old rich lady.”
“Mr. Antonio instructed us to address you respectfully.”
“Well, I don’t like it,” I shook my head, and he looked at me warily. “Okay fine. I’ll talk to him about it, but in the meantime, how about this,” I said, stopping in front of him. “Whenever we’re alone you’ll call me Nirah. But when Antonio is around, you can refer to me, however. Okay?”
He hesitantly nodded, and I put my hand out. We shook hands, and I ran over to my bed, jumping onto it. “Sit!” I excitedly patted the space next to me.
“Excuse me?”
“Have a seat,” I encouraged. “Now, Cesar,” I said, way more demanding, and he sat down. “You’re close to Antonio, right?” I asked, and he nodded. “Perfect. Now spill.”
He frowned. “Spill…?”
“Yes. I want to know everything. His likes, dislikes, embarrassing moments, secret hobbies, all of it.”
“I cannot, Miss—Nirah. Mr. Antonio will be furious. I am only here to protect you.”
“Oh, come on,” I whined as I held my pillow against my chest. “Help me out. I’m marrying a man I know nothing about.” He hesitated. “Well, then, tell me his middle name. Does he have one?” I asked, and he nodded.
After much, much convincing, I finally got Cesar to share all the details. Good and bad. It was an interesting roller coaster, to say the least.
“I don’t understand how you’re not afraid of the most feared man in the city, Nirah,” Cesar said as I braided his hair whilst he sat on the floor in front of my bed. “How do you do it?” he asked—seeming genuinely curious—with my stuffed teddy bear on his lap.
“Grow a vagina,” I said, leaning over his shoulder, and he chuckled.
“I see what you did there, Nirah. And I like it,” he nodded.
“Antonio is really not that bad. He’s just a big ball of arrogance and squishy cuteness,” I shrugged my shoulders, and Cesar scoffed.
“Take it from someone who has known him for years. He is not.”
“Yes. He is. And you know that you don’t have to be so tense around him,” I playfully squeezed his shoulder. “He can’t do anything to you.”
“Yes, he can.”
“Well probably… but he can’t kill you.”
“Yes, he can,” he once again repeated himself.
“No, he can’t,” I said, going over to the next braid. “You can’t kill someone for not obeying you every second of the day.”
“No, you can’t, but he can. And will.” There was comfortable silence, and I looked down at my toes. The white nail polish was almost dry, and suddenly, goosebumps rose on my skin. “He doesn’t hurt you, does he?” I hesitantly asked.
“No, Nirah,” Cesar answered, and I let out a soft breath of relief.
“Well, then, why are you so afraid of him?”
Cesar turned his head to me, his eyes filled with fear and confusion.
“He’s… intimidating ,” he vaguely answered, and I continued with his braid.
The door opened, and our heads snapped in its direction. Cesar jumped up at the sight of Antonio, and my heart dropped.
Antonio’s eyes went from me—sitting with my legs dangling off of the bed—to Cesar, who stood there like a soldier.
“Dinner is at six,” he said, and I nodded. I turned my head to the clock on my nightstand and it was 05:48 pm.
“Oh,” I jumped up. “I’ll be right down.”
“My office. Now ,” he demanded, and Cesar dropped his head before nodding.
“Yes sir,” he murmured, but I stopped him.
“If he yells at you, tell me,” I whispered up at him, and he weakly smiled.