5. Matteo
CHAPTER 5
Matteo
The wedding was a blur. All I remember is the stunning image of Aurora as she walked down the aisle in her candlelight Vera Wang gown. The kiss last night wasn’t planned. It had only meant to shut her up, but I can’t quit thinking about it. Was I really trying to claim her as mine? I don’t know, but the thought of her sleeping with another man the night before our wedding was more than my ego could take.
As I watched her cheerfully greet guests during our wedding reception, I again found myself unable to take my eyes off her. Her laughter filled the spacious room as she gracefully glided through the crowd with poise and elegance. Looking at the woman who is now my wife, Mrs. Aurora Santoro, I wondered if, for once, I was in over my head.
Deep down, I know the smiles are for show. I do the same as my crime family slaps me on the back to congratulate me. I appreciate the support, but their congratulations rang hollow as I attempted to play the part of a happy groom.
The tension between my new wife and me is palpable, and I have no idea how to overcome it. I’m not entirely convinced she isn’t seeing someone, but she planted the seed, and it continues to grow. If there is a man in her life, he won’t be there long. I’ll see to it.
Do I care? No. At least that’s what I tell myself, but my wife will not shame my name. As I watched her mingle with our guests, frustration began in my chest. I was amazed. I was amazed that she could walk and talk so effortlessly as if there wasn’t a two-ton ball of tension between us.
For a moment, I wondered if she didn’t care about the seriousness of our situation and what it could mean for her family and me. Then I realized she didn’t know. All she knows is that this is a business deal arranged between her father and me. She has no clue what’s at stake.
Even as my anger continued to simmer, I couldn’t ignore the fact that, in a way, I was thrilled. Thrilled by the idea of what was ahead. Now that Aurora was my wife, I would finally have the leverage I needed to take Dominic DeSantis down. Taking control of his hotel empire would only add to my power and influence. And I’d be lying if I said, I didn’t want to see DeSantis suffer. Taking DeSantis out will be one of the greatest pleasures of my life.
As soon as I have the evidence in my hands, I will quickly divorce Aurora. The thought of the future sent a rush of exhilaration coursing through my body, a unique mixture of ambition and desire. But underneath, there was a nagging feeling of doubt that refused to go away. What it was exactly, I wasn’t sure. Whatever it was, it refused to be silenced.
As the night wore on, I found myself drawn into the festivities, my mind drifting tirelessly between the present and the future I had meticulously mapped out. I watched Aurora dance with one of the guests, her laughter resonating in my ears.
There was no denying how breathtaking she looked. The way her flowing blonde hair was delicately swept back and the way her dress hugged every curve in just the right way made me pause. For a split second, I allowed myself to entertain the idea that I could be happy.
Quickly, I shook that delusion from my head, but as I did, I made eye contact with Aurora. For the first time since we met, I didn’t see hate or anger in her gaze. Instead, I saw doubt and vulnerability, starkly contrasting her usual tough exterior. What were her ocean-blue eyes trying to tell me?
At that moment, I knew I was not the only one struggling. We both had demons that were threatening to overtake us. As the music played and guests danced around us, I found myself drawn to her like a moth to a flame. Without realizing what I was doing, I made my way through the crowd to get to her, my heart pounding in my chest with every step.
Once I reached her, I extended my hand to ask for a dance. Her eyes widened in surprise, unsure what to make of the sudden gesture. “Aurora, may I have this dance?”
Unsure, she stuttered, “Yes, of course, after all, you are my…”
I swept her into my arms before she had a chance to finish. Soon, we found ourselves lost in the rhythm of the music, drawn together by an invisible force. Our eyes met, and I was all too aware of the closeness of our bodies and the heat between them.
I didn’t know what I was doing, but I found myself leaning down and capturing her perfect rose-colored lips in a kiss that sent shockwaves through my body. At first, her body stiffened, and her hands dug into my shoulders to resist my advances.
Instead of releasing her, I deepened the kiss, once again feeling the urge to claim her as mine. I wanted desperately to pretend that’s all it was, that it wasn’t a sense of longing and desire.
For a fleeting moment, I was lost, but as soon as the music ended, the spell was broken. Aurora pulled away quickly, her breath ragged as she struggled to regain her composure.
“What the hell was that, Matteo?” she asked, her cheeks flushed pink with embarrassment. “We shouldn’t start something that can only end in disaster.”
I smiled knowingly, a hint of triumph in my eyes, as I gently stroked her face and whispered into her ear, “Oh, but we already have my beautiful bride. We already have.”
I knew I shouldn’t have kissed her, that I was pushing boundaries, but when temptation takes over, I can’t resist. Seeing the turmoil in her eyes, I reached out to touch her cheek. The intimate gesture backfired as I saw the war between obligation and desire waging in her eyes.
“Aurora,” I whispered in understanding as I took a step back to give her space. “I didn’t mean to upset you …”
But before I could continue my sentence, Aurora’s gaze was drawn to the sound of someone across the ballroom slowly approaching us. I spotted him immediately – a tall, confident, and handsome man with a smile worthy of a toothpaste commercial.
“Who is that?” I asked through gritted teeth.
Aurora’s expression was unreadable as she turned to face me. “No one you need to worry about. He is just a friend.” She tried to hide the tension in her voice, but it was undeniable. This man was more than just a friend; jealousy snaked through me, ready to strike.
Trusting my gut has never led me wrong, and right now, my gut is telling me that there was more to the story than Aurora was telling me. This man was significant in her life, and I would find out how.
As he approached, he extended his hand. “Congratulations, Mr. Santoro. You are a very lucky man.” Turning his attention to Aurora, he smiled and said, “Aurora, you are even more beautiful than I remembered. May I have this dance?”
Aurora hesitated for a moment, her gaze alternating between the handsome guest and me. Finally, she nodded yes and allowed him to lead her onto the dance floor. With Aurora in the arms of the stranger, I found myself left alone in the sea of guests.
A wave of frustration began to consume me as I realized my wife was dancing in the arms of another man. But what frustrated me more was that I knew I had no right to be jealous. The only claim I truly had to Aurora was the business arrangement, but seeing her in the arms of another man filled me with emotions I wasn’t accustomed to. It took everything in me not to storm onto the dance floor and break them up.
I watched them from a distance, noticing how her eyes lit up when he spoke or the curve of her neck when she laughed at something he said. Every moment I allowed her to spend in his arms tightened the knot of jealousy in my chest, threatening to suffocate me.
I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that settled within me. It wasn’t just jealousy that was eating at me. I was beginning to feel as though my “wife” wasn’t being completely honest with me. And if that were true, there could be secrets that would threaten to unravel the delicately woven threads of our arrangement.
Walking through the reception, I soon found myself alone in the empty ballroom as the last guest departed. I knew I had to tread carefully; my future was at stake. If I wanted to come out on top, and I always did, I had to play my cards close to my chest. The problem was that with each passing moment, my decisions began to feel like the weight of the world pressing down on me.
Suddenly, I was pulled out of my thoughts when Aurora appeared. Her expression was unreadable, but I could see the worry and dark circles that had formed under her eyes. “We need to talk,” she stated calmly as she took my hand and led me to a secluded corner of the ballroom.
There were only workers left, but the seclusion kept us away from prying eyes and ears. I could feel the tension rising between us as we sat at the isolated table.
I spoke first, not wanting to give her the chance to defend herself. “I know you haven’t been telling me the truth; I won’t tolerate secrets and lying, Aurora.” Looking her dead in the eyes, I made my irritation known. “Either you can tell me now or I will find out on my own what it is you are keeping from me.”
Aurora’s eyes widened in shock like she wasn’t expecting my response. Her once strong demeanor began crumbling like a house of cards. “I - I don’t know what you’re talking about, Matteo.” Her voice was confident, but she couldn’t look me in the eyes. That was enough to let me know I had hit close to home. Maybe he was nothing more than an old boyfriend, but seeing her squirm as she became increasingly more uncomfortable reinvigorated me. I was back in control.
Playing along with her game, I stroked her hand and whispered gently. “Maybe you don’t, but mark my words, Aurora, no secret stays buried forever. When the truth comes out, and it will, there will be nowhere left for you to hide. Your friend, either.”
Having made my intentions known, I stood and walked out, leaving Aurora to ponder her decisions. I should be happy, so why is my heart pounding in my chest as I struggle to make sense of my emotions?