Chapter 9 Marco
MARCO
Iwalk back into the room, and Alina’s still at the table, arms crossed, looking like she’s ready for a fight. Good.
I sit down, and for a moment, time seems to slow.
For the first time, I really take her in.
The light from the chandelier catches the tint of fire in her beautiful green eyes.
Even angry—especially angry—she’s fucking magnificent.
Her arms are crossed tight against her chest, but it only emphasizes the elegant line of her collarbones framed by her dress.
Her black hair falls across her face, and a strong desire rises to brush it back, just to graze her cheek and see if it’s as soft as it looks.
She’s got her full lips pressed into a thin line, probably trying to hold back whatever biting comment she’s got ready.
Damn, those lips.
Divine and painted the deepest shade of red. Like fresh blood on snow. The kind of lips that could ruin a man. And I smile, because she’s the type of woman who knows it.
But it’s her eyes that really get to me. Green like I’ve never seen before. There’s a mix of intelligence and assessment, and underneath it all, a hint of fear she’s trying desperately to hide.
Her jaw clenches, highlighting her defined cheekbones. Shit, even her anger is controlled.
I have no idea why, but in this moment, she’s fascinating. The way she holds herself, spine straight as steel, shoulders back—she’s ready for war.
God help me, even knowing this is purely business, I can’t help but appreciate the elegant package before me.
Fuck.
The sudden rush of realization makes me lose my smile.
“It’s good you wiped that look off your face,” she says through gritted teeth. “This isn’t a happy moment.”
I take a sip of water and nod. I’m normally not the one lost for words.
There’s a moment of silence, so I open my mouth to speak, but she interjects.
“Fine, I’ll do it. But as soon as you win, I’m fucking done. I’m out. You give me a good recommendation, leave me alone, and never contact me again.”
I look at her, studying her face. I can see it in her eyes—she’s not done.
“And I’m not staying with you,” she continues, her chin lifted in defiance. “I’ll find my own place. I’m a big girl; I can take care of myself.”
I nod. “Won’t that look bad, husband and wife not living together?” I ask, teasing.
She blows air out of her nostrils as she uncrosses her arms and leans forward.
“No, because I’m not fucking marrying you.
I’ve got enough shit to deal with in my life; I don’t need being a divorcée added to the list,” she says and leans back, taking a drink of water.
“We’ll be engaged. Waiting until after the election to get married because the people are more important than us. ”
I take a deep breath and shift my head from side to side, acting like I’m thinking it over. In truth, I knew this would be her route. She’s too smart to commit to marriage, but like in any negotiation, you’ve got to ask for more than what you really need to get exactly what you want.
“That’s fine,” I say smoothly. “Perfect, in fact.”
The speed of my agreement catches her off guard and seems to have knocked some of the wind from her sails. She wasn’t expecting me to cave so easily. Good. Let her wonder what other cards I’m holding.
I lean back in my chair, enjoying the moment. “I was thinking about our backstory—”
“Don’t hurt yourself,” she snaps, cutting me off again. “I’ve thought of it.”
I let her jabs slide. She’s mad, and I don’t blame her. I need to let her feel like she’s winning a bit here.
Punishments can always come later.
Of course she’s thought about it. This is exactly what she does. Exactly why I need her.
“We met while working at a charity event,” she says, her voice taking on a forced, professional tone. “It was for helping inner-city kids get music scholarships. We kept it low-key, but now that we’re engaged, we’re ready to share it with the world.”
I nod, impressed despite myself. It’s good. Simple, believable.
“Okay, I like it,” I say. “Already showing why you’re the best.”
I lean forward slightly, lowering my voice. “Now, I want you to know, I mean every word I’ve said. I’ll keep my promise. You’ll be left alone with this whole Harrison case now and when this, us,” I say, gesturing back and forth between us, “is over.”
Her eyes narrow, searching my face for any hint of deception, but I stay firm. She won’t find anything I don’t want her to see.
“And now, as my fiancée,” I continue, “no one will dare touch you—not even the authorities. My protection extends beyond politics and business, Alina. From this moment on, you’re untouchable.”
I notice a slight hitch in her breath, and I feel a surge of satisfaction. She’s affected, whether she wants to admit it or not.
I lean back into my chair as her eyes tell me she understands exactly what I’m offering. This isn’t just about avoiding prosecution. This is about power. Real power.
She swallows hard, and I track the movement. “Fine,” she says, her voice slightly hoarse. “So we’re in agreement.”
I can tell she doesn’t like it and doesn’t like how easily I’ve maneuvered her into this position. Most of all, she doesn’t like how much she needs what I’m offering, but I’ve counted on her practicality. She knows I’m her best option.
“Yes,” I say simply, reaching for the bottle of wine.
I pour a generous amount into her glass, then mine.
As I hand her the glass, our fingers brush.
The contact sends an unexpected jolt through me.
Her skin is soft, warm, and the brief touch lingers longer than it should.
I have to force myself to hide my sudden reaction.
What the fuck was that?
I raise my glass, pushing the moment aside. “To new beginnings, Firefly.”
She arches an eyebrow at the nickname but doesn’t comment. Instead, she clinks her glass against mine and takes a sip.
“So,” she says, setting down her drink with a bit more force than necessary. “We have a campaign to start planning.”
“Yes, yes we do.”
She nods, all business now. “I’ll need complete access to your financials, your voting records, any skeletons in your closet that might come out during the campaign.”
“Of course,” I agree easily. “You’ll have everything you need.”
“And I mean everything, Marco,” she presses, leaning forward. “If we’re going to do this, if I’m going to put my reputation on the line for you, I need to know it all. No surprises. I’ve been through enough.”
I match her posture, sitting up straight. “You’ll know what you need to know, when you need to know it,” I say, my voice firm. “Trust works both ways, Alina.”
She doesn’t back down, her green eyes flashing with defiance. “Trust? You blackmailed me into this arrangement.”
“I offered you a mutually beneficial solution to our respective problems,” I correct her. “You made the choice to accept. Now, I suggest we stop reminiscing about the past and focus on our future.”
She scoffs but doesn’t argue the point.
“Fine,” she says after a moment. “But remember, I’m not just some puppet you can manipulate. If I’m here, I’m here to win this campaign, and I’ll do what it takes to make that happen. Even if it means going against you.”
I can’t help the grin that spreads across my face. This is exactly why I chose her. This fire, this determination.
I nod. “Before we do anything, we need you cleared. Forty-eight hours from now, your name will be a ghost in the news when it comes to anything surrounding Harrison’s case,” I say and take a sip of wine. “We need to allow some time before we make our big announcements.”
I can see the mention of clearing her name relaxes her, and she takes another sip of her wine and holds up her glass.
“Let’s go win an election.”