Chapter-6🌜 Always Strangers.
Zane's POV
Hmm, talk in private-"Sure" I say.
See it's all just so new to me.
Like, never would I have been able to imagine, my mom asking me to go talk with a guy in private, in front of my dad...
But it's like my dad doesn't care, or has apparently stopped caring, because he looks like he would be anywhere but here.
And again, William just politely nods at her, as if saying words is way too much.
And just starts walking toward-Dio solo sa dove.
Only god knows where.
We end up in a garden. With all sorts of vibrant flowers, tall palm trees. Manicured grass. And even a fucking fountain.
The garden's atmosphere is just so...peaceful. Yeah, that's the word.
A comfortable silence surrounds us. Sure, there's awkwardness between the two of us, but this natural vibe has definitely lightened the depressing atmosphere we were in.
Or maybe that's just how I feel, because I have always been closer to nature. Nature just always calms me.
That fresh breath that you get when you are near plants.
The smell of mud on a rainy day...
And then the serene presence of sunlight breaking through raging black clouds is just so lulling.
Although, to my dismay, currently it's night now, so no sun. But we have William here, who apparently is busy staring at me as if I am a foreign creature. As if he's trying to analyze me.
Hmm, I wanna know what he found out...
When neither of us breaks the silence, I clear my raspy throat, and say, "Look William, it's new for both of us. And I am assuming neither of us got to have a say in this decision."
I pause for him to agree-maybe even disagree...
But he stays quiet.
Ugh, I'm not the talker... but I guess, in this relationship-if you can call this arranged marriage that-I would be the 'talker'. Not my expertise, but I will try.
I guess, I would have to take his silence as affirmation.
"So I just wanted to say, it would be better for us to develop some mutual understanding and respect, than to be total strangers. Otherwise, this will be much more difficult than it is now..."
William finally speaks, "We would always be strangers. At most business partners. Nothing else. It's for business only." His tone was sharp-almost angry.
"But you don't live with your business partners, though." I say.
"Nothing else." He repeats in his steely tone.
I stay quiet, clenching and unclenching my jaw-because what can I even say to that?
This is going to be difficult.
Fucking 'ruin me' kinda difficult.
????
William's POV
"Neither of us got to have a say..." he said earlier.
Is he for real?! Like he is literally the killer. He has to be!
Otherwise, who else would it be?
The groom. It has to be the groom.
The deal, the marriage, Romie's death-it all points to him.
And it's him.
The mastermind.
The destructor.
My target, my fiancé.
So if I want to take my revenge...
I can't let him know that I hate him, because I know.
In his eyes, he should only know that I hate him, just because I am straight and he's a man.
And we are forced into this marriage...together.
He can't know that his future-husband has taken a pledge to destroy him.
To take my revenge, I need to convince him, we are on the same page.
Oh my god! This cold, cunning fox act is just so new to me! But I have to...for Romie.
Moreover, if he went inside and complained to my dad-
I would rather not face the consequences...
'Mutual understanding' he says, right? Well I can give him that.
I bend my head a little to pinch the bridge of my nose, showing my distress and tiredness. Although, I am not pretending that. Because, I actually am tired.
"See, I didn't want to be rude, I am sorry for that." Am I though? Hell no.
I don't know if that convinces him or not, but he doesn't say anything, now he is the one with an emotionless face.
"It's just-" I pause. Ughhhh!
"Continue." he asks me. His tone is assertive but far away from being rude. It's like he himself wants me to continue, to know what I want to say.
"Yeah..." It's difficult, okay?
"It's just, I am straight, and my dad is making me marry you! A man!" I call out one of the million reasons why this whole thing is wrong.
Why we should never have to be together.
Something changes about his expressions, but he doesn't say much apart from an "Okay."
'Okay' Excuse me?! Is this all he has to say?!
After everything he has done, he gives me just an okay?!
And that makes me hate him even more!
He is a selfish bastard. Ughhhhh!
I grit my teeth and continue, "Also, I am still a student. I didn't have any plans for a marriage, anytime soon. And definitely not with a fucking man!"
I did have some wedding plans...
I already wanted to marry someone I loved. And I thought that 'someone' was Romie...
Romie... I was supposed to marry her someday.
I mean, it was way too early in our relationship for such a big step, we hadn't even said the L-words to each other...
We weren't given the chance to...because someone-who is most probably this man in front of me-killed her.
And look here I am, marrying her killer. Betraying her, like a spineless man.
But no-it's for her, it's to get her justice. And take my revenge
This man who currently looks like, as if he is trying to read my face, and thinking deeply. Maybe considering my words...
No...the last thing would be a stretch, he is selfish not considerate.
"William, I know you are still a student and didn't have plans for marriage." He says, his tone is back to his calm self. "But you need to understand that it's not something I am controlling." Such a liar! Of course he can!
"But what I can make sure is-when you live in my house, you aren't bothered by anyone. You are taken care of and you can complete your schooling and your passion after marriage." His tone is so soothing, deep...composed.
Okay, how is he acting kind? Better question-Why is he acting kind?
Because what would he get from being kind to me?
He can be the evil husband.
This considerate act is not needed, for 'business partners'...
And did he just say, live at his house?
With him?!
"Oh, I will. And you don't get to tell me what I can or can't do.
" I say, my anger coming out, how dare he think he could control me?
! I will study when I want to. I won't let him be another 'my dad'.
"And what makes you think, I will live with you?
Why can't you move in? Hell why do we even have to move in? ?"
"I would never. And that's not what I meant.
" He almost shouts. Almost. Ohh, so that calm exterior is breaking huh?
"As I said before, it's not something I am controlling.
If you have any queries, ask your dad. Can't right?
" He smirks, all that little anger completely gone and a smug expression on his face.
I HATE HIM! UGHHHH!
He is such a fake man! I am sure, all this calmness is just an act.
To hide his real-fucking-self!
He poisons everything and still manages to look untouchable. Just How?!
No one is this calm, it has to be a well-rehearsed trap!
"You-" I stop, reminding myself of my motive.
"I-what?" he asks. His smirk widens, and I get a glimpse of his perfectly white teeth.
"No, I can't." I answer his previous question, ignoring this humiliating one.
"So you tell me if you do know." I ask with a neutral tone.
He lets go of that smugness and goes back to his neutral exterior and then sighs. "I do know. Not much though."
Excuse him?! The fuck he mean by 'not much'! He is the mastermind himself! Of course he would know!
He should be at the Oscars, not here.
Because damn...
"Then, mind enlightening me with that, 'not much'. Because here I don't know shit" I say, flaring my nose, like a raging bull.
He studies me for a while, that makes me think he would deny...
"Sure." He says. He clears his throat and then, "I got to know it's for business-"
"Ha-ha, how shocking! I already know that!" I interject.
"Let me complete." Still calm and unbothered. "And basically, it's part of the deal. The marriage would be public for everyone. Every media personality would attend the wedding. From businessmen to the entertainment industry. Everyone." He pauses, waiting for me to say something.
But I don't, because I am hella shocked...
I am getting married to a man, in front of the whole world.
I didn't know the wedding would be that big...
Seeing The Belladonnas are mafia and all. They have a really big homophobic image. They are known to commit hate crimes towards the members of the LGBTQ+ community.
So I thought, as it's business and all, they would do it lowkey, and no one would find out. At least not the whole world.
But this-just doesn't make sense....
"So seeing it would be public, we would have to live together too. Because otherwise it would be an issue. Moreover, you would be aware of my family's reputation..." He pauses again, letting that sink in.
Seeing how I am taking it. But again, I stay quiet.
"It would be dangerous if you lived anywhere else. People could use you against me-harm you." He says, his tone completely serious.
A shiver runs through me before I can stop it. There would be more people out there-trying to harm me?
What the hell am I getting myself into?!