THE BRIDE CHAPTER 10

THE BRIDE
Chapter 10

Accept the way life comes. Things
will not always work out in your
favor, even when you think they
should.
-Senora Roy
Francesca Marcolini’s POV
“Please wait at the receiving area,
Signora.” The maid had told me in
Italian when I arrived at the
massive penthouse Tatiana shared
with her husband. “I will inform the
duchess that you finally arrived.”
Once the maid left to fetch Tatiana I
look around at the grandeur of my
surrounding. This is the first time
that I’ve been in to their house
since they bought it. I bet that
Tatiana personally design this
house it has her taste, though the
interior was probably considered
as simple by the standard of the
cream of Italian society yet every
furniture spoke elegance like the
mistress of this house.
“Francesca!”
I turned around to face my good
friend who I haven’t seen in a quite
while. “Goodness! What a sight you
are.”
“I know,” Tatiana answered with a
rueful smile, patting her very huge
belly. “I’m huge as this house.”
I smiled sympathetically. “It seems
that the twins are ready to pop-out
anytime soon, dear.”
Exhaustion showed in her pretty
violets eyes. “They better be.” The
mother-to-be said. “I don’t think
Lucca will last any longer. The poor
man thinks that I am a walking
time bomb. Every time I need to go
the bathroom he helps with such
care like holding a nuclear bomb.”
I couldn’t help but to smile at the
scenario. “Lucca is just taking good
care of you.”
“I know.”
“Goodness, Tatiana.” I urged her
when I notice that she’s already
exhausted from standing. “Why
don’t you take a sit? You look like
worn out.”
“Yes.” Tatiana admitted, giving a
heavy sighed once she sat on the
sofa. “When I entered the last
trimester of my pregnancy standing
too long gives me back aches.”
“When is your due date, dear?” I
asked as the maid started to served
tea and scones.
“Two weeks from today.” Tatiana
answered rubbing her belly. She
will be a terrific mother I am sure
of it.
Then I realized the reason why I
meet her early this morning.
Tatiana needed a favor from me.
That thought almost kept me
awake last night—well, apart from
the arrogant devil with piercing
dark eyes that kept entering my
thoughts.
“Tatiana,” I started. I don’t want
where my thoughts were trailing. It
took me nearly dawn to vanish him
from my thoughts and I don’t want
to start my day with the image of
his rakish grinned plaguing me. It’s
so frustrating he’s so far away from
me and yet he always managed to
crawl inside my head. “What is the
favor that you want from me,
dear?”
Suddenly, she became agitated.
“Oh, how rude I am.” She said
pouring the delicate cup some hot
tea. “Do you want tea, Francesca?
Scones? Perhaps, some Lemon tart I
have in the kitchen.”
I laughed and held Tatiana’s hands
ignoring the uneasiness in my
spine. “No, dear. I am fine. Just tell
me what the matter is. How can I
help?”
I could see that she’s debating
whether to tell me her dilemma or
not. As if, she’s regretting her
impromptu decision to call me last
night.
“Well?” I prodded when my good
friend remained silent.
“How far will you go to help your
friend, Francesca?” Tatiana
repeated her question last night.
"
I gave her a reassuring smile. “As
long as I can, dear. You can tell me
what bothering you.”
Tatiana squeezed my hands that
holding hers. “Here’s the thing,
Francesca.” She took a deep breath
and the amethyst eyes stared at me
intently. “I decided to create a
foundation in memory of my papa,
Nikolai Rostov for the orphan
children in Moscow…”
I beamed at my friend. “That’s a
great idea, Tatiana.”
“I know.” Tatiana smiled back. “My
co-organizer and I decide to have a
charity ball next week for event.”
“Do you want me to help with the
preparation?”
Tatiana squeezed my hands more
tightly. “It’s more vital than that,
Francesca.”
Okayyy… I don’t think I will like this.
“What is it, dear?”
“You see,” Tatiana said in a no-
nonsense voice. “In order to raise
money for the orphaned children in
Moscow we decided to have an
auction—with the twist.”
I frowned. “I don’t think I
understand, Tatiana.”
She avoided my questioning gaze.
“Instead of a regular auction that
sale rare items or antiques. We
decided to have a bachelorette
auction. One night date with the
eligible bachelorettes of Italy where
unmarried men can bid for their
chosen lady.”
The uneasiness in my spine
intensified. “W-where’s the part
there that you need me, Sua
Eccellenza?”
You see, Francesca.” Tatiana gave
me a pleading stare. “Everything
runs smoothly until one of the
ladies back out because of her
modeling assignment abroad next
week. I am in my dilemma I can’t
find a replacement for her spot.”
“Shh…” I reprimanded Tatiana
slightly. “Don’t stress yourself too
much, Tatiana. It will not be good
for your babies.”
“I know.” She took a deep breath.
“You are my last hope, Francesca.
Will you help me? Will you fill the
spot the model had left?”
Helping my good friend with her
dilemma was one thing but
participating in a bachelorette
auction was entirely different thing.
“Will you help me, Francesca?”
Tatiana asked solemnly.
“I don’t know, dear.”
“I know it’s too much but you are
my last hope.” My good friend had
said. “I don’t have time to look for
other lady who likes to participate.”
I really wanted to help Tatiana but
standing in front of the stage while
men bid at me for a one night date.
I think for me that was mortifying
even to think. Then, there’s the
thing about the arrogant Marco
Orsini I am still working with him.
What will he say a when heard
about it?
I frowned. Why would I care what
will he thinks about this charity
auction Tatiana organized in
memory of her father. As far as I
am concern he didn’t own me. He
don’t have a thing to say about my
decision he—
I groaned. Here I am again,
thinking of him when I shouldn’t
be. This is really frustrating. Being
in his company these past months
he managed to crept in the thick
barrier I erected to other people. I
wish no one would ever reach my
heart again after the man who
didn’t deserve my love broke it into
pieces seven years after his death.
“…Francesca?” Tatiana inquired
worriedly. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, dear.” I tried to reassure her
with a smile.
“You seemed deep in your
thoughts.” Tatiana remarked taking
a bite with her scones. “If don’t
want to do it. It’s okay, dear. I will
look for another bachelorette.”

.
“You don’t need to stress yourself
about that, Tatiana.” I told her with
a slightly forced smile. I know that
Lucca was worried about her
stressing herself for this charity
event even now that she’s on her
last month of her pregnancy. This is
the only thing I can do for them. “I
will help you. I will fill the spot one
of your bachelorettes had left.”
The delight in Tatiana’s eyes was
palpable. “Really? Oh, Francesca.”
She hugged me suddenly, her very
huge belly kept in the way we both
laughed and look at each other. “I
am eternally grateful to you.”
“Of course, I will help you with
everything I can, Duchess.”
Was it just my imagination or did I
saw a triumph on Tatiana’s eyes
before she blinks it away. She
smiled widely. “I’m sure we will
raise more money now that you are
one of the candidates, Francesca.”
It’s for charity, I reassured myself
silently. But why do I still feel that I
landed myself a big trouble here?

To be continued