THE BRIDE CHAPTER 36

The Bride
Chapter 36

One of the most beautiful qualities of true friendship
is to understand and to be understood.
-Lucius Annaeus Seneca
Marco Orsini’s POV
“She already accepted my marriage proposal last
night.” I announced to the woman sitting across to
me in the trendy coffee shop in the heart of Rome.
Laila Fiorenza sipped her coffee regally as her green
eyes studied me with such gleamed in their depth.
As usual, she wore her favored black outfits. It suited
her in my opinion. It accentuated her pale skin. “I
take that congratulation is in order then. I am so
happy for both of you. I’m sorry that I didn’t help
you much with your plan but I am so happy that it
works with the way you want it.”
I smiled ruefully taking a sip of my own coffee. I still
can’t believe that I am now an engaged man to the
woman who practically owned my heart. Thinking
about it now it seems that it has been a long time
when I swore off to love. Francesca changed my
way of thinking about marriage and kids.
The love of my life.
“That’s a quite smile you got there, Marco.”
I forced back myself to this Sicilian princess who
studying me right this moment. I have to stop
thinking about my fiancée for a moment—Dio, my
fiancée. That word makes my heart warm at the
thought.
“You’re doing it again.” Laila teased mercilessly.
I pretended to scowled in her direction but smile
keep spreading in my face. “That’s harsh, princess.
You are mockery me.”
“I will not let pass the opportunity to make fun of the
man who brazenly went to the old town in Sicily to
asked my father for my hand in marriage when your
real reason was to make your lady jealous over me.”
The Sicilian princess retorted playfully, her eyes
dance with laughter.
I grimaced when I remember that time Francesca
and I took a trip in Ragusa, Sicily had met this
amazing woman. “She’s a complicated woman.”
“Every woman is complicated, Signore.” She replied
smarty. Whoever the lucky man will ever capture
this woman’s heart will be fortunate. “And it takes a
lifetime for a man to uncover a woman’s secret.”
“I will say only few weeks will do.”
Laila raised an eyebrow in my direction before
bursting to a hearty laughed. “You are really
something else, Marco Orsini.”
“So I’ve been told.” I agreed with a silent salute of my
coffee cup. “I never imagined that the woman I met
in Ragusa will be this witty.”
She frowned in my direction. “You think I am one of
those air-headed women who did nothing but to
flatter their vanity?”
I held up my hands with a smile. “I didn’t say that.”
“But you are thinking about it.”
“No, Laila. Truly.”
She surprised me when she laughed. “So serious,
Marco. I am just kidding you.”
It was not my turn to scowl in her direction. “You do
have the habit of poking fun at me, princess.”
“Yes.” She answered, she stared at me arrogantly.
“Do you have problem with that?”
“Only you and Francesca will dare to do that to me.”
I said as I shook my head in resignation. I never
thought before that I will have a friendly relationship
with a woman before without jumping in bed with
her. I am so happy that I have this kind of
relationship with this woman.
*
“It’s a good thing that someone treated you
differently.” She replied, as she sipped her coffee.
“I’ve known your—shall we say colorful past with
women, Marco.”
I smiled ruefully. “Such a discreet way of saying I am
certified playboy before.”
“It’s true.”
I glared at this Sicilian princess. “I thought when I
met you, you are an obedient daughter? What’s with
the sharp tongue?”
“I just don’t want to disappoint my Patri.” Shadows
filled her lively emerald eyes. She smiled bravely in
my direction. “In fact, he’s already summoning me
home.”
There’s something in her face that told me that she
didn’t want to go home yet. Cesare Fiorenza was not
the type of father that very affectionate with his
daughter. He ruled their lives with iron fists.
“Why not stay here for a few days more?” I invited
openly. She seemed enjoying her life in the city. “I
will ask for your father’s permission.”
“I can’t.” She said with a shake of her head. “Patri
wants to me to go home already. Besides, my twin
phone me this morning she told me she’s home. I
want to see my sister.”
“Your sister?” I asked when I stopped halfway from
drinking my coffee. “What’s her name again—Leah?”
“Leila.” She said with amusement in her face. “I
thought that you may know her. She’s quite a party
girl and broke every rule my father had given us.
She’s called as the ‘darling of the Sicilian tabloids’.”
“Tough girl.”
“She is.” Laila said cheerfully. “Rebellious and making
her own destiny for herself. She also likes to irate our
father on every opportunity.”
I smiled at the thought of having an unruly daughter
for that tyrant Sicilian. “When do you plan to come
home?”
“Tomorrow.”
I looked at her seriously. “I want to come with you in
Ragusa to explain to your father about our situation
and my engagement to Francesca.”
She shook her head with a regal smile on her
aristocratic face. “I can deal with my Patri, Marco.
You should stay here in the city with your bride-to-
be.”
“Are you sure?”
Laila nodded with a smile that quite didn’t reach her
eyes. I knew she feared her father so much and
about his reaction with this news. I want to there for
her when she faces her tyrant father’s wrath. She
became a very good friend to me. “I will deal with
him. Don’t worry I am sure he’ll understand.” She
stood from her chair. “As much as I want to chat
with you I need to pack my things, Marco.”
“It’s all right.” I also stood from my chair. “Have a
safe trip tomorrow, Laila.”
She smiled brightly like the warm Italian sun. “Be
sure to invite me to your wedding.”
“I will.” I promised. “Good luck with your secret love
for this man.”
“I need more than luck when it comes to love,
Marco.”
“Have faith.” I said with such conviction.
“Where are we going?” Francesca asked when I
fetched her in her office after my meeting with Laila.
I glanced at her and I kissed her hand while I drive in
the highway of Rome. “To the vineyard. We need to
tell the old folks about our engagement.”
*
“Now?” She looked horrified at the thought.
“Yes,” I glanced again to her briefly before I settled
my gaze back on the road. “Do you have problem
with that?”
“Er. I don’t know. What will they say about it?” She
said. I could see that she’s really nervous. “Only a
week ago you introduce a different woman as your
fiancée now you will introduce a new woman as
your fiancée.”
I smirked but my eyes still on the road. “You don’t
know my grandparents that well then. I am sure that
they will only raise eyebrows at the news.”
She glowered darkly in my direction. I could feel that
the temperature inside my car dropped at least ten
degrees. “Do you have the habit of introducing
women as your fiancée to them, Signore?”
“Jealous, my love?” I grinned evilly.
She snorted. “Why will I be jealous?”
“For the record, soon-to-be Mrs. Orsini. I only
proposed to a woman once and that is you,
Francesca.”
She didn’t reply anymore until we reached my
grandparents vineyard.
“Smile.” I commented once we slid out of the car. I
took her hand as we entered the foyer. “You look like
a woman who is facing her death.”
“That’s quite accurate description.”
I stole a kissed to her lovely lips. “This will be fine,
darling.”
We found my grandparents in their favorite part of
the mansion—the library. My grandfather sat in his
study desk while my grandmother read book in the
settee.
“We’re engaged!” I announced happily once we
entered the room. Nonno put down the broadsheet
he’d been reading.
Nonna beamed in our direction as she stood from
the sofa. Tears gleamed in her eyes. “About time. I
grew tired in waiting for this day. Come let’s have
coffee and discuss the wedding arrangement I did
months ago.”
“Wedding arrangement?” Francesca asked blankly.
“Whose wedding plan is that for, Nonna?”
“Yours and Marco, of course.” Nonna replied dryly as
if that’s the most absurd thing she heard.
I laughed as I led Francesca in the sofa where my
scheming grandmother sat again. “You plan ahead,
Nonna.”
“Of course.” She answered arrogantly, picking up
her notebook, pen and some paraphernalia in the
coffee table. “Take a sit. So what do you think of one
thousand guests for the wedding reception?”
“One thousand?” Francesca repeated impassively.
She gaped at my grandmother openly.
“Too little?” Nonna asked with a frown. “How about
two thousands then?”
“Nonna…” I held up my hands but I was interrupted
when the maid place the coffee in the table. Too late
before I could send away the maid with the coffee
Francesca stood from the sofa and dash off the
room.
Once Francesca left the room Nonna gave me a
strange looked. “Aren’t you going to tell me
something, figlio?”
“What will I tell you?” I answered her innocently.
Now even my grandfather get interested with this
new twist inside the library.
My grandmother got teary-eyed again, as she placed
her hand in her heart. “I’ve suffered the same thing
twice and I saw my daughters-in-law suffered the
same thing with Francesca.”
*
Are we going to be great grandparents at last,
Marco?” Nonno asked but more like only a formality
than a real question. I am sure there is no doubt that
they knew now about Francesca’s condition.
“We need to have the wedding really soon now.”
Nonna added with a triumph in her eyes. “Let’s do it
next week.”
They are planning ahead. I want only a simple and
intimate wedding. I don’t want a circus. “You know
what?” I told them when Francesca came back again
inside the room with a quite blush on her cheek. “I
think my fiancée needs to rest. We will come back
when she’s fine.”
“Marco…!” Nonna said when I grabbed Francesca’s
hand and went out of the library without saying
proper goodbye. “Come back here we need to talk.”
“What’s that for?” Francesca asked when I let her slid
inside my car.
“Let’s get married tomorrow.” I said once I started
the engine and drive off the vineyard.
Her eyes widened considerably. “What? Tomorrow?
What’s the rush?”
“Nonna wants a circus wedding I want the opposite.”
“I want a simple wedding too.” She confined at me
softly. “But where are going to get married in such
haste?”
“Las Vegas.” I answered as I fished out my mobile
phone and dialed someone. After a few rings the
Greek b-----d finally answered. “Nikos? I need a
favor again. Can you fly to Las Vegas tomorrow
morning? What reason? I need you—and probably
your secretary to stand as witnesses.” I looked at the
woman sitting silently beside me. “Because I’m
getting married tomorrow.”

To be continued