A Lifetime With You by Athrhteera

Chapter 7 Alena

I kept tossing around here and there because I couldn't fall asleep last night. My head was beginning to throb, and I didn't like the feeling-luckily, today was my day off and I didn't have to bother working long hours while trying to endure the headache. I never had problem sleeping but being in a new place, it felt strange. My body wasn't used to the new bed even though it felt really comfortable. So, I decided it was best to start the day. The time was already nie in the morning.

When I unpacked yesterday, I c I did take my time to be in awe at the decorations. The bathroom was spacious too, but it didn't catch me by surprise. Nothing seemed basic when it came to Matteo Lerchere and I had to get used to that. By the time I finished unpacking, it was already midnight. Matteo never did come to my room to check up on me-why would he? When he said he was going to leave, he did and not a single word was heard afterward. I was hungry when I finished unpacking but I decided it was best to sleep it off. Now, I was starving and needed a a complete as soon as possible

Once I was done showering. I walked down the stairs and to the kitchen. It took me awhile to not get lost. I admit, I needed a bit more time to get used to the turns.

I I kind of missed my apartment because even though it wasn't as spacious, it was easier to reach the kitchen or the living room. I didn't have to worry about getting lost in my own house but now I needed to remember each path. Matteo

was

s already in the kitchen, taking a sip of his coffee as he stood beside the kitchen counter-he was swiping away at his tablet, watching today's news. He didn't bother to look at me when he saw me entering the kitchen and I was left standing, not knowing what to do.

I cleared my throat, trying to catch his attention but it was useless.

"Good morning

"Take a seat, Alena." He gestured towards one of the stools.

I took a seat on the opposite side.

He wasn't paying any attention to me at all as he continued to swipe down the article he was reading. His eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and his jaw clenched. That wasn't all, as I took the opportunity to appreciate my vi His sleeves rolled up to his elbow and he was wearing the similar buttoned-down white shirt, but this morning was quite different. He managed to pair his workwear with a navy-blue tie. Overall, he looked very mouth-watering, but I wasn't going to stare for too long. He didn't have to know I found him attractive. "How did you sleep?" He asked, putting his tablet aside.

As he

took another sip of his coffee, he was finally looking at me. Our eyes met but I couldn't keep up the eye contact. Why was I feeling weird? I never had this problem with anyone but why did I feel different when it came to him? taken

"It v was fine. The bed was really big. I lied, knowing well enough I didn't have a good night's sleep. It was going to take me at few days until I settle in.

"It was quiet when I got home last night. I assume you were already sleeping?"

1/7

20:31 Wed, Oct 9 Chapter 7

"Yeah, all the unpacking really got to me."

He nodded before looking at something behind me.

As I followed his gaze, I saw a man standing with a smile plastered on his face. He was wearing a black suit and tie as he held. tightly onto his briefcase."

"Mr. Lerelere," The e man greeted as he took a scat on the other side, placing his briefcase on the kitchen counter and quickly taking out an unknown document.

"Alena, this is my lawyer. He'll have the contract ready before we can proceed with our marriage. We'll go through it one by one and if everything's settled, we just have to sign," Matteo said, looking down at the document.

T

I didn't expect him to hire his lawyer and get things done. But who was I actually dealing with? He needed a black and white proof to secure our marriage. Besides, this was nothing different than signing a prenup, Well.. except it was different and it wasn't exactly a prenup, just terms and conditions of our fake marriage. His lawyer placed the document in front of me, "You can take your time to read them." "It's really thick."

Both Matteo and his lawyer kept quiet while I read through the document. Everything was clear and I managed to highlight a few important things. It wasn't a lot to comply but apparently, our fake marriage was going to need a lot of understanding and privacy because from what I was reading, we seemed more like housemates.

I

The marriage was expected to last until one of us passed away because we weren't allowed to ask for a divorce. I blinked a few times, "What if one of us had an affair? Would divorce be an option?"

"No because that's never going to happen." Matteo replied, looking at me. "And you're so sure of

I

of that because?"

"I did promise you loyalty on my part. I expect you to do the same or I'll track him down and let you watch as I torture him" He replied, his lips slightly curving. -Come on, Alena. I needed to constantly remind myself that I was going to be married to a cold-blooded killer-he was no different than Papa. When it came to what belonged to him, he was going to protect it wholeheartedly. He wasn't going to let it fall and crumble or slip into the wrong hands.

Matteo and I weren't allowed to have an affair. We weren't allowed to sleep with anyone else. We weren't allowed to expose the reason of our marriage to anyone; we had to pretend to be the happy couple whenever we were outside but behind closed doors, we could do whatever we wanted. We weren't allowed to expect anything out of this marriage especially not in terms of money.

Well, that wasn't going to be a problem.

"Is there anything you would like to change?" He asked.

"Everything seems fine."""

He cleared his throat, "Can you give us a moment?"

Just like that, his lawyer left the room. Now, we were both alone.

"Apart from my lawyer, nobody can know about our marriage. You want to get Mikhail off your back, start with telling no one about us. I don't have a problem with playing my part, Alena You asked me for my help and now you need to commit to it." He stood close to me, staring straight into my eyes-if his gaze could kill, I might probably be dead. "I don't give a f***k about what you do behind my back. As long as you don't f*** someone else. I have men. They'll report everything back. So, I dare you not to cross me." 2/7 20:31 Wed, Oct 9

Chapter 7

"And if I did?"

And

more like a question rather than

wasn't challenging Matteo. Why on earth would I challenge him? He was powerful and he was deadly

against my ear. "I'd tie you and show you who you belong to. At the end of the day, it'll be my name that you'll scream. It'll be my name that you'll

It was

spine-I felt something warm in my abdomen. It was a funny feeling. Something I haven't felt in a while. Some might sc**er and run away but I was

my ear. He seemed to be doing that quite a lot This time, I decided to follow his gaze and saw he was looking down at the side of my neck. Was he thinking

of me to find it a turn

to lean in and fill my needs. I kept remembering back to our kiss and at this moment, I didn't mind if he wanted to recreate that, but he moved away, walking out of the room, and leaving me

saying as I signed at the end of the document. He placed his signature

was and the agreements were

a lifetime together and I was wondering on what kind of future we would be having. He wanted nothing to do with me, so it was better to not expect anything. We

to

I'll just be

have

why do

proposing," he replied as if it wasn't

ell, it w

going to be quick. I thought he was going to take a few days until

tonight? Don't you

a reason for us

you weren't

shook his head, "I'll be in Sicily next week. I want the news of our engagement to spread while I'm away. Besides, I don't think we should wait much longer-Mikhail might already be

our relationship, the better,

in Sicily

Then, we can

I come with you

you want

"It would be less of a h****le, too. We'd return as a married

nodded, "Okay. It's

"You're okay with eloping?"

propose tonight, and we'll be on our flight to Sicily tomorrow morning. Once we're there, I'll

everything was fake to begin with. I mean, the whole marriage was going to be real and legal but there wasn't going to be any feelings involved. Other than having his family name, we were nothing but strangers. Eloping

be silly to

desperate to get Papa off my back and I would do anything to make that happen. This way, Papa was never going to succeed. Alexei, on the other hand, was going to

up falling in the arms of the Italian

was going to be a lie-it was to keep me from going insane or losing

There

going to be a lot of touching and kissing. Was I

I ready to play my part as the perfect

was going to happen after because Matteo was powerful,

They did

sign a peace treaty and I knew

my choice to

be back to come and pick you up for tonight.

see

about to leave, I

"Yes?"

Des

expect elegant or

understand why I had to ask him but maybe because I

Chapter 7

regain his composure within seconds. He wasn't going to

"Both Boin

continued

me to look elegant and s***y. I was going to put on quite a show tonight. I was going to prove to everyone, mostly Papa that

quickly and it was already

at myself in the mirror. My nude dress hugged the frame of my body. leaving my bare back open. The dress was the perfect

coming from downstairs and I assumed

down the stairs and began to make my way towards the

I

morning Even from behind, he looked breathtaking. He didn't need to turn around and I didn't need to look at his face

as he turned around, he seemed surprised. He didn't bother to hide the way he was eyeing my body because he was taking his sweet time in doing so. His eyes lingered longer on the curves of my body, and it gave

something wrong?" I

"No. You ready?

NO.

before placing a hand

his car.

and I stopped moving,

instant but the moment he pulled the seatbelt, I managed to let out a breath. Of course, he was putting the seatbelt on. What was I expecting anyway? For him to

few times as he drove, and I was thinking if his free hand was on my thigh or even somewhere in between but

seeing, even though that was