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His name thudded over and over again as he loomed over her, his narrow, black eyes swallowing her up with such intensity that she could not breathe. His usual curly black hair was cropped shorter and slicked back. It should have given him a more refined appearance, but he seemed all the more dangerous with it.
When he turned to Antonio with a commanding look, her cousin finally let her go.
No.
Her fingers clenched around thin air, desperate at the loss.
Even Antonio looked oddly torn as he gave her a final glance before taking his seat. Her aunt also seemed subdued in her chair, for all the speeches she had issued about the importance of today’s ceremony.
Would her life ever be the same again?
In a subtle move, she felt her fiancé catch her hovering hand in his cold grasp and lead her up to the altar. Placing her in her new position.
As his wife.
Everything that followed was an odd mixture of rushed frenzy and painfully slow crawls.
The worst part was the number of photos they were forced to take with each and every Family member. If the pomp and splendor of the day weren’t enough pressure, then the intense barrage of photos and posing was certainly enough to kill her. Heaven forbid they skip someone’s second cousin. They would be torn apart in the gossip circles.
She hated the attention, hated being around so many people. But she was glad that her dress was getting the appreciation it deserved. “So beautiful…very unique, no?” a middle-aged woman murmured to her husband, prodding at the fabric without care.
Ana winced as the woman's finger poked at her side, and then slumped in relief when Emma came up and curtly pried the dress from the woman’s hands before shoving the couple along. Giving Ana an eye roll, she marched off to call the next family in line.
“Your friend is very efficient.” A low murmur came beside her.
Ana’s breath hitched, her eyes drifting to Gio, who had spoken for the first time since their vows. He hadn’t even kissed her at the altar, at least not properly. With a prim peck on the back of her hand, he had led them down the aisle to thunderous applause and ended up straight here in the gardens, where the photographer had set up a shoot.
“She’s my aide,” she corrected softly. “I couldn't do much work without her…I hope she can continue?” she ventured tentatively.
Gio nodded. “Her background check cleared.”
Ana blinked.
Of course. Standard protocol. He wouldn’t let just anyone enter his household, especially not now that he was Don. But she wondered suddenly just how far his eyes and ears were placed. Her gaze nervously wandered over to the guards at each entrance, standing ready with guns at their sides.
Just how much had Gio investigated her?
“And one last set with the happy couple!”
With a shaky breath, Ana shyly sidled up to Gio. His arms came around her waist. Painfully aware of the warmth of his skin along her exposed back and his fingers that kept absently shifting at her hip, she kept her back ramrod straight.
“Relax,” he ordered, pressing her infinitely closer to his side. “I won’t chew you up…not yet.”
She jerked in his grip and swore she could almost hear a faint laugh. But when she finally gathered the courage to look up at him, he was focused on the camera.
After several more shots, Gio briskly dismissed the photographer and turned to confer with his advisor, leaving her alone.
Ana awkwardly stepped away, unsure of what to do after his abrupt dismissal. She spotted Emma directing the lingering guests toward the luncheon hall. After she was done clearing them out, she quickly returned to Ana’s side.
“Ready to stuff your face?” Emma asked brightly.
“More than anything." Ana smiled, squeezing her hand gratefully. "I hope you didn’t arrange any more photo ops inside.”
“Why? Tired of small talk already? This is going to be the rest of your life, you know.”
She groaned as the blonde chuckled evilly. Auntie had trained her to be the perfect socialite, and Ana could carry off the farce on most days–pretending like each conversation wasn't killing her on the inside. Today, however, she was tired and on edge. Everyone’s eyes were on her, scrutinizing her every move.
“Better get your game face on.” Emma nudged her. “Your Boss is watching…don’t make him divorce you already.”
