Mateo's POV:
"The fuck do you want?" I said bursting into my fathers office. Me and my father have very little contact with one another.
"That is no way of speaking to me." He said in a stern voice. I took a sip of my coffee and walked forward.
"Just tell me what you need." I said urging him to finish so I could go home and sleep.
It was almost 2 in the afternoon but I've been awake for longer than even I can remember.
"Sit down." He directed to towards the lounge in his office and asked me to take a seat in front of him.
"So, you'll be taking over the Italian Mafia soon." I nod knowing that already.
"I was talking to some of the members of the Mafia and we've come to an agreement." I could tell he was trying to not quickly say what he needed to. He was purposely taking his time with his words and it was already pissing me off.
"Without me?" I'm taking over the Mafia after my father and they're already having meetings without me.
"We've agreed that someone who isn't married shouldn't take over the Mafia." Married. Since when has that been a rule? Why the fuck should that even be a rule?
"What kind of pathetic rule is that. Do you already have someone to take my place?" I swear if he says either of his closest men I'm gonna fire up the entire building.
"I still want you to take over son." But he said someone who isn't married can't take over. I swear this fucker makes no sense.
"You have to get married in order to take over the Mafia." I eyes particularly fall out of the sockets.
What did he just say?
"What!"
"Son, the only way to take over, is if you get married."
"There is no way in hell. No guy my age even gets married till like 30. I'm only 24 I'm not getting married." I said in a stern tone.
"Son in order to take over you need to already have a plan for your future heir. We all agreed that we want someone who already has everything for the future figured out, and nothing like this is left to chance." Great he wants me to kids now too.
"I'll get baby mama." I knew my father wasn't gonna let me, but it was worth a try.
"You will do no such thing. The decision in final. You get married and the agreement to handing over the Mafia to you is complete."
"Who the fuck am I gonna marry." Taking over the Mafia has always been something I was gonna do. Since the beginning of time I've been training, learning and training even more. I'm not even sure what I would do if he didn't give the Mafia over to me.
"A friend of mine has been trying to get into the Mafia business for a while now. He has a daughter who is old enough for you." I'm not gonna marry a random bitch. I hate the idea of getting married to someone I don't know, especially at this young age.
"I've met her before she's a good kid. I think you'll like her a lot actually." I don't want to get married.
What the fuck is happening. You know what, being married doesn't have to mean anything.
"Okay, just let me know the day of the wedding and I'll be there."
"Don't you want to meet her?" My father questioned.
"No. I see her on the day anyways." And after that being said. I left the office and out the building.
So what? Who cares if I'm gonna be married. I'll get my heir then have no other contact with her.
~•~•~
Arabella's POV:
The man was nevertheless beautiful. He was intimating and they way he looked at me, he wanted to be feared. He enjoyed the way he made my chest rise without even saying a word.
He knew my name. I never mentioned it to him, nor did he mention his.
I serve the costumers as they come and go showing them a greeting smile. Some of the them gave one back, while others just order and leave. I couldn't help but imagine the unknown man coming back.
Maybe then he could explain how he knew my name.
I was finally on break. I took a seat in the back room and took my apron off. I pushed my hair away from my sweaty neck and put it into a ponytail. I felt a hand graze my hair and pull it back just until I could see their upside down face.
"Wanna get some lunch?"
Sur-." I was interrupted by the sound of my phone getting a message. I turned my phone on. I tilted my head back down and stared at the screen.
To my surprise it was... my father.
Father: I need you home now.
Me: Why?
Father: Do as you're told.
Me: Okay, I'll be home.
I know there's no use in arguing with, he's always gonna get the last word.
"Can't, my father wants me home."
"Your dad?"
"I know." I said. We both know how my father is. He isn't the type to do this. He just gets others to do whatever he needs.
"If my dad let's me, I'll be back later." I give him a kiss on the side of his cheek and he smiled and waved at me as I left the coffee shop.
I drove home and it didn't take long since there wasn't any traffic.
I pulled up to the house and into the driveway.
My fathers car was parked at the front so I parked behind his car.
I took my house keys and unlocked my door.
I walk in and there they are.
Rufus, Katie, Mother and... Father.
They all sat there with frowns set on their faces, ready to tell me something.
"You asked of me." We were taught to talk to father with nothing but respect. We weren't allowed to back talk to him, and we had to call him father. As it was more respectful.
"Have a seat." He said. No emotion shown.
I took the empty seat in between my two siblings who haven't said a word to me.
Now I'm getting a little scared.
"As you know, you're a 21 year old woman." Well yeah.
"Yes."
"I have decided, it's time for you to get married." No one showed any emotion as my father spilled the news as if it was everyday a woman learns she's getting married.
"I beg your pardon?" I wanted to stand up showing them I was angry, but I knew they weren't gonna listen and if anything it was gonna get me in trouble.
"Yes, your father is saying nothing but the truth." How could she sit there and listen to my father practically give me away without my consent. No matter what my father does, she always supports him. Even if it's something as wrong as giving their oldest daughter away.
"But, I'm in love with some else." They don't even understand that I have a boyfriend. I've been with him for years. They've met him. Rufus and Katie both love him. He's so kind to all of them.
A boyfriend who hopes to see me back at work by the end of my lunch break. A boyfriend who I'm supposed to get married to. A boyfriend who's supposed to celebrate our 3 years with soon.
"Oh please, that Jeremy boy isn't good for you. I've found a man for you."
"Since when have you ever cared for what good for me or not?" It's true. He only ever cares about himself. I didn't realized I had talked back until his eyes filled with rage and he was standing hovering over me.
"What did you say to me girl?" I gulped in fear.
"Father, I'm sure she never meant it." My brother got up and held my fathers arm setting him back in his seat. Everyone feared my father. At least my brother had the guts to say something back.
"This isn't up for discussion, the wedding will be in a week from now." He got up and went towards the direction of his room.
So that's it. No room for discussion. The woman getting married doesn't even get a say. I've always known about these arranged marriages, but never did I even think I'd get into this position.
Especially not, since I have a boyfriend.
I stared at the seat he was previously sitting in, in shock.
How could he do this to me.
"I'm sorry Ara." Katie hugged me while I sat there emotionless. Although I didn't look sad, a couple of tears fell from my eyes/
What about Jeremy.
What am I gonna tell him.
I can't be married.
I can't leave Jeremy.
I can't.
~•~•~
"You are to treat him with respect." I sat on the couch with my back straight. We'd spent almost 45 minutes learning how to sit on a couch properly. As if any man even puts any thought into how a women sits.
My mother explained everything to me.
He wanted in, on the Mafia.
Apparently, Mafia's aren't just myths you would hear in stories. They actually have exists. And my father wanted in. He wanted to be a part of those scary stories they'd tell children to make fall asleep.
And now, I was being sent to marry one of the most dangerous man.
"You must comply with anything he asks of you." She knew if I didn't do as he pleased that he would kill me.
"You need to start losing some weight, no man would want someone as chubby as you." My mother's never body shamed me before.
The pressure must really have gotten to her... Right?
"I've taught you how to clean and cook. So it's mandatory that you clean the whole house and cook whatever he wants."
I nod to every word she said. Tears threatening to leave my eyes, wanting to make a foul of me. I would be used as a maid with the way she was instructing me.
"What about this dress." She showed me a big fluffy white dress, with net sleeve.
"It's beautiful." It was a beautiful dress, I just always thought I'd be wearing something like that to mine and Jeremy's wedding. I couldn't help but think about him the entire time. The thought of his horrid face when he'd see that his girlfriend was marrying someone else.
I don't know how to face him. He's been texting and calling so much, my mother snatched my phone from me and put it away.
"Alright." She put the order in and put the iPad down.
I don't know if I should be scared that I'm about to join a Mafia family or if I was scared to lose Jeremy. I don't know what I should be feeling, but I know I should be somewhat upset and nervous.
"Get ready for bed." It was 7 in the evening and we had yet to eat dinner.
"What about dinner?" I had a light lunch so my stomach was rubbling.
"You don't need it." I sighed in my seat. I nod and walk up the stair trying not to cry.
My new family gave my parents a lot of money. My mother used it to restock my entire closet. It was mostly revealing clothing that I know I wouldn't be comfortable with.
I took a new black silk night suit. It was a matching button up silk shirt with silk shorts.
I put it on and it fit my body nicely.
Why was my mother acting like this?
I sigh and go into my bathroom needing to brush. I stare at the once happy girl, now with no emotion and hatred in her eyes.
I look down at my body.
Maybe I do need to lose weight. I lift the silk top revealing a flat stomach. But I still feel big.
I push all the thoughts I have away and finish brushing my teeth.
I get into my bed after closing the curtains.
I was happy wasn't I. We were happy we all.
Now we aren't.
I couldn't even think about what to say to Jeremy since I left my phone downstairs.
~•~•~
I woke up to the sound of loud banging noises. I shot up from my bed and frantically looked around.
I noticed the banging was from the bedroom door. I got up straightening myself out.
I opened my locked door, and there stood my very angry mother.
"You'll never be a good wife like this. You can't be sleeping all day. Once you are married you have to start waking up at 6, to get the things around the house done. We'll be lucky if you doesn't come knocking at our door after he leaves you." She yelled her words and left, leaving me without a say. Why was she being so extra. Was this her way of showing me she cared and didn't want me to die.
I don't thin this mafia guy will want to kill me just because I woke up a little late. My eyes skimmed over the clock and it was only 7:30.
I shut my door to get myself ready. I put on a simple short fluffy white dress, with a short v-neck.
You can see my breast clearly with this. I stare at myself in the mirror looking in detail each and every feature on my face and body.
My legs a chubby
My arms have fat
My waist needs to be smaller
My eyes could be prettier
Shaking the thought out of my head I put a pair of white heels since my mothers didn't leave me any normal flats you could wear with something like this.
I exit my room and go into the living room.
Rufus and Katie and playing a game while my mother's in the kitchen making some French toast.
I probably shouldn't have any of that.
Then my stomach growls. "Come help me plate the food." I nod and walk over to the kitchen to grab some plates and utensils. I always help in the kitchen with my mom, normally so does Katie and Rufus. But I think today she wants to only me because I'm the one expected to get married.
Eventually I set the table and take another large plate to put all the food in. Once every slice of toast was on the plate I put it in the middle and my mother called everyone to the table.
"Come eat."
Then she turned to me. I half expected her to say that there's healthier things I should eat, but thankfully she didn't. "You see the way I'm cooking and serving food?" I nod at her question. "This is how you'll be to you husband."
It's crazy how everyone is freaking out about my unknown husband and I still have no idea who he is and what he looks like.
~~~
Chapter 1, is done.
I'll mostly be updating my other story called FOREVER MINE. So if you can check that out I'd really appreciate it.
Everyone is beautiful, don't listen to the people who say otherwise. 💋
Sincerely, A