Read Online Italian Marriage: In Name Only by Kathryn Ross - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kathryn Ross
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Antonio standing at the far end of the hallway talking to a group of people.
She could hardly believe it herself, she thought nervously.
He didn’t notice her immediately and as she walked closer she was able to drink in every detail about him—the immaculate dark business suit that sat so well on his broadshoulders, the pristine white shirt that emphasized his smouldering good looks.
He turned suddenly and as their eyes met she felt her heart starting to slam against her chest like a sledgehammer.
No, Emma would never believe that this handsome Italian was demanding to marry her, because he was completely out of her league. He could have had any woman he set his gaze on. She knew that—was achingly aware that other women were looking in his direction now, and no doubt would do a double take when they saw the plain woman he was marrying.
Not that she cared. She raised her chin defiantly as his dark eyes raked ruthlessly over her appearance. But part of her wanted to turn and run, get out of here while the going was still good. It took all of her courage just to keep putting one foot in front of the other to reach his side.
He smiled. ‘Ah, Victoria, perfect timing.’ The brisk businesslike tone helped to bring her back to some semblance of sanity—reminded her that her looks were of no concern to him and it really didn’t matter that he was out of her league. That basically he regarded her as little more than one of his employees. ‘We have some paperwork to complete before we go any further.’
She allowed herself to be guided towards a small side room that contained nothing more than a few chairs and a desk. And then she listened as Antonio introduced her to the two men with him as lawyers; one apparently had been hired especially to represent her and had read through the contracts on her behalf. The other was the Italian solicitor who had drawn them up.
Antonio’s gaze drifted over her as she shook hands with the men. Her suit was businesslike but shapeless; for a young woman she was particularly unadventurous when it came to selecting her wardrobe. It was as if she went out of her way to avoid anything that would be in the slightest bit revealing. Still, he wasn’t marrying her for her looks or her style, he reminded himself tersely as he pulled out a chair for her. ‘Didyou read the copy of the prenuptial that I sent over by courier last night?’
She nodded dumbly. She’d forced herself to read the papers in minute detail before going to bed, just in case there was anything in them of any detriment. It had made for sobering reading the night before a wedding, but basically, as far as she could tell, it just set out the terms he had already offered her and stated that she wasn’t entitled to anything else in the future.
‘And are you happy with everything?’ Antonio continued crisply.
The question made Victoria pause for thought. There were a few heartbeats of silence in the room as she looked up at him.
‘Well…I don’t expect—or want—anything more from you, if that’s what you mean,’ she answered huskily.
The honesty and vulnerability of her reply made Antonio’s dark eyes narrow on her.
One of the lawyers spoke to him in Italian and he pulled his gaze away from her and looked at his watch. Roberto was right—they needed to get a move on; the company jet would be fired up and ready to go in half an hour.
She was getting a good deal—there was nothing more to say, nothing for her really to complain about, he reminded himself briskly. He’d been more than generous with his terms. ‘Right, we’ll get this signed and then we can move on with the business of the day.’
Someone found a pen for her, and then the papers were placed before her.
Victoria hoped her hands wouldn’t shake when she started to sign her name. She felt strangely breathless.
Antonio watched as she tried to settle the little boy on her knee whilst pulling the papers closer.
‘Here, let me take the
She could hardly believe it herself, she thought nervously.
He didn’t notice her immediately and as she walked closer she was able to drink in every detail about him—the immaculate dark business suit that sat so well on his broadshoulders, the pristine white shirt that emphasized his smouldering good looks.
He turned suddenly and as their eyes met she felt her heart starting to slam against her chest like a sledgehammer.
No, Emma would never believe that this handsome Italian was demanding to marry her, because he was completely out of her league. He could have had any woman he set his gaze on. She knew that—was achingly aware that other women were looking in his direction now, and no doubt would do a double take when they saw the plain woman he was marrying.
Not that she cared. She raised her chin defiantly as his dark eyes raked ruthlessly over her appearance. But part of her wanted to turn and run, get out of here while the going was still good. It took all of her courage just to keep putting one foot in front of the other to reach his side.
He smiled. ‘Ah, Victoria, perfect timing.’ The brisk businesslike tone helped to bring her back to some semblance of sanity—reminded her that her looks were of no concern to him and it really didn’t matter that he was out of her league. That basically he regarded her as little more than one of his employees. ‘We have some paperwork to complete before we go any further.’
She allowed herself to be guided towards a small side room that contained nothing more than a few chairs and a desk. And then she listened as Antonio introduced her to the two men with him as lawyers; one apparently had been hired especially to represent her and had read through the contracts on her behalf. The other was the Italian solicitor who had drawn them up.
Antonio’s gaze drifted over her as she shook hands with the men. Her suit was businesslike but shapeless; for a young woman she was particularly unadventurous when it came to selecting her wardrobe. It was as if she went out of her way to avoid anything that would be in the slightest bit revealing. Still, he wasn’t marrying her for her looks or her style, he reminded himself tersely as he pulled out a chair for her. ‘Didyou read the copy of the prenuptial that I sent over by courier last night?’
She nodded dumbly. She’d forced herself to read the papers in minute detail before going to bed, just in case there was anything in them of any detriment. It had made for sobering reading the night before a wedding, but basically, as far as she could tell, it just set out the terms he had already offered her and stated that she wasn’t entitled to anything else in the future.
‘And are you happy with everything?’ Antonio continued crisply.
The question made Victoria pause for thought. There were a few heartbeats of silence in the room as she looked up at him.
‘Well…I don’t expect—or want—anything more from you, if that’s what you mean,’ she answered huskily.
The honesty and vulnerability of her reply made Antonio’s dark eyes narrow on her.
One of the lawyers spoke to him in Italian and he pulled his gaze away from her and looked at his watch. Roberto was right—they needed to get a move on; the company jet would be fired up and ready to go in half an hour.
She was getting a good deal—there was nothing more to say, nothing for her really to complain about, he reminded himself briskly. He’d been more than generous with his terms. ‘Right, we’ll get this signed and then we can move on with the business of the day.’
Someone found a pen for her, and then the papers were placed before her.
Victoria hoped her hands wouldn’t shake when she started to sign her name. She felt strangely breathless.
Antonio watched as she tried to settle the little boy on her knee whilst pulling the papers closer.
‘Here, let me take the
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